The experience of sitting through a truly terrible presentation is nearly universal. The dozens of identically-themed PowerPoint slides stacked with text, the useless handouts, the tense, miserable minutes of silence during the time allotted for Q&A--presentations rarely energize a team or allow the speaker to fully display the depth of their knowledge.
Most people have attended one of these monstrosities and, whether anyone would willingly admit it or not, quite a few of us have likely also given one of these anemic performances.
So why are smart, talented people routinely giving lackluster presentations?
"People in business are actually quite expert in their subject matter," says Joey Asher, president of Speechworks and author of 15 Minutes Including Q & A. "The reason they give these long traditional presentations is because that’s the way they think they’re supposed to do it, that’s the way their boss does it."
And however informed and charismatic the speaker may be, presentations are nerve-wracking. They're a central part of contemporary professional communications, but few of us have devoted the time necessary to mastering excellent delivery.
"We don't take presentations as seriously as we should," says Dan Roam, author of Show and Tell: How Everybody Can Make Extraordinary Presentations. "It's like a martial art. When someone is really good at it, it looks effortless, and you don't see the practice that goes into making it look effortless."
So how can you ensure you never find yourself flailing while packed room blinks back at you?
Image courtesy of Dan Roam.
Focus On Your Audience - And Tell Them The Truth
Presence is the ultimate balancing act: Everyone wants to put on a good face for their audience, but beware of appearing like you're pedaling as-seen-on-TV snake oil.
"The moment the audience senses there’s something false about us," says Roam, "they're going to withhold that trust, and it’s hard to win back."
Asher recommends eye contact--the kind you'd give to someone in a one-on-one conversation--as a way to convey measured energy and attention throughout your presentation.
"Most people in business don’t make the kind of eye contact that they think they’re making, says Asher. "The kind of eye contact I’m talking about is the eye contact you make when you're having dinner with a close friend and talking about something you care about."
"Half As Long Is Twice As Good"
Brevity isn't just "the soul of wit," it's what's going to ensure that your audience's attention span makes it to the finish line at the same time your presentation wraps up--not before.
"Ask yourself, 'If I can only remember three things, what must I remember?'" says Asher. "Boil it down to three six-word bumperstickers. Build the message around those three."
Turn Your Anxiety Into An Advantage
Nervous about speaking in front of a group? That's fine--so is everybody else.
"Everybody that I know has moments of anxiety before they get up on stage or take the microphone," says Roam. "Anybody who says they don’t is George Clooney—or lying."
Roam says that learning to harness our nerves can be the key to gauging how ready we are to give a presentation. A few butterflies are a natural reminder that we're doing something stressful, whereas overwhelming fear and stress could be a red flag that we haven't done enough to prepare.
The remedy, says Roam, is to practice, as much as possible, in an environment as similar to the one in which you'll be speaking as is feasible. And don't worry if you don't have a photographic memory--reciting your talk is a great way to appear stiff, and should you get derailed it makes recovery that much tougher.
"Memorizing is a mistake," says Roam, "but familiarizing is essential."
In pictures: Never Give A Boring Presentation Again
Bring PowerPoint Into Present Day
Arduous presentation experiences frequently get pinned on PowerPoint but don't be fooled--Asher and Roam agree the error almost always lies with the user.
Keep your audience alert with clean slides that bear no more than one "headline" idea, one piece of text in support (or none at all) and one image. Typing the entire transcript of your remarks into slides is the fastest way to lose your listeners.
Say It With Pictures
Roam says bolstering a presentation with dynamic, appropriate imagery is a must to keep your audience thinking.
"If I’m continually providing your eye with something interesting to look at, and if I can keep it moving, I can keep your mind occupied for hours."
To maximize that interest, vary your images among photographs that speak to your ideas; diagrams, maps, or charts that support factual information; and, if you feel capable, hand drawings.
Question and answer has long languished at the end of lengthy presentations, where it's all but guaranteed to get little-to-no-attention while weary listeners eye the exits and the presenter sways nervously.
Asher says the era of the one-sided presentation is over--that's just not how people are used to interacting anymore, and trying to force them into that format is a great way to kill the energy in a room.
"People should build their presentations around Q&A," says Asher. "Rather than talking for 20 minutes and having your last slide say, 'Any questions?' you should invite people to jump in and ask questions at any time. It should be a conversation back and forth."
By keeping your presentation short and devoting equal time to questions, says Asher, you can "really connect with what the audience’s true needs are."
This is an update of a piece that ran previously.
