Presentation training isn’t simply about sharing knowledge, information and insights.
It’s ultimately about helping you to connect with your audience.
The next time you are called on to give a presentation, you can be certain that sitting before you will be a very diverse group of people.
– Some won’t want to be there
– A few will be thinking about lunch or a deadline for a piece of work.
– Others may be mulling over their monthly report or perhaps thinking of who you remind them of.
Most won’t consciously realise they are thinking those things
Many will hopefully be looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
Whatever it is on their minds, as presenters we have to focus mindfully on connecting with them instantly. A high impact presentation training course will show you exactly how to do that.
You don’t have much time at all to grab your audience’s attention, put them at ease and create a cohesive gathering.
It could be argued that you already have their attention, as they turned up; they want much more from you.
Every presenter needs to capture their audiences interest and curiosity as well as their attention.
Your audience want to connect with you; they need to connect with each other too.
Mindfulness creates the connection
Before you utter a single word your audience will always have four searing questions on their minds.
Question 1. Who are you?
They don’t want you to remind them of your name and title.
That’s probably already on your PowerPoint Slide next to your logo or on an agenda right in front of them.
They also don’t want to know how many offices you have and how many widgets you make each year.
The first words you speak are the most critical
They will give your audience the comfort that they are not only in the right room but make them feel good that they turned up.
What they really want to know is:
– Whether you are like them
– If you understand them
– Whether you really care
– If they can relax and trust you
Put their minds at ease and allow them to see that you are just like them.
Tell them a short, personal story that has relevance to your topic and message but also allows you to be a little vulnerable. Give them some insight into what you value, what makes you tick and what makes you just like them.
They want to connect with you as much as you want to connect with them.
A great way to do that is to tell a story they can relate to.
Have the courage to be as open as you can
As you do so something amazing happens; they begin to connect with each other as well.
Question 2. Why are you here?
This is the next logical question and the answer to it is very likely contained in your personal story.
If your story is relevant you’ll find your message in it.
What did you learn, what’s the moral of the story?
Some presenters take pride in justifying their presence through a shopping list of qualifications.
What your audience really want to know is why you have called them together.
What’s so important that you couldn’t simply send them an email.
Question 3. Why are we here?
Most people don’t get too excited at the prospect of attending a business presentation.
Many of us have already experienced business presentations which are:
– Too long
– Boring
– Of little value or relevance t
Let your audience know why they are there.
Whatever you do first, be sure to make it crystal clear so they know they are in the right place.
Help them to relax and look forward to hearing what you have to say.
Make them a promise
You need to promise to make it worth their while and offer them a specific benefit that will be of real value to them
Question 4. Do you really believe what you are telling us?
It doesn’t matter how creative your slides are, or how dimensional your pie chart is.
Your audience will be looking out for if they like you and your message and whether they believe you.
They also want to know whether you believe wholeheartedly in what you are telling them.
There is no point in telling them how passionate you are about your message if you haven’t first told your own face, voice and body.
Holding these 4 questions at the forefront of your mind the moment you begin crafting your presentation will serve you and your audience extremely well.
If you need a little help with your public speaking and presentation skills:
– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.
– Invest in some really good one to one public speaking coaching.
– Get yourself some excellent presentation training
Image: Courtesy of Canva.com
Leave a comment