  By
Marjorie Brody
These rarely discussed but highly effective techniques will have you comfortably chatting in front of groups in no time:
1. Know your “PAL.(TM)”
Before preparing any presentation for one person or for thousands, make sure you know your:
- purpose (inform, persuade and entertain)
- audience (demographics, attitudes and hot buttons)
- logistics (time allotment, number of people in the audience, time of day for presentation and room arrangements)
2. Pay attention to timing.
A good strategy for a straight presentation is to plan, prepare and practice for 75 percent of the allotted time. If you end early, no one complains. Ending late is poor planning. If you expect audience involvement, plan on 50 percent of the allotted time for presenting and 25 percent for question-and-answer sessions.
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| As long as you stay focused on the audience, in preparation, on the delivery and during the Q and A, you will be a successful presenter.
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3. All presentation material is not created equal.
When preparing your speech, consider the must know, should know and could know. Limit your material based on the time you have or the interest of your audience.
4. Speak from the heart.
Hitting the emotional buttons will create more impact and action than providing pure data. Include stories, analogies, metaphors and humor to reinforce your key points.
5. Create user-friendly notes.
As Winston Churchill said when he was asked why he carried notes but seldom used them, “I carry fire insurance, but I don’t expect my house to burn down.” Use bulleted points instead of sentences. Make the type easy to read (use a felt tip pen or minimum 18-point type, boldface, if typed). Only use the top two-thirds of the page to prevent yourself from having to look down and use different-colored highlighter pens to indicate the must/should/could know information.
6. Practice out loud.
Say it differently each time you say it. As noted by Peter Drucker, “Spontaneity is an infinite number of rehearsed possibilities.” Tiger Woods still practices.
7. Channel your adrenaline into enthusiasm.
Stage fright is a negative term for excitement. No coach tells his team to be calm. You can control your physical symptoms by breathing from the diaphragm, using positive visualization and self-talk—and, of course, by being prepared and practiced.
8. Deliver with passion.
It’s amazing how catchy enthusiasm is. If your voice is expressive and your gestures are animated, you will appear confident and passionate.
9. Be ready for the question-and-answer session.
The question-and-answer session may be more important than the actual presentation. Think ahead of all the questions that you might be asked, particularly those that might throw you. Remember to paraphrase the questions before answering them and take into account the motivation of the person asking the question. When answering the question, look at all audience members—they may have had the same question. Avoid addressing only some questions and ignoring others, and treat all questions and questioners with respect.
10. Remember that speaking is an audience-centered sport.
Avoid speaking out of ego, appearing too cocky or unprepared. As long as you stay focused on the audience, in preparation, on the delivery and during the Q and A, you will be a successful presenter.
Copyright 2005 Marjorie Brody and Brody Communications Ltd. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Marjorie Brody, CSP, CMC, PCC, is a speaker, coach to Fortune 1,000 executives and the author of more than 18 books, including Career MAGIC: A Woman’s Guide to Reward & Recognition, and Speaking Is an Audience-Centered Sport. For more information, call 800-726-7936, or visit www.MarjorieBrody.com.
APRIL 2006
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