How to Deliver a Flawless Presentation & Achieve Your Objectives

There is no point in doing good work if others do not know about it or cannot understand what you have accomplished. Your story can be told through your presentation. Whether you are teaching a?course or a workshop, presenting on a topic of interest, delivering a business pitch, providing training, or sharing a campaign with your team, you can use these tools to help you succeed. In any case, you have some important message to deliver. You want your audience to pay attention to and understand the message. The effectiveness of a presentation will determine the number of people you truly reached with your material and indicates how much knowledge they will take with them. It can also assist you in determining what you can do better the next time.

You need to employ good presentation skills in delivering effective and engaging presentations to a variety of audiences. These skills cover an assortment of areas such as the structure of your presentation, the design of your slides, the tone of your voice, and the body language you convey.

ABOUT THE AUDIENCE

Begin with creating a presentation that will challenge the audience’s expectations. Give the audience both what they want and need. During your presentation it is important to periodically repeat the important message that you want to deliver. Be sure to cover the entire audience in your delivery. Not necessarily physically but attempt to get close to the audience. Do not use a barrier like a podium unless absolutely necessary. Look like you enjoy what you are doing and demonstrate that you have a passion for it. Be prudent not to overwhelm your audience with too much information. You are attempting to get the information you are presenting into their long-term memory in order to get your point across.

You will need to do the following:

1.?? Know your material.

2.?????Concentrate on the purpose of your presentation – what is the message you are delivering (stay on it).

3.?????Know your audience. Make sure you audience recognizes the “What’s in it for me?” in the presentation material.

4.?????Remember to treat your audience as they are first in importance. Gear your presentation to what they need and want to hear.

Likewise, you should utilize techniques to get the audience to listen to you longer. Typically, at the beginning of your presentation, the audience is on your side. Therefore, give more time to the introduction since this is where the audience is paying the most attention. Audiences tend to pay less attention to the body. Also, give more thought to the conclusion section since this is the last information the members of the audience will hear before they leave the event.

?MAXIMIZING THE IMPACT OF YOUR PRESENTATION

The Introduction

The introduction in a presentation sets the stage for the entire presentation. Let the audience know why you are there to present on the subject, and that you are there to help them. By the time that a speaker delivers the first few sentences, the audience begins to form an opinion, positive or negative, regarding both the speaker themselves and the topic being presented. The introduction is the point where you need to get the attention of the audience (the hook). Start with a relevant brief story, statistic, quotation, video clip, or question. Be aware that telling a joke, even if there is no obvious issue with it, can possibly lead to unforeseen problems.

Here is where the thesis or message that you want to deliver is presented. Use the introduction to describe the need and to provide a preview of the points that you are going to make in the body of the presentation where you will be providing the details.

Your presentation will require impeccable structure, but it still needs to sound like a conversation with the audience. Remember, the presenter cares about the content delivered, and the members of the audience care about the “what’s in it for me?” content. Be sure to tell the audience why the thesis is important to them.

The Body

For each topic presented, the first sentence should explain what the topic is, and why it is being discussed. In the subsequent sentences you should support and expand upon the details. The last sentence then summarizes what was said, and transitions to the next topic. The old adage, “tell me what you are going to tell me, then tell me, and then tell me what you told me” is still true. As you proceed with the presentation, continue to bring people back in by introducing the latest ideas to complement what has previously been stated. Periodically use silence to give your audience a chance to digest the material being presented.

Parallel Structure:

Parallel Structure is a technique in speaking that assists in making an idea or argument clear and easy to remember. When you connect two or more clauses or phrases with a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so) or a comma, you are using parallel structure. It means?using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. Quoting Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities as a particularly good example, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…”.?Be aware, however, not to overdo its use.

Alliteration:

An alliteration is?a literary device using a series of words that all have the same beginning consonant sound. Alliteration?adds a textural complexity to your speech that makes your words more engaging. When your speech is more appealing, your audience is more apt to pay attention and remain engaged with your words.

The words can be directly next to each other, or in close enough proximity to be noticeable.?Try to use the same word or similar words. An alliteration is easier to follow. The primary reason to use alliteration is to make use of the pleasing sound it produces that results in getting the attention of listeners. It is also a clear way to signify that the alliterative words are linked together thematically, and it puts a spotlight on the subject contained therein.

In order to employ an alliteration, think of the subject you want to emphasize. Consider words that relate to the subject and begin with the same sound. Place those words closely together in a sentence. Several appropriate examples: “If you want the audience to get it, be sure to educate,?entertain, and?explain?it to them.” “Ted talks suggest one hour of?preparation?for every minute of?presentation.” “Your Speech should be?clear,?concise and compelling.” Besides rhythm, using punch that provokes thought is equally important.

Informing and Persuading:

Communication is not only about informing, but also persuading. The three appeals, Ethos, Pathos, and Logos are?modes of persuasion?coined by Aristotle to convince audiences regarding diverse topics. Ethos (ethics) is the display of character and credibility. Speakers that display more character and higher credibility, will persuade their audience more effectively. Pathos involves the demonstration of emotion while presenting and can be amazingly effective. Finally, by employing Logos, the speaker demonstrates logic and sound reasoning by presenting facts and data.

Argument:

Know your audience and establish a purpose, thesis, and a necessity. Support any assertions that you make. Answer questions and then provide the details. If it makes sense in achieving the goal of your presentation, call your audience to action (CTA), asking your audience to do something, and repeat this CTA in your concluding remarks. Encourage questions and answer all questions as thoroughly as possible. If you do not know the answer, indicate that you are unable to answer at this time, but will provide a response within a reasonable period of time.

Organization:

For presentations of one hour or less, do not attempt to cover more than three to five well-developed main points. Begin, as described above, with an Introduction, then the Body, and end with the Concluding Remarks. Use transitions and “verbal signposts” from point to point. When necessary, re-introduce the point being discussed in order to bring the audience’s attention back. Stress, and occasionally repeat key points.

Delivery:

Execution is possibly as equally important as the subject matter. Be sure to get everything crafted into an outstanding presentation. Preparation and practice are key elements here. Be sure to project your voice loudly and clearly. Though it may seem a bit uncomfortable at first, go slowly. Present a powerful, confident first sentence. Consider memorizing the first and last sentence. Refrain from improvising here.

Start off strong and confident, then ride the momentum. Do not read directly from your slides unless you are presenting data or need to read a quotation. Control your word choice (diction) and your syntax (sentence structure and word arrangement).

Conversational Language:

Audiences want you to speak like you are speaking only to them. Your tone, pitch, and rhythm are important to hold the attention of your audience. Be sure to convey energy and passion as appropriate. Avoid verbal clutter such as filler or crutch words. In speech, filler words are?short, meaningless words (or sounds) we use to fill the little pauses that occur while we decide what we're going to say next. Examples are “um, uh, er, ah, you know, like, well, and right,” that litter our conversations whether we like it or not.

To get your message across effectively, you have to keep your audience engaged. When you use excessive fillers, audiences are less likely to hang onto your every word because the fillers get in the way of the emotional stories or fascinating material you are trying to share. Audiences want to believe that you are acting and speaking naturally — the way you might in a one-on-one conversation.?Use a slight pause instead. It may even result in making your points more effective.

Visuals:

Be sure to point to, refer to and interact with the slide being presented. Though tempting to do otherwise, use restraint when using visuals. It is often best to embrace simplicity. Avoid textured and complicated backgrounds, make effective use of contrast, and keep it relatively simple. Use a consistent font and format. Use white space effectively. There should be coherent flow from side to slide. Limit the use of animation. Use images to illustrate concepts. Simplify charts and graphs for clear representation of your data and use message headers to delineate your topics.

The Concluding Remarks

Casually, let the audience know you’re starting to wrap things up, and ensure that what you say restates the thesis and indicates the takeaways from the presentation, using simple and straightforward language.?Now that you have presented the primary content, it’s important to summarize the presentation’s main points and key takeaways before transitioning to a strong ending. It also allows you to round off your message by referencing back to the opening hook in the introduction. If you used the technique of posing a rhetorical question in your opening remarks, it can be answered now in the takeaway. An effective?presentation?will feature a call-to-action (marching orders) toward the end. You repeat your purpose for giving the presentation and explain what you want the audience to do after receiving your message.?

Do not assume the audience necessarily knows the desired next step or leave any room for a misinterpretation. Be clear and succinct. The clearer and more specific the call-to-action, the easier it will be for the individuals in the audience to take and proceed with the advice you have provided to them.?

Craft a powerful last sentence to end your presentation. Often many speakers will conclude their presentations with the call to action. But consider finishing with a decisive factor, i.e., one last vignette, compelling statistic, or memorable quote that serves to top off all of the work that you put into your presentation.?Providing such an offering often results in audience leaving with key thoughts that they will continue to contemplate.?

The Q&A Period:

During the question-and-answer period, strive to achieve direct eye contact with the individual asking the question, while not appearing to lose contact with the rest of the audience. Use open gestures to reinforce key words and points. Remain cool, positive, and upbeat even with hostile questions. Keeping your composure in answering a question is equally important as the answer you provide. Always maintain a conversational tone, but periodically vary your pitch and volume.

Employ organization in your Q&A segment. Frame and/or segment your answers. If you have to deliver “bad” news, try to use the sandwich techniques (good news/bad news/good news). When asked questions to which you don’t know the answer, rather than respond with an “I don’t know” or “No comment” — both of which make you come off as less than open or honest, indicate that this something you currently do not have an answer, but will get back to them with an answer at a later time, or you can put them in touch with someone who can better provide an answer. Then, if possible, complete your response with the phrase, “But I can tell you what I do know is that …” or “But what I can tell you is that…”?and then complete the sentence with a relevant fact.

IN CONCLUSION

I highly encourage you to consider utilizing some if not all of the specific presentation techniques presented and discussed in this article. These are proven strategies and tactics to assist a speaker in delivering a flawless presentation and attaining the objectives that they sought to achieve.

Do not let the valuable investment that you have made in preparing and delivering a fact-filled presentation fail to reach your audience, denying them the information that they can put to beneficial use. You need to capture and hold your audiences’ attention. Unfortunately, as it has been stated by Alexa Harrison, typically “Four out of five professionals said they?shifted their focus?away from the presenter during the last presentation they attended.” You cannot afford to let this happen to you.

To ensure success, heed these words from Lily Walters, "The success of your presentation will be judged not by the knowledge you send but by what the listener receives." As you prepare for developing and delivering your next outstanding presentation, consider employing the points made in this article so that that the material that you deliver is well-received and memorable, resulting in the successful achievement of your presentation’s objectives.?

Al Pucino, Ph.D
Principal & Founder
*essentialMFGconcepts*
[email protected]
www.essentialMFGconcepts.com