Which Audience Did The Author Likely Have In Mind When Writing The Article

I am certain most of you have sat through some 'killer' presentation that killed with the sheer quality and quantity of slides. Here are a few things to keep in mind so that your audience really listens to you instead of the feeling you had during those killer presentations. I hope you benefit from it.

1. The presentation is all about your audience: This is the numero uno. Always remember, the presentation is not about what you know or what you want to tell them. It's about what they want to know and what they want you to tell them. BIG difference. A simple example: I want to tell you about all the wrong things I saw in the last presentation I sat through. You want me to tell you how not to make those mistakes, and that is what this article is all about.

Know what your audience wants and deliver it.To find out what your audience wants to know, communicate with them in advance. If that's not possible, find a similar/ potential audience and talk to them. Rely on your past experiences. Ask colleagues who have been in that situation (and take their advice with a pinch of salt).

The message may be the same. However, how you package it, the words and methods used will completely depend on who your audience is. After all, even if the message is the same, you package it differently for your bosses Vs for your subordinates, right?

2. Know the purpose of your presentation: Usually presentations are made either to inform or to persuade or to inspire action. How you deal with a topic completely depends on the purpose of the presentation. Knowing this in advance helps to achieve the purpose proactively.

3. Keep it interactive: While you are presenting, it's still okay to make it interactive. You can always ask questions like, "Do you agree?" "Have you ever...?" "Can you remember the last time you...." While these questions need not be answered with specific incidents, people will still be hooked with you.

4. KISS (Keep It Simple Silly): Unless the purpose of the presentation is to wow your audience with your vocabulary knowledge, keep your presentation simple and use everyday words that people can relate to. I mentioned this in my previous article 'What I Learned from Great Speakers'. You may want to refer to it on http://lnkd.in/bQ__EFQ. If you ever have a doubt, think how lawyers and doctors try their jargons on you and how it makes you feel. If you don't know how to simplify, use a dictionary or research online.

5. Keep a check on the time : There is only so much attention people will be willing to give you. If you get carried away and lose track of time, the audience will get restless. It may be a good idea to keep a check on the amount of time you are have available. Often, it is pre-declared. If not, ask the person in charge or set your own time limits.

6. Use visuals and props: If you can think of some props to enhance your presentation, nothing like it. You might have heard the story of the professor who brought in the jar and stones, pebbles, sand and water to make a point about priorities. (You can view it here, if you want)

The point is, props & visuals help people pay attention to the message and have a longer recall than just the message being delivered. If you can't think of props, use visuals on your slides.

I will soon write an article on making effective slideshows, so you may want to follow me now and get an update when I do.

7. Recap before your ask for questions: As simple as it seems, I have observed numerous presenters finish their presentation and ask "Any questions?" only to get no response from the audience. What if the audience was not paying attention? What if they had a question but have forgotten? Or what if it now seems as if the opportunity has passed to ask that question? Recapping helps to overcome these very real problems.

I often start my training sessions by telling the participants about my super-human boy friend named Question Man who appears at magical words like 'Who', 'What', 'When', 'Where', 'Why', 'How', 'Which'. I tell them that I love him and hence they are welcome to bring him anytime. This puts them at ease and encourages them to ask me questions. I also tell them that I may not know all the answers but if I don't, I will find out and get back to them. And I do.

Do you have any doubts or some more points to keep in mind? Do share.