| "With presentation skills, the work is in the | | | | getting a list of all attendees, their phone numbers |
| preparation, the fun is in the presentation." Colleen | | | | and email addresses. I like to "interview" at least 3 |
| Kettenhofen | | | | people who will be attending. Often times they'll |
| To improve presentation skills, allow plenty of | | | | come up with other pertinent issues that the |
| time, if at all possible, to find out exactly who will | | | | contact person may not have known about or |
| be in your audience. Consider obtaining some of | | | | simply forgot to mention. |
| their names, phone numbers and email addresses | | | | If your presentation is to a client, or potential new |
| so you can do a "survey" or interview to find out | | | | client, keep apprised of their company news, goals |
| more about their needs, challenges and | | | | and objectives. What is an average work day like |
| expectations before the day you present. Are | | | | for the participants in your audience? What are |
| they colleagues or clients you've personally | | | | their greatest challenges? And if applicable, how |
| invited? What will be the attitude of your | | | | does your product or service help solve their |
| participants? In other words, do they want to be | | | | problem? |
| there or is attendance mandatory? Are you going | | | | Presentation skills = defining your purpose. Ask |
| to be presenting any "bad news" or information | | | | yourself, "What is my purpose in being here?" |
| they may not want to hear? | | | | And, "Why are they here?" Everyone is always |
| In my seminars, people often tell me that two of | | | | tuned in to "Radio Station WIIFM," which stands |
| their biggest presentation skills challenges are "how | | | | for, "What's in it for me?!" So, how does what |
| to handle a hostile audience," and "how to present | | | | you're talking about address their problem, the |
| bad news." If you start by knowing who will be in | | | | "what's in it for me?" |
| attendance, what their expectations are, as well | | | | In addition to interviewing individuals ahead of your |
| as their objections, you can then begin to prepare | | | | presentation, do "meets and greets" if time |
| your presentation. Other than rehearsing, nothing | | | | permits. Get to know people one-on-one right |
| will improve presentation skills more than knowing | | | | before your talk. It will calm your nerves and you'll |
| details about your audience. | | | | no longer see them as total strangers. Also, it |
| Incidentally, studies show that by rehearsing and | | | | shows you're taking an interest in them. Often by |
| truly being prepared, you can reduce nervousness | | | | talking one-on-one beforehand, you discover a |
| by 75%. If you take the word "rehearse," and | | | | wealth of new information you may want to bring |
| delete the "se," what word do you have? | | | | up in your presentation. |
| "Rehear." When you rehearse, you are actually | | | | In improving your presentation skills by knowing |
| rehearing yourself. In addition, 95% of the | | | | your audience ahead of time, here are some |
| success of your presentation is determined | | | | questions to ask yourself:o What is the attitude |
| before you present. So knowing something about | | | | of the audience? Do they want to be there? o |
| your audience, and then rehearsing the | | | | What are their approximate ages? o What is the |
| information, will greatly improve presentation skills. | | | | percentage of males to females? o What are |
| Your main source of information will be the | | | | their levels of education? o What is their technical |
| individual who invited you to speak. When you ask | | | | expertise? o What about their geographic |
| questions, it also gives the impression that you're | | | | locations in terms of home base? o What about |
| conscientious and meticulous in planning and | | | | their cultural make up? |
| preparation. Also, find out if there are any issues | | | | Remember, 95% of your presentation skills |
| sensitive to the group or topics to be avoided. | | | | success is determined before your presentation. |
| What about any cultural differences or language | | | | What do you know about your audience? How |
| barriers? | | | | can you incorporate that information into the |
| Before I give a keynote speech or lead a | | | | tailoring of your presentation? The work is in the |
| breakout session at a conference, I inquire about | | | | preparation, the fun is in the performance. |