A lot goes into preparing for a successful presentation or public speaking assignment, but for most people, by far the most effort revolves around developing their content. We agonize over every fact, every detail; we carefully craft every phrase and then lovingly synthesize it all into one glorious, powerful document. However, all too often, once we stand before our audience and deliver this magnificent piece of rhetoric – reading each of those very precious words and bits of data straight off the page – the result is rather less than we had hoped for. What went wrong?
Most likely, there was nothing wrong with your content. However, as I have emphasized many times from these pages, the most important keys to a successful presentation are not connected to your content. Research has demonstrated that the actual words and information you deliver only contribute 10% of the believability impact your audience is looking for. Your tone of voice accounts for an additional 30% of the power of your presentation. However, far and away the factor with the greatest impact on your speech – at 60% -- is your body language, gestures and eye contact. Now, you tell me, what is the effect on your body language if you are riveted to a podium, staring at your notes and reading them word for word?
Just stop and think of this for a moment and you will see how ludicrous that really is. This runs completely counter to the way that we humans normally interact with each other. Imagine if a young couple on their first date interacted with each other during dinner by staring down at preprinted scripts, reading their responses to each other word for word! When you and your buddies go out for drinks after work, do you sit calmly and read from a carefully prepared list of comments? When people are really interested in communicating with each other and connecting with each other, they invest their entire physical presence in the process. Enthusiastic gestures, soulful eye contact, nuanced voices that rise and fall in tone and intensity to match the emotions they are feeling, moment by moment – all of these things contribute to being trusted and understood when we are talking -- and really communicating – with those around us every day. Once you remove 60% to 90% of these elements (you can still vary your tone of voice to some degree when you are reading a speech, though it doesn’t sound or feel really natural), what you have left is generally flat, uninspired and boring.
Presentations are not really about content; they are about communicating information in a persuasive way that moves people to take action. You can’t be truly persuasive if your attention is riveted on a printed text, no matter how important the information is. Okay, I know that most “very important” speeches and presentations are read word for word – presidential addresses, major political speeches, annual remarks by the CEO to the stockholders, sermons delivered during certain solemn occasions, etc. That doesn’t make them great presentations. Don’t you find most presidential addresses painful and boring to sit through? If you do listen at all, it is usually in spite of the fact that it is boring. You persevere simply because you are hoping to learn something important about an issue you care about (and you are usually disappointed!). However, if you have ever watched a politician on the campaign trail winding up an old-fashioned stump speech, you will be even more convinced of the power of appearing spontaneous, natural and unrehearsed in a way that really connects with your audience.
Notice I emphasized “appearing” unrehearsed. The best way to pull this off is to prepare thoroughly and then practice intensely. After all, even though it takes more than content to deliver an effective presentation, your content is still the reason you go to all of this trouble! If you want to make sure your important message comes across with maximum effectiveness, follow these guidelines:
1. Begin by writing your speech out word for word.
2. Take that speech and turn it into an outline.
3. Turn that outline into what speech writers call “talking points,” which are the key words, ideas or phrases you want to emphasize.
4. Transfer these talking points onto index cards, written in large print so they are easy to read at a glance.
5. Practice, practice, practice. Begin by reading and rereading the full text of your word for word speech until you start to have the flow and concepts almost memorized. Then switch to your talking point cards and see if you can’t recapture the essence of your written speech in a more relaxed, conversational style which leaves you room to move about, make gestures and keep eye contact with the audience.
6. Review your keywords just before the speech. Be sure each word reminds you of the complete point you need to make.
7. During your presentation, glance at your cards when shifting from one point to the next. Sneak a peek but return your eyes quickly to the important task of making eye contact with the audience. One easy way to do this is to check your notes only when moving or making a gesture. The audience will notice the movement but probably miss the fact you are checking your notes at the same time.
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March Presentation Quick Tip of the Month – Protect Your Voice
Often when preparing for an important presentation we obsess over a thousand little details – the PowerPoint slides and projector, the microphone, our personal appearance and, of course our notes and presentation materials. What is the one obvious factor not on this list? The voice! What if the big day dawns and you wake up sounding like Froggy from the old Little Rascals movies? All your work to make a good impression goes right down the drain. Be smart; protect your voice. Avoid smoking and prolonged shouting (like you might find at sporting events or rock concerts), and keep your voice well hydrated at all times. The vocal folds' protective cushioned layers need to be kept moist to stay healthy. Caffeine, alcohol and some drugs prevent the body from retaining water. Limit tea or coffee, soft drinks, alcohol etc. - no more than 2-3 per day. Drink as much water as possible, up to 6-8 glasses per day, even more if you are working in a dry environment.
