Dec 08 08
CommTips #11: Presenting Your Ideas
By Renn Vara
Good content, strong skills, and an understanding of what the audience needs to hear is the base of any good talk. But a number of other questions come up during our training sessions:
>> How do I maintain eye contact when I have to refer to my notes? The rule is only talk to eyes, but if you do need to refer to notes, always end your thought or idea looking up at a pair of eyes. Think in terms of punctuation and transitions. Look directly at someone as you come to a period, comma or transition.
>> How do I keep my volume up if I’m wearing a lapel mic or am forced to stand at a podium? First of all, do everything possible to get away from the podium. Secondly, keep your volume up because it keeps your energy up. Adjust the distance of the microphone or force the resident audio engineer to adjust it.
>> Can I walk around, and what do I do with my hands? Yes you can. But make sure you’re walking or moving your hands with a purpose. For example, draw visual ideas with your hands. But when there is no purpose, like when you’re listening to an audience question, balance your weight on your flat feet and put your hands by your side while holding good eye contact. And anytime you need to delivery a key idea or thought, stop walking and firmly direct it to a single audience member.
>> What’s the best way to begin a presentation? Think in terms of storytelling and narratives. If you have a good story to tell, don’t say “I’d like to tell you a story.” Instead, just tell the story, “When I was 13 years old, I had this wonderful friendship with . . .” If you don’t have a good story, consider this format to begin your talk: Problem/Issue, Negative Effects, Solution, and Benefit.
Like sports, giving a good presentation depends on practiced skills. It’s also essential to have a clear understanding of the audience’s need for stories and linear narratives. So get to it. Practice, practice, practice. And remember, just like good writing demands, try to talk from your personal experience and expertise.
