How can you deliver a presentation that engages different types of audiences?

The way in which you use language can assist your audience in creating a picture, feeling of what it would feel like, hearing the sounds, smelling the roses. Engaging the listener’s imagination, can create a whole body experience. This is why stories told well get a better response from the audience. People remember stories. There are natural intersections where you can bring in another sense. For example As I walked along the beach I could feel the sand squishing through my toes. The sun was sparkling off the gentle waves as I heard them lap the shores edge. The fresh smell of the sea tickled my nostrils on the gentle breeze and I felt so much gratitude and appreciation for having the freedom to be so close to nature.

What I’ve found helpful is to think of a talk as an attempt to trigger & hold curiosity. Here’s one approach Start with a provocative question. Don’t answer it right away. Offer breadcrumbs for them to ponder the question. Use: - interesting data (use images instead of bullet points) -emotionally intense stories (elicit approach oriented emotions such as anger or awe). - personal reveals (your thoughts feelings or memories) Try to hit 3 main points for the audience to remember. Too much and they will feel overwhelmed. You want the audience to leave feeling energized at the end.

You could provide some examples of how to understand your audience in different types of presentations, such as informative, persuasive, inspirational, or entertaining. For instance, you could use the 5W+H questions (who, what, where, when, why, and how) to analyze your audience's characteristics, expectations, and motivations.

It is important for us to ask 3 questions while preparing for a presentation: 1. What is ONE key Message that I want my audience to leave with? 2. What is ONE key Action step that I can equip my audience to take right away? 3. What is ONE key Challenge that I know will help my audience to think differently? For example, recently when I was preparing to speak at an IT Conference - here is how I answered these questions during my preparation time. *** Key Message - Only Secure Leaders give power to others. *** Key Action Step - Identify a potential leader on your team to empower. *** Key Challenge - Believe in the potential leader, Endorse them and Empower them. "Anupama helped us lead better!" feedback on my talk about Law Of Empowerment.

Create The Perfect Blend Among the pantheon of the world’s top speakers, an astute understanding of laughter’s potency as a tool for connection and engagement is often what distinguishes the good from the great. The capability to weave the threads of humor seamlessly into the tapestry of a motivational narrative is an art, a subtle finesse that enhances the impact of the speaker’s message. The amalgamation of wisdom and wit doesn’t just create a momentary ripple of laughter among the audience. It elevates a valuable learning experience into an event etched in their memory, a transformative moment they carry forward in their life’s journey. If they're laughing, they're listening; if they're listening, they're learning.

Is this a joke? Learning styles theory has ZERO evidence. Please don't spread this poor content. Follow the dual coding theory and multimedia principles. Understanding how learning happens. Look into information processing model. Take cues from cognitive load theory. But please don't spread the already prevalent myth even more.

Please note that that VAK model has been largely a myth, and there is no direct evidence that supports it. Therefore, “learning styles” should not be used to refer to as a proper teaching methodology. Educators need to focus on using well researched methods and UDL principles instead.

Visual learners: Utilize colour coding to emphasize key points. Employ mind maps or concept maps. Use infographics to simplify complex information. Incorporate visuals in handouts or other supplementary materials. Auditory learners: Engage in discussions and encourage questions. Use mnemonic devices or rhymes to aid memory. Play background music that complements the subject matter. Offer audiobooks or recordings of lectures for reinforcement. Kinesthetic learners: Incorporate hands-on activities or labs. Use real-life examples that learners can relate to. Encourage role-playing or simulations. Incorporate movement; for instance, have learners stand or move to different parts of the room based on their answer to a question.

I believe that engaging an audience, especially when dealing with top senior leadership, a highly intellectual audience, decision-makers, or audiences that can be skeptical of your message, can be quite challenging. However, I have observed that asking thought-provoking questions related to the content of your message can effectively connect with your audience's unspoken concerns, even right at the beginning of your presentation. This approach can break the ice and capture your audience's attention in a positive way. I recommend preparing these questions in advance, and this process should be rooted in research to understand your audience's specific needs related to the topic.

My perspective on incorporating the VAK model: Know your audience - Research goals, challenges, interests using surveys, interviews, social media. Organize strategically - Structure content around key needs and outcomes. Appeal to all learners - Combine data and facts for auditory learners, narratives and examples for visual learners, activities and dialogue for kinesthetic learners. Use visuals - Charts, graphs make concepts memorable for visual learners. Share relevant examples - Stories and case studies bring ideas to life for visual learners. Conversational style - Engage kinesthetic learners through dialogue and Q&A. Be passionate - Make an emotional connection for auditory learners.

Most of my closest relationships here were developed by sharing stories that were vulnerable in nature and led to a lesson being learned. We cannot connect in a deep and meaningful way if we keep it to business chat and banter. Tell your truth and do it with intention.

Yes, really BE there! Feel them, feel yourself and establish an interaction that says: “I am here, I have things to share, I’m an Human Being and I would like to meet you in the middle of this bridge!”:) Connection is key.

When I am on stage, there is this big disconnect between me and the audience. I'm up there, the spotlight is on me, and the audience is expecting me to "sell" them on an idea. They're going into it expecting another bland corporate presentation. That's why it's so important to me to remind my audience that we are all human. While it is important to appear authoritative and professional, true connections occur when we shake those roles and truly connect. That's where the importance of story-telling, and humor and shared experiences truly shines through.

The most important thing I do is connect to the material I’m presenting personally. It helps me not only spark questions and provide anecdotes, but it engages the audience in a way that improves the talk exponentially. The more open I am, the more open the audience can be to share their stories through my work.

Since before we were born, information and wisdom has been passed down through generations by storytelling. People love to be told and connect to a story. When talking to your audience, you decide the storyteller you want to sound like. Do you want to sound like a person giving a lecture of continuous information? Or do you want to sound like that person telling a story with all the juicy details around a warm campfire? If you imagine giving the latter, really sit yourself down and tell your story like you're at the dinner table or around a campfire; that's your way to connect with your audience emotionally.

One of the most important things is giving the audience real value. Tools or things they can implement quickly. Real value, something tangible they can take away from it.

The biggest question I always ask myself before I start presenting is this: "Why should these people listen to me?" You can be the most charismatic, charming speaker in the world, but that means nothing if what you are saying provides nothing to the audience. By showing them or giving them actual tools that can help them in their lives and professions, the presentation becomes less academic in nature and helps ensure retention.

Identify the challenges and concerns your audience faces related to your topic. Show how your presentation can provide solutions or address these pain points. This relevance will capture their attention. And they will start connecting their pain to the solution you provide, which will greatly value them.

If you aren't providing value to your audience then why are you presenting in the first place? The mirror in your bathroom will work just as well but may not pay as much. Always ask yourself if what you are sharing is for you or for them. This will keep you on track.

When we speak - it's all about the audience. What problem are you solving for them? What can they walk away with that inspires them into action? When you connect with your specific audiences current challenge - you can use your story to give them a way to achieve success. Be careful not to pose your method as "the way", but rather explain how you came to devise your way that helped you. We're all different and helping people turn information into wisdom is a powerful. Here's an example: I realized meditation is a powerful practice for me, because a daily practice that helps me overcome my brain say "enough" and even going just 30 seconds more means when the same thing happens in life I've practiced overcoming it by pushing through.

Also use their names often throughout the presentation. It punctuates points, increases engagement, and keeps them on their toes, not their phones.

Repetition is really key. Why? Because at any point in time there is bound to be one or more people who are on a "mental vacation". The body is in the room but the brain is off elsewhere! By using repetition, you have a better chance of a higher number of your listeners catching the key elements of what you have to say.

Make use of same example to prove different point is a way to make it more understandable. Using the audience point, audience example to make what you deliver more engage. And adapt to their way of thought.

I practice the Rule of 3. What are the key message points? The audience needs to hear them at least three times-once in the beginning, once in the middle and once at the end. It's helpful to have a mantra that they repeat.

Repetition is the mother of learning. However, that doesn't mean you need to snore and bore an audience by sounding repetitive. Instead, find different methods to reinforce the message. For example, a clever anecdote, turn of phrase, statistics, and most importantly, an impactful story. Research shows 63% of attendees remember stories following a presentation, yet only 5% remember statistics.

Concluding with a call to action is the final and most crucial part of your presentation. A "call to action" expresses the desired behaviour of the target audience. It could be to buy something you're selling, join a cause you support, sign up for a service you offer, or take your advice. Your call to action needs to be unmistakable, well-defined, and time-sensitive. In order to get your audience to take action, you should also highlight the positives of doing so, as well as the negatives of doing nothing. You can also use guarantees, testimonials, and incentives to sway their decision.

Although the call to action is a positive way to close, don't only leave it to the end. Instead make the call to action obvious early in the presentation. The call to action at the end is merely a reminder.

A call to action can sometimes get overlooked, especially in events with multiple speakers throughout the day. To ensure its effectiveness, consider sending a follow-up email that includes valuable resources and actionable next steps for your attendees. This not only establishes a direct line of communication but also extends the value you offer beyond the event.

There's nothing worse than a great presentation with zero call to action. It doesn't have to be a sell but rather something to ponder or action to consider but skip the dramatic cliff hangers, this isn't a movie - give your audience something... they listened to you for X time, now provide Y value.

I have found it effective to tie calls to action to the emotional connection discussed above. While we may be persuaded by reason, several studies show that 90% of our decisions to act are driven by our emotions. Your audience is much more likely to embrace the benefits of action and want to avoid the consequences of non-action if you have led them to this understanding by connecting with then emotionally through authentic, empathetic, and enthusiastic anecdotes.

Just to add to it: ?? ADAPTABILITY: Be prepared to adjust your presentation on the spot based on audience reactions. Encourage questions and interaction and be open to addressing their concerns. ?? EMPATHY AND INCLUSIVITY:Show empathy and respect for diverse perspectives and backgrounds.Avoid jargon and jargon heavy slides that may alienate some audience members. We should remember that engaging a diverse audience requires flexibility and a keen awareness of your listeners' needs and interests.Adapating your approach to accommodate various learning styles and backgrounds will increase your presentation's impact.

Make your presentations Universally Accessible (multiple media, multiple modes of engagement etc) so that you reach all of your audience and not just those with whom you share a similar demographic, level of physical or learning ability etc. Consider training in Universal Design with institutions such as ahead.ie to get a fuller understanding and appreciation of what this means for (truly) inclusive presentation delivery.

When given the stage there are a few things to remember. First you are not apart of the crowd, you’ve been chosen, hold that confidence tightly, it will help when the anxiety shows up. People are listening, even if your jokes fail, PowerPoint doesn’t work, or you aren’t able to stop stuttering. People are listening to you. They didn’t leave because you showed up on stage, they are there for you. Lastly, this is your time. Whatever you do just remember to do your best, even if it’s terrible, it won’t be the last time someone bombed and it wasn’t the first. You’ve got this.

Don't say words or language your audience doesn't know. That's called jargon. People think that by using "smart" or jargon words, you may come across as smart, and you might, but you lose your audience along the way. Simplify your language and imagine you're telling them a story at the dinner table or around a campfire.

In my experience the best speakers include humor that is very relatable to the audience. They tell stories that are interesting and they teach through stories that most people can understand. I personally invest in coaching and continue to learn and practice. A polished delivery will universally land well with a diverse audience.