Whether you are speaking to a room full of strangers or holding the mic at your best friend’s wedding, the goal is the same: keep them with you. And not just physically. You want heads nodding, eyes locked in, energy exchanged. You want people to feel something, remember something. You want your message to stick.

That takes more than just a strong opening line or a witty joke. It takes strategy. It takes storytelling. It takes a little something unexpected.

I have been binge watching Hawai’i 5-0 on Paramount+ for the last two weeks, so in this article, we are channeling some of that energy and diving into how to hook your audience—and hold them—like a pro. The title says it all: Hook ‘em, Danno.

We are also bringing in a little communication theory this week and discussing Expectancy Violation Theory—because breaking the “rules” can be one of your best tools.

What Is Expectancy Violation Theory?

Expectancy Violation Theory (EVT) suggests that people have expectations in communicat...