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May 2011
Newsletter
You don't always get to
pick the topic of your talks. And from time to time, we all have to give
presentations on subjects that don't exactly
make our audiences jump for joy. Still, you can be both engaging and effective.
Read on for seven techniques that will help you turn a boring topic into a brilliant presentation.
How to Turn a Boring Topic Into a Brilliant Presentation
Let’s face it, not everything you have to talk about is exciting. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t important or even vital to your organization. So what should you do when you have to take a boring or complicated topic and motivate your team to act? Use these seven tips to turn boring into brilliant:
1. Use “You”: One of the most interesting words in any presentation is the word “you.” It grabs attention and helps the listener internalize your comments. Make sure that your comments are presented from the perspective of the audience as much as possible. And remember, that “you” singular has much more punch than the plurals “you all” or “y’all.”
2. Recommend First, Reason Second: This one tip will double your effectiveness as a presenter. Make your recommendation first, then provide reasons your listener should take your advice, especially when presenting to executives. Instead of, "In March we convened a task force to study employee retention. The task force met every third Thursday ...." Begin with something like:
“To increase retention, improve employee satisfaction and enhance profitability, the employee retention task force recommends….”
3. Acknowledge Apathy: If your audience is apathetic (or worse, hostile) about your topic, acknowledge that in advance to gain buy-in and perhaps poke fun at yourself. You could say something like:
“You’re probably thinking, ‘Who cares if we’re getting a new expense report system? I’d rather get a root canal.’ But you’ll be excited once you learn how much faster you’ll get money in your pocket. Plus, it won’t leave your mouth numb.”
4. Demystify Data: Nothing can make eyes glaze over quicker than lots of statistics or complicated research findings. Put your data in terms that the listener can easily relate to and embrace. At a recent business event, the speaker didn’t do a complicated analysis of earning disparities. Instead, he said:
“If we can raise the earnings of South Carolinians just to the national average, that would bring an extra $35 billion in revenue to our state.”
5. Sell with Stories: Nothing engages your listener like a good story, well told. No matter what your topic, your audience will lean forward in their seats when you start a story. Use names and specific details to personalize your story and make it more interesting. Use a case study if possible or create a character to illustrate your points if you’re talking about a general topic. Try something like:
“Bob Smith is our typical client. He’s married with two children and he lives in the suburbs. But when he needed immediate help with an insurance claim, our automated system saved him hundreds of dollars and hours of hassle.”
6. Create Comparisons: Comparisons, analogies and metaphors can take an abstract concept and make it concrete and meaningful. Brainstorm ways to help your audience relate to your points and interest them in your ideas. The best example recently is from the Center for Disease Control’s most recent public service announcement to encourage disaster preparedness:
“There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for. Take a zombie apocalypse for example. That’s right, I said z-o-m-b-i-e a-p-o-c-a-l-y-p-s-e. You may laugh now, but when it happens you’ll be happy you read this, and hey, maybe you’ll even learn a thing or two about how to prepare for a real emergency.”
7. Close with a Call to Action: You have an objective every time you open your mouth to speak. Make sure the audience knows what it is. This is especially true if the audience may be inclined to “gloss over” parts of your talk. Clearly tell the listener what they need to do or think differently:
“The next time you receive a sales lead, remember to ….”
Good communicators can find a way to make their audience interested in almost any topic, but it does take work. Add these seven techniques to your arsenal of presentation skills and you can take a boring talk and make it brilliant.
For more information about making a memorable presentation or talk, download my free report, 10 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills Today. Or, read the article Increase Your Influence by Improving Your Language.
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© 2011 Chakisse Newton. All Rights Reserved.
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