The Killer Presentation: Part 3

This article appeared originally on the Point2 blog.

Deliver Your Message with Impact. ‘Real’ Impact

Many books and presentation skill-building workshops describe techniques and methods that a presenter must employ and master in order to deliver their message with the most impact. You have likely come across all of these strategies at one point or another. Here are a few components we’ll concentrate on for the purpose of this article:

1)     Discuss a subject you are passionate about, and don’t hold back on stage
2)     Don’t read verbatim from your slides or notes
3)     Make good eye contact
4)     Use stories / anecdotes to make a point and engage people
5)     Speak clearly and with confidence

The problem begins when each of those points are discussed and practiced as individual items.

A typical result, while completely unintended by the coach, book or participant, is a delivery that lacks charisma and conviction. Where passion is restrained by awkward, constructed eye contact attempts, or the odd scripted slide title and bullet point recital at some point during the presentation. Weakness becomes apparent to the audience and credibility gets a hit.