Taking a walk can improve your focus and your presentation

If you’re feeling pressured about your presentation, if you’re stuck trying to get your thoughts organized, or if it’s almost time to give it and you don’t feel ready, talk a walk. Walk and talk out loud. You’ll be amazed at the ideas that come to you and at how much better you’ll remember them. And how much easier it is to see what’s relevant. It’s much faster and more efficient than sitting down in front of your computer trying to force yourself to focus and to be brilliant.

Try it. It will save you lots of time and improve your presentations a lot.

TurboTax does it in less than 15 seconds

Commercials are a great teaching tool for designing your speeches. They can transition anything in a matter of seconds and take us all with them.

TurboTax starts with a man delivering 200 pound ice sculptures needing a GPS to get him there before the ice melts to how TurboTax does the same thing for him with his taxes–a reliable guidance system.

United Health starts with a man winning an award for his barbecuing recipe and transitions to United Health being a recipe for his good health.

Lipitor has a man reminiscing about his having skated on thin ice as a youngster (“what was I thinking?”) and transitions to the thin ice he’s been on with his health.

If advertisers can transition subjects that smoothly in a 30-second commercial, you ought to be able to transition effectively in a business speech and not worry about losing your audience.  More than that, if you can capture their attention and do a good transition, you should be able to hold their attention better.

” ‘Blank’ ‘airheads’ ” really isn’t specific

I’ve cleaned up this sidewalk message a bit and believe I can still make the point.

We’re often admonished to be succinct, get to the point, don’t be too wordy. And “blank airheads” certainly falls in that category.  However, it’s way too open to interpretation to be effective.

First, it’s rare that anyone self-designates as an ‘airhead.’ And probably even less so with the actual word. So, while there may be those that agree that ‘airheads’ should be ‘blanked’ the will just go right over the head of the intended recipient.

Next, there are some who might consider ‘blanking’ to be a good thing and also miss the point. And by being so unspecific, the message could even be interpreted as an invitation by the writer.

On another sidewalk in another part of the city I saw this much more specific message: ” ‘Blank’ you.” Short, to the point, much harder to misinterpret, and more direct.

When you’re giving a presentation. Even if you’re being succinct, make sure your message isn’t so generic your audience can assume someone else is the intended target. As you close your presentation, rather than use the broad brush of saying “everyone should,” or “everyone needs to,” get the attention of each person in the audience by saying “you.” They may not do what you’ve asked, but they’re more likely to listen and consider your point.

What are some Power Words you can use to get your audience to listen and take notice?

Trying to choose so-called Power Words can focus you more on the words and less on the substance. So, the audience may be impressed with your word power and miss your message. You’re also more likely to be less genuine because of your effort to use impressive words.

The most powerful words you an use are specific, vibrant nouns and adjectives and active verbs. (Plus the word “you.”) These paint word pictures that energize you and your audience.

The better you’ve gotten to know your audience before you start the speaking process, the easier it is to choose those words, examples, etc., that will make them listen, take notice–and act.

“Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.” Aesop

Myth #14 Preparation is the key to not being nervous

Preparation is good. I don’t deny that. And if you had time to prepare and you didn’t, you ought to be nervous. However, I’ve seen many who were prepared and still nervous. So there must be something else.

Can you relate to the concept of not focusing as you prepare? You can prepare for weeks and never focus. It’s pretty much busy work when you do it this way. Without the focus, what you have is a lot of material but no grasp of your message.

Tips: You can help yourself by doing the following: 1. Allow yourself to spend no time worrying about your presentation; think about it only when you’re actually going to work on it. 2. Before you start preparing, be clear on why you’re speaking and what you want to accomplish. 3. While you’re preparing, focus on nothing else.

Preparation is good, but focus is the key to an effective and less stressful preparation. And the result is you’re engaged with your material and clear on your message. And now you’re on the track to not being nervous.

Don’t bore yourself

Countless presentations would be improved if the presenter refused to be bored.

It’s not unusual for someone to tell me they have these really boring numbers reports to give. If the presenter thinks it’s boring, there’s not much hope for the audience to be intrigued, interested or attentive.

Numbers reports really shouldn’t be boring because they tell a story. The story may be that we still have jobs, that we’re in trouble, that we need to change direction, that everything is on track, or any number of other things.

So, as the speaker, figure out what story your numbers tell. It will be easier for you to remember the thread of your presentation, easier for you to engage with your subject, and easier for your audience to stay focused.

Every subject has the possibility of being interesting. It’s your job to see what it is and use it to make your point. You and your audience will be much happier.

Myth #13: Making mistakes can destroy your credibility

If that’s what you believe, you’re more likely to make a mistake because you’re trying so hard not to.

You’ve heard: “Keep your eye on the prize,” and that’s what it takes. Mistakes aren’t the prize and not worthy of your focus. And not making mistakes isn’t the prize either.

Your goal is not to let anything interfere with delivering your message. (These people need to hear that message.) And nothing will get in the way of that — if you don’t let it.

Wrong word? Can’t think of the word? Don’t know the right word? Substitute something else that conveys the concept.

Malfunctioning equipment? Wrong slides? Difficult room setup? Focus on how to accomplish your task, use as few words as possible to deal with the problem, and move on.

The audience only wants to now, “What have you done for me lately?” Your problems or your self image aren’t their center of attention unless you make it so.

Prepare well; focus on helping your audience; and deal comfortably with any mistakes. Bring yourself and your audience back to the point and they’ll forget the mistakes.

You’ll keep your reputation and accomplish your goal.

Walk for inspiration, focus, and to quiet your nervousness

Instead of sitting down at the computer trying to force your presentation into being, go out and take a walk. And while you’re walking, examine your presentation aloud. The talking, the movement, work together to bring latent ideas to the front of your mind and begin to sort them–without stress and strain on your part.

At any point in the process (organizing, practicing, shortly before your presentation, or any time you feel stuck or overwhelmed), be kind to yourself, go take a walk and talk your ideas out loud. It’s the fastest way to come up with the ideas and the strongest way to make them yours.

People who participate in my seminars report this really works. So why not give it a try?

 

Myth #12 “There’s a big difference between an after dinner speech, a technical presentation and a sales presentation.”

It’s true, there is a difference, but the difference is because your audience is different, not because of a difference in the process you go through. You ask yourself the same questions before starting to organize your thoughts, and the difference will be in your answers–not in the process.

You’re still going to ask yourself: Who am I talking to? What am I talking about? And, why? (That is, what is the outcome I’m looking for? What do I want to accomplish?)

Those questions don’t change regardless of whether it’s a presentation to the board of directors, a presentation to a client, or a relaxed evening with your organization.

The answers change, and that makes the difference. Is it data they’ll use in their project, or information that will guide them through the choice of HMOs? Are you selling to a client, or covering your department’s quarterly progress? Lightening the mood of the evening, or conveying appreciation for a job well done?

Those answers will be your guide as you decide how much or little detail to include, what types of examples and backup data to use, and an appropriate way to get your audience to listen (your opening) and to respond appropriately to your message (your close).

The end product may vary widely, but it’s still the same process: what am I talking about, who am I talking to and what do I want to accomplish?

Never worry about a presentation

Worrying is counterproductive and makes you more nervous, so don’t waste any time worrying. Either work on your presentation (focusing only on your presentation), or work on whatever is the most important thing on your list (focusing only on that thing).

If you aren’t actually going to work on the presentation, you’re just distracting yourself from whatever you should be doing and making yourself more nervous.

Worrying won’t improve your presentation, so don’t allow it. Know what you want to accomplish and ideas will come to you in the meantime. You’ll be less nervous and give a better presentation if you won’t let yourelf worry. You can do it because you can choose what to think.