In a galaxy not so far away, business professionals and educators are grappling with the daunting challenge of keeping audiences engaged and informed. Watching Star Wars isn't a prerequisite for this article, though I hope you've seen it.
Here are some tips to elevate your presentation skills from Padawan (young Jedi) to Master. I promise to keep the Star Wars jargon to a minimum from here on out.
Getting Started
Creating a presentation means answering, "What should people take away from this?" It might not always require a slide deck (e.g., PowerPoint, Prezi…). Identify the key takeaways first, then build an outline. If you need assistance, ChatGPT is a fantastic resource. As you build your material, I highly recommend doing a table read. Practice out loud to colleagues, family, or even by yourself at least once. Running through your presentation allows for feedback and helps embed your notes in memory.
Minimize Your Slides
If you use slides, ensure they reinforce your message. Aim for visually engaging, uncluttered slides. As the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words," so communicate with impactful images. I often include a relevant picture of my kids to help convey my message, connect with participants, and share a story I'm passionate about.
Minimize Text
Embrace the "less is more" philosophy on your slides. Overloading them with text can overwhelm and disengage your audience. Use key phrases and let your spoken words carry the weight. Scripts are useful but avoid reading verbatim. I prepare notes with main points and questions for the audience. An effective Jedi technique is to encourage the audience to articulate these key points themselves. This is why establishing rapport early on is critical, as it enhances communication throughout the session.
Warm-up the Crowd
Dedicating 5-10 minutes of an hour-long presentation to know your audience can make a significant difference. People are more inclined to share in a comfortable environment. This can be achieved in many ways, both online and in-person. I like using large sticky notes around a room and placing people in small groups to build rapport. Opening with a joke works too but ensure it's funny or so bad that it becomes funny. If humor isn't your thing, there are plenty of other methods to prepare your audience for engagement. YouTube is full of examples, here are some search terms:
• Icebreakers
• Interactive meeting openers
• Energizers for meetings
• Meeting warm-up activities
Harness the Power of Questions
As a speaker or moderator, it's challenging to gauge if your audience is keeping up, especially in a virtual setting. Thought-provoking questions make a difference. They transform your audience into active participants instead of passive listeners. Design your presentation around key questions to stimulate discussion.
Utilize the chat in online settings and encourage hand-raising. Sometimes, you have to prompt participation. Focus on those who've already engaged or used the chat. Ideally, using the “force” would be great since anxiety is real, and not everyone wants to speak. If someone you call on is clearly reluctant, move on swiftly.
Incorporating surveys or polls is also a great way to engage people. In person you can do this by having people raise their hands, over zoom there are tools for engagement. I once used the function that allows you to write on the screen. This was a huge mistake. There were 80 people on the call, and one person kept making small dots, and I didn’t realize you need to clear the marks before advancing the slides. However, this works great with smaller groups.
Your Secret Weapons: SMILE & TONE
I'm not referring to a lightsaber. Disarm people with your smile and vary your tone to make the session more engaging. Smiling not only makes you approachable but also reduces your stress. It fosters a positive atmosphere and makes the audience more receptive. Enthusiasm is contagious, but so is boredom. It's crucial to vary your tone. Let people know that even if the topic isn't thrilling, your delivery will be! Public speaking classes or improv can be immensely helpful. I’m particularly fond of improv and my most dynamic class is “Improv and the Ask.” Improv forces spontaneity, active listening, and creativity.
Create a Parking Lot
When off-topic or time-consuming questions arise, shift them to the "parking lot." This is a space for later-discussed questions. A parking lot keeps you on track and acknowledges audience curiosity. Ensure you follow up quickly post-session with any unanswered items.
Plant Key Takeaways
I have a secret: I focus on three major takeaways in all my presentations. Considering all the thoughts occupying adult minds, from family duties to work, attention spans can be short. As you design and facilitate, ensure these main points are emphasized and remembered. Reinforce the key takeaways throughout the session and ask questions to ensure comprehension.
Embrace Your Mistakes
We all make mistakes, if this happens during training, own it and move on. Being authentic builds trust and relatability. When you speak from your own experiences, including challenges and failures, you are seen as approachable and genuine.
And acknowledge when you don't know an answer. This demonstrates integrity and earns respect. It also turns potentially awkward moments into opportunities for learning and growth. Remember, even Jedi Masters aren't perfect.
Conclusion
Incorporating these presentation skills will improve your ability to communicate effectively and transform how your audience perceives and interacts with your content. A great presentation is not elaborate visuals or excessive information, but clear, engaging, and interactive communication.
Keep learning and practicing! A great resource are Bob Pike training classes which transformed how I train.
May the force be with you on your journey to becoming a presentation Jedi Master.
Comments