Punch Up Your Presentations
It's every meeting planner's worst nightmare: Having to give a presentation to your client
, planning committee, or to the almighty Board. You like to hire speakers, not have to give a speech!
Try these simple techniques to punch up your presentation:
Make It About Them. Gear your presentation to what your audience needs or wants to know not all the detail you have swirling in your brain. Keep it simple. Share the big picture first. Then fill in with the appropriate level of detail. Pepper your presentation with a few stories to illustrate your key points.
Think Sound Bite. If you were going to twitter about this presentation, what 140 characters would you use? Your answers are the key phrases you want your listeners to remember as they walk out of the room. Liberally sprinkle these sound bites throughout your presentation and add a dash of humor.
Remove the Lectern. Most presenters stand behind a lectern if it is in the room. Don't do it! Although a handy place to put your notes, the lectern creates a physical barrier between you and your audience. Stand to the side of it, or put your talking points on one sheet of paper or a note card. You want to preserve your ability to connect with the audience and move about freely.
Have a Mini-Conversation. As you begin your talk, look at a friendly face in the audience and stay with that person for a sentence or two, or until you complete a thought. Allow yourself enough time to connect with that person typically three to five seconds. Then move to someone else in the room, distributing your mini-conversations smoothly and deliberately throughout the room, without being too predictable as to where you will go next!
Ask a Meaningful Question. One way to start a meaningful conversation with the audience is to ask an engaging question. And then be silent and wait for the answer. Most speakers get nervous and answer their own question (otherwise known as a "rhetorical" question), which severely limits interaction. If you pause for one or two seconds and look like you are expecting a response, someone will answer you!
Get Them Involved. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to do it all. Think through each element of your presentation and ask: "Do I really have to do this? Is there a way I can get an audience member or two/three/four involved?" Particularly if you are trying to demonstrate a point, why not have them follow along?
Enjoy Yourself. Although giving a presentation is inherently stressful, try to enjoy yourself. If you have fun, then the people in the room will too. If you aren't having fun, it's a sure bet they aren't either.
Byline
It's every meeting planner's worst nightmare: Having to give a presentation to your client, planning committee, or to the almighty Board. You like to hire speakers, not have to give a speech!
Try these simple techniques to punch up your presentation:
Make It About Them. Gear your presentation to what your audience needs or wants to know not all the detail you have swirling in your brain. Keep it simple. Share the big picture first. Then fill in with the appropriate level of detail. Pepper your presentation with a few stories to illustrate your key points.
Think Sound Bite. If you were going to twitter about this presentation, what 140 characters would you use? Your answers are the key phrases you want your listeners to remember as they walk out of the room. Liberally sprinkle these sound bites throughout your presentation and add a dash of humor.
Remove the Lectern. Most presenters stand behind a lectern if it is in the room. Don't do it! Although a handy place to put your notes, the lectern creates a physical barrier between you and your audience. Stand to the side of it, or put your talking points on one sheet of paper or a note card. You want to preserve your ability to connect with the audience and move about freely.
Have a Mini-Conversation. As you begin your talk, look at a friendly face in the audience and stay with that person for a sentence or two, or until you complete a thought. Allow yourself enough time to connect with that person typically three to five seconds. Then move to someone else in the room, distributing your mini-conversations smoothly and deliberately throughout the room, without being too predictable as to where you will go next!
Ask a Meaningful Question. One way to start a meaningful conversation with the audience is to ask an engaging question. And then be silent and wait for the answer. Most speakers get nervous and answer their own question (otherwise known as a "rhetorical" question), which severely limits interaction. If you pause for one or two seconds and look like you are expecting a response, someone will answer you!
Get Them Involved. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to do it all. Think through each element of your presentation and ask: "Do I really have to do this? Is there a way I can get an audience member or two/three/four involved?" Particularly if you are trying to demonstrate a point, why not have them follow along?
Enjoy Yourself. Although giving a presentation is inherently stressful, try to enjoy yourself. If you have fun, then the people in the room will too. If you aren't having fun, it's a sure bet they aren't either.
Byline
Punch Up Your Presentations
By: Kristin J Arnold
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