Can you identify what each of these actions or activities have in common: 1. Motivate people to accept change; 2. Launch a new program; 3. Give a briefing at work; 4. Solicit donations for a charity; 5. Train people to use your product or service; 6. Unveil a new policy; 7. Give a sales presentation; 8. Introduce a speaker; 9. Calm angry employees; 10. Instill confidence in customers; 11. Honor a community leader; 12. Deliver new employee orientations; 13. Articulate your vision as a leader; 14. Review an employee’s performance; 15. Speak on behalf of your organization; 16. Call your dog by name.
The list could easily have dozens more ways that – you may have guessed – we
make presentations, daily! Okay, “call your dog by name” is stretching it. But, there
are many daily activities when we speak, that we present. Would you risk
ineffectiveness in ANY of these situations? I’d love to share some of the best 52 tips
with you from my professional speaking and training:
1- “Begin with the end in mind,” is habit number two of Stephen Covey. If you
present to anyone, what is the purpose of what you are talking about? Keep your
purpose in mind as you put the words together. See, hear and feel how you want
people to respond to what you say.
2- Know what you are talking about! You don’t have to experience everything you
want to say although it is always a powerful position to speak from. For example, if
you are calming an angry customer, speak from the perspective of how you feel
when you are angry. Feel, hear and see what anger means before you move to calm
them.
3 – Know your audience. One of the worst presentations I sat through was as a
member of a women business owners organization. The speaker was talking with us
as if we were employees! Talk about missing the mark. Survey enough information
about your audience to tailor your message.
4- Let the 76 trombones lead the hit parade. Both your first words and your
appearance as you first speak are important in the tone you will set for the rest of
what you say.
5 – Make a connection, build rapport, early on and through out with what you say.
Tell a story, or use an anecdote, that has universal appeal, not just application to a
few.
RIGHT ON!
Whatever you say to people, you are a visual aid. People are primarily interested in
what you have to say; not your visuals or fancy slides or overheads. You are the
message.
Copyright© Patricia Weber, http://www.prostrategies.com