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Presentation Secrets
Written by Drew Stevens PhD |
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One of the most daunting experiences for business professionals is public speaking. In fact, presenting is known to be one of the biggest human fears. The fear of speaking is rated as only second to the fear of dying. The primary reason is that they are afraid of looking foolish in front of other people. However, there are some myths to dispel and some hints to assist one and all to be less fearful of public speaking. Speaking Myths: The Brilliance Myth - People will listen to a presenter because of the content of the message. As long as you have purpose and a clear agenda all meetings will be successful. The Pleasing Myth - Many speakers believe that they must please everyone in an audience. Face it when was the last meeting you attended in which you gave undivided attention. People are busy and audiences filter content for their own benefit. Seek to send a message to 80 percent of the audience; the remaining 20 percent will drift. The Dale Carnegie Myth - Too many speakers believe they must be as insightful, motivational and pleasing as the most sought after professional speaker. Not true. Even the best speakers and that that are paid huge sums are not that inspirational and in fact somewhat boorish. Most business meetings require simply and dynamic content, not a football locker room message. Be articulate and deliver your content. The Control Myth - Presenters believe they can control the entire meeting. Presenters will be blamed for cold rooms, poorly set tables, bad lighting and a myriad of extraneous issues. Focus on one imperative item- your message. The Preparation Myth - One need not spend weeks and months memorizing lines. The best presentations are those that are unscripted and come from the heart and soul. Here are some tips that will assist in your next presentation. Audience Analysis Audience demographics are helpful in building reciprocal programs. First, your success is contingent upon providing an articulate message. Your audience must not only understand but internalize content. It is vital to hone in on behavior, communication style and listening habits so that words delivered are word received. Structure of the Message – 3 points and complete 1. Agenda. Create a pithy articulate message with the use of an agenda. Always use an agenda. Ensure success with a listing of no more than three to four topics per meeting. The best meetings are short and time bound. 2. Create an outline. A rule exists that states tell them what you will tell them, tell them, and tell them what you told them. This simple three-step method ensures focus for your agenda and does not allow you to stray. Within each point you might include statistics, charts, testimonials and other useful data for backup. 3. Time frame – the best meetings are succinct, unless a training session meetings should last no longer than 45 minutes to an hour. 4. Summary. When you complete your presentation ensure success with a summary. Take your entire presentation and divide into learning points or objectives. Participants tend to recall three items rather than a long list. 5. Create the Action. Numerous meetings end without proper action steps. Ensure success by holding people accountable for activities. This includes post meeting too. Presentation Musts - Match your presentation to your audience. Know in advance who will be in attendance. - Encourage interaction. Adults desire to be part of the session, most learning theory supports this. - Eliminate the podium. Have a conversation not a lecture. - Provide examples from the real world. People will trust you if you make the information relevant. - When possible, provide breaks throughout the session. Lengthy sessions require breaks every 75 to 90 minutes. - Keep the session moving. This requires a good agenda, time limits and if necessary a time keeper. Presentations are not as difficult as they seem. They do require a structured framework to ensure success and productivity. If you consider a presentation as no more than a structured conversation then fear is eliminated. Place some of these ideas into your next meeting and immediately notice the change you want to see! ©2008 Drew Stevens PhD All rights reserved. About Drew Stevens PhD Drew Stevens PhD is sales, marketing and customer service expert. Drew assists organizations to dramatically accelerate business growth. He is a consultant, speaker and author of seven books including Split Second Selling and Split Second Customer Service and Little Book of Hope and is frequently called on the media for his expertise. Drew was recently nominated as one of 50 Top Sales Experts. Visit www.drewstevensconsultng.com/freestuff to download his FREE Sell Well Kit now! |
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