Did you ever think to yourself, “That speech should have been longer?” Probably not, because the secret to good presentations is making your point and then making a finish. As a presenter, part of the magic is in the expertise of your editing.
So, how to give your audience just enough of what it needs? Here are some tips for paring down when presenting:
- You should have a definitive answer to the question, “What’s your speech about?” If you say something like, “Musings on the customer relationship, as well as the power of social media,” that’s a signal for an audience to steer clear. In fact, anytime you pair the word “musings” with “speech,” red flares ignite. All parts of your speech—the opening, the supporting stories, the ending and even the graphics—need to support your main point.
- Be clear. It’s one thing to focus on a point but another to make sure that point is understood. If the topic of your speech isn’t easy to grasp, you must work hard to make people “get it.” That means giving plenty of examples, breaking down your main message and eliminating all jargon. Also be careful about pronouns such as “he,” “she” and especially “they.” When you’re referring to more than one person or thing, pronouns can be confusing. Don’t worry about over-simplification. Your goal is to simplify and clarify.
- Organize, organize, organize. There are few things more painful than sitting through a rambling speech (except perhaps giving a rambling speech, because you will suffer the consequences later). A good rule of thumb is to follow the “AIDA” principle: grabbing Attention; building Interest with supporting facts, examples and stories; creating Desire by addressing any barriers that would lead your audience to reject your point; and calling for Action.
- Edit your darlings. This phrase is well-loved in prose writing because it emphasizes the painful process of leaving behind some of what you believe may be your best work. However, if part of your speech involves stories that don’t relate to the main point, wistfully wave them good-bye as you sail toward a better presentation.
- Be appealing. Watch the great speechmakers of our time and see how they wind up their presentations by relating back to their audience. Michelle Obama, for example, will almost always tell a personal story emphasizing that, although she’s a former first lady, she has real life experiences that are relatable to most Americans. In making that connection, she can then artfully get to her point and be effective.
- Follow a thread. Even when you have a clear message, you could easily lose your audience if you jump around. This is particularly problematic during the part of your speech when you are building interest. Staying in chronological order is one method, although it could get dull. An easier fix is to use connector words and strong transitions to indicate to the audience that you are providing contrast or clarification.
- Write for yourself. Honestly assess your speaking style. Do you enjoy telling a joke, or does the mere mention of humor give you hives? Can you handle long, eloquent sentences, or is your preference to-the-point prose? If you’re giving an important presentation, know thyself. Now is not the time to attempt a style that will trip you up and make the audience uncomfortable as you tumble.
- It’s all about the finish. Yes, your beginning is important to “hook ’em in,” but if you don’t finish with a powerful call to action, your audience will wonder, “What was the point of that?” End with a well-crafted flourish, and never, “Well, that’s it. Thanks.”
Of course, nothing kills a presentation faster than a bad PowerPoint®. Check out part two of this article where we talk about visualizations in your presentation.