Enthusiasm has been a hot topic around Ethos3. When you love a project, whether it’s presentation or otherwise, your productivity skyrockets. You wake up early to start your work, you can’t stop telling people about it, and you meet deadlines faster than you ever expected.
We also know that it’s hard to feel a ton of excitement about a fifty slide educational presentation that is due in two weeks. You don’t always get to choose the content you need to present, and thus, it can feel more like an assignment than a chance to let your personality shine.
With the help of a few motivational quotes, here’s why it’s crucial to catch a case of enthusiasm, along with a few fast tips on how to do so.
It’s a choice.
“If you want to be enthusiastic, act enthusiastic.” -Dale Carnegie
So many aspects of our mood and current situation are choice driven. Enthusiasm is no exception; you choose how much energy you bring to each project. Choose to become excited about your presentation. Get to the heart of why you’re delivering the talk, and then pick out a few things you love to highlight during your talk.
It can be the difference between a “yes” or “no.”
“A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.” – Charles M. Schwab
Enthusiasm, much like the common cold, is contagious. When your audience watches you share your story with emotion and energy, they likewise “catch” that same feeling. It’s not just a theory that we have, this notion is fully backed by science. A little bit of extra enthusiasm can be the difference between receiving the funding you need, or losing out on a crucial opportunity. If you treat your next presentation like an ordinary task, your audience will also feel that sense of “ordinary” throughout.
It will make you more creative.
“Without enthusiasm nothing great can be effected in art.” – Robert Schumann
Think back on the last time a kid told you about their favorite book, movie, toy, or etc. That natural energy could fuel a power plant, and is something to which all speakers should aspire. When you have passion, you work hard to make your vision come to pass. Creativity follows, offering unique solutions to make that happen. Your brain is working overtime because it can’t stop thinking about the project itself, spreading into other parts of the day when you wouldn’t ordinarily think of work.
If you want to be more enthusiastic, it starts with a choice. Find the things that interest you most about your talk, and then dig into the root of why. Share that energy with your audience through gesture, tone, and overall energy. Take inspiration from a child sharing a story about their favorite things. And finally, take enthusiasm seriously. Don’t treat it as something that can merely add value, but rather, treat it like a key to your presentation’s success.
Want to read more about how to deliver an enthusiastic (and awesome) presentation? Check out these related articles below!
Embracing Your Voice: Delivery Inspiration From Freddie Mercury
The 3 Best Body Language Tips For Presentations
33 Tips to Cure Presentation Anxiety, in 140 characters or less
