Have you gone to a conference, signed up for a breakout session (you were drawn in because the description left you salivating), and after it was over you left with that glazed-over look? The presenter did an excellent job of writing good copy, but fell short on delivery.
There's a huge difference between telling stories and giving a boring lecture. After I speak, my audiences are surprised by how much Q&A I incorporate into my talks. In addition to allowing for collaborative learning, I also open up and share relevant personal stories. This humanizes me. It puts me in your shoes - in the seat right next to yours so we can connect and relate to each other.
OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED
My job when speaking is not just to impart information. That's easy. I have to be transparent, humorous, adapt and speak to you on your level, and leave you with something you can take and implement or build upon.
If you haven't yet begun to speak (there are so many reasons why you should as an entrepreneur), don't put it off any longer. You have your own stories to share. I don't doubt it for one minute. Be your authentically good and genuine self on the platform. Skip the gimmicks and tricks. There's also a huge difference between a speaker and a performer.
Have you gone to a conference, signed up for a breakout session (you were drawn in because the description left you salivating), and after it was over you left with that glazed-over look? The presenter did an excellent job of writing good copy, but fell short on delivery.
ReplyDeleteWhy yes, I have, LOL.
Unfortunately it's all too common. It's the nature of people to look for acceptance among the masses and they spend so much time trying to perfect stuff so that 'everybody will like it', that they end up forgetting the key points :-P
A few things that will also help is if you can gage in advance some of the things your audience really want to get from the presentation instead of the reverse of trying to sell them on what you are offering.
Another thing I do is I create a powerpoint presentation. On that presentation write your main objectives in the first slides. Then outline the supporting points (clear objectives) after that. Use a word or a couple of words to transition the story and stop to tell a story in between certain transitions or share some statistics/trivial information. But you don't literally use the powerpoint in your presentation, it is a just a good way to prepare and get your thoughts organized in advancace.
Great post. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Shonika! That's a good way to use powerpoint without allowing it to take over your presentation.
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