Remember These Two Crucial Words
When was the last time you were hanging on every word of a presentation? The last time you were bored?
What made the difference?
Unless the speaker was a famous personality, the difference was likely “relevance.” The value of the presentation for you.
The video accompanying this article focuses on two crucial words: “So what?” Or “What’s in it for me, the viewer?” Without that, why should your audience care?
You might also ask yourself:
- Why you’re speaking on your topic (rather than anybody else)
- What the most relevant slant on your topic is for your audience
1. Why you’re speaking
One of the most important things that you bring to the table as a speaker is your experience and expertise. Going through this step will help to sharpen your focus on the purpose of your talk. Your qualifications are unique, and you have strengths that only you can bring to your audience.
What’s your background on the topic? Do you have access to information or data that nobody else has? And how does your personal experience add value?
2. The most relevant slant for your audience
You’ve probably heard a speaker where you said to yourself “this is wasting my time.” If you’re speaking to a group that you don’t know well, and you don’t research them, you’re just going to waste everyone’s time and energy. Here’s a checklist.
- Age/gender(political persuasion
- Number in the audience
- Audience level of knowledge on your topic
- Motivation/resistance to hearing you
- Likely opinions on your topic
- ‘Hot buttons’ that might derail you if you’re not aware of them beforehand: What are they sensitive to?
- What’s topical? What’s important?
- Issues and challenges
- Goals and desires
- Are they decision-makers if that’s relevant? Implementers?
- Keen to be in your audience/coerced/neutral?
- Q and A session: What are you likely to be asked?
Fine tune your presentation skills — from organizing your content to connecting with viewers: bob@kaplitz.tv.
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