Monday, March 28, 2011
Control Your Environment During Your Next Presentation
What we say during all presentations is vital, yet never forget that emphasis on the environment will be a prominent factor in determining your success.
For example, whilst critiquing political candidate presentations during the last American election, news reporters often compared the size of candidates’ audiences. Reporters implied that the size of candidates’ audiences equalled the effectiveness of the presentation.
In addition, reporters also used an enthusiasm meter to describe how much energy or excitement an audience demonstrated during a presentation.
Whether these factors in a presentation are important or not, at least we can observe that as presenters we should be concerned about our environment during all presentations.
It is always of upmost importance to plan an audience centric ‘Focused Message’ for every presentation and in addition, you must also pre-prepare or at least control your environment during all presentations.
You can control your presentation environment by considering the following ‘3’ tips:
1. Audience Seating
If the room is not full, encourage your audience to fill seats closer to the front of the room.
If you know in advance that the number of seats is more than the number of people attending, you might improve the environment by removing chairs. You can also have people stand at the beginning of your presentation and then ask them to move forward and fill the empty seats. If everyone sits toward the front, then your audience will not be distracted because the room is not full.
Having people sit together will encourage your audience to respond as a unit.
2. Lighting
Make sure the room radiates plenty of light. Many rooms have a variety of lighting configurations.
Find the switches and experiment to get the maximum lighting for your presentation.
Avoid lighting that creates shadows. If you are using PowerPoint it is not always necessary to turn off lights. At most and is very necessary, you might turn off only the lights above the screen.
You do not want to speak in a darkened room.
3. Clear The Area
Ensure the front of the room is not “busy”. Clear out any equipment or chairs that may clutter the speaking area.
Erase dry boards and remove posters or any other informational pieces that have nothing to do with your presentation.
Finally, the content of your presentation will always be more important than the surroundings, yet paying attention to the environment in which your presentation can significantly add to the effectiveness and outcome of your message!
Posted in
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by effectivecommunication.com.au
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Communicate Emotion - Your Fast Lane to Motivating Business Action
Can you remember a time when you attended a meeting, only to be lulled into an occasional listening mode because of one dull fact after another?
Just like you, your audience during a presentation will tune out quickly if you don't capture and hold their attention. After all, most business professionals have a lot on their minds.
Presenters who want their ideas remembered must electrify their audience by moving them emotionally throughout their presentation. It is the fast lane to motivation and action. So how do we accomplish this?
1. Verbal Images
Create enough detailed images for your audience to assemble a mental picture of what is being described. For example, if you want to change a policy or procedure, help people to see the dire consequences for not making the change or conversely, the positive responses customers will have to a new process.
Draw word pictures, but remember that the word pictures you have created must be powerful enough for your audience to see the same thing you envision in their mind's eye.
2. Strong Language
Create enough detailed images for your audience to assemble a mental picture of what is being described. For example, if you want to change a policy or procedure, help people to see the dire consequences for not making the change or conversely, the positive responses customers will have to a new process.
Draw word pictures, but remember that the word pictures you have created must be powerful enough for your audience to see the same thing you envision in their mind's eye.
3. Tell Stories Tied to Business Point
People get very involved with stories, particularly personal stories. Sharing your emergency room experience of the ER doctor's inability to access your recent x-rays, would really highlight the need for new technology. Your wild travel story or your child's soccer goal will be remembered long after the fact as long as it is tied to a business point.
Although not personal, client or customer stories or examples are also winning. They explain a lot more than just the numbers. They put a face on the client or customer and motivate people to correct issues affecting people's lives and businesses.
4. Visual Aids & Demonstration
Not to be overlooked are Visual Aids and Demonstrations. Nobody dreams about bullet point lists, but pictures speak louder than words. Easy access to the web means that all of us have the ability to insert powerful images into our presentations.
In terms of demonstrations, imagine the power of holding up a stapler to make a point about the pain associated with testing for diabetes or a large ball of rubber bands to indicate how a client's network is in dire need of an update.
Most people would say they make decisions based on facts, but the reality is emotion is proven to be a stronger and hidden motivator. Vivid images stir the soul to action.
As you plan and review your content for your next meeting or presentation, ask yourself, "Have I moved people emotionally?" “Have I created what I want them to imagine?
Posted in
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Conference presentations,
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Public speaking,
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by effectivecommunication.com.au
Monday, March 14, 2011
Your Best Elevator Pitch
How many times have you lost an opportunity to share something important with a client or senior level executive while riding in an elevator or walking down the hall? Most of us have.
An elevator pitch can be a powerful tool towards influencing others and selling your ideas. But, only if you are clear and concise.
Here is how to do it.
Outcome
First and foremost, what do you want to happen as a result of talking to this person?
Don’t just start talking. Be very focused on the action you are recommending.
When push comes to shove, what do you want them to do? Is to approve a budget? Sign off on a proposal? If it is, say it and say it in as few words as possible. Do not beat around the bush. It will frustrate the person who doesn’t have time anyway.
3 Benefits
Next, remember that no one does anything unless they see what’s in it for them.
As clearly as you can, identify 3 benefits. Why three? Three is a powerful number. People remember things in groups of three.
Also, it is important to show that there are many benefits to your recommendation. The more personal you make these benefits to the person listening, the more convincing your argument will be. For example, if you are talking to an Information Technology Director about the benefits of a particular software package, an important benefit might be that the manager will not have work on weekends or have people calling him or her at all hours of the night.
Enthusiasm
A person who is in an elevator or walking down the hall is preoccupied with where they are going or what they will be doing next. Obviously, they are not very attentive. If you are enthusiastic in the way you talk about your recommendation, you will grab their attention.
A monotone voice that lacks enthusiasm will cause your listener to tune out. Be sure that you are pausing and stressing important words and concepts.
Don’t be phony, but don’t be afraid to show you believe in what you say.
Engage
Finally, be sure you look the person in the eye. People cannot ignore strong eye contact. It forces them to pay attention. Use the person’s name often during the course of your elevator pitch.
End by asking for a commitment from the person to meet with you at another time so that you can go into more detail.
If we have been respectful of their time and clear and concise about our ideas, most people will agree to talk to us again.
Wrap Up
If you practice these suggestions, the next time you have an opportunity to deliver your short elevator pitch, you will get your message across successfully.
All the best!
Posted in
Business presentations,
Conference presentations,
Facilitating meetings,
Presentation skills training,
Public speaking,
Sales presentations
by effectivecommunication.com.au
Monday, March 7, 2011
Your Most Effective Way to Make a Salient Point
People are moved by their heads and their hearts. Data alone won't convince people.
Knowing this, many companies have adapted a storytelling approach with their internal and external audiences. An engaging story will always help to deepen the human connection and increase the likelihood of ideas being remembered. It also distinguishes you as a presenter from others.
If your company has embraced this approach, the following ‘Storytelling Checklist’ will insure your success.
1. Does your story make a single point? Is the point obvious? You should never attempt to re-explain your point.
2. Is your story the right story for this audience? Is it relevant to the audience or business?
3. Does the story have an emotional component? Does it grab attention? A boring story interests no one and wastes time.
4. Does your story have a plot with a beginning, middle or end? Is there a clear resolution to a problem?
5. Have you made your characters interesting? Can we picture them? Can we see how they look, what they are doing, or how they feel?
6. Do you know where you will use this story in your conversation? Inserting a story should appear seamless.
7. Have your practiced your story? Tell your story to a spouse or friend and get their reactions, as well.
8. Is passion or energy apparent in your body and voice when you tell your story? A poor storyteller will ruin the best tale.
9. Can you tell your story in 2-3 minutes? If not, perhaps you are adding too many unnecessary details. Maybe you are rambling.
10. What do you want your listeners to think or feel as a result of your story?
11. What action do you want listeners to take as a result of your story?
12. What questions might your story evoke?
Becoming an expert at storytelling is by far the most effective way to make a salient point. A story builds trust and enhances the likelihood that your audience will act on your recommendation(s).
Ensure to check as many of the above questions as possible before your next presentation. The more you communicate stories during presentations, the more effective you will become.
Posted in
Business presentations,
Conference presentations,
Facilitating meetings,
Presentation skills training,
Public speaking,
Sales presentations
by effectivecommunication.com.au
