Here is a list of 10 things professional speakers incorporate in order to improve their presentations. Use them, and make your next presentation one to remember.
1. What do you want to say?
You should always know your audience, your message and yourself. Who says what to whom? It is very important to know the rhetorical situation before you plan your presentation. That is why you should ask yourself the following three questions before you prepare your presentation:
2. Search for arguments in strange places!
Start scribbling your stream of consciousness on a piece of paper. You can even deliberately try to look for good arguments in categories that you normally would not consider. As examples, these categories could be economics, health, time, politics and many more.
3. How do I make the right disposition?
Start by saying what you really want to say. Then you can venture deeper into the subject (keep it relevant). At the very end of your presentation, you summarise, and you repeat the most important message (the one you used as an opener). By repeating your main point, you help your audience understand and remember your message.
4. Focus!
You need one big, precise bullet to kill an elephant. And you need one big, precise message to woo the audience and change their behaviour.
5. Sense and sensibility
You should definitely remember to speak to the logic of your audience, but at the same time keep in mind that people often make decisions based on their emotions. This is often forgotten, and hard facts rule many presentations. Think about the emotions that are connected to the specific situation or the subject, and do not be afraid to address your audience’s emotions.
6. Use examples and narrate
A contemporary, relevant and concrete example is often more persuasive than numbers. Tell a story, and remember the little details that address the senses. These means will make your presentation relevant, easy to understand and unforgettable.
7. Claptraps make the audience applaud!
You can encourage the applause (and interest) of the audience by adding some simple rhetorical figures of speech. You can use contrasts (antithesis), and maybe a claptrap where you list three things (tricolon), beginning with the least important one and ending with the most important one. Or maybe you can let the two things at the start of your claptrap be opposing parts, and then you can unite those parts at the end of your claptrap.
Generally, claptraps work well when we apply them at the end of presentations.
This example of an antithesis comes from the famous quote on the War on Terror. George W. Bush said:
“You’re either with us – or you’re with the terrorists.”
This is an example of a tricolon. It received immense applause:
“There is not a liberal America – There is not a conservative America – There is the United States of America.” – Barack Obama
8. How do you remember what to say next?
During your preparation, you will have to choose between different kinds of manuscripts. You can bring the full text, or you can use keywords. It is more difficult to improvise when you see every word of the speech in front of you, and you still have to look at the audience often. Do not let your script limit you! You will seem prepared, passionate and trustworthy if you are able to focus less on your script and more on your audience.
9. How do you use your body?
Use open body language at all times. If you have your hands in your pockets, arms crossed or anything like that, you will limit your persuasive potential. It will not make you look calm!
We use our bodies to help the audience understand what we say.
10. Do not fake it!
We humans are very talented at spotting fake body language. So, do not fight what feels natural for you. Instead, you can try to record yourself. Then you can go through the recording looking for things that work well. Now, focus on the things that work well, and try to replace those tiny annoying habits with your own convincing gestures!
