It is coming to the time, when students are sat in the library and reception areas running through their presentations, who does what I can hear, I cannot present first, don’t want to present last.
Why do we in many instances fear presentations, I always remember a friend of mine who lives in the beautiful settings of Bainbridge Island just off Seattle, Michael Effler a man with magic stardust in front of an audience, who said undertaking a presentation is a bit like going to the dentist, once you are in the chair you cannot get out, until the drilling has stopped, how true, once you are out at the front of the class that is it until the end. Michael is a brilliant guest speaker on design and architecture in business, he brings the subject to life.
Great presenters feel like they are reaching out touching you personally and it is special for you, names that come to mind Bill Clinton the master of the lectern, his delivery of timing looking for reaction of the audience, pauses which are very important, picking-up the signs of the audience, living of their energy.
Jim O’Neil of Goldman Sachs in London, who can make finance a interesting topic, Steve Ridgeway former CEO of Virgin Atlantic who combines great deal of humour with fact of the airline industry.
On American TV there are two great presenters with wonderful timing David Letterman and Jay Leno, presenting in the world of entertainment, both of them I wrote about in the States.
Group presentations are like running a relay, it is handing over the baton smooth, that is noticeable that makes a winning team, practise is perfection, over and over again.
Can top presenters be trained they can be guided, it is a natural ability, I spent time with the voice coach for Sky Presenters in Harley Street, London, she had me running through breathing exercises, pitching my voice, also presenting from the back of the room, to the front, you feel what the audience is hearing, it is a wonderful training.
I don’t personally use Powerpoint, I have prompts, just a few slides if needed, not with one word on them, when you are at work you will probably have to present without Powerpoint, just use it for financial data, it is knowing your subject.
Great presenters can let their presentations flow, you will make mistakes, we all do, talk to the audience, as say make them feel it is aimed at them, I ask the audience if they have questions as the presentation progresses, involve them.
Time your presentation, over and over, allow for questions and answers, many students don’t do that.
Just remember relax if you can, a presentation does not last for ever
James Knight has presented to audiences at many universities and business events, at conferences in Washington DC, Chicago and Las Vegas with over 250 people in the audience, he also finds out about the audience, to pitch the presentation at the correct level.
