Two Tactics to Become an Effective Presenter
Giving a presentation is an important task that can be extremely beneficial if done well. The main reason for making a presentation is to convince someone to do something. In a business organization, that generally means a speaker is trying to get listeners to think or behave a certain way, usually with respect to company policies, plans, or expenditures. Books have been written about the fine art of public speaking or giving a business talk. In reality, a successful presenter can be characterized by two specific skills that are designed to meet the target objectives.
Confidence in the topic being presented A good speaker must believe in the topic being presented. While it is possible to do a good job of presenting information in which the speaker is not personally invested, most speakers do a better job when they care about the topic. Passionate orators thoroughly understand and believe in their topic. They have researched it and perhaps practiced it for a period of time. These speakers effectively organize the main selling points of the idea or product and clearly present them to listeners in a coherent order. Successful presenters are ready to answer questions and defend their position from opposing views that may be offered. The audience can see that the speaker really knows the topic.
Ability to convey information to the audience.
Not only does a great speaker know the topic well, but he or she also understands how to present the information to the audience. Questions and complexities may be anticipated and prepared for. Technology can be used to depict, visually and aurally, leading components of the topic, and it will be tested ahead of time to ensure it works. The presenter wants the listeners to appreciate information that is being shared, and will go to great lengths ahead of time to prepare the presentation in a way the audience can readily grasp. That may include a demonstration, a printed handout, a question-and-answer session, or other activities that will appeal to specific demographics of the people who are listening, including age, gender, socio-economic background, and other relevant criteria.
Other factors such as appearance, voice modulation, timing, and charm could be added to the equation. However, these all play into one or the other of these two basic presenter qualities. Anyone who wants to make a presentation should know the topic well and connect it to the audience.
Jeff Ramson is a lifelong investor and the CEO of PCG Advisory Group.