How are your presentation skills? Can you learn a new thing or two?

At one point or another, everyone needs to give a presentation and no matter what the presentation is, we all want it to make an impact on others and effectively deliver our messages. But how do we ensure the presentation is impactful and the best fit for the audience? How do we connect with all in the room or under the new normal online? Can we get better learning a new thing or two?

This article will share some presentation skills tips and insights that hopefully will assist you in making more impact on your presentations.

What is an audience centered analysis?

One of the most powerful skills to make your presentation lively and interesting is to be audience centered. Rather than making it sound like a dry speech, you can “rock the presentation” by connecting with the audience from the beginning. At FELIZ Consulting we use different presentation skills tools and techniques like our well known AIMB (Audience, Intention, Message and Benefits) approach, the 8 Steps Prep, LAPAC, 3Vs and much more.

In this article, we will share some new tips on how you can make a more impactful presentation.

1) Goals (what would you like to achieve in the communication?)

In a great presentation, your main goal is clear, and your communication is simple and concise. It is key to have a message where your audience understands your points easily without fancy words or acronyms especially in a multicultural environment. In this way, you are more likely to achieve your goal of an impactful presentation. Prepare what you are going to tell the audience and deliver it in a simple manner. Focus on connecting, welcoming the audience, making them interested, engaged, happy - and then they may be happy to make you happy in return.

2) Context (background of situation)

The other element that is important is context. Identifying the situation, scenario and presenting a solution for any challenge in order to make your audience interested in your presentation is key. Background information and the storytelling aspect of what you are presenting are as important to a presentation as a plot is to a movie. Without it, it is just harder to grab attention and make a true impact.

3) Audiences (who you are talking to, what is in it for them?)

The most important point of all is the audience. You should start and end with the audience in mind, finding out what they are interested in, their hopes, interests, fears and desires before launching into your speech or agenda. Do your best to now the audience beforehand and prepare your presentation accordingly, i.e.  communicate in their language, keep them engaged by asking questions and being interested in who they are and what they want. In our FELIZ Consulting training programs and coaching, we use the AIMB approach (know your audience, the intention/or purpose, your key message to them and the benefits on what they should listen to you). With exercises and practice, we help our clients tailor and deliver more memorable presentations.

4) Message (tailored to audience)

You should make it easy for your audience to understand your message. There is a huge difference between “just saying something”, and saying something with intention. Make your words simple, meaningful and to the point. Prepare what you are trying to say and lead your words to a great presentation knowing that message is “the one key thing you would like your audience to remember and/or do after the presentation. Ask yourself, if your message clear and plan it clearly tailored to your audience.

5) Anticipate questions and concerns

When you are giving a presentation, there will always be hands raised asking questions and you have to prepare (to the best of your knowledge) to answer them with confidence and knowledge. So, always prepare the related questions and answers beforehand. When the audience is asking questions, listen to them carefully and actively while they’re speaking (nod, smile or make affirmative verbal noises/words such as mmhmm, yes, I hear you). These are signs of an active listener - and also remember to let the audience finish their sentences, do not interrupt and then give them the best possible answer. It is also a great idea to think in LAPAC terms - another FELIZ Consulting tool meaning Listen, Acknowledge, Paraphrase, Answer and Confirm (LAPAC).

Besides the top 5 tips above, we would like to share with you the Aristotle's 3 modes of persuasion - what is it about?

Early on in 350 B.C., the famous philosopher Aristotle invented the three modes of persuasion, which have highly influenced the way we do presentations, and how to make presentations more impactful and persuasive. It includes the following points:

Ethos - ethos refers to the credibility and the character of the presentation. It is not only important that you are the expert at the area you talk about, you also need to build trust and rapport with your audience, so that they think the information you are giving is reliable. To increase ethos, you need to show that you are confident, which can be reflected by your vocal qualities, visual/body language and presence/grooming. You can also build ethos by increasing the relatability, for example, by making use of specific terms that help you connect with the audience.

Pathos - pathos is the emotional appeal of the presentation, it is important to provoke a certain emotion to leave an impression for the audience. The most common way to include pathos is to add a personal anecdote into the presentation, the story should be short, and can effectively evoke the right emotion in your audiences so that it can amplify your message. Lastly, adding some humor in informative presentations can also give the listeners’ brain a break and increase your likability.

Logos - logos focus on the sensibility of your argument. It appeals to the audience’s reason and is intelligent, therefore your arguments must be comprehensive and at the same time, easy to understand. This can be achieved by using visuals in the presentation slides, as well as making each argument short and precise, with sufficient evidence and examples.

Like the tips on this article? Please get in touch. We would love to hear from you! [email protected]

Written by Zoelle Suo

References:

Tropiano Jr, M. (2006). Aristotle and the art of successful presentations. Defense AT&L, 35(3), 45-47.

Kaptein, M., Markopoulos, P., de Ruyter, B., & Aarts, E. (2009, August). Can you be persuaded? individual differences in susceptibility to persuasion. In IFIP conference on human-computer interaction (pp. 115-118). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

FELIZ Consulting training materials by Mônica Zionede Hall