Having the skill to deliver good presentations is imperative to the role of a leader. But during our formative years, we are hardly given any guidance on this skill so giving a public presentation is most people’s nightmare. Presentation Training is a key component of our Corporate Coaching.
This blog is focused on 3 simple tips that can make your presentation impactful.
1. Appeal to the emotions of your audience:
“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Carl W. Buechner
A lot of business presentations are filled with facts but are devoid of feeling. A good way to bring in feelings would be to use a story that highlights the key points of the facts. Most importantly, the story and the facts need to answer the question, “What is in it for me?” Only if the audience sees the relevance to their life will they stay engaged.
“Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
The ability of a presentation to persuade and convert the thinking of the audience is what deems it great. Persuasion is not possible without tapping into the feelings of the audience. It is not only the vibrant green color of the grass but also the aroma of the crisp blades and the feel of the grass on your bare feet that makes you say that is fresh. Your senses are what determine your feelings and emotion is a feeling. So if your presentation does not appeal to the senses of your audience your impact will be compromised.
2. Prepare the presentation from the perspective of your audience:
A concerned mother decided to take her young son for advice to a swamiji as he was consuming large amounts of sugar every day. When she informed the swamiji of the problem, he asked her to bring the son a week later. She consented even though she was puzzled. When she returned a week later, she asked the swamiji the reason for the week’s delay. Swamiji replied, “I was eating sugar and I could not authentically give advice unless I stopped and lived the experience. This past week I have not touched sugar and I feel ready to meet your son.”
Experience your presentation from the audience’s perspective. Ensure that the presentation answers the questions that could potentially arise in the minds of the participants. The captain of a cricket team arranges the field to where the batsmen could potentially hit.
3. Preparation is the key:
“It takes one hour of preparation for each minute of presentation time.” – Wayne Burgraff
The only way to overcome your nervousness and to enhance your confidence thus capturing the attention of your audience is to prepare. Somers White puts it aptly when he says, “90% of how well the talk will go is determined before the speaker steps on the platform.” The amount of preparation time predicates the outcome.
All this requires discipline and focus, which is the core component of the Presentation Training of our corporate coaching program.