How to Deliver a Great Presentation
10 tips aganist stagefright, how to prepare a presentation and how to deliver.
Also see youtube "Ever presentation ever: FAIL"
Dirk Hannemann, Berlin
Trainer Kommunikation
www.hannemann-training.de
1. How To Deliver a Great Presentation
Dirk Hannemann, Berlin
Trainer Communication
www.hannemann-training.de
What this country needs is more free speech worth listening to. - Hansell B. Duckett
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2. Introduction: No Need to Fear
If this were a list of the human race's greatest fears, public speaking would be right at the top. Whether it's
forgetting your lines or realizing you have a tail of toilet paper hanging out of your pants, fear of public speaking
really boils down to fear of being ridiculed, rejected, and publicly humiliated.
But why? If you can speak 1-1, 1-2 why do you have problems speaking to many people? It remains a 1-1 situation
for your listener. Focus on your outcomes, not your fears and potential problems. Feeling nervous is a good thing
- it shows you still care about your performance. Being comfortable with who you are, what you’ve accomplished,
and where you’re going is the essential foundation to any public speaking platform. Be positive about your
audience and what they will learn from you. Appreciate their presence and let it show. It can be fun!
Errors are okay. So you tripped on the microphone cord. So what? Everyone makes mistakes. Acknowledge them
and move on. If you forget to read a sentence off your notes, it's doubtful anyone will know. If you skip forward to
the next image on the projector by mistake, no one's going to run you out of town. Don't worry. It's not life or
death, it's just a speech.
Act as if. The old saying "fake it 'til you make it" is actually pretty good advice. Even if you have zero confidence in
yourself, try acting like you do. The longer you fake it, the more comfortable it will feel, until, voilà, you're a bona
fide confidence machine. Visualize yourself being fabulous. Negative thinking will get you nowhere but down in
the dumps. If you believe that you'll be great, you will be. If you think you're going to fail, you probably will. It's as
simple as that. We're usually our own worst critics. Relax.
There are only two types of speakers in the world. 1. The nervous and 2. Liars. -- Mark Twain
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3. #1 Don’t Be a Speaker
Don’t be a “speaker”, be an expert who speaks. Speakers are a “nice to have” but experts are a necessity. There is
a high demand for people that can both provide content and deliver it effectively from stage. Some can do one of
the two, most don’t do either and a select few do both. Aim to be great.
Know your audience. To whom are you speaking? If they're colleagues, they probably want to learn something
from you. If they're friends, they're likely looking to be entertained. If it's a judge, well, he or she wants to be
convinced. Know who your audience is and tailor your speech and delivery to them. Give them what they want!
Develop your speaking skills - it's a great way to develop your career. Speak at a normal pace and vary in speed,
volume and rhythm. Monotones are 'mono-not on us‘. Practice by reading everything out loud. Breathe. Pause
when you speak to create impact. Make wide, open types of gestures and avoid mechanical, rhythmic gestures
unless you are conducting an orchestra.
Find out what the 5 most pressing questions the audience has about it are and answer them. If the audience
leaves with 5 solid answers to their 5 biggest questions, they’ll be very happy, even if you have zero charisma and
didn’t crack a single joke.
Open your speech with impact, close with direction. You are introduced. Stand at the lectern, pause, scan, focus
on a face and then speak. Practice your speech opening so you can do it without notes. Never have a false finish -
people just give up listening when you do this.
Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary. - San Diego Union in 1922
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4. #2 The Slides Are Not the Presentation
The power is not the point – slides are there as navigation points, not to be the content.
Give your presentation software center stage is the biggest mistake you can make as a speaker.
Powerpoint is a tool designed to augment your presentation and not to be your presentation. Never
forget: You are the presenter. Your message should be the focus. Not your slides. Not your props. And
not your handouts. You are in the lead role, and you need to retain that role.
Display visual information that illustrates your plot in the clearest way possible. Stand with your
visuals, becoming a clear part of the visual experience from your audience's point of view. Do not
stand meekly in the corner, removed from both the audience and the bright screen.
Know your material. While being flexible is smart, trusting yourself to be brilliant without any
preparation is something even the pros don't attempt. Do your research. Know what you're going to
say and how you'd like to say it. The more you know, the more confident you'll be up there. You need
enough data to sink a tanker. Research. Facts. Evidence. Proof. Give them 2% of your knowledge and
keep 98 % in reserve. Maybe they want another one percent. Got to be ready for anything. If you
know your topic inside and out — deep and wide — then there is nothing to worry about.
Employ quotations, pictures, and statistics. But don’t include these for the sake of including them, but
do use them appropriately to complement your ideas. Support your key message.
It takes one hour of preparation for each minute of presentation time.-- Wayne Burgraff
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5. #3 It’s Not About You
What new ideas/skills will your audience have when they leave your session? If the only answer is “they’ll know
more about me!” you need to start over.
It's SO not about you. The more you can take the focus off yourself, the better. After all, it's not likely you're being
asked to give a presentation of your life story. So concentrate on the message and find freedom in just being the
messenger.
You are not Bono. It is an honor to be invited to speak, but you’re not a rock-star. Even if you are keynoting, it’s
not your event (unlike a U2 concert). You are an invited guest into their world. Some speakers have huge egos,
and often it gets in everyone’s way, especially the audience’s.
It’s precisely when your presentations get really good that you enter into dangerous territory. As our
presentations get stronger, we get more confident – maybe even cocky. When you’re standing in front of a group,
clicking through your images, cracking your jokes, rattling off your stats, it’s easy to get the impression that your
presentation is all about you. In truth, it never is. While most of the skills we talk about here involve investing
oneself in the presentation process, it’s also important to know when you are getting in the way of your own
message.
When thinking about presentations as storytelling, it’s tempting – even natural – to want to cast oneself as the
protagonist. This is a mistake. The next thing you know your talking about your CV or your company’s history
instead of the matter at hand. Make your audience the hero of your story. Speak to them about the challenges
they’re facing and then relate your brilliant solutions. It’s not about you.
Of those who say nothing, few are silent.--Thomas Neiel
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6. #4 Don’t Use the Teleprompter
If everything you say is on your slides, you’ve rendered yourself useless. Speak, don’t read.
The eyes have it. People trust people who look them in the eye, so look at your audience when you're speaking to
them. Don't look at the floor -- there's nothing down there. Don't look solely at your notes -- the audience will
think you haven't prepared. You appear more confident when your head is up, which puts your audience at ease
and allows you to take command of the room. You have to look people in the eye. In large rooms (and small) look
directly at individuals. Do not look at the screen or flipchart as if it were a teleprompter.
Be smart with your slides. No more than ONE point per slide! Simple visuals for the screen, always. More
technical, complicated data presentation can appear in the handout. Make them simpler. Always simpler. Avoid
small fonts: no one can read them.
Memorize this sentence: “If people can’t read my slides from the back of the room, my type is too small.” Now
repeat it over and over again while you create your slides. If people are squinting during your presentation, trying
to make out what’s on the slide, you’ve lost your audience. Seth Godin says, “No more than six words on a slide.
EVER.” This may be too extreme, but you get the idea. The more words you use, the less readable they become.
Practice a speech a lot. Once you're prepared, go through the speech. Then read it again. Then again. And then
once more. Practice to your team or friend or dog. Every time you go through your presentation, you're adding
another layer of "I know this stuff.“
If you can't write your message in a sentence, you can't say it in an hour. --Dianna Booher
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7. #5 Show Passion
Have passion for what you’re saying. If you don’t, your audience won’t either.
If you don't believe in, or are not engaged by what you present, you might as well call in sick - or use another
tactic to avoid the presentation. There is one golden rule: Stick to topics you deeply care about and do not keep
your passion buttoned inside your vest. An audiences' biggest turn on is the speakers' obvious enthusiasm. If you
are lukewarm about the issue, forget it!
Use simple language, use simple words so everyone can understand. Enrich your speech with good quotes from
the field. Coin catchy slogans and apply the Rule of Three - "Government of the people for the people by the
people!“ – or contrast - "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.“ Ask
rhetorical questions - it helps the audience to think and focus.
Never use bad language. That means, don’t use obscenities. Sexist language is out, too - it will ruin your
reputation. Political correctness is paramount when your talent is on show! Never forget it! Speaking of PC, a
chairman can be male or female and is never a Chairperson!!! Madam Chairman or Mr Chairman.
Never apologize for being unprepared. It will kill audience enthusiasm for you. They will find out soon enough.
Authenticity. From the heart. You have to mean it. Absolutely fundamental. If it matters to you (deeply), it will
matter to them.
A good orator is pointed and impassioned. --Marcus T. Cicero
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8. #6 How to Deal With Cell Phones
No matter how many times you remind people, someone’s cell-phone will go off during your talk. Get over it.
Make sure your own cell phone is off before speaking
You’re not their parent, don’t tell them to put phones away, just ask as a courtesy to put the ringer on silent. I
don’t understand speakers that tell audiences they can’t text/tweet during a talk. Make your content so good
people feel they HAVE TO tell others right away, but great enough that they don’t want to miss a word.
Stay on topic, make your presentation a dialogue and interact with people in a good manner. Ask questions (and
care about the answers). Solicit volunteers. Use the questions and answers session after your speech to solidify
the impression that you are an expert, not (just) a speaker.
Thanks to Twitter or Facebook today’s audiences increasingly value their own opinions and they expect those
opinions, or sometimes questions, to be actively incorporated into a presentation in real time. One more way to
interact in a good or in a bad way.
Never embarrass an audience member - you never know who they are and how you can damage yourself.
Speak when you are angry—and you will make the best speech you'll ever regret. — Laurence J. Peter
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9. #7 Deliver On Time
End your presentation early. Keep it short and simple.
Time your presentation during rehearsal - always. So there are no surprises. Have a section or sections that you
can cut out of a speech when you are told your time has been cut by 5 minutes. Keep to time - nothing is more
important.
Know what's expected of you and deliver that -- and no more. We've all been tortured by a speaker who goes on
and on, caring little for the audience's interest or comfort level. Don't be one of those speakers -- always leave
them wanting more.
Cut down the number of slides. You don’t need a transcript of your speech with every point and sub-point. Yawn!
People are only going to remember the major points any way.
Distribute a handout. Better not distribute the handout before you begin speaking. If you do so, people will start
reading ahead instead of listening to you. Instead, tell people that you will distribute a handout of the slides when
you are finished with your presentation. (Or upload them to slideshare.net.)
Be early and stay late. Getting to know the audience beforehand and talking after to answer questions is a
forgotten thing that gives the highest value.
A speech is like a woman's skirt: it needs to be long enough to cover the subject matter but short enough to hold
the audience's attention.~Author Unknown
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10. #8 About Humor
Who doesn't like to laugh a little? Tell great stories (your own, not someone else’s), and be funny. You don't have to be a
comedian. Don’t tell jokes, but use humor.
A few lighthearted comments can help humanize you to your audience. Win them over with a smile and a well-timed clever
remark, if you can. But be advised, too many jokes can weaken the validity of a presentation. The goal is to connect to your
audience. And where you connect with people is on the emotional level. You have great data, but is it the right data for them?
Can you feel their pain? Can you tell a story? This is one important way to connect..
Some presenters feel uncomfortable employing emotional appeal because they think it comes across as manipulation. But it
only comes across as manipulation if it is not sincere, honest, or used with restraint. A smile may be the single most powerful
form of nonverbal communication
Why do speakers open with irrelevant jokes? It is a trap even for seasoned speakers. While we love to use emotions and
humor when we get up in front of a crowd, these tactics can quickly wear out an audience. If you have a rib-cracking opener, by
all means use it. But never allow yourself to be put in the position of reaching for jokes to fill in for a dearth of information or a
lack of clarity. Stories, jokes, or other “sidebars” should connect to the core idea. Anything that doesn’t needs to be edited out.
Once you get people laughing, they're listening and you can tell them almost anything. - Herbert Gardner
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11. #9 No Slides at All
Be prepared to present without slides if something goes wrong. And then do it on purpose.
If your laptop flakes out, or your movie won’t play, you are responsible. Good performers don’t blame their tools.
If something doesn’t work, simplify. Practice in the venue. Ask the organizer to find you 10 minutes during the
day, or the day before, to do a test run. Have a backup machine.
Never troubleshoot in real time. 45 seconds is the most I’d spend. With everyone watching, your debugging skills
will be severely compromised. If you can’t fix it in that time, drop it. Your default contingency plan for any demo
is to have a screencapture of it on video, on your laptop. This means that no matter what goes wrong, you can
show the video of a demo.
Most Powerpoint presentations are done poorly. I often think the presenter would be more compelling if she
would ditch the presentation software and just speak. Speakers are their best during Q&A because they’re not
handcuffed to a slide. Think about that. Consider a demonstration instead of a presentation. But avoid the
common mistakes. Keep a demo short. Choose a clear, and real, problem to solve. Know who you are speaking to
and pick an example problem they care about it to use in the demo. Avoid the dead air of waiting for things to
load. Don’t trust wifi. Plan for slow or no-bandwith.
Why doesn't the fellow who says, "I'm no speechmaker," let it go at that instead of giving a demonstration? ~Kin
Hubbard
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12. #10 Be You
We're all human. We're all a little afraid of the podium, the microphone, or the boardroom. Despite what you
may believe, people don't want you to fail. They ultimately want to see you succeed. Give them what they want
by just being the best You you can be.
While presenting, give the audience the authentic you. And guess what? You’re not perfect. Showing you human
side can feel unnatural because it requires vulnerability with people you don’t know all that well. So tell a story
that shows your humanness and people in the audience will connect with you.
Have a watchful eye on the masters. If you've got a speech or presentation in your future, start looking for what
makes successful public speakers so successful. Note their styles and habits and keep them in mind as good
examples. But when presenting on your won, don’t imitate. Being natural when speaking to an audience is better
than trying to be perfect.
Be you. When you try to be someone else on stage, it makes you even more nervous. I dress like me, I talk like me
and I say what I think. I tell stories. That may not be your style. Don’t force funny. People will try to knock that out
of you. Just in the past two days one person said I should have better dressed up and wear a tie, because I wear a
shirt and jeans. Another person said I was “over the top” with how I speak. What you don’t hear is the silent
majority that like you being you, that are relieved that it isn’t another stuffed-up suit and tie on stage, and for
some of us “over the top” means really freaking passionate about what we say. I ain’t changing that for anybody.
And neither should you.
They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. - Carl W. Buechner
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13. Do It Yourself: Deliver a Great Presentation
Becoming an Excellent Presenter is as tough as becoming a great cook, chess player or surgeon. Presentation
Excellence is never accidental!
No, it ain't easy. In fact, it's hard. But careers have been advanced or derailed based on a presentation. Deals have
been won or lost depending on the outcome of a presentation. Non-profits and volunteer organizations have won
funding or folded up their tents depending on their performance in a presentation. Presentations matter. And it is
something very worthy of our commitment and lifelong study.
You don't need to be brilliant to succeed as a speaker, just dedicated to do the research and practice. Audiences
are supportive of novice speakers if the speaker has prepared.
Seek and utilize feedback. Understand that no presentation or presenter (yes, even you!) is perfect. Aim for
continuous improvement, and understand that there are two best ways to improve. First, record your
presentations as you rehearse. Video is great. Second, solicit candid feedback from as many people as you can.
Make sure your coaches are not afraid to speak up. You love your material and you want to include all of it–-but
especially for a brief talk you need someone you trust to help you murder your darlings.
Act and speak ethically. Since public speaking fears are so common, realize the tremendous power of influence
that you hold. Use this power responsibly. Writing this sentence in Berlin, Germany.
You never know what you can do until you do it. - Rudolf Dreikurs
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14. Dirk Hannemann, Berlin www.hannemann-training.de
Trainer Communication @bingo_berlin Twitter
Sources
Scott Stratten ‚40 Quick Tips‘ www.unmarketing.com
N.N. ‚18 Tips‘ www.howstuffworks.com
Andrew Dlugan ‚25 Skills‘ www.dlugan.com
Michael Hyatt ‚5 Tips‘ www.michaelhyatt.com
Scott Berkun ‚demonstation‘ www.scottberkun.com
Nancy Duarte ‚delivery‘ www.duarte.com
Garr Reynolds ‚design‘ www.presentationzen.com
Scott Schwertly ‚comfort‘ www.ethos3.com
Murray Farell, quotes @motiquoter Twitter
Video
„Every Presentation Ever: Communication FAIL” youtube
„Authors@Google: Scott Berkun“ youtube
PPPPP. Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
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