I have a confession to make.
I have been guilty of putting people to sleep during my presentations.
Unfortunately not once, but many times.
I could blame it on the complexities of tech topics or the dryness of the subject.
I could always console myself by saying that at least it's not as sleep inducing as financial presentations (sorry my friends in Finance).
Though deep down I knew even the most complicated and dry topics can come alive.
As with anything, it's a skill and can be improved upon.
Thus I turned over to my friend Christopher Chin, Communication Coach for Tech Professionals at the Hidden Speaker and LinkedIn Top Presentations Voice, for some much needed advice.
He shared with me these 5 game-changing insights on crafting and delivering engaging presentations:
1. Don’t put everything you want to say on your slides: If you do, you become redundant as a presenter, because the audience can read everything themselves.
2. Every slide must have one (and only one) message: Use visuals and concise text/key points to represent that message.
3. Slow down: When you get up to present, you will probably speak faster than you think. Make a conscious effort to slow down and pause in between your points, so the audience has time to absorb what you’ve said.
4. The best way to ensure a great presentation is rehearsal: Record yourself before you present and watch it back. Then you can pretend to be someone in the audience and identify ways to iteratively improve your performance.
5. The best way to overcome nerves is over-preparation. If you know your material inside and out, backwards and forwards, there’s no reason to be nervous - you’re the expert!
By integrating these, you won't just present; you'll captivate. Say goodbye to snoozing attendees and hello to a gripped audience.
Omar Halabieh
