Presentation is a skill – not a human right
Buttock-clenchingly awkward humour; jargon overdose; PowerPoint poisoning and just plain dull: all symptoms of bad presentations and bad presenters. Same way that some people sing like angels and some like storm drains, presenting uses innate skill and learned technique to really work.
Presenting is the art of delivering information to a live audience, responding live to their feedback and facilitating dialogue and discussion (alternative definitions welcome). I include telephone / video conferencing, virtual presentations and any other medium involving human interaction and instant audience feedback. The importance is that it’s an empathic and very personal skill.
With printed and electronic communication we’ve got used to the idea that anyone can publish, so anyone can communicate, giving rise to “newsletter communicators” who don’t (or won’t) care whether there’s reaction, so long as it goes out on time.
Early this year the UK government started a crackdown on boring teachers, blaming them for poor results and bad behaviour. We’ve all sat through interminable presentations and thought ‘what was that about’, ‘I could have done some real work’ or actually done some ‘real work’ during the presentation. Don’t mistake a subject matter expert for a good presenter.
Purpose. Why are you doing this? What do you want your audience to take away? “Communicating <insert topic>” isn’t good enough.
Structure. Stories are a formula humans have been used to for millennia, from cradle to grave. Plot twists, cliff-hangers and humour work well when they’re well crafted.
Engagement. Be creative and come up with ways to ensure your audience absorbs the information and can make use of it; teachers spend years training to do this. Use games, group interactions, town hall sessions, feedback, discussion and facilitators.
Tools. Beware of PowerPoint dependency: it’s a visual *aid*, not the presentation itself (see this most excellent video of How NOT to use PowerPoint). Also beware of hefty print outs … what do you want them to do – read or listen? Either way, keep it lean.
Style. Be an interesting speaker, but know your limits. If you’re a natural born performer put it to good use, if not, work up to the edge of your ability and not beyond. Let someone else to do it or at least let them facilitate and you can field questions. Don’t be shy about … er … being shy, we’ve all got our different strengths. Vary the tempo with other speakers (not too many, it’s not Vaudeville), breakout sessions and ample opportunity for feedback and discussion.
Next steps. Support your ‘stand up’ with physical takeaways, follow up sessions and actions to give context and credibility
Now go do // that Voodoo // that you do … so well.
The Long Dog
February 25, 2009 at 8:44 am
Brian Cox’s performance at the TED conference last year is my favourite and the template i aspire to.
February 25, 2009 at 9:25 am
This is so true. So many presenters (my own ‘communications professional’ bosses included) think that Powerpoint and hiding behind a lectern are a good way to engage an audience. Hello?
Move and talk, move and talk – it’s not hard.
March 2, 2009 at 11:58 am
Working in a company where income is based on excellent communication skills it is surprising that managers, and trainers bought in on training days, often deliver their ideas using only text and speech. Where is the colour, the animation, the social interaction with the audience?
March 3, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I sit through hours of meetings and workshops each week that are poorly facilitated and make me lose the will to live! Yet they would take offence if one suggested they change their approach. Tis a pity that no one pays attention to what is truly important and do things that make them appear to have made an effort – like putting together 270 detailed blue and white slides *snore*