When delivering presentations, we are often so focused on the content that we pay little attention to our audience and what they need. We may consider the impression we want to make, but we neglect to think about how we will deliver and, more importantly, who will be listening and what that means to our message and its delivery. Audience expectations Before you start preparing your presentation, begin by asking yourself the following questions:
Content and delivery If you plan to use slides, source memorable images which support your message or challenge assumptions. Avoid text-heavy bullet-pointed slides and keep any data simple and legible. Detailed infomation can be circulated
afterwards. Resist the temptation to read your slides aloud to your audience - the primary focus should be on you as the presenter rather than on presentation slides on the screen.
Take a moment to reflect on how you come across to your audience. Do they see you as a confident and enthusiastic presenter, timid and boring, funny and engaging, authoritarian and didactic, or even slightly aggressive? Do you build rapport quickly? These factors can influence how well your presentation is received, so seek out feedback and experiment with your pace, tone of voice, posture and body language too as these all come into play. Language use Avoid using jargon or acronyms which may exclude non-specialists and be mindful of cultural references that could exclude people from diverse audiences . Try to limit the use of phrases such as ‘you know what I mean’ which detract from the impact of your message. And finally, Keep It Short and Simple. Non-verbal communication Most of us have bad presentation habits; often we are unaware of these and we rarely find someone willing to point them out to us. With this in mind, persuade a friend or colleague to watch you do a dry run and give honest, developmental feedback. Or otherwise film yourself; it's the only way to see what your audience sees and improve your presentation skills. A presenter with their hands in their pockets can look unprofessional and suggest a certain lack of respect for the audience. Equally, a presenter slumped behind the lectern will be less likely to engage with their audience. If you are presenting to a small audience in a meeting room it can be tempting to sit down to present. However, this can reduce your energy and impact. Try using your posture and physical presence to add more power to your presentation. Some movement is good but avoid distractions like fidgeting with the pointer or waving your arms around too furiously. Remember to maintain good eye contact and SMILE as this is crucial in building rapport. Engaging techniques Think about if and how you can involve your audience in your presentation. With the widspread use of social media, you can ask your audience to live tweet or participate in polls. Alternatively you can ask your audience to vote by raising their hands, encourage quick partner discussion and signal that you welcome interruptions. This will increase engagement and make your subject matter more likely to stick. Cultural considerations Your audience may well be international or multicultural and so adapting and responding to their cross-cultural expectations is a valuable skill. Never assume that everyone in your audience has the same expectations, so do your research beforehand. Find out what makes your audience ‘tick’ and what a presentation means to them. Will they expect to interrupt and ask questions? Do they want to hear your key message upfront or build up to a strong conclusion at the end of your presentation. Finally, here are my top tips for excellent presentation skills:
With many thanks to Jackie Black. Jackie will be delivering our International Presentation Skills course taking place on 5 March and 12 June 2019. Share this Posted: 18 February 2019 Categories: Communication skills, Workplace challenges What questions should you usually ask yourself about the audience?I typically start by asking three simple questions about your audience.. Question #1: What do you want your audience to know? ... . Question #2: What do you want your audience to feel? ... . Question #3: What do you want your audience to do?. What is the most important question you should ask yourself preparing a presentation?Ask yourself the following 5 questions:. Who is your audience? ... . What do you want that audience to do differently as a result of the speech? ... . What's the problem the audience has for which your information is the solution? ... . What's a brief story, anecdote, statistic, factoid, or question that sums up this problem?. What are the 3 questions to ask yourself when setting up a presentation?Three Questions to Ask Before Creating Your Presentation Content. Question # 1 – What do I want my audience to know? This question deals with your audience's minds. ... . Question # 2 – What do I want my audience to feel? ... . Question # 3 – What do I want them to do?. What question should you be asking in considering your audience when taking a position?5 Important Questions to Ask About Your Audience Before Your Next Presentation. 1) Who are they? Are they prospects? ... . 2) Why are they coming to hear your presentation? ... . 3) How much do they know about your topic? ... . 4) Do they have preconceived notions about your topic? ... . 5) What is their attention span?. |
Which of the following questions should you ask yourself when considering the audience for a presentation?
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