Notes for "How to Be a Better Presenter"

(This presentation was given at Love Is Murder.)

1. The audience is actively rooting for you to succeed.
2. The audience does NOT expect you to be perfect.
3. The audience is willing to help you. Get them involved. The energy level will go up.
4. So...get over yourself.
5. Instead of concentrating on your fears, concentrate on giving the audience VALUE.
6. A bad presentation is boring. A worse presentation is boring and uninformative. The worst presentation is boring, uninformative and insulting.
7. When you insult ONE person, you insult the entire audience. Even if you are being heckled, you cannot lose your cool because you have the MOST power, the power to embarrass and shame. Instead, prepare "comebacks" like "Did my ex-husband send you?" If that doesn't work, try reason, "I can tell you disagree with me. However, I'd like to go ahead with my presentation, please."
8. The good presentation is informative. A better presentation is entertaining. The BEST presentation is informative, entertaining and provide VALUE by offering a "take-away."
9. A "take-away" is anything an audience member can share with someone else. The BEST take-aways are easily repeatable or tangible.
10. We inform the audience by editing our thoughts, by limiting ourselves to no more than 5 and usually just 3 main points. Additional information can go on your website.
11. Try to "nugget-ize" your points. Turn them into pithy sayings.
12. Structure your points by telling folks what you are GOING to tell them, TELLING them, and telling them what you TOLD them.
13. How do we entertain? We do this by telling stories, preferably personal anecdotes.
14. Why personal anecdotes? A personal anecdote is difficult for someone else to steal. It reveals your character. And it is unique.
15. How do you find personal anecdotes? First, you must notice them. Then write them down. Work on them to polish them, cutting any extraneous words. Trot them out-and see the response. Polish them more. Keep track of them.
16. How do we provide VALUE? By informing, entertaining, and offering a take-away.
17. Take-aways can be techniques, jokes, thoughts, quotations, samples. The BEST take-away is a HANDOUT.
18. Be sure to put your contact information on your handouts.
19. Handouts can be used to drive people to your website.
20. Keep a list of your best personal anecdotes. Brainstorm different points that each story can make.

Yes! I can give this presentation to your group. Contact me at joannaslan@aol.com Don't forget that my textbook Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience (ISBN: 0-205-26893-5) is also a terrific resource. Please do not reprint this without permission.