Audiences reflect all of today's current cultural trends, especially faced-past, multi-media apps, games, & videos. People are big on getting understanding from sound-bites and visuals, not from long lists or bullet points. People in your audiences bring themselves and their preferences with them, so it's critical for you to incorporate these cultural changes into your speeches and presentations.
Three ways to do this:
1) Images, images,images! Think of just about any noun modified by an adjective or adverb and you can find an image that represents it. You don't have to create the image, just search for it on the many online resources. Pay for the small size jpg and add it to your slide deck. Your audience will get the idea faster than you can speak it.
A recent client is planning to talk about how she will work with her clients (hospitals) who are being squeezed by various economic pressures. She found an image of a building with a tight belt around it. Point made!
I'm using a great image for my topic "Speaking...the Original Wireless Connection (TM)". It's a photo of a hand and a paw pressed together. You immediately get the connection between man and dog, no wires needed.
2) Short oral content, spoken in the active voice. Make your speaking notes reflect conversation, not an essay. People equate speakers with speaking, not reading, so write your notes in short phrases, puncutated by pauses, exclamations and conversational trends (be careful about too many 'you know' or 'like' or 'OMG').
Your speaking notes should not make your high school English teacher happy. Even CEO's need a more conversational style.
3) Use textured, colorful (not racy) and animated language. Textured fabric, for example, has a visible weave, with nubs and an uneven surface that makes it interesting compared to smooth silk. While there is definitely a place for smooth silk, most of your speech should be like a textured fabric.
Colorful language is all about descriptions that make your topic come alive. Life is filled with action, emotions, various speeds, changing volume, twists and turns. Put all of these into your speaking content.
Animated language gives a sense of action. Make the audience feel as if they are in the action right then. Get them breathless, curious, puzzled, on the edge of their seats.
Throw out the decade-long effort to create perfect Power Point presentations in favor of perfect audience-friendly presentations that make powerful points. No slide ever got the sale, changed people's behaviors or made a long-lasting impression that inspires action.
Speakers (people) create the relationships that lead to sales, change others behavior and inspire action. Adopt today's cultural trends and see your message become a new 'app' for life.
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