Creating Impactful Presentations

Communication is a dual responsibility. You are responsible for what you say and you are also responsible for what people understand. Great leaders are those who are able to steer their communication in line and level of people’s comprehension and thereby inspire and motivate them to take actions that are best in alignment with the mission.

How many times you have sat in a conference or a meeting, totally switched off? And how many times have you felt that your presence in such forums has been a waste of your time! Over the past two decades that I have spent in the Motivational Speaking Industry, I have seen time and again the disconnect and the consequent discord between the person who takes center stage and his audiences, making the time and money spent for that intervention a devalued experience.

So how does one engage with people in a manner to invite participation, support and a buy-in of the ideas and expectations that hold important stakes in the overall purpose and vision? I have put down some power tips that will help you make your meetings productive and inspiring.

#1. What’s in it for them. The fact that you are on the stage or have initiated the meeting, the ‘what’s in it for you’ part, is pretty clear. But to keep your audience and counterparts interested and engaged, it is also important to upfront focus on ‘what’s in it for them’. Start with their pain points, bring their reality, their world and their issues to the fore and later build your case around it. Begin with their why and their reasons first, before you put forward your expectations and your ask. Often times people discard the reality of the people they want to sell their ideas to. Making people wrong, discounting their worries, not paying attention to what drives them will take you far from getting an agreement or buy-in from them. Open your presentation and meeting with a full acknowledgement of your audience and their world, and watch how you turn a meeting into a mission led forum.

#2. Be real be approachable. Often times the person on the stage is looked upon with suspicion and doubt. The language, the context, and sometimes even the goals seem disconnected from the audience that he is addressing. No matter what altitude you hold, bring yourself to the level of the people you are communicating with. Water finds it level. Similarly, level up with your audiences. It is when you become real and approachable to them, will your audiences make a connection with you.

#3. Present practical data, be simple and lead to action-ables. If the data you are about to present does not have a surprise or wow element, you will lose your audience upfront. Refrain from giving out truckloads and slides full of data. Break it down into the final denominator of interest building in the case of ‘why this data is important for them’. If you complicate the data at hand, take too long to make a point, discard the interest of your audience in it, then you have switched off a very potent energy field that human potential holds. And while you are at adopting simplicity in your presentation ensure that every point you make leads to an actionable. ‘What should I do with it?’ if you can answer that question with every data point you present, you have in your hand a power tool for transformation. Often times people put so much effort to present an idea and spent no effort in breaking it down into action-ables and execution-able targets. They present their point and expect the audience to make sense of it and use it. Go the extra distance and give them the tools, and you will see enthusiasm, positivity and passion spark up right there.

#4. Encourage networking. Facilitate that. Know this very well. After the countdown on your presentation stops, the flag-off to action will commence as you step down the stage. In all humility remember that you alone cannot deliver the vision you shared with others. As much as you put a lot of creative effort in building a connection with your audience, don’t forget the power that a connection between those audiences holds. Allow for networking, allow for the people to get to know each other, allow for an exchange of ideas and knowledge. Your presentation should include some time for collective brain storming, group discussion and audience interaction. You need that collective force to be aligned, not just with you but also with each other, and when done, you will see them run further than the finish line, making the game bigger with their energy and united stand.

People are the final power. There is no dearth of ideas but their sure is scarcity of aligned forces to bring that idea to its destined manifestation. People are eager, they are ready, they are willing, that’s why they show up. To align their hopes and dreams to your vision is a place of great responsibility, and when done with genuine interest in serving others, you will also find yourself in a position of great power.

Wishing you more power and rooting for your success.

Priya Kumar