Do you have an idea worth spreading? What if it is an amazing idea that will help every listener but...no one hears it? What if you could succeed like this recent client did?
"Today went well. Lots of very positive comments from the attendees after the presentation. It wasn’t perfect but many people said it was leagues above the presentations they typically see.
Best part was at the end of the lunch, the president of the company who was hosting the meeting rushed over to me and told me what a great presentation it was and that he wanted to pay for membership for all of his several dozen members/partners who were attending the event.
So thanks for your help. I greatly appreciate it. Still lots of work to do but a good day all in all."
Jill L. Kerr
Vice President, Industry Development
CompTIA
Jill Kerr learned to avoid this common mistake: only informing her audience. Instead she made a difference because she remembers this: Inspire Them First...Inform Them Later
Mistake #1: Opening with a routine introduction. Who you are, why you're there, what you're going to talk about.
Fix #1: Always include a reference to the audience in the first sentence, by using the word 'you'.
"You come to work each day eager to (their mission here)"
"Imagine that you're (accomplishing their mission) and reaping the benefits of those accomplishments." "You should have been there when (major event they would relate to)"
"We have something in common: we all want to (accomplish their mission or a sub-set of it)."
These are attention-getting openings.
Mistake #2: Thinking that slide decks are synonymous with "presentation."
Fix #2:It's your spoken content that is synonymous with "speech" or "presentation." You must know where you're going (your Call-to-Action); your 2 or 3 Key Points; your interesting and varied Leading Materials that take the audience clearly and with enthusiasm to your key points; and your Attention-getting Opening. You must start from the end and work towards the beginning.
Once you've created your content, you then decide what part of it would be effectively supported by a slide or two. Other supporting tools are props, handouts, models, books from which you read quotes, hard copies of articles, exercises, music or sounds.
The slide/no slide issue relates directly to the human brain. We require variety and stimulation in order to pay attention. The more variety you provide to your audience, the better they will pay attention and the more your message will stick.
Mistake #3: Getting input and feedback from people who think just like you think.
Fix #3: Subordinates tend to tell you what they think you want to hear: it's great, you're great, the audience will love it.
Superiors will tell you what they would do which is likely to be mistakes #1 and #2.
Peers think the same way you do and will reinforce your ideas, which may or may not be good for your audience.
You must take a deep breath, remember that the speech or presentation is not about you--and get input from someone outside your circle, but not your subordinates or superiors.
The person you want to go to for advice is someone who will advocate for your audience. This person will tell you when you're too technical or speaking jargon; they'll hear disconnects and things that confuse them; they'll be able to point out what is too much information; they'll tell you what they would think and say after the presentation or speech.
Thank this person and make the changes they suggest. You will invariably have a better speech or presentation.
Bonus Mistake: Thinking there are many, many rules about presentations and business speaking, so that you are paralyzed or fearful and don't get help or avoid speaking altogether.
Bonus Fix: There are only two rules for extremely successful business speaking and presenting:
1) Put the Audience First
2) Be Yourself, polished
Get accolades from your audiences and requests for more appearances by avoiding these mistakes, implementing these fixes and remembering these two simple rules.
Speaking does put the spotlight on you and when you in turn put the focus on your audience, they love you for it. There is no better way to grow your business and achieve greater status.
Dedicated to your business success,
Susan
P.S. Get more business speaking tips from my other resources: Twitter @SpeakandGrowBiz.
P.S. 2 Invest in yourself:
Bring your presentation skills up to the level of your technical, financial, management, leadership and strategic planning skills. An expert coach is an investment that will pay for years to come.
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