PUBLIC SPEAKING IS COOL!

Recently I was giving a new role in my office and I love it. I was told to join the newly formed Client Services Dept so I have a new assignment and work load (not that I am complaining :* ). I drew up a presentation and went Nestlé as my first assignment and before I got back to the office that same day, my boss called me to say we got the job (yaaaaay, not that I am bragging).

I am researching a lot on presentation and what it takes to hit it off with clients and I want to share. Pastor George used presentation style a lot for his seminars and I drew resources and gained insights from him(he was pastor in my former church). What I gained from him was priceless because I saw him design those slides and make adjustments.

So for readers of my blog that probably need priceless ideas on how, what, when and why presentation is important for sales and marketing or just maybe your company dropped the opportunity on your lap as it did mine; this is for YOU!

First Rule of Great Presentations

A great presentation does not just happen. It is planned, rehearsed then delivered with flair. A good presenter is one who learns the skills of presentations - not one who hopes for talent to carry them. Public speaking is a set of skills not a talent. You can be a good presenter if you learn the skills for presentation success. You will be a great speaker if you learn from every presentation you deliver. Great presenters start as poor speakers – then they get better.

Purpose of your presentation

Imagine that you have been scheduled to speak to a group. An important question for you to review is “Why am I delivering this presentation?”  Don’t answer, “Because I was asked.” Instead ask why does this group need to hear from you? What message is so important that you must take their time to speak to them? You must be clear on the purpose of your speech before you can write it. Please don’t give a speech just because you are the boss. Don’t waste their time and embarrass yourself. Have something worthwhile to say. If you start by knowing what you want to happen then you will begin to create an effective speech.

Design your presentation backwards

The most common way to write your speech is to start at the beginning and write to the end. That is not an effective way to write a speech. Instead write the speech backwards. Start with the destination and work back to the opening. You will write your speech faster and clearer if you start with the end in mind. Know your purpose. Write the closing line that hammers home your message. Then write the points to support that close. Then write your opening that launches you into that presentation. Designing your speech is also a set of communication skills.

Presentation Structure

There are many presentation structures that you can choose from. When you speak to a business group the most effective approach is to state your conclusions first, the actions required then follow with supporting information. That would be an effective business speech.

 The most boring and ineffectual presentation style to use with a business group is the scientific method. The scientific method starts with a problem, followed by a hypothesis, a method, results and conclusion. That sounds logical but most people in business today do not have the patience to listen to that litany. I didn't bother using it at all and I achieved better results. They (clients) want the answer first. Speak – don’t lecture

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Pain and Relief Strategy

An effective sales technique is to first reveal or describe their pain, fear or problem. Then you offer the relief to the pain. The relief from pain and desire for pleasure are powerful motivators. Just don’t dwell on the pain too long. You are there to provide the solutions, aren't you?

Illustrating your main points

We need images to understand. A good image for the accountant and numbers type is a chart. Bankers, financial planners and money folk love charts and graphs. Use pie charts, bar graphs and piles of coins to illustrate and emphasize your points when talking to financial types. Images can contribute more to the success of your presentation then words. I used a lot of groceries stuffs and pictures since that was what I was marketing and I made sure that every slide had something pictorial about it. Picture conveys powerful message and the more the pictures, the more it appeals to clients who in turn will appreciate your presentation and buy what you have to sell.

Tell Stories

Tell stories. Paint word pictures that create images in the listeners’ minds. If they can see it they are more likely to understand and remember your message. The best public speakers are storytellers Use stories and anecdotes to illustrate and reinforce the main points of your presentation. Learn to master the skill of storytelling. Listen to newscasters, entertainers and other speakers.

 The best stories are personal. Because they are yours - they are easier to remember and they make your presentation unique. We listen to stories. We hate lectures. The way to find personal stories that can be used in your presentations is to write them down. Make a list of significant things that happened to you and those around you; the first time… the best, the worst, the biggest mistake, the best break, the greatest ah-ha, the funniest moment, the most frustrating incident, the dumbest thing you did, the most embarrassing moment…

 The things that hurt you the most make the best stories to tell in your presentations. Rehearse your stories to edit them down into a short story that is easy to listen to.

Researching your presentation

Get your facts straight. Don’t stand there saying, “I think so” or “I’m not sure.”  Don’t lie and pretend to know something you do not. So spend time collecting and confirming your information. Too many public speakers are quick to present their opinions without providing clear substance. Avoid that trap. Do a quick search on one or a few of the Internet search engines to find some new insights on the topic of your presentation. These Internet ‘facts’ might not be confirmable so present them as what you found – ‘Stuff from the Internet’.

I remember Pastor George always saying whatever you need to know, Google is your best teacher. My boss went through my slides and when he noticed that I spelt Nestlé as Nestle, he quickly corrected me. Little mistakes as not spelling the company’s name right, assumption, over confidence and over sights can kill off your chance and make you lose the job or services you intend to provide to clients.

Remembering and Rehearsing your Presentation

Remember and rehearse your speech on your feet at least three times. It is okay to rehearse parts of it in your car or sitting at your desk. But because you will deliver in on your feet – you rehearse the speech on your feet. It feels different when you speak on your feet. Get used to the feel of delivering your presentation. The best way to reinforce a set of skills is by repeating the pattern the way you plan to deliver. Golfers and musicians rehearse their patterns so the skills of the big day are natural to them.

The best public speakers do not memorize their presentation. Instead know your topic and the issues. Then make notes for yourself. But don’t read your speech.

Overcoming the fear of public speaking

In most cases the symptoms of the fear are not noticeable to your audience. You might feel terrified but your audience doesn't know. There are several ways to get past speech anxiety. Focus on the success of your presentation. Before you step up to speak take a couple of slow deep breaths. Speak slowly. Don’t let it run away from you.

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Edited from presentationskills.ca