A good presentation comes in many forms and on different platforms: keynotes, employee meeting, trainings, sales presentations or even a 15 second elevator pitch. Regardless of the format, there are principals to honor that invite and enable successful outcomes. Win, win for all.

1. BE INFORMATIVE: Provide value by being knowledgeable about the content. Be well prepared in the delivery of that content by eliminating irrelevant jargon and stories, and getting facts correct (research).

2. INSPIRE: There is more power in designing a presentation that will inspire people rather than one that is aimed at influencing people. Influencing tends to suggest a desired outcome that you wish for, rather than making it all about your audience. The art is in giving them a launching pad the compels them to take action because it is purely in their interest and not yours. READ my “Inspire versus Influence” blog.

3. ENTERTAIN and ENGAGE: Most of us have experienced death by powerpoint. Regardless of the richness of information, boring your audience to death shows lack of respect for them. Honor their time by being concise; keep it moving at an enthusiastic pace, offering strategic pauses for reflection and punctuation. Adding a hint of humor is always good. Oh, I almost forgot, make it interactive and experiential (see #4). In other words, add variety in the ways you present, teach and inform. It should be a little fun, a little mysterious and definitely energizing.

4. CHALLENGE: The cliche “comfort zone” comment comes to mind. Yes, push them out of their comfort zone, but not into their panic zone. Give them something to think about or savor over. Include them in the pursuit of the problem-solving process, or make them aware of an area of concern. They then become a part of the solution, and as a result of their contribution, they will be vested in the outcome of a project or the implementation of new strategy or policy.

5. BE LIKEABLE AND RELATABLE - Connect. Be kind, empathetic, approachable, vulnerable and most importantly, be honest/authentic.

To do a deeper dive into presentation skills and general communication prowess, take a look at my. Learn the 6 principals of effective communication.

Sincerely,

Vital Germaine