Being an effective presenter is critical for anyone who is
(or aspires to be) in a leadership position. In fact, certain presentations can
be downright career defining.
Instead of leaving your speaking success to chance, take
some cues from the pros.
Begin with the end in mind.
Before you start working on your script or presentation, get clear on
its purpose. What are you trying to accomplish? What impact do you want to have
on your audience? Are you looking to inform? Inspire? Persuade? Knowing your ultimate
purpose and desired outcome will help you stay focused through the preparation
process.
Simplify your messages.
You are where you are because of the depth and breadth of your
expertise. Your natural inclination will be to impart lots of that knowledge
onto your audience. Resist it! Otherwise, you’ll bore and overwhelm your
listeners with details they’ll never retain. Focus on conveying a few powerful
ideas that they’ll remember. Think of yourself as Master Distiller of
Information – boil it down and go from there.
Avoid the perils of Powerpoint.
t’s called “death by Powerpoint” for a
reason. Those “eye charts” crammed with words in 8-point type are dreaded by
audiences everywhere. Lose them! Your job is to hold the attention in the room.
All eyes should be on you, not the screen. If you use slides, make them
impactful and use them sparingly. They should be simple, compelling and
graphically appealing. Also remember
that when you’re reliant on slides, you run the risk of a technology problem
and a presentation disaster. By reducing or eliminating slides, you minimize
risk.
Connect with your audience.
One mistake speakers often make is trying to prove they’re smart. Remember that you’re at the podium for a reason. Your credentials speak for themselves.
