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Are you uninterested in sitting and watching boring presentations? I know I’m. With all the attention on business communications, you’d think people would pay more attention to creating engaging presentations. After all, presentations assist you close deals, present ideas, attract attention, and much more. So why hasn’t there been more emphasis on presentation content and presentation skills?
Unfortunately, some consultants and trainers focus on being a good presenter and downplay the importance of wealthy content. It all depends on flash memory and many simply do not know easy methods to select and organize content. Others focus on content but fail to emphasise how essential it is to deliver it effectively. Some people are simply afraid to get up and show vulnerability even in front of a small audience, let alone a huge hall.
I’m Greek and I like sharing how glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, comes from two Greek words. “Glossa” means language and “Phobos” means fear. Combine them and you have one of the most common phobias, much more common than the fear of death. People will literally do anything to avoid a presentation. False disease. Make unbelievable excuses. Give up the opportunity for advancement. All because they can not overcome their fear of public speaking.
To be effective, you could have each compelling content and be a dynamic speaker. Over the years, I have developed a list of common mistakes and easy methods to overcome them. Here are my top five.
1. Muddy news
One of the explanation why presentations are boring is that there is no clear reason for the presentation. There is a lot of “stuff” that a presenter dumps on the audience. You must take the time to think about what your audience needs to listen to, boil it all the way down to two to three messages, and provide examples to elucidate the key points. To overcome this error, start by creating an outline. Check if the content flows logically. Get rid of anything that does not support your fundamental points.
Think in sound fragments. These are short, complete thoughts that give the listener a “bite” of content. Soundbits force you to precise yourself concisely and precisely, not muddyly. The best sound attracts attention and is remembered.
2. Difficult timing
Presenters can fall victim to attempting to present too much content in the allotted time. I have seen presenters attempting to fit an hour of content into twenty minutes. They rush through the presentation to take in all the pieces. This increases their anxiety and stresses the audience. The cure for this problem is at all times to start out with a set time and then consider how much information you may absorb in that point. Pace is essential. Try recording yourself and listen back. It’s easy to listen to when the tempo is fast. Stop and breathe. Don’t feel the must fill every pause.
One more note. Less is more. You don’t have to make long presentations. If someone offers you twenty minutes and you wish fifteen, don’t attempt to stretch them. For those that struggle with fear of speaking, shorter presentations can increase confidence. The more you get up and present yourself, even for short periods of time, the easier it becomes.
3. Death in PowerPoint
We’ve all seen presenters talking into their PowerPoint and completely ignoring the audience. Are they afraid to look at people? Don’t they know the content? Did they load the slide with text, write down each sentence, and then start reading it? This results in terrible graphics and poor presentation. The audience cannot wait for the presentation to finish. Visual elements should never be the focal point. They ought to be designed to support the message. The cure for this is to limit your text to three to 4 key points. Never write complete sentences. Use the notes section to display the prompt. If you employ graphics or photos, try to maintain them daring and easy. Finally, do you really want PowerPoint? Maybe not. Don’t be afraid to go without visual elements.
4. (*5*)
When creating a presentation, you should find the perfect words and make it as interesting as possible. You write it down, copy it, and then repeat it over and all over again. People imagine that memorization helps them deliver a great presentation. The problem is that rote memorization can backfire. If you forget a key point or skip a word, your brain panics.
I’ve seen people freeze on stage because they’re trying so hard to keep in mind that perfect sentence. When they can not, they shut down. Real people don’t speak or present themselves flawlessly. Everyone makes a little mistake here or there. It’s natural, so why do we seek perfection? It’s much higher to have content bullets to guide you. Yes, practice, but experiment with alternative ways of presenting the material. It never comes out the same twice. This is what makes it interesting and dynamic. If you are unsure, use memorization sparingly. Try to recollect the opening and closing lines. This will make sure you start and end on a high note.
5. Lack of energy
You know it when you see it. A one that loves what he does and is willing to share information. Too often, presenters lack energy. Facial expression is weak. Body language screams, “I’d rather be somewhere else.” The voice is monotone and lacks presence. According to research, only 7% of the message comes from words. The rest is conveyed through body language and tone of voice – sometimes called non-verbal signals.
What are you unconsciously telling the audience? Some people are naturally more energetic, but anyone can present themselves with enthusiasm. To overcome lack of energy, make sure you are rested and hydrated. Get out of autopilot and concentrate to the room. Without enthusiasm and sincerity, the message is lost. Honestly, if you may’t get excited about the opportunity, perhaps another person should step forward.