4 Steps to an Unforgettable Presentation
Do you recall that time you were totally psyched and jazzed about a presentation after you read the title and description of the presentation, both of which sounded down-right delicious?
You were ready.
Could not wait!
You thought, "This is going to be a winner! For sure!"
And then ...
It happens.
The presentation starts, and you feel let-down. It's like cutting into that amazing piece of fruit you scored at the local market only to take a bite that tastes ... well ... you know ... not so great.
You cannot put your finger on why the presentation is seemingly lackluster and why you have lost your motivation to listen. But what you do know is the impact of the presentation has been lessened, and it happened within the first few minutes. It made you think, "Whatever that was, if I ever present, I want to make sure I never do it!"
I will tell you exactly what happened and, most importantly, four steps to ensure you avoid it.
What you saw and heard was a speaker-centered experience rather than an audience-centered experience.
Someone read the speaker's a bio.
The speaker's introduction included highlights of his/her accomplishments.
The speaker talked only about his/her experiences.
The only voice you heard was the speaker's.
Notice how every instance focuses on the speaker. It is unfortunate audiences have become accustomed to this; however, there is a better way.
These four actions, albeit unconventional, are necessary if you want to give the audience a different experience that will be unforgettable for all the right reasons.
Forego having your bio read. Audience members want to know how you can help them be more powerful, more productive, better professionals, incredibly outstanding in all facets of their lives. Many sources will assert having your bio read is a way of establishing credibility; that's wrong. All wrong. And here's why: It matters not to the audience what YOU know or what you do until you show them how you can help them with what THEY do! You establish credibility by providing helpful, useful, compelling information. Have the person introducing you share one or two sentences that identify your name, affiliation, and what you do that helps the audience. And better yet, you could have the person introduce you by your name, turn over the microphone to you, then, after a proper start which means conducting numbers 1 through 5 at this link, you say "My name is Bridgett McGowen, and what I do is I help people be the most dynamic, engaging, exciting communicators ever." Then you set out to prove just that!
Steer away from sharing too many of your accomplishments or sharing accomplishments with seemingly no point or during inopportune moments. It can appear braggadocios, and it can alienate the audience, resulting in everyone having the impression you believe you are better than everyone assembled. When you shine the light on everyone else in the room, YOU shine! When you make the other person feel like the most important person in the room, then YOU become the most important person in the room.
Show an interest in your listeners' experiences. This shows you care. When you open your ears to what the audience members have done, you are positioned to organically and authentically draw connections to your own interests and experiences.
Hear from others. Hear the audience by posing a question that everyone verbally answers for the entire audience to hear, or that each audience member answers via a brief conversation with another audience member, or that is silently answered with a nod or shake of the head. Get the audience involved within the first few minutes so the audience knows its voices matter, too.
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Did you enjoy this post? Get more communication strategies in the award-winning REAL TALK: What Other Experts Won't Tell You About How to Make Presentations That Sizzle.
Are you an event planner looking for a speaker who will motivate your team with high-energy workshops, breakout sessions, keynotes, or interactive webinars? Do you need a go-getter speaker for your next business meeting, team retreat, or company sales meeting—a speaker who will engage the audience, make them laugh, and give everyone real takeaways?
Bridgett McGowen is that speaker, and she is currently booking in-person and webinar engagements that will give your audience a different experience.
Click HERE to check her availability and to book Bridgett. It will be the best time you have ever spent in search of a motivational speaker. Guaranteed!
Image credit: Luke Michael