Corporate Training Magazine

Seven Keys to Powerful Presenting
Vol 2 Issue 2- Mar 2006

By Betty Cooper

Before you blame an unreceptive audience when they do not buy in to your ideas, make sure you are using the right keys to open the doors to understanding and acceptance.

Know Your Audience
You cannot motivate, inspire, inform or expect your listeners to buy in to your ideas if you're not talking their language, speaking at a level different from their understanding of the subject or using jargon and words unfamiliar to your audience. You must ask: yourself,

"Why should they listen to me?"
"What do I need to say and how to I need to say it to get them to do what I want/need them to do?"

Develop Clear Focus
Start with "What do I want my listeners to do when I finish talking?" Most failed presentations focus on what the speaker wants to say. This isn't why you're speak- ing. You are sharing ideas you want your audience to accept and act on. Remember, all talks present information. Your job is the give guidance and show listeners how to use the information for their benefit.

Proper Organization for Desired Actio
There must be a logical order to the information you share. You need a for- mula or "road map" to keep everyone focused towards action. Start by remembering your listeners are tuned into Radio Station WII-FM (a.k.a. "What's In It For Me?"). This is the focus of speaker and listener in a win/win presentation.

Give Only the Information Needed
When you are properly focused on what you need to say, you will avoid overkill. No one is ever going to criticize you for keeping your presentation of ideas concise. Do not assume that everything you want to say is important or interesting to your listeners. Much of the technical infor-mation in presentations is not necessary and becomes a sure way to turn off listeners.

Support Your Concepts with Examples
People need to 'get the picture'. The best way to do this is to share examples of where your ideas have worked. Draw clear examples of what could happen if action isn't taken. Share a story that supports your concepts, incorporate visuals of projects that have succeeded using a similar approach, or include a story of a person who successfully "took the road less traveled".

Know Your Material Thoroughly
As a presenter, you're looked upon by your audience as a topic expert. As such, you need to be so familiar with your material that you can give a positive presentation even if your computer fails, you lose your notes, or all the lights go out and people have to hold candles to light up the room. You also have to know what you need to say so well that you can cut the talk in half should another meeting presenter talk too long.

You can use a full script, notes or go without it's your choice. Your focus should be on the action following the talk and your eyes on your audience at all times, with a quick glance at the clock to keep yourself from running overtime.

Ensure Your Voice is Well Orchestrated and Modulated
Over 90% of your message is conveyed not by the material you present, but rather how you present it. Make sure you speak with enthusiasm, projection, energy, clarity, and most especially with vocal variety. Your voice must indicate the commas, periods, exclamation marks, paragraphs. It must do what your computer does for emphasis such as bold, CAPITALIZE, change fonts, and underline to indicate something not to be missed. You "s-t-r-e-t-c-h" the sounds and put. . .in. . .the ....pauses, all the time knowing your listeners will only absorb about a quarter of what you are saying and will forget most of that unless you present with passion and clarity.

Master these keys and you will be on your way to becoming a presenter people want to listen to always.

Betty Cooper is a communications specialist and the principal of Betty K. Cooper Creative Concepts Inc.