Its not what you say that makes a difference, its how you say it.
Often we dont have a choice over the content of our presentation: it is given to us by the nature of our work or the reason we need to present. The thing is, its not the content that determines whether we are effective, its how we present that content that makes the difference.
Recently I had the privilege of training a group of staff at a regional city council and they felt half the problem was the 'dry" content of the material. After working with one individual, he came & saw me the next day and said he had written a 12 bar blues song on the content of his presentation. I invited him to present to the class that day, firstly using his original technique, secondly using his new "song" so they could see how far he had moved. It was essentially the same content, just a different mode of delivery.
The difference was, of course, astounding. The song he had written was both entertaining and informative, but here's the key: at the end of the day I asked the class what he had told us in the song presentation. Amazingly, everyone remember the detail of the content...and we are talking percentages here. Everyone remembered the percentages that he mentioned and how they applied! That is an effective presentation!
Now, I know you aren't going to do a song at your next conference or board room presentation but it does raise a point. Dont think that a bored audience comes from the content, it comes from the presenter.
As an exercise, pick a simple to remember point from your presentation then try delivering it in a range of different styles. Use film/movie/TV genres or your impersonation of different actors....Sesame Street, John Wayne, TV Soap...about 6 should do it. Deliver them to an audience if possible, but in a mirror at least and deliver them "full on". In other words, let go of your desire to look good and give it everything you've got...an academy award performance please(or at least your attempt at one)!.
Then, go back & rehearse your presentation, looking for different, more interesting ways to deliver the content. You may surprise yourself at the different energy you will bring to the same material.
Recently I had the privilege of training a group of staff at a regional city council and they felt half the problem was the 'dry" content of the material. After working with one individual, he came & saw me the next day and said he had written a 12 bar blues song on the content of his presentation. I invited him to present to the class that day, firstly using his original technique, secondly using his new "song" so they could see how far he had moved. It was essentially the same content, just a different mode of delivery.
The difference was, of course, astounding. The song he had written was both entertaining and informative, but here's the key: at the end of the day I asked the class what he had told us in the song presentation. Amazingly, everyone remember the detail of the content...and we are talking percentages here. Everyone remembered the percentages that he mentioned and how they applied! That is an effective presentation!
Now, I know you aren't going to do a song at your next conference or board room presentation but it does raise a point. Dont think that a bored audience comes from the content, it comes from the presenter.
As an exercise, pick a simple to remember point from your presentation then try delivering it in a range of different styles. Use film/movie/TV genres or your impersonation of different actors....Sesame Street, John Wayne, TV Soap...about 6 should do it. Deliver them to an audience if possible, but in a mirror at least and deliver them "full on". In other words, let go of your desire to look good and give it everything you've got...an academy award performance please(or at least your attempt at one)!.
Then, go back & rehearse your presentation, looking for different, more interesting ways to deliver the content. You may surprise yourself at the different energy you will bring to the same material.
Comments