All eyes are on you. Yes, it's true. In business presentations, you are in charge. You are the leader. As the leader in a presentation, you are in charge of the pace, flow, and impact of your story.
In business presenting, a lot of professionals confuse their audiences by multi-tasking. This is a really bad idea. Instead of giving your audience a clear direction, multi-tasking points them in 15-directions at once.
Let's look at the common (but awful) practice of talking while changing PowerPoint or Keynote slides.
If you talk, change slides and keep on talking, what should the audience do? Should they listen to your words? Should they focus on the slide? What is the right place to look? They aren't sure.
The audience doesn't know what is the top priority. Simply put, if your audience is confused, they will check out. Instead of staying connected to your message, their attention will drift.
Next thing you know, people will be checking email, daydreaming or having side conversations. This is NOT how to command attention.
What can you do differently? Slow down. Do one thing at a time.
Here's the simple tip: Announce where you are going. Pause. Then change the slide. Next, describe where you are.
This is just the same kind of step-by-step approach that you need to take when giving a tour, or managing the attention of a young child. Only now, you're acting as a patient tour guide for your audience.
Here's the break down in precise detail.
Tip 1: Tell Where You Are Going
Announce where you are going in advance. This tip applies to your entire presentation, each slide, and the next action.
For the whole presentation: always give an overview. This helps participants get oriented for the entire journey. Even if everyone is familiar with the topic and you've met before, give an overview.
For each slide: prepare participants for what's in the next slide - before you go there. This is important. The mind can wander. It's your job to tell people where you are and what's coming next - before you go.
For each action: tell people what you want them to do. Announce this in advance.
Then...
Tip 2: Change The Picture
After you have alerted participants, it's time to do what you promised. Change the slide.
If you are not using slides, you can still do this step. Change to a flipchart. Change to a video. Or change to a whiteboard. You also might be changing to an exercise or activity.
Whatever you promised to do, do what you have announced.
Tip 3: Show Where You Are
Now that you are in a new slide, or a new whiteboard discussion -- show people around. Familiarize them with the new part of the presentation.
I like to think of this as playing the tour guide. It doesn't take a lot of time, but it shows how much you care about your audience. It shows you care deeply about their experience.
Are you commanding attention in client and prospect presentations? Get the skills you need to focus attention with visual storytelling.
Milly Sonneman is a recognized expert in visual language. She is the co-director of Presentation Storyboarding, a leading presentation training firm, and author of the popular guides: Beyond Words and Rainmaker Stories available on Amazon. Milly helps business professionals give winning presentations, through online presentation skills trainings at Presentation Storyboarding. You can find out more about our courses or contact Milly through our website at: http://www.presentationstoryboarding.com/