It’s no wonder so many people don’t feel comfortable presenting. It’s like a disaster waiting to happen. For example, you could:
Faint, throw up, ramble, bore, forget, amble, become parched, blush, not know, say too much, say too little, humiliate yourself, not be funny, stutter, not shut up, patronize, condescend, shake, and in general make a mess of yourself
But wait, there’s more! The 2 biggest mistakes any presenter, teacher, executive, sales professional, sales trainer, rev manager, general manager, chairman, or parent can make are these:
1. A self-centered perspective
2. Providing only information
I watched a presenter faint once. He had stayed up all night to work on his presentation. No sleep, too much coffee, lots of pressure. But you know what? Before he fainted, he greeted every person in the room. He looked people in the eye. He asked questions about what they needed to get from the session. People knew he cared about them more than he cared about his lack of sleep or the pressure he was feeling. No one was happy that he fainted but more for his sake than their own. They took care of him because they knew he was trying to take care of them!
When audiences know you deeply, passionately care that they grasp it so that they can be happier/more successful/wealthier, they’ll forgive you almost everything.
And about the second biggest mistake…information only, consider this: Once your listeners hear the information, then what? Almost every presentation is about changing behavior; they’ll use the information and data you’re providing in some way at some time to gain some additional success. Dump information and you waste the opportunity to make a difference.
Be the first to agree or disagree!
Sue,
You are absolutely right.
The point of presenting is to connect with your audience.
Connecting is a lot of things: communicating, associating, relating. Connecting with your audience involves them in the core of what you are saying in your presentation, in the ideas and information you are giving them. At a deeper level, you’re not just giving a speech; you’re creating a two-way interchange based on common interests.
When we connect with something, we bind it to us. Before you start feeding information to your audience, take in some information from them. They are always talking to you — non-verbally. Ask them questions and involve them in the process. Really listen to their questions; paraphrase them for understanding. To influence an audience, thereby getting your message to them, they must trust you. We all tend to trust people we feel connected to. In your presentations, create a sense of shared experience with your audience, so you’ll both get something out of it.
Presenting from a self-centered perspective and just presenting information are two good ways to never become connected with an audience and thereby become ineffectual.
[...] Says: The 2 Biggest Mistakes Presenters Can Make — “For example, you could: Faint, throw up, ramble, bore, forget, amble, become [...]