Leadership, Communication, Presentation & Sales Development Blog

WOW YOUR AUDIENCES WHEN PRESENTING DURING 2014

Before we step across from 2013 to 2014, here are some simple tips for you that great presenters use when communicating to any audience… The power of a strong opening and close!

If you do both these well, you will be a success because people typically remember the first words out of your mouth and the last. However, while presenters know the importance of a strong opening and close, often they fizzle at the end. Some run out of time and simply say "I am out of time. Thanks for coming and contact me with your questions." Others fail to let their listeners know they are about to end and therefore, when they say their final words the audience does not offer much response.

Many times following presentations, audiences leave uninspired or disinterested. Invest more time into writing and practicing your opening and close as you might other parts of your presentation.

WAYS TO CLOSE PRESENTATIONS EEEFECTIVELY:

Recap the main ideas you have discussed

Restate your agenda headings + the key sentences / points of each

If you have presented for more than 20 minutes, it is important to summarise what has been discussed since your audience may have forgotten or drifted. By re-stating your positions or points for each agenda of your presentation, you can better influence audience members who don't have the breadth of knowledge you do about your subject.

Call your audience to action

Never let your audiences walk away from your presentations unsure about what they should do.

Directly state what you want them to do. It may seem obvious to you, but unless you ask for what you want, you risk being disappointed. For example… "What we need from you is immediate approval for our team to proceed with the design phase. We believe if we work full time, the project can be completed in three weeks." 

A strong call to action commands attention.

Challenge your audience to do something different

For example… "If you want to become better, you have to put in the work. Tomorrow, when you go back on the job, I challenge you to change one thing about the way you communicate with others. Keep working on that skill until it is part of your DNA."

Conclude with an inspirational or dramatic focused message

A strong focused message when concluding your presentations should be what your audience remembers more than anything else during your presentation.

When possible, leave your audience on a high note.

Go back to your opening

If you started your presentation with a great ‘Dynamic Opening’ (a great story / quote / statistic / example etc.), go full circle and link back to it, which will greatly bring your presentation to a close. For example… "My hope for you is the same success as ‘person x’ I shared at the start of my presentation, who succeeded by thinking big!"


Your opening is your best chance to gain audience interest, attention and engagement, plus your close is the last thing your audience will remember. Therefore, plan and practice to wow your audiences during every presentation you will deliver during 2014.

 
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND THANKS FOR YOUR READERSHIP & SUPPORT DURING 2013!!!

Posted in , , , by effectivecommunication.com.au

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