How to Pack a Punch in your Presentations... by LEIGH FARNELL

“KEEP IT SHORT, SHARP, PUNCHY AND VISUAL …” - LEIGH FARNELL

All of us know what its like to listen to a boring, uninspired, monotone, ‘living dead’ trainer or manager who just loves the sound of their own voice… It’s not a pleasant experience.. and even worse, its not so good for the adult learning experience either… We may have had nightmares dreaming people might be saying these kinds of things about us… “Oh no, not another training from them again...? “We’ve just had lunch…if they go through those 50 Powerpoint slides one more time I’ll be off in the Land of Nod… “With presentation skills like that, they should be a sleep therapist… insomnia would be a thing of the past...

HOW TO KEEP THEM AWAKE... AND GET A GREAT MESSAGE ACROSS
If you’re a trainer, seminar leader or adult educator you are in a very powerful position. You can make a fantastic difference to personal and organisational performance. Either way you will infl uence people. You may as well infl uence them to be more empowered, powerful, resourceful and productive. Take time to check the following points…

KEEP IT SHORT
“It is with words as with sunbeams. The more they are condensed, the deeper they burn...” - Robert Southey (1774- 1843) Don’t take 60 minutes and bore people to death if you can take 30 minutes and leave them inspired. Abraham Lincoln’s historic Gettysburg address only took about two minutes… It doesn’t have to be long to have punch... In writing a speech or presentation, have 5 to 7 key points at the most. The brain can’t remember more than that anyway... Stories, examples and humour help punctuate and add life to any presentation. Design them in to the presentation to highlight each of your key points. Always remember you can overload a person’s brain with facts, fi gures and technical detail… You might think all that data is the best thing since sliced bread... but your prospect or audience may not… Watch their eyes and body language... If their eyes glaze over…you’ve gone too long… As Shakespeare once put it...” Brevity is the soul of wit...”

KEEP IT SHARP
Sharp means YOU being sharp. You looking sharp in your clothing and presentation. What are you saying before you even open your mouth? Sharp means YOU being alert, awake, interested, energetic. If you’re not inspired by what you’re presenting, how can you expect your audience to be inspired by listening to it ? Get yourself into a positive, excited mood before you make your entrance. I remember early in my career watching Alan Pease (The Body Language speaker) warm up for a speech to 800 people. He was jogging on the spot and shadow boxing like a prize fi ghter before the big bout... Now you might say “that’s a bit over the top...” There’s method in his madness...people loved his presentation and he’s one of Australia’s most highly paid and sought after speakers and trainers… Training is a physical, mental, social and emotional experience. Warming up all those dimensions helps you deliver your sharpest best.

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