Being an effective #ThoughtLeader often involves giving presentations – lots of presentations. At one time in my career, I was not a Thought Leader for the company I worked for, but a company spokesperson. My job was to give presentations at conventions, seminars, even at schools and universities, discussing key topics related to the company and its services.
Although I had been in speech classes in high school and college, that was a long time ago. So, I had to learn all over again how to give not only a good presentation but a great presentation.
Here are some of the things I learned:
Prepare Your Content
Initially, I wrote out everything I wanted to say and memorized it. This worked okay but sometimes resulted in a stilted presentation. If I ever needed to go off script, I could get flustered. In time I began to outline what I wanted to say instead. Having an outline kept my presentation focused while allowing for a conversational tone.
Tailor Your Presentation
Some famous presenters who travel from one convention to another do not bother to tailor their talks to their audiences. They figure whatever they have to say will prove valuable to anyone. That’s a mistake. Find out more about who will be attending your presentation. Students? B2B CEOs? Salespeople? Your talk must be tailored to your listeners.
Practice Does Make Perfect
As mentioned, initially, I memorized my presentations. I do not recommend memorizing a presentation, but I do recommend practicing it several times to yourself and in front of others. Also, make sure you practice without stopping. When practicing, we tend to start all over again if we stumble or make a mistake. That won’t be possible in front of a live audience. If you make a mistake – you just have to keep on going, so practice your presentation in the same manner.
Schmooze But Not Too Much
Most Thought Leaders like to make small talk with their audience for a few minutes before they start their presentation. A little schmoozing is fine. It breaks the ice for everyone. But keep it short. Schmoozing can get very dull very quickly, and you should not keep your audience waiting.
Be Careful with Teleprompters
Many presenters turn their laptops into teleprompters, whether giving a talk live or online. These can be immensely helpful but reading from a teleprompter can also build a wall between you and your audience.
The audience wants you to talk to them. You are a Thought Leader; they want to hear from you. This requires good eye contact, which is not always possible when using a teleprompter.
Use Simplified Visuals
Some presenters have spent a lot of time preparing exceptional visuals. The problem with amazing visuals is that they can become a distraction.
Presenters should include high-quality images and graphics where necessary to get the point across but beware of going overboard.
Speak Slowly
I did not realize it until someone pointed it out, but I tended to speak fast at the beginning of my presentations. As I got more comfortable on stage, I would slow down. Try to maintain a clear and steady presentation flow from start to end. It’s more engaging for the audience, and they will get more out of your presentation.
Control Your Nerves
A little stage fright goes a long way. A famous comedian once said that if he was not nervous before going on stage, he would bomb – and he was right. Same goes for Thought Leaders. When it comes to nervousness on stage, either we control the fear, or it controls us. Here are some ways to keep on top of it:
· Don’t start your presentation as soon as you get on the platform. Give yourself a few seconds to get familiar with the setting.
· Keep your feet firmly on the ground. Then, look at your audience and smile.
· Discreetly, find someone you want to start speaking to directly. Finding one person helps your talk become a conversation; most good presentations are conversations.
Read Your Audience
I was once asked to give a talk to a company’s staff. For the first ten minutes, everyone seemed interested in what I was saying and was attentive. But soon, some started to look bored. I could have plowed on and gone through the material as quickly as possible to end everyone’s misery. Instead, I stopped and asked if there were any questions on anything covered so far. Some people did ask questions. Asking and answering questions turned the presentation into a conversation – and woke most people up.
Preparing for the Q&A
During the Q&A period, you may receive a question you did not anticipate – and therefore don’t know the answer. There are many tactful ways to handle this while on stage, such as offering to connect with the person afterward when you can find the answer for them or referring the person to a different resource. But the best way to handle this before the presentation is to prepare. Practicing in front of different groups can help elicit questions you hadn’t thought of before. Try to anticipate all questions that might arise, so you are prepared to answer them.
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