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Presenting with Pizzazz
In this article, Simon Tupman offers some further handy hints to help public speakers connect confidently with an audience
In a previous article, Dealing With Presentation Panic, I gave you some tips on how to overcome anxiety about speaking in public. In this article I will share some ideas on how to 'connect' with your audience.
How often have you sat through a speech and and been bored out of your mind? What kind of impression did the presenter make about him or herself or the organisation he or she represented? Not great I'm sure! This need not happen to you if you follow some very simple steps.
First you must understand that the simple secret to a sensational presentation is to deliver the steak with sizzle and style; in other words, be knowledgeable, sound interesting and look good. Let me deal with each of those in turn.
1. The Steak -be knowledgeable
Imagine you are scheduled to present in front of an audience because you have something important to tell the audience. (If you haven't, then you shouldn't be giving the presentation in the first place!) In shaping your presentation, ask yourself this question: "What is the single most important message I want this audience to take away with them?" Be clear about your overall objective. Try to boil down your technical information by giving 3 or 5 key points. That way, the information is more accessible for the audience. Many professionals are often asked to 'deliver a paper'. Your challenge is not to deliver a 'paper'; if all you do is read out the 'paper' that the audience can read anyway, then you might as well not be there. It is a terrible turn off. If the information you are sharing with your audience is of a highly technical nature, distribute your information in a paper or article to the audience at the end of your presentation
2. The Sizzle -sound interesting
Knowing what you want to say is one thing; knowing how to say it is another. I am often asked how a presenter can spice up a presentation that is full of dry and potentially mind-numbing information. People respond to what they can see, sense, touch, smell, and hear. The challenge for you is to appeal to those some or all of those senses during your presentation. Here are some ideas to help you.
use stories and anecdotes
Ever since we were children we have enjoyed being told stories. Stories that can illustrate your point, perhaps relating to case studies of clients or maybe referring to a personal experience will always reinforce your presentation.
refer to interesting sources of information
Reference to a story in the day's newspaper, to a passage in a book, or to a research report will help paint a picture in the minds of the audience. I regularly use famous or inspiring quotes in my presentations to illustrate a point.
use humour
Some presenters think that by being on the platform, it is their right to be a standup comedian. Invariably, this approach seriously backfires. If you are naturally funny, then that will come across as part of your personality. If you think you are not naturally funny, don't worry about it. Mr Bean doesn't! I suggest you use amusing quotations to help you. Two books I refer to are "The Serious Book of One-liners" by George Coote and "3,500 Good Quotes for Speakers" by Gerald Lieberman.
3. The Style - Sound interested and look good
Often I have witnessed speakers who look bored, present in a monotonous voice, and say 'er' and um' hesitatingly throughout their presentation. Again a terrible turn-off. Focus on the following
Your appearance
Naturally it is important to be well groomed and smartly dressed if you are on the platform.
Eye contact
Don't stare at members of your audience as this will make them feel uncomfortable. Sprinkle your eye contact to various members of the audience, ideally those whom you have met in advance of your presentation
Presenting with or without notes
It doesn't matter whether you present with or without notes. If you know your stuff well enough and can present without reference to notes and without hanging on for life to a lectern, it will reinforce in the audience's mind the perception of someone who is an expert, at ease and confident.
Your voice
First, you must be heard. If your voice is weak, make sure you are using a microphone. Second, vary the pitch so that your voice is not monotonous. Third, vary the rhythm so that the pace is slow in some parts and faster in others. Think of sports commentators on the television!
Pause
Do not feel you need to keep up the noise emanating from your vocal cords all the time. Pausing and creating 3-4 seconds of silence after making an important point gives the audience time to digest what you have said and gives you time to mentally and physically draw breath!
Involve the audience
By asking simple questions such as "let's see a show of hands.." it gets the audience working with you. Simply asking them to share an idea with the person sitting next to them can break the ice and remove the focus on you for a short while. Perhaps you might want a volunteer from the audience to help you with a demonstration. This can create a great deal of amusement in a presentation.
Understand how the technical equipment works
I have lost count of the number of times presenters have lost credibility because they don't know how to use microphones, power point projectors, or overhead projectors. If you are relying on equipment as part of your presentation, you must be totally familiar with your equipment.
Inevitably, success as a presenter won't happen overnight but put in practice these tips and you will be well on your way. How important this is to your commercial success is best summed up in the words of Gilbert & Sullivan:
"If you wish in this world to advance
And your merits you're bound to enhance.
You must stir it and stump it,
And blow your own trumpet,
Or trust me, you haven't a chance."
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