By Cyndi Maxey and Kevin E. O’Connor
Even the best presenters get nervous. Normal nervousness is very, very normal. The abnormal kind is the worst of all and it is often self-induced. You arrive late, audiovisual is nowhere to be found, you tell a joke that has been told by a prior speaker, or you see nothing but vacant looks on the faces of your audience.
None of this is ever the fault of the audience, audiovisual company, or the limo driver. It is always the speaker who is responsible.
Don’t fall on your face by learning the secrets of presenting like a pro.
1. Check out your tools and territory. Get there early. Ask the maintenance person to open the room; remove or relocate chairs that won’t be needed. They are energy leaks. By that we mean the closer your audience is to one another without empty seats, the better the learning environment, the deeper the discussion, and the more laughs you’ll get from your humor. Check your projector and have a dry run. Depend on no one for this. If things don’t work, the audience never thinks it is the audiovisual guy’s fault, only the speaker’s.
2. Find out where you fit in. What will your audience be doing before and after you speak? Are you the fifth speaker, the third, or the last item before lunch? Often an administrative assistant can help you with this. This is vital because the last thing you want to do is to come only for your spot on the program. Sit in on as much as you can prior to your part, eat with the participants, talk about their work challenges, see how they respond to the other presenters, notice the strengths of the presenters as well as their errors, and be aware of the energy in the room.
3. Know your champions. Send an email to those who support you who will be present. Let them know your main points and ask their feedback in advance. Before you send them this email, however, ask them what they think should be highlighted with this simple question, “What do you think this audience needs to hear, know, and feel by the time I am finished with my presentation?†In this way they will give you valuable input and then you can craft your talk and send them a final email confirming your understanding.
4. Have varied versions. A pro has several versions of a 60-minute talk. Most of the time you will be asked to shorten your presentation. Know what slides you’ll leave out and what examples to keep. Never, ever, speed through slides by saying, “I only have five minutes and twenty slides left.†This is not only the mark of a rank amateur; it is a critical error for a sales presentation where building credibility and image is key. Do you have to shorten your talk? Then have a slide here and there where you could stop. The audience will never know how many slides you have left. What they will know is that you finished on time! That, as you may know, is very much appreciated by every audience.
5. Practice like crazy tonight. Know your opening cold. This is when you are most nervous. Say it out loud three times in the car on the way there or as you shower in the morning. The first four minutes of your presentation are when the audience is deciding if you are worth listening to. It is also the time of most anxiety on your part. A rehearsed, not ever memorized, four minutes will help. Memorizing rarely works because if you miss one word…help!
6. Look into their eyes. The eyes of an audience don’t lie. They alert you as to what to do next. They will tell you whether they believe you…or not. And then you must adjust accordingly. Therefore, only look into sympathetic eyes! Steer clear of the tough audience member. Look for support, connection, and interest and you will find it.
7. Take questions as they occur. Nobody really likes a q/a period; they want to ask as you go. If you can follow this free form format, do so. But stay on topic. Keep your answers short and link them back to the content. If you don’t want the questioner to ask a follow-up question, just end your answer by looking at someone else, then go back to your talk.
8. Begin with the beginning. Don’t fall into the trap of saying, “Thank you, I know you’re busy. This won’t take long. Sorry to be last…†or whatever excuse pops into your brain at the moment you stand up. Say a planned opening line, such as, “I’m proud to present the research we have for you.†Never say who you are, where you are, how the weather is, how you enjoyed or hated the flight, or any other common opening that audiences tolerate but hate. Go to your opening and say it with conviction. Audiences love a speaker who is certain, even when they disagree. They devour speakers who plead for acceptance. Therefore, throw “meat†to your audience in the form of a conclusion, a content question, or a story. Then tell them who you are if need be—never the reverse.
9. Close with the closing. Rehearse this also well in advance and allow time for a dignified, important closing that reflects back to your opening in some way. Never finish with the infamous “That’s all folks…†or you will sound and appear weak. Your closing is as important as your opening.
10. Follow up immediately. Before the end of the day send handwritten thank-you notes. Nobody does it this quickly and you will be distinguished by doing so. Offer ongoing help, send one more idea, and be ready to follow up as needed.
Falling flat on your face is never an accident. When you prepare like a pro and execute like a pro you will be seen as presenting like a pro.
