Not Another Boring PowerPoint Presentation!
Tips to present like the best speakers in the world when giving a sales presentation.
People are always telling me how they sat through a boring PowerPoint Presentation or they gave a boring PowerPoint presentation. You know it’s bad when you are the presenter and you are bored with your own presentation.
We are in an epidemic and it’s called PowerPoint. Most businesses think they have to use it because it’s “professional.” However, I have found that the best presenters are the ones who do not use PowerPoint. Instead of investing their time in developing slides, they invest their time in honing their actual presentation skills.
Imagine if you spent your time developing your public speaking skills where you knew how to create an engaging presentation and deliver it with confidence and charisma.
Here are three skills you can learn that will get you on your way of being among some of the greatest presenters of the world.
- Prepare Effectively
This doesn’t mean spending lots of time developing your slides with tons of text. There are several steps to take in the preparation process. Unfortunately, most people do not know them because they do not take the time to learn how to prepare effectively. Instead they tend to copy what others do. My suggestion to you is to never copy anyone unless you think they are outstanding. The first step to the preparation process is to determine what you want to happen as a result of the presentation. Ask yourself why you are giving this presentation and what desired outcome do you want to happen as a result of your presentation? Do you want your audience to do business with you, learn something new, or take certain action? Be very clear on what you want your presentation to accomplish and write it down. The next step is to make a list of items that your audience must know in order for your presentation to produce your desired outcome. Think in terms of benefits to your audience rather than your company credentials. Time and time again I see sales presentations where they talk a lot about how great their company is in order to gain credibility. But, no one cares how great the company is. All they care about is what you are selling and how they will benefit from that. The best way to sell them on the idea is to use real life examples and testimonials on how it has benefited others. Especially you! If you have any personal experience with whatever it is you are selling, you must share that experience if you want buy-in from your audience. After you are clear on your desired outcome, you have written down the key points to discuss in your presentation (along with real life examples), then it’s time to write out your entire presentation word for word. Most people do not do this and that is why they are unable to connect with their audience as well as the best presenters. When you write out your entire presentation word for word and then practice it, you will know your information so well that you are now free to engage with your audience and have a conversation with them rather than present straight material to them.
- Deliver with Confidence
You will be able to deliver with confidence and charisma if you have done the preparation process. When you delivery your presentation you must appear confident if you want your audience to have confidence in what you are talking about. Even if you do not feel confident, you can still appear confident. Act as if you do have total confidence. Do it for your audience. Take the focus off yourself and put it onto the audience. Recognize the true benefits your presentation has for the audience. Your job is to make them aware of this and convince them they need it. Why do they need your product or service? It will benefit their lives some how and the more confident you can present that message, the more beneficial you are being to your audience. To appear confident, present from the center stage in front of the room, stand up straight, feet shoulder width apart, hands by your side. Become aware of any nervous fidgeting or movement, and stop it (i.e. swaying, pacing, crossing legs or arms, shaking, etc.).
- Let Out Your True Personality
If you have done the preparation process, you will be confident and excited about your presentation. You know how to take command of the room, and now you will be able to be yourself and let your true personality shine. In order to get buy-in or to get people to do business with you they must like and trust you. The best way to get them to like and trust you is to get them to know you. Here’s where your true personality comes in. Let loose, have fun with your presentation, and don’t hold back. This will also make you much more engaging to listen to.
Note about PowerPoint
If you can throw away your PowerPoint slides, do it. If your company says you must use them or if you feel your presentation calls for them, then go ahead and use them, but keep in mind that you do not need slides with text. When you have slides with text it can be confusing to your audience. They do not know what to do. They are reading the slides, looking at you, listening to you, and maybe even looking at their handouts - too much to focus on. Slides cannot convey the true message. They do not have vocal inflection, passion, emotion. But guess what? You do. Your audience would much rather watch and listen to you so that they can really understand your message. Picture slides can be very effective, however. A picture is worth a thousand words and gets the message across with much greater impact.
The greatest presenters in the world prepare their presentations effectively, deliver with total confidence, and allow their audience to see their true personality. And… they have fun with their presentations no matter what they are talking about. When you have fun, your audience will have fun. When your audience has fun, they will want more of you! Prepare effectively, deliver with confidence, and let your true personality out so that you can become more successful as a sales professional.
Great Presentation"
Receive this
free article
when you subscribe
to the
PEP Ezine
free monthly tips on public speaking.
Enter your
email address now
