COMMUNICATION SPECIAL ...............Pack a Punch into Your Presentations

Pack a Punch into Your Presentations

I enjoy attending presentations and talks, it's a great way to keep learning about new ideas and experiences... More so, when it's a topic of interest and when the speaker keeps you so hooked that you don't need to look down at your phone or your watch. Yes, there are some extraordinary speakers who do manage to do that.

I often feel this way when I hear, the chairperson of VIDYA, an NGO I'm closely associated with, Rashmi Misra talk at meetings or present at forums. Her infectious energy gets transferred to the audience. Every time I listen to her, I get inspired all over again.

She animatedly tells stories of struggle and stories of success. She knows her beneficiaries well, her 30-year-old organization well and its people well. You would almost think she doesn't need much prompting or aids while speaking... all you need to do is give her an audience and she'll get started!

She makes public speaking seem effortless. But don't be fooled... she is always, always prepared. She will ensure she has an updated PPT with colourful visuals (even though she may hardly refer to it), she will write small notes on a sheet of paper acknowledging the guests and her team members, she will decide which case study she wants to insert to illustrate a particular issue and she will perfectly match the right "ask" with the appropriate forum.

She is not a strategist - she is an effective public speaker who understands that every opportunity to speak is an opportunity for her to spread her mission further, to educate more people and to touch more lives. And of course, her lifelong commitment to her cause just makes it simpler. 

Rock your presentations!

Public speaking or presentation skills are increasingly becoming the need of the hour. They are becoming tools that can take your cause or enterprise further, take your career ahead and ultimately help you gain more confidence in your own abilities and ideas.

So here I list some rules you can use for your next pitch, presentation or public stage appearance.

#1: Tell a heart-touching story

A blog I read quotes marketing gurus Chip and Dan Heath say, that: "After a presentation, 63% of attendees remember stories. Only 5% remember statistics." And this is almost becoming the norm, where storytelling is becoming a primary tool to engage and reach out to audiences. If you've seen any of the TED talks online, you'll see how presentations have almost converted into performances. A performance that will have a neatly drawn out beginning, middle and end.

If you compare the main elements of a story - viz. a premise, setting of the background, characters, conflict and resolution - to a presentation, you'll realise they work quite similarly. Every presentation will have a central idea or topic, it will then give a background to the organization or issue at hand, and talk about the people involved. A good presentation also explains what you've set out to do, how it's been effective and what challenges you've faced. Finally, ending with your plans or strategy for the future.Like storytelling, presentations too should be told and not read out from a script. All you need are a few points, which you can make on small cards, to ensure you don't get stuck while talking.

#2: Create a visually wow PPT

A PowerPoint presentation gives people something to look at while you talk. And when you fill it with colourful pictures, it brings your story alive. People can start visualizing what you're telling them, they can get more involved and it gives them the occasional bit of relief from just listening to your voice.

Add what you can to your PPT - research interesting statistics and make them bold; highlighting data that people don't already know gives them something to chew on. Create charts or graphs to substantiate a point. Better still insert a video, because when you need the break, it helps to have someone else take over. But don't make the PPT too busy. Management guru Guy Kawasaki has a 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint, which suggests using a maximum of 10 slides, taking approximately 20 minutes to present and using a font size of 30 in your design.

#3: Pay attention to body language

Body language or nonverbal communication plays a big role in any form of communication, accounting for almost 55% as per research. In presentations too, it helps display your confidence and build a rapport with your audience. As a speaker, you may get a podium or you may simply be in a conference room, addressing people sitting around a table, either way use the space effectively, walk around if you need to, don't feel forced to stay in one place, do what comes to you naturally.

Standing straight and not slouched shows alertness; some public speaking trainers also recommend tucking in your tummy a wee bit before you start. Other important aspects include making eye contact with your audience, acknowledging their answers with nods, using gestures when needed, sometimes even enacting certain aspects of a talk to describe size or scale.

#4: Be clear in your communication

From the moment you begin till you end, the words you use and how you say them play an important part in a presentation. It's a good idea to memorise the starting and finishing lines of your presentation as they leave maximum impact .  Also, consider practising important sections of your presentation that you don't want to leave to chance or bank on your extemporizing skills for.

Additionally, keep the focus on your message. Keep coming back to the central idea and use only relevant examples. And, don't sweat on correctness of accent or pronunciation, if your message is effective, the rest will fall into place. Focus instead on stressing on the right words, make adequate pauses while talking to the audience for them to absorb what you're saying, and involve them by asking questions and making them a part of the experience.

#5: Make an impact by connecting

If you've read the article by motivational speaker Bishal Sarkar in the Startup eSeries, you'll see that he lays great emphasis on the fact that public speaking is "not about perfection, but about connection." Getting good at making connections with your audience is an art; but what lies at its core, is for you to be your most authentic self.

When you're filled with self-belief, when you have immense passion for the subject on hand, and when you're completely centred in the moment, making a connection with the audience is a natural outcome. Thus, getting vested in your audience and understanding what they want and how they respond is pivotal to your presentation. They will also trust you more, open up and participate if you share your own stories. Occasionally, lighten the moment with humour, get them warmed up by an exercise or throw in an experiential activity. 

And please don't worry about stage fright - it's a common belief that some amount of nerves are good, helping you work harder and practice more. If not you have these hacks... So get armed, go out, start speaking and pack some punch into your presentations.

By Ritika Bajaj       

Common Sense Living Letters