This short clip from Sister’s Act illustrates the need to change the way you have been presenting. Engage your audience with new ways of doing something, of change and excitement.

Try not to dwell on the faces that are stern and serious and get out there and enjoy yourself! Share your messages in a way that others will hear it. Then watch the tranforming joy.

ShareThis

ShareThis

You can use these stories as openings, closings or illustration for your presentation points. Go get that notebook today from the dollar store if you have to.

ShareThis

ShareThis

ShareThis

ShareThis

It takes 30 seconds or less for an audience to decide to listen or tune out.

Your opening must grab and focus attention.
Most people I coach have difficulty getting started. People are most nervous at the beginning of a speech. Even when their speech is well organized they hem and haw during their opening.
It’s like revving up a car on a cold, winter day. It takes time to get the motor running.
They may start with “So…I want to tell you about…” or “Good morning, um, I think my idea is, I feel this is a good idea..”

This scattered approach will set you up for failure. Your opening must be crisp and focused. The way to achieve that is to write your opening line and memorize it.
Recently, I worked with someone who had a technology product that would benefit the audience. But it took the speaker too long to get to the point.

We worked on refining the opening: “I’m going to show you a way to make your life easier. It will enable you to pull the data faster.”
The speaker captured their attention, focused the presentation, and sounded more confident.
The presentation was a success.

When it comes to opening statements-less is more.

ShareThis

That’s right sing a part of your presentation and listen for how you are forced to put more inflection certain words. Why? Because you would bore yourself if you just spoke the words without any “beat” of the music.

So, find some music ,without the words, and add the words of your presentation to it.

ShareThis

ShareThis

When the entire presentation is focused on the Powerpoint you will run the risk of killing your audience! I know those are fighting words but you must be an audience participant to understand how it feels to come alive only when the presentation is OVER. How many people have you seen coming out of a presentation looking like “road kill”?.

So my suggestion has always been to provide transitions in your Powerpoint presentation. Think of the transition like a commercial between your TV movie. Even if you are asleep when the commercial comes on it will often wake you up. Why?, mostly because the volume or vocal tones goes up.

So let’s pump up the volume of our Powerpoints by adding an audio or video.  You have the option of introducing the audio or video before the slide appears. Or you can simply press  the letter B  on your keyboard to blacken the screen in a room with lights on or W on your keyboard to create a white screen when the lights are off.

Use this as a transition to introduce to audio or video slide by interacting with the audience. You could ask them to listen or observe something specific. You can also use this technique after you have played the slide to ask them questions or generate a discussion. Either way you are keeping them AWAKE.

Here are two resources you can use. If you know of others just make a comment below.

Add audio or video resource #1 

Add audio or video resource #2 

Keep rapping, tapping and acting,

Rosie

ShareThis