Three things for formidable presentations

Like it or not, we present ideas every day. From the big event, like a speech at a friend’s wedding, to the moments your career are built on, like interviews or stock pitches, to the mundane, like suggesting Netflix and chill is a far superior evening activity to dinner with the in-laws. There are many ways of going about presentations, and I’ve found the below points have been a huge help no matter the context.

1. Don’t prepare a speech

Preparing a speech means you’ll probably write it down.
Writing it down means you’ll probably read it.
Reading it means you’ll not engage with your audience.
Not engaging with your audience means they won’t engage with you.
If the audience doesn’t engage with you, there’s little point to a presentation.

I understand why you’d do it, presentations can be intimidating and you don’t want to look inept in front of other people. These are all things I’ve felt before but solving the problem this way (with apologies to PG Wodehouse) is like searching for the leak in life’s gas pipe with a lit match. It’ll end in disaster.

So what should you do instead? Remember a few key points or signposts in your presentation and link them up with dialogue. It is far easier to remember four key points than a 600 word speech. Why else? Because if there’s a question/interruption/heckler in the middle of the presentation (remember it’s a dialogue), you can stop, answer it and go back to the point you were on rather than drone on, or stumble around finding your place in the 600 word sea.

It also means you can alter your pitch as necessary on the go. If the audience gets it, move on, if they’re looking lost, perhaps it’s time to explain in more detail.

2. The audience should believe you can do without them

Why should you present like this? Because people tend to simply copy your opinion of yourself. If you think you’re wasting your audience’s time, they’ll think you are too. If you behave like you have valuable insights or seriously entertaining content, the audience is much more likely to engage with you.

Think of a good presentation as a dialogue between equals, even if you’re presenting to someone much further up the food chain. It is most certainly not a servant’s plea for the master’s attention. The “master” has already asked you to present and is there to hear what you have to say.

3. Define what you need before you start

When the presentation is over and the applause has died down (or they’ve run out of rotten fruit) what would you like to have achieved? Do you need a yes from the audience, or do you merely need to avoid a no? Do you want to change your audience’s opinion, or simply inform future debate?

Interviews are an excellent example: what’s the difference between a first and subsequent interview? Fundamentally? In round one, the associate rolls into the interview room having ruthlessly culled a stack of resumes at a rate of six per minute. They must further cull this short list into a group of people they’re willing to present to their boss. In this kind of presentation, you want your audience to say yes. Present as such.

Come the later rounds, few people remain in the interview process. Most are probably good enough to do the job and it’s mostly about fit. The interviews are usually less formal and held with more senior people. In this instance you don’t need them to say yes, you just want to avoid a no. In fact, presenting as though you need a “yes” in the second interview will probably harm your chances as you’ll seem over eager and the interviewer will get the impression you can’t believe your luck in making it this far.

If you’re interested in reading up on pitches and presentations “Life’s a Pitch” by Mavity and Bayley is a fantastic resource. What are your thoughts WSO? Anything to add? Or perhaps you disagree entirely?

 
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