Whether you’re trying to educate, inspire, inform or persuade, it’s hard to hold people’s attention.
Even when they’re trying to murder you.
A hostile audience might observe you, but they won’t listen. They won’t hear your words through the blood pounding in their ears.
The story of the OPIS System goes back to a violent rebellion. After leading his men across the known world for over a decade, Alexander the Great faced betrayal. His loyal soldiers turned on him, eager to execute him for what they perceived as treason.
Alexander gave one of the most brilliant speeches in all recorded history.
He left those same soldiers who sought his head ashamed, begging for his forgiveness.
This fascinating chapter from history is called the Opis Mutiny – and it inspired my OPIS System. It follows the same techniques Alexander the Great used to talk a horde of furious warriors down.
If it could do that to a mutinous army, imagine what it could do for your audiences.
Earn celebrity status even with the dullest content imaginable
I’ve tackled some of the most mundane topics imaginable:
Regular Expressions.
An introduction to Microsoft Excel.
A corporate induction, including everything from (gasp) occupational health and safety to (gasp!) how to measure yourself against performance targets.
My audience weren’t murderous soldiers ready to bury me in the ground, but they can’t have been much happier. We’ve all sat through presentations so boring our thoughts turn to uprisings.
The thought of running multi-day courses on these topics might make your stomach squirm and your palms sweat. You might dread going in front of a dozen or more glassy-eyed faces who’d all rather be anywhere else but in front of you.
Me?
I loved it – and so did they.
So much that even years later, folks would stop me in the corridors to tell me how much they loved my course – and how often they use what they learned.
That’s the power of the OPIS System.
With my unique, tested approach, you’ll be able to:
- Ethically harness the same neurological triggers that social media platforms use to keep people hooked,
- Coin “viral” phrases that reshape how your audience talks – and thinks – about things,
- Apply psychological tactics SWAT teams use to get criminals to comply, without all the yelling and door-kicking,
- Use a psychological pattern in everything from your emails to a TED Talk so your audience feels like you understand them personally,
- Borrow from the best romance novels to add spice and spark to professional presentations,
- Guide diverse groups to the conclusions you want,
- Embed ideas in your audience’s minds that stick long after you’ve finished speaking,
- Make something boring enough to be memorable,
- Take the link between memory and emotion to craft “sticky” ideas,
- Be a dull killjoy and still command attention,
- Inspire, entertain and compel people to drink in your every word,
- Shift people from harmful ideas to better ideas quickly, smoothly and invisibly,
- Literally hypnotise your audience so they retain your key message,
- Use a subtle brainwashing technique to ethically change hearts and minds.
This isn’t magic or mind control. If you don’t believe in your message or content, neither will they.
Few parts of the OPIS System will let you sell snake oil or fake it til you make it. You have to know, without doubt, your audience will benefit from what you have to say.
The OPIS System has ethics built right into it.
Even so, I only work with people and organisations seeking to maximise the good they do in the world.
On the topic of my system isn’t for, here’s what the OPIS System isn’t:
- Weird, unnatural language or gestures – for your audience, it will seem like an ordinary presentation, although one that stays with them,
- Specific phrases you must memorise – the OPIS System works with your natural speaking style and in any language,
- Limited – it applies to any human communication, though I shaped and tested it on presentations to groups,
- Anything you’ve heard before – unless you’ve studied neuroscience from scientists and psychology from military interrogators, this will be new to you.
- A one-size solution – the OPIS System can be tailored to your needs and budget, whether for teens or experienced professionals.
If you’re interested, send me a message and we can talk more.
William T Batten 