Presentations are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, a presentation makes it very easy to get a message across to an audience. On the other hand, it requires perfect delivery for the message to land. Experts have written thousands of books about getting an audience interested in what you have to say. What’s important is to keep in mind that no audience is the same, so there are no one-size-fits-all solutions to help speakers prepare.
Delivering a presentation isn't always intuitive, and a lot of the things that the best speakers and presenters know might not be evident to everyone. Here, 15 members of Forbes Coaches Council share the effective, lesser-known tips that they recommend for delivering presentations, to help experienced and inexperienced speakers alike to better capture their audience's attention.
1. Take Away The Safety Net
Most confident and successful presenters conduct a trial run of their presentations prior to going live. But how many actually vet their presentation with individuals who have no knowledge of the content? Looking to get open, candid feedback on your next presentation? Seek feedback from a trusted individual who knows little about your topic and is willing to give their honest opinion. - Sheila Carmichael, Transitions D2D, LLC
2. Use A Sports Analogy
There is a natural tendency to use sports references as a way of bringing excitement to a presentation. The trick is in knowing how the analogy makes the business point without focusing on the athletic accomplishment. Instead of discussing how a sports team has a winning profile, instead focus on the economic impact of a sports team on a community should it decide to leave. The connection is clear. - Lee Meadows, Meadows Consulting
3. Be Confident You Are Solving A Problem
Have full confidence that you are going to solve a problem. You can easily do this by really tuning into what your audience is seeking. What pain points are they trying to solve and how can you help them take inspired action when your presentation is complete? Knowing what they're struggling with and believing you can help them will form a very strong connection. - Lindsay Maloney, Lindsay Maloney Consulting, LLC
4. Be Careful What You Do With Your Hands
In a performance, we want strong arms and quiet hands. If you don't have a presentation remote control to weigh down and steady your hand, hold a quarter lightly in your fingertips, like a magician, and let the (surprising) weight of it draw your arm quietly down to your side. As Shakespeare advised, "Use all gently." - Theodore May, Theodore May
5. Know Your Audience's Drivers
People make the error of spending time creating their content and delivery strategy first, missing the most important initial step—analyzing your audience. You won't know the right speaking points until you know your audience. Research their drivers and biases. Know their fears and concerns. Then, you will be able to craft an effective presentation that moves them and addresses their needs. - Loren Margolis, Training & Leadership Success LLC
6. Look ‘Em In The Eye
Nothing speaks to sincerity more in your presentation than making eye contact with every person possible in the room. As you speak, make a point of locking eyes on audience members as if you are speaking directly to them. Once you have confirmation that they are paying attention, move your gaze to another. Be deliberate about how you connect with your audience. - John Knotts, Crosscutter Enterprises
7. Connect With All The Senses
Everyone speaks with a slideshow. Often, they are monochromatic with a ton of text. You should utilize your slideshow to incorporate the energy embedded in your presentation. Make them vibrant, visual and light on text. Allow people to learn auditorily from your speech, visually from your slides and kinesthetically by connecting the two and moving throughout the presentation. - Jon Dwoskin, The Jon Dwoskin Experience
8. Always Seek To Engage
People get bored during presentations unless they feel engaged. Always seek to engage your audience with humor, questions and connection. This could be asking a question so they share within the group, or having them do a breakout session with a partner or small group. Always look for ways to combat boredom. - Shereen Thor, Awaken The Rebel
9. Set A Warmup Ritual
I've been on stage all my life—first as a dancer/singer/actor, then speaker, deal-maker, community leader, group facilitator and equestrian. I have a warmup ritual preceding every appearance: I put on my makeup, superstitiously in the same mirror I've used since my first show at age 11, and vocalize even if I'm not singing! With Pavlovian effectiveness, this triggers my focus for show time. - Dodie Jacobi, Dodiodo Inc.
10. Skip The Predictable Intro
Movies often begin with an intriguing or mysterious foreshadowing. Rarely do they begin where you’d expect. Once hooked, intro credits gently roll while more context unfolds. Do the same. Don’t ingratiate the audience or bore them with predictable credentials. Start with a compelling story. Weave your introduction, credentials and background into the story, gently and briefly if necessary. - Chuck Ainsworth, Center for Creative Leadership
11. Start With The End
Most people take their audience on a journey from a compelling start to a crescendo finish. This is fine, but it can feel formulaic. What I ask clients to do once they've completed their first draft is to practice presenting it starting from the end. What this quickly reveals is 1) whether the end is strong enough, and 2) whether the right arguments are being used in the build-up. - Gabriella Goddard, Brainsparker Leadership Academy
12. Ask What's The Worst That Can Happen
For clients who are literally sweating from the pressure, I ask them what's the worst that can happen. Often, they realize that as they list all the possible worst-case scenarios, none of them are half as bad as they think. That takes the anxiety away and enables us to start working on preemptive measures and be better prepared to totally rock it. - Chuen Chuen Yeo, ACESENCE
13. Be Bold With Bumper Stickers
Most presenters start off meek, with no "pique" (as in curiosity). Make sure you filter your presentation through your perspective, so you can come up with a short opening phrase called a "bumper sticker." It should be bold and personal enough to beg the questions: how, what or why? Everything after that will be in support of your bumper sticker. Return to it often and you will be memorable. - Paul Geiger, Public Speaking Advantage
14. Have Them Take Out A Pen And Paper
I like to build some anticipation by explaining that I will be asking a series of questions throughout the presentation that I think will be helpful for them. I ask them to take out a pen and paper to jot the questions down so that they can think about them later and come back to me if they would like once they have had time to think about their responses. It's also a lovely way to stay in touch. - Palena Neale, Ph.D, unabridged
15. Follow The Law Of Threes
For each slide or topic, make three salient points and then move on. In addition, while going through the three points, say "one,” “two,” then “three" as you march through. Your audience will appreciate knowing where you are versus you sounding like one big run-on. You can also use your fingers to make the one-two-three motions while you are talking. This will be magical for you to convey confidence too. - Dana Manciagli, Job Search Master Class
