The Presenter's Biggest Job Having worked with all kinds of very intelligent, hard-working, important people for years now, I have determined the one BIG thing virtually none of them are doing, (well, except maybe Doug Ferguson of the Hay Group and Ed Laflamme of Harvest Landscape Consulting Group and a few others...). Presenters are not taking the time to sort through their information, determine what is need to know vs. nice to know, organize it in a clear way (in three's perhaps, ahem.) and practice it. In other words, presenters are not taking the time to determine 1.) the goal of their presentation, 2.) the main points to put in the presentation that will achieve that goal. 3.) the best way of illustrating those points for their audience. Admit it. Most of us are so unbelievably busy that when asked or required to give a presentation we simply cut and paste slides from other presentations, (usually while we're talking on the phone, or watching TV, or chatting with a co-worker or spouse or child...) We then never look at or think about the presentation again until MAYBE the night before, the morning of, or right after we've hooked up our laptop or zip drive to the projector. Right? Right?
WRONG. Totally, absolutely, no two ways about it WRONG. We must dedicate ourselves to taking the time and energy to build a message that our audience can easily digest, understand and (ideally) accept. We must do the laborious, thoughtful work of sifting through our information, eliminating what is irrelevant, confusing, too technical, etc. We must beat the bushes for our main point, not require the audience to do it for us. Then we must create a message that broadcasts this point loud and clear, in language that is unmistakable and unforgettable and sticks to, supports and defends ONLY this point. This is our job.
The audience's job is to listen, and active listening is hard hard work. Besides, our goal is not just for them to listen, but for them to understand and adopt our ideas. Understanding and adoption don't come from a confusing, convoluted, poorly constructed (frankly, barely constructed) presentation. An exhausted, befuddled audience is not a happy, agreeing audience.
Every presentation we give should be EASY for the audience to understand, remember and respond positively toward. (Isn't that our purpose in giving the presentation?)
Carve time out of your calendar to design your next presentation. Give it and your audience the attention they both deserve. You'll be hugely rewarded; how? You'll be heard.
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Bespeaking engagements
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Great Presenters and Presentations; separating fact from fiction; Eastern Fairfield County Junior League; February 23, Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield CT
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Take the pledge with me, "I (your name) do hereby pledge to thoughtfully prepare each one of my presentations with my audience in mind." Hand not quite raised? Read on. 