Whether you are a scientist, speaker or school teacher, it’s obvious to us all that the only way you become an expert in your skill is to learn and practice exhaustively.
You also need to learn from the skills of those who have gone before you and avoid making the same mistakes your predecessors have made.
Brilliant speakers don’t just wake up one morning to find themselves speaking with the clarity and confidence required to captivate an audience.
They have to work very hard to acquire and develop this highly sought after skill. Fortunately for us there are certain things the exceptional speaker does that make them such a great success that are within our gift to emulate.
If you want to improve your presentation skills, understand and apply these 10 tools that high impact speakers use to make sure they deliver a captivating and memorable
presentation which makes a difference to their audience.
1. Tell them something they don’t know
Great speakers see themselves as leaders regardless of their professional status or position. They have a strong message which they only present if:
- Their audience doesn’t know it
- Their audience doesn’t yet understand
- Their audience needs another perspective
- Their audience isn’t acting on that knowledge
The best speakers are not just leaders, they are learners too. They are constantly looking for answers; they are reading, studying and thinking all the time about how they can make a difference to their audience.
Their entire mind-set and approach is to offer something new and meaningful.
2. Create contrast
Everything about an exceptional speaker shouts ‘contrast’, ‘colour’ and ‘creativity’. They understand that if they miss anyone of those vital 3 ‘C’s they are likely to be lecturing their listeners and so will lose them in the process.
They know that a great presentation is like their watching their favourite film or reading their favourite book; it’s filled with contrast.
You will never hear a brilliant presenter stand still and speak in a monotone voice. They move their body, use vocal variety, involve their audience and create drama.
3. Tell them stories
You can give them all of the statistics that you think will impress them but the one thing your audience will remember above all else is a powerful story which is told well.
Great speakers tell stories, but not just any old story. They tell relevant, personal and powerful ones. They understand that there are 4 types of story that people enjoy more than others.
Success stories - where you triumphed over adversity.
Failure stories – which show them you are human and what you learned.
Fun stories – designed to make them feel good and to lighten the mood.
Big stories – these are often about public figures, historical events, legendary people or events they may be familiar with.
4. Drop your guard
The speakers who know how to truly connect with their audience are the ones who are not obsessed with their ego and being perfect. They are the ones who are prepared to be open, honest and even a little vulnerable.
They are prepared to drop their guard, leave the ‘corporate spokesperson’ at their desk and show their audience who they really are; how much they are like them, and how much they care.
5. Make it personal
People love personalities and the great speaker welcomes the opportunity to let theirs shine because they know they will thank them for it. As well as showing them their personality they make their entire presentation a personal experience for their audience.
They know who they are, why they came and want they want so they do everything they can to make sure they meet their personal needs.
As strange as it may sound most audiences like the idea of getting a little intimate with the speaker and so the great speakers craft that personal experience for them.
6. Give them everything
I’ve long held the belief that the one thing your audience wants from you more than anything is to see, hear and feel your personal passion for the message you are sharing. They want to know how committed and connected you are to the topic you are presenting to them and that is ultimately expressed though passion.
If they see that you really care about what it is you are saying then they will too.
7. Entertain them
Your audience are far more likely to listen to you, remember you and act on your message if they are enjoying your company. Being professional doesn’t mean you have to be deadly serious all of the time; you can lighten up, relax, enjoy yourself and help your audience to have a good time too.
Your audience are very busy people who have given up a great deal to sit there and listen to you and whilst they aren’t expecting you to become a comedian and tell them jokes they would like you to reward them for joining you.
8. Involve them
You will never see a great speaker simply talk at their audience. They keep them involved by asking them thought provoking questions to get them thinking. They ask them to close their eyes to imagine something, turn to the person sitting next to them or simply even raise their hand from time to time.
9. Make friends
Brilliant presenters understand and value the fact that their most important task is to build a strong rapport with their audience. They do everything they possibly can before they even stand to present to them to get to know as many of them as they can.
They will go out of their way to contact and speak directly with as many of the audience as they can well before they even turn up for the presentation. On the day of the presentation itself the speaker will always arrive as early as possible to meet and introduce themselves to as many people as they can before they speak.
10. Own the stage
You’ve invested a great deal of time, effort and energy crafting the perfect presentation for your audience. Your content is compelling, your message is crystal clear and now the moment of truth arrives; you have to stand to deliver.
The great speakers know that it is their job to exude confidence and to help their audience to relax and feel comfortable, so they make it their business to own the stage:
- Make good eye contact
- Use the space around you by moving meaningfully, if you are talking about the future step forward into it. If you are speaking about the past step backwards into it.
- If you are making 3 distinct points then make each from a different space on the platform.
- Own the flip chart by touching it and moving it.
- Own the screen by touching it rather than pointing to it.
- Move in toward your audience to emphasise a point.
- When you are telling a story, animate the story with movement.
Maurice De Castro is a former corporate executive of some of the UK’s most successful brands. Maurice believes that the route to success in any organisation lies squarely in its ability to really connect with people. That’s why he left the boardroom to create a business helping leaders to do exactly that. Learn more at www.mindfulpresenter.com