10 Tips for Powerful Presentations
10 Tips for Powerful Presentations
Here it is – a quick guide if you are preparing a message for a group of people, whether its small and intimate, or Madison Square Gardens*.
1. The End. As Stephen Covey and his disciples say “begin with the end in mind”. In particular, what do you want your audience to DO and FEEL after your presentation? You can sum this up in the 3Cs – Comprehension, Capability and Commitment. Because the only reasons you would want to present a message is to help them understand something, enable them to do something they couldn’t, or get them to do something more.
2. Your Audience. Who are they, and how many will there be? Business people – will your audience be “prisoners” (they have to be there whether they like it or not) or volunteers? What level of communication will they expect? Think about this in terms of what newspaper they might read – The Times / The Sun or Wall Street Journal/USA Today. Or will they not even read a newspaper at all?
3. Where? In which venue will you present your message – boardroom, conference suite, stadium? This should be linked to size of audience and what you want them to do – more space for break out groups maybe?
4. They will be seated…how? Or stood? Round the boardroom table is great for the board, or bored. Theatre style, in tiers (tears?), cabaret style . make sure you will be in front of them, in the centre – its you they want to hear.
5. How long? Or rather – how short? You need enough time for your audience to achieve the objectives. Remember for comprehension objectives enabling the audience to talk over specific aspects will help understanding, and help maintain interest.
6. What do I say? Prepare you message bearing in mind 1-5, and think about what will the message get across. Visual aids good. PowerPoint, only if there’s no other way of doing it.
7. Big Start – the 3Ps gives a great format – Purpose, Process, Payoff. Tell your audience why they must listen, what’s going to happen (& for how long) and above all what they gain as a result.
8. 7/38/55. This comes from Alfred Mehrabien’s much discussed research about communication. 7% words, 38% voice (tone, speed, volume) 55% body language. Well these figures may not be that accurate but they give a clue: so stand still, use your hands and your eyes as you would when in conversation, and move in keeping with your message. There’s lots of work we can do on this….
9. Take Questions – as you go or at the end? Or even better, at given points during? Listen carefully, thank and paraphrase, and answer convincingly. Convincingly will be achieved using 7/38/55.
10. The End – make sure your audience knows what to do at the end, and find some way of seeing them do it.
This is the quick guide, for something more in depth and tuned to you, get in touch.
Phil Ingle
*If you really are presenting in Madison Square Gardens, you may have picked the wrong venue. Its good, mainly if you’re Elton John.
This article is brought to you by Phil Ingle of Phil Ingle Associates
To talk over its implications for you please contact phil@philingleassociates.com
or call him on 07968 774357