Transitions and signposts are essential elements of effective presentations. They help you connect your ideas, guide your audience, and create a clear structure. But how do you learn from other presenters' use of transitions and signposts? In this article, you'll discover some tips and techniques to improve your own skills by observing and analyzing other speakers.
The first step is to watch and listen carefully to other presenters, especially those who are experienced or well-regarded in your field. Pay attention to how they introduce, link, and conclude their main points, and how they signal the purpose, direction, and relevance of their talk. Try to identify the types of transitions and signposts they use, such as summaries, previews, questions, comparisons, contrasts, examples, or analogies. Notice how they vary their tone, pace, and volume to emphasize key messages and transitions.
If I may add a suggestion that you also stand back to consider if the presenters you are observing are really standing out, more than simply 'best in field' in your world. In the often hum-drum world of business so many presenters engage their audience, then trash their reputations by delivering a data dump. don't 'bland in' with all the others; be original. Go beyond merely engaging your audeince...
Loved the lessons from Chip Heath & Dan Heath in their book “Made To Stick” - this presentation also stood out (about language translation) https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/126OfZGOv_2Pg183ZQS_NsE_WfyD77gRTQHEDT8IEfyw/htmlpresent#!
The second step is to take notes and review the presentations you watched and listened to. You can use a simple format, such as writing down the main topic, subtopics, and transitions for each presentation. Alternatively, you can use a more detailed format, such as a flowchart, a mind map, or a table, to capture the structure, logic, and relationships of the ideas. Review your notes and compare them with the slides or handouts of the presentations, if available. Look for patterns, strengths, and weaknesses in the use of transitions and signposts.
If a presenter's slides are good as handouts, then surely they should not be used in the presentation? You want to capture the imagination of your audience, to have them with you as you take them on a journey to the stars... Engage them, then go beyond mere engagement to Engage, Compel, Haunt then Obsess them with your knowledge so they come back to you time and time again...
Best technical presentation I ever saw at Microsoft - Ray Ozzie in 2008 introducing himself and “Red Dog” what eventually became Windows Azure (now Microsoft Azure). What I found out years later is Ray Ozzie hates Public Speaking - https://www.wired.com/2008/11/ff-ozzie/ proof that it’s a skill & practice can make even someone who HATES it BELIEVE in the power of a great speech!
The third step is to evaluate and reflect on the presentations you watched and listened to. Ask yourself some questions, such as: How did the transitions and signposts help or hinder the clarity, coherence, and impact of the presentations? How did they affect your interest, attention, and understanding as an audience member? How did they suit the purpose, context, and audience of the presentations? What did you like or dislike about them? What did you learn from them? How can you apply them to your own presentations?
Here's an alternative suggestion. Consider how you script your presentation in the first place. Transitions & signposts will not add anything to a presentation that is not hitting home with your audience in the first place. If you are interested in how you have your own personal library of scriptwriting techniques to hand, let's you and I speak!
The fourth step is to practice and improve your own use of transitions and signposts. Based on your observations, analysis, and evaluation, identify some areas or aspects that you want to work on. For example, you may want to use more varied or creative transitions, or more explicit or engaging signposts. Then, practice using them in your own presentations, either by rehearsing alone or with a friend, or by recording yourself and watching it back. Seek feedback from others and revise your transitions and signposts accordingly.
How about then seeking out opportunities to deliver your presentation to different audiences? From 'lunch'n'learn within your workplace to Chambers of Commerce breakfast sessions, refine your presentation by seeking feedback from an audience who 1) have not heard it before also 2) do not know you.
The fifth step is to learn from different sources of presentations. Don't limit yourself to watching and listening to presentations in your own field or discipline. Explore other domains, genres, and styles of presentations, such as TED talks, podcasts, webinars, or documentaries. You may find some inspiring or innovative examples of transitions and signposts that you can adapt or adopt for your own purposes. You may also learn some new perspectives, insights, or knowledge from different fields or disciplines.
Why not aim to be a TEDx speaker? I'm privileged to be part of the organisation for TEDxWoking, from coaching the speakers to MC'ing the event, so thoroughly recommend you being part of a cohort of potential speakers at a TEDx near you. You will learn so much! Let's you and I speak if this has fired you up to deliver on that red circle...
The sixth step is to keep learning and experimenting with transitions and signposts. Transitions and signposts are not fixed or formulaic. They depend on your goals, content, audience, and delivery. Therefore, you need to constantly adjust and refine them according to the situation and feedback. You also need to keep updating and expanding your repertoire of transitions and signposts by learning from other presenters, as well as from other sources of communication, such as books, articles, blogs, or social media. By doing so, you'll enhance your presentation skills and confidence.
Again I'll encourage you to stand back and ask 'who is in my audience?'. Adjustments & refinements may add a few percentage points to your reach, whilst if you understand the makeup of Extroverts, Introverts and Ambiverts (in itself just the first polarity level of many available to you) you will have more of a profound effect on a much wider audience.