Do you present with impact?

Have you ever asked yourself: How much time do you spend listening to mediocre speakers, looking at busy slides and wondering about the message? And how often have you seen a speaker presenting with real impact? I guess the former is your common experience, and the latter is the exception ­– as for 90% of us.

The best thing you can do is to stand out of the crowd and to deliver excellent speeches. This is easier than you might think. Here are 3 ground rules:

1. Agree with the sponsor (the one who asked you to give a speech) what results you want to achieve with your presentation. The more precise the better. The audience will appreciate that you have clear goals.
2. Understand your audience: Who are they, at which knowledge levels are they, what would they expect? Apply the famous WINFM – what is in for me – rule.
3. Use visual aids (in particular slides) ONLY if they support your messages. Most of the slides worldwide are presented because they are easy to produce, and not because they are appropriate to bring the message across.

Let the next speaker who I’ll listen to have a notion of these rules…

What rules for better presentations would you add? Post your comment below.

Till next time. Natalia

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