Do You Have the Necessary Skills to be that “Good” Presenter?
By John Fallon
Our ability to communicate orally and visually is one of the most-needed attributes for success in the business sector. This is a new concept for many of us. With the need for communicating ideas and information now becoming everyone's job, we realize that public speaking and presenting aren't the same beast.

     When compared to public speaking, presentations make greater use of visual communication, demonstrations, interactive audience participation, humor, and have a higher entertainment value. Presentations demand applying a huge body of knowledge and skills that excellent presenters make look natural, but in reality, it's an acquired talent.
    Seeing a final presentation is just the tip of a huge iceberg. The amount of work and time that goes into preparing what is seen and heard is mind-boggling. However there is good news. Neither the knowledge nor the skills are difficult to learn and contrary to popular belief, good presenters are made, not born. Now, we have to ask ourselves the question… do we have the necessary skills to be that "good" presenter?

    For those of you who need a few helpful hints in becoming good presenters, remember that most "total package" presentations are developed and designed from three areas: the message, the messenger and the medium.

     The Message:
1.   To determine your message, find the "core" idea you want your audience to remember, then develop three to seven points that will support your message. Remember, the amount of points you have may be determined by the amount of time you have to present. Don't have more than seven points because your audience will become overwhelmed with information. "Twitterize" your information and make it "short and sweet" for the audience to absorb. Try to have no more than three points per presentation, that way you'll know you're delivering all the right information in small packets.
 
2.   Be sure to incorporate personal stories into the message. Even though
it's cliché, the adage, "a picture is worth a thousand words," is still
viable today. When you're using stories, you're creating "mental" images for
your audience. People love stories, and when you conversationalize your
stories and "tell" them like a storyteller, you'll create emotional
attachments between you, your audience and the topic. Remember, emotion wins over logic!

3.   Make sure that you have a good "opening hook" (an attention getter for
the audience), several "timely grabs" (similar to opening hooks but found
spaced throughout your message), and a "call to action" (which is what you
want to see your audience do as a result of your presentation). In any
presentation, you want to immediately get the audience's attention, keep
their attention throughout the presentation, and excite them enough to want
to take some type of action at the end of your presentation. A good
presentation generates excitement on many different levels.

The Messenger:
1.   The physicals and vocals of your presentation will be what helps you
create a relationship with your audience, so use your facial expressions,
vocal inflections, gestures, and body movements to develop that relationship and reflect the content of your message. Incorporate all your vocals and physicals into the storytelling process, they're part of your story as well.

2.   Find those qualities about your presentation delivery techniques that are
going to distract your audiences. Audio tape yourself and really listen to
the quality of your voice. Re-play the recording in "fast forward" and if you're moving all over the stage, chances are your movements are going to distract your audience.

3.   Dress for success and your role. You are the presenter and even though
the presentation isn't about you, dress so you physically and visually
create no distractions that will cause your audience to lose the message.

The Medium:
1.   With whatever software you're using to create and deliver your "digital
storytelling,” make sure that the technology doesn't become the focus of
your presentation. Moving text, transitions, and other pointless animations
can cause so much distraction that the audience loses the message
entirely.

2.   Use images on slides in place of text to support your message. Most
audiences will remember images before they'll remember text, charts, and
statistics. Also make sure that you use quality images.

3.   Design your digital storytelling support material last. In most cases
when people are told to deliver a presentation, the first thing they do is
open up the software, create the support, and THEN develop the message. Start with pen and paper first and end with the technology. The message should drive the digital storytelling, not the other way around.

    Follow these guidelines and make every presentation your best! HBM
John Fallon is a Presentation Skills consultant, Speaker, Author, Performer,
Vocal Coach, Educator and PowerPoint Expert. He is well versed in speaking
to the most challenging of audiences and bringing about positive outcomes.
He is the author of several books, including "Teaching Presentation Skills"
and "Learning Pecha Kucha". He is also the creator of "PPT for Teachers," a
website of free resources for teachers and educators. To find out more about his speaking and consulting, please visit www.johnfallonpresents.com or call 864.933.2633.

Previously published in the December 2010 issue of HOME BUSINESS® Magazine, an international publication for the growing and dynamic home-based market. Available on newsstands, in bookstores and chain stores, and via subscriptions ($19.00 for 1 year, six issues). Visit http://www.homebusinessmag.com

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