Stand up for good presentations – 9 winning tips to woo the audience

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By Mexia Communication’s Eveleen Hatch

It’s often said that good presenters are born, not made and there is an element of truth in this. Some people are blessed with ‘the gift of the gab’ the minute they start verbalising, whilst others may feel they are destined to be shrinking violets who fear the spotlight more than they would the Spanish Inquisition.

However, as an event professional – whether a venue marketer or a tech provider – there are bound to be plenty of occasions when you will find yourself standing in front of an audience, whether this is to pitch for new business, introduce a new product or service or deliver an educational session.

Whether you are a born raconteur or more of a wallflower who prefers to blend in with the audience, everyone has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to presenting. Weaknesses in public speaking are usually exacerbated by the dreaded PowerPoint. Using highly visual slides that are appealing to the audience and don’t lead to ‘death by PowerPoint’ can assist presenters in getting their points across. But what if we were to do away with that emotional crutch for a minute and just concentrate on what makes an engaging and memorable public speaker?

Doing away with PowerPoint slides may sound drastic but it’s important to remember one thing about presentations: the audience finds it hard to keep up with what you are saying whilst concentrating on whatever is on the slide. This is why some presenters opt for ‘picture only’ slides or forget about PowerPoint altogether. (If you’re big on visual impact, there’s nothing to stop you giving out beautiful handouts at the end of the presentation or just putting up one impactful picture on a big screen behind you.)

Slides aside, there are many ways that can change you from a mediocre presenter to one who people remember for providing insightful information in an engaging way.

Having carried out a variety of presentations throughout my career from PR pitches to potential clients to social media talks on a giant stage to 500+ holiday home owners, here’s nine things I have learned from my own experience and from others. (And however long you’ve been in business, I believe you can never stop learning!)

1. Begin at the beginning

Many people believe that a presentation begins the minute you open your laptop and click on the first PowerPoint slide. It doesn’t. Presentations start when you very first walk into a room – you’re on show immediately, so create a good impression with open gestures and a smile. Everyone warms to a smile.

2. Use the 15 minute rule

According to the psychology experts, the average attention span for absorbing information is 15 minutes. After that the audience is usually lost in their own thoughts (‘what am I going to cook for dinner tonight, will I get back in time to walk the dog…’) Use this rule by either sticking to around 15 minutes or breaking a longer presentation up into 15 minute segments with breaks in-between.

3. Five things to rule the world

When preparing your presentation remember that most people will only remember five things about it, if that. Yes -according to those psychologists again, we are all goldfish brains. So don’t cram your presentations with too many indigestible facts.

4. Tell us a story

We all love stories, whatever age we are. From Cinderella to Slumdog Millionaire, everyone loves a good old tale – especially one that tells of rags to riches. Weaving a story into a presentation will make the facts more memorable which in turn will help you to stand out from the crowd.

5. Know your audience

Not every recipient of your talk will be there by choice so think carefully about what’s in it for them. The reluctant attendees are important as they will have the lowest boredom threshold – what can you offer them that will make them sit up and pay attention?

6. Avoid verbal punctuation

When having a two-way conversation, our speech is frequently punctuated with ‘ums’ ‘ahs’ and ‘ers’ . According to those brain guys again, it’s our way of signalling that we don’t want to be interrupted. But when you’re in front of an audience, who’s going to stand up and interject? Replace those verbal tics with pauses and you’ll soon have the audience eating out of your hand.

7. Watch your body language

People pick-up on the tiniest habits when listening to a presenter, from frequently tucking stray hair behind ears to shoving hands in pockets. The danger is, they’ll remember more about your habits than you or the content of your presentation. Keep your hands by your sides and use the occasional open gesture for maximum impact.

8. Control the nerves

The vast majority of people suffer from nerves when presenting, especially in front of a large audience. You’ll never necessarily stop them completely, but you can control them through breathing and mindfulness exercises. One to try is taking a breath, holding it for four seconds, breathing out and then holding it again for another four seconds and repeat. This is believed to halt the adrenalin coursing through your veins during stressful situations. (Warning: Don’t try this too much or you may pass out!)

9. Always leave your audience wanting more

My husband, who fancies himself as a bit of a wag, told this joke in his speech when we got married: “The trick to public speaking is always to leave your audience wanting more…’ at which he promptly sat down. Ok, you get the picture and he did go on to make a longer speech you’ll be glad to hear. However, there is a serious side to this point. If you’ve kept your presentation to the 15 minute rule you may have already achieved this, but what else can you do to get the audience to want more from you? A call to action is always a winner in every presentation, whatever its size.

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