How can you adapt your personal style for different presentation formats?

Don't be part of the crowd when it comes to presentations. The more you work on standing out, the more memorable you will be. Others are presenting boring slide decks full of data? Make your presentation minimal (while still delivering the facts and data). Others are reading from their slides? Use your own stories and experience to captivate the audience - the slides are just tools to illustrate your point. Others talk on and on without pauses or engaging the audience? Make sure you add plenty of interaction with the audience to show them that you're talking WITH them and not at them.

In public speaking, you must adapt your style and delivery to best suit the situation and the audience. Delivering a Keynote to a theater full of 2,000+ people is totally different than doing a 1-on-1 podcast. The Keynote requires full use of the stage, a strong voice, good visuals, and an engaging presence across the audience. A podcast is a conversation with your host, while also speaking to the audience who are also seated, like watching TV alone. A Seminar needs to be energetic and engaging, walking around and talking to groups. The dynamics differ, but in each situation, the topic content you deliver will be the same. Except that time availability will vary, and your content needs editing to focus on key points for each audience.

For me, it is most important to know who you are, what you want to say, and then to understand the audience to whom you are presenting and the format for your “conversation.” I say “conversation” rather than “presentation” because I think that helps to frame the true goal. While “presentation” suggests a one-way download of information, a “conversation” requires the engagement of at least one other person. And the best presentations are actually more like conversations - where the audience feels like they are a part of the discussion, even if they don’t actually have an opportunity to speak. Adapting the format is really about choosing props (slides, wardrobe, props) and managing constraints (time, location) around that conversation.

Words have power. Not enough public speaking experts talk about that. The words you choose and how you structure them can have a tremendous impact on how your message will be received by your audience. Words can also evoke emotions which is also incredibly important because emotional impact is often the **lasting impression** that remains with them long after they’ve heard you speak.

My suggestions are, Webinars: Clear voice, minimal distractions, engage with audience Slideshows: Simple slides, effective visuals, limit text Podcasts/Videos: Conversational tone, storytelling, varied tone

As part of your preparation always request a 30 minute meeting with the Organizer to walk through a list of customer discovery questions. Some might be as follows: 1. What did the customers find valuable at their last event 2. What type of speaker didn’t manage to keep the audience’s attention 3. Demographics of your audience across experience 4. Learning objectives of your audience If the Organizer is a large event request if you cook send a pre event survey ahead of time to help them provide their feedback and insights into expectations. I am yet to encounter an Organizer that has declined this. It then acts as a treasure trove of information to build on.

Do your research by conducting a climate check to gain a better understanding of current events within the organization. Find out what’s important to the audience you’re addressing.

In addition to gathering as much data as possible from the organizer or through a survey of participants, you might ask the organizer to make a few introductions or set up a brief call with people who represent your audience. This could be a phone conversation or dinner the day before you speak. These conversations can help as you develop your presentation or add last-minute stories and examples to better relate to your audience.

Practice reading the room. Whenever i’m giving a presentation or a training and I have a large group slated I get to the meeting early and I watch as each person pours in to see what mix I have. I like to engage with the participants before hand ask some questions and learn my audience a bit before I get started. I build in a lot of interaction so those are more opportunities to get to know the audience that will help me tailor the message a bit more to improve engagement in the lesson. Ultimately you want to build in these types of opportunities to really get to know your audience and get them engaged, which is going to be key in increasing the effectiveness of your message.

Start with the audience: understanding your audience's age group and career level is essential. Gather these statistics to tailor your content effectively. This adaptation ensures your message hits the mark for each listener.

Always focus on the desired outcome. Consider the situation and environment from which your audience has been influenced. What is their energy level? Are there any fears or barriers? Is it a heavy, serious topic? Are they learning? Is it inspirational? Is it a required talk or one that they chose and are looking forward to? And then, adapt, adapt, adapt- from prep to presentation time to closing.

There’s a difference between purpose and intention. While intention can be part of the presentation, the goal is to settle the need based on the purpose. Knowing YOUR purpose and staying true to it will always result in outcome. Remember, purpose is the reason for what you do and is assigned for you! You’re not easily sidetracked, distracted, nor swayed away because you know where you stand. This makes it easier for the audience or clientele to follow because the vision and solution is clear. Which also makes for keeping attention and customer retention. Know your purpose and do not veer from it. People trust more when they see purpose in you and sounding from you.

You’ve been chosen for a reason. Now is the time when Impostor Syndrome typically creeps in but take a breath. No one else in the world can replicate your unique perspective and the storytelling you’ll bring to your speaking. THIS is your super power. Hone in on it, stay true to your brand, and don’t deviate. Authenticity and consistency will drive your success — and it will be what others remember you by!

Don’t try to be someone you’re not. If your audience is engaged at all they will realize you’re a fraud. Be your authentic self and embrace your imperfections. It is easier to connect with someone that is real than someone that is always right.

If you are unsure what your strengths as a speaker are, record yourself, send it to people who would give you honest feedback and better yet find a coach you could work with who could share how you engage your audience. Get this feedback following your speaking engagements as well. Then build on these strengths. Sometimes individuals spend an inordinate amount of time on trying to fix things they are naturally not great at but focusing and honing in on what you do well already will amplify your impact as a speaker.

Know who you are and allow your vulnerability shine through. This permits a real connection with your audience, it can also help spark further conversations that are meaningful and impactful.

One edgy aspect is humour. I like it, but I have to prepare very well. If I (again) would speak to an audience in Portugal, I would use some words in Brazilian Portuguese (As I went there, but it is not exactly the same as Portuguese Portuguese). You can say: "Anseio por um abiscoitado" (which means I long for a biscuit in Brazilian P., but abiscoitado means irresponsible person in Portuguese P.). This will create laughs (if you pronounce it well). But it takes time! I had to look this one up. :-)

Seek feedback from those who will share their honest opinion and not just the people that will tell you what you want to hear. You can’t be a coach if you’re not coachable!

Seek feedback always and then adjust as you go along. Every speaking engagement is a learning moment no matter how many you might have completed especially because of the changing formats we see these days. The best hacks is video yourself and watch yourself back and do this a few times in the year to see how you are evolving in improving how you show up at these speaking engagements.

Have something to say that is of value to the listener. Have something to say. Say something. If you have a message of real value to them, they will be quite forgiving when thinking about the quality of the presentation. Lean into being helpful, and think less about any possible embarrassment to yourself. If you give me what i need, i can forgive almost any mistakes.

It is good to be informed about the presentation formats of the speaker before you. Do you have a powerpoint presentation? Then if your predecessor also has the same format, it is easier to follow through.

Recognize that when you are called to speak while under the umbrella of a company it could look different when tapped to do the same when you are not affiliated with a company or brand. Recognize and iterate your “voice” on the stages you are representing yourself vs. representing on behalf of a brand.

While presenting, it is not always the matter what and how you are presenting. The matter is the feelings of the audiences towards you gathered in their souls from what you performed and felt about them previously. Presentations are the final steps for the process you started previously to do something. You perform, you act and those produces both physical and spiritual sparks. Audiences become mostly spiritually effected ones from the way you serve them, one by one or as observers. So being prepared starts long ago of the point of presentation. While speaking also you are in the sphere of the thoughts of the audiences. When you look into their eyes while making your presentation, a different conversation starts between you and them.

I usually incorporate personal anecdotes or stories into my presentations. The use of narratives not only imparts a unique quality to my message but also enhances memorability, setting me apart from a more standardised approach.