Many business leaders are required to update others frequently, and often have to put together the information 'on the fly.' The material may be collated at the last minute, or in pieces between conference calls and meetings. The interesting fact is that these people have all the knowledge and expertise to share with others. The only problem is that they don't always know how to make sure it comes across clearly.

Take a minute to think about a business group you have been part of lately. Are they jumping up and down about being there, and is their enthusiasm evident?

The last thing most employees want to do these days is attend yet another meeting. They are stressed enough with the amount of work they have to complete and they often resent the fact they have to sit in a boardroom listening to material that may not be totally relevant for their particular area. Articles describing the use of BlackBerries during these sessions show the lack of commitment and interest that is evident.

It is still important to keep people in the loop and update key executives on the next steps. So how do you make sure you capture their attention and keep it for that critical amount of time that you are speaking?

Before you start to speak, make sure you actually acknowledge the people who are going to listen to you. Direct eye contact with the people in the room includes them, which is crucial. If it is a large audience, then scan carefully just over the top of their heads. You may want to land on one or two more receptive faces for a couple of seconds before you start. While you are doing this you say nothing. Silence is one of the most powerful ways a speaker has of drawing in their listeners.

Once you have everyone's attention physically, it is time to make sure they are actively listening to you. "Good morning, my name is…" is not the way. When you think about it, in most cases people already know you, or have received prior information about who you are and what you are going to talk about. It gives them the opportunity to 'tune out' and start mentally working on their present project. You have successfully lost them.

Starting a presentation with a short question will ensure your audience is on board with you. You could also use a thought provoking statement or stat. The most important thing is to keep it short. It should be ten words or less, relevant, and should stand on its own.

When I am facilitating a workshop I usually use the statement 'Two minutes, that's all you've got,' or 'The meaning of your communication is the response you get.' Give people time to think about your statement and move on from there. You now have their attention.

There is additional framework that can be incorporated to ensure learning styles are addressed and that invokes curiosity. Mastering this can ensure that listeners walk away with up to 27% of your information instead of the average 7%. This all takes time to learn and practice to bring outstanding results.

If you are interested in developing your ability to stand out at any presentation and make your message memorable, start by eliminating the classic opening phrase, giving your audience your name and subject matter. Instead take a breath, really look at your audience and share a thought provoking opening sentence. You'll appreciate the feedback, and your audience will find the time well spent.