Steve Boyd Presentations

Anticipating Challenges in Your Next Presentation

                  As you prepare for a specific speech, you will sometimes become aware of a situation that could cause challenges. This can create anxiety as you face the uncertainty connected with a possible negative impact on your presentation. I have found that the best way to meet such a challenge is to creatively mention the possible problem in the opening three minutes of your presentation.

               For example, in some parts of the country, especially in the northeast, audiences think I have a Southern accent. To keep it from being a distraction, in the beginning I will say, “I know you probably think I talk funny! Well, I married a southerner and I have picked up some of her accent. You’ll get used to it in a few minutes.”  By saying this I get a smile and an affirmation of what they are thinking, and they will make more of an effort to listen to my content.

               In the South, on the other hand, I often speak too quickly in comparison to the slower speech Southern audiences are accustomed to hearing. I start out by saying, “I know I talk too fast, but I can’t help it. I grew up in Indiana, and I can’t get past my Yankee upbringing. So listen closely and I’m sure you can stay with me.”

               Another technique is to mention the negative possibility as you introduce your points. If the time is late afternoon and you know the group has been sitting for several hours, you might say, “I have three points to make and I will work hard to keep these interesting, understanding that you have had a long afternoon and are looking forward to the outing planned right after my presentation.”  Saying aloud what the audience is experiencing will encourage an audience to overcome the obstacle because they know you “feel their pain.” 

               A common time to speak is after a meal. Heavy desserts such as pie and ice cream, cheesecake, or chocolate chip cookies can be deadly for the speaker who speaks after such a treat. As you begin, mention the delicious lunch and then add, “Those chocolate chip cookies were really good! I know you will work especially hard to rise above the heaviness you feel and give good attention, and I will do my best to earn your attention by the content of my message.”

               The final suggestion is to acknowledge the challenge by mentioning the physical surroundings of the speech. I might say, “I’m delighted to speak in this spacious facility. I know those behind the posts near the center may want to move to their right to have a maximum view of the PowerPoint presentation.”

               Although these are specific possible scenarios that I have dealt with, the larger point is to acknowledge the potential challenge instead of ignoring it. Addressing the challenging situation will enhance both your ability to remember the content of your message and the audience’s ability to pay careful attention.

Stephen D. Boyd, Ph.D., CSP, is Professor of Speech Communication in the College of Informatics at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky. He gives keynotes and after-dinner speeches for organizations whose people want to speak and listen effectively to increase professional and personal success. He can be reached at 800.727.6520, or visit www.sboyd.com for free articles and resources to improve your communication skills.

The Potential Power in Presentations

          Public speaking gets a lot of grief. Jerry Seinfeld in one of his monologues said, “According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy."

Many people will do anything to avoid delivering a speech. However, if you learn the skills involved there are tremendous values in speaking effectively. Daniel Webster once said, “If all of my skills were taken away from me except one, the one I’d want to retain is the ability to speak, for with it I could regain all the rest.”  In their autobiographies, both Lee Iacocca and Jack Welch credit public speaking skills as a major factor in their successes as CEOs of Chrysler and General Electric Here are some of the benefits.

          Your effective presentation skills will enhance your credibility for your products and your company. If you appear confident and competent, you will earn the respect of your prospective clients. Presenting allows you to demonstrate your experience and the expertise your company can provide. Your presentation can influence your audience to listen to you beyond the time you present. When you phone them again to ask for an appointment, if you have presented well you will not have to explain who you are; they will feel like they know you from sitting through your 20-minute presentation and will be more responsive to your request.

The presentation allows you to showcase your knowledge in an organized and complete manner. With a captive audience in a non-threatening environment, you can validate the value of whatever you may be advocating. At the end of your presentation, audience members will feel close to you and will remember you in a positive and helpful manner.

The presentation environment encourages you to look at all the material you have to sell your ideas or products and to use your strongest persuasive reasons with relevant and detailed evidence. If you are just having a conversation or email exchange, you are less likely to provide the structure and continuity that a presentation demands. Your persuasive powers will be increased because of the self-discipline of preparing the presentation.

The presentation allows the audience to size you up and think about whether or not they want to do business with you. In a conversation, whether in person or on the phone, a person is engaged actively in conversing with you and he or she does not have the chance to sit back and take stock of you and your company. Doing a great job in your presentation can’t help but assist you in doing business with them. By the time your presentation is over, the audience member will have a good gauge on what he or she wants to do next in the business relationship.

When you deliver in-house presentations, you have the opportunity of showcasing your skills and knowledge—a great advantage if you are seeking to advance in the company. Someone from another department may be so impressed with the quality of your presentation that you may be first on his or her list to seek out when a position comes open.

Even though delivering presentations can be challenging, they are worth every bit of initial anxiety due to the benefits outlined in this article. So if you have a choice between meeting a person or presenting to a group of l0 or 50, choose the latter. Then you will have opportunities for influencing people in your audience to buy into your ideas, your products, or you.

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Stephen D. Boyd, Ph.D., CSP, is Professor of Speech Communication in the College of Informatics at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky. He gives keynotes and after-dinner speeches for organizations whose people want to speak and listen more effectively to increase professional and personal success. He can be reached at 800.727.6520, or visit www.sboyd.com for free articles and resources to improve your communication skills.