I recently experienced two noteworthy, if not atypical, presentations that led me to think about what lies at the heart of powerful presenting. The first, an informal presentation given by a Ugandan woman, detailed the atrocities taking place in her home country and left me with an overwhelming desire to help. The second was a documentary about the forgiveness movement in Rwanda that left me relatively unaffected, but, fortunately, more aware. Don’t get an inflated impression about my altruistic nature; I just happened to have a particularly socially-aware week.
As I thought more about the two experiences, I began to wonder why one was so much more effective than the other. I believe the answer lies in the Ugandan presenter, Catherine, herself. Although the documentary’s words and images were powerful, Catherine made her country’s issues much more real and immediate, merely by being a sincere person with a compelling story. When you are trying to make something foreign real, frequently the best approach is to embody the concept yourself. Sometimes the most powerful presentations require nothing more than one person with a voice.
Come Unprepared
We don’t normally advocate this approach at Ethos3, but sometimes less preparation helps make a presentation more intimate. While Catherine knew what she wanted to speak about, she came without standard presentation tools like PowerPoint slides and a projector. I was most impressed by her ability to use the tools that happened to be on hand. When she needed a map, an audience member tracked one down. When the map proved insufficient, Catherine drew a rough diagram on the white board to illustrate her points. By staying flexible, she more than made do with what the room offered, and her lack of formal preparation also made her seem more genuine and approachable.
Set Up For Conversation
To make this presentation technique most effective, have your audience sit in a circle to encourage conversation. When people can make eye contact, they are much more likely to be engaged with each other and the presenter. Facilitate conversation from the start by telling your audience that you are open to receiving questions throughout the presentation. Asking questions of your audience, especially when you are unsure whether or not they need more information on a topic, also builds a good connection with them.
Make It Personal
When aiming to present powerfully, it is particularly important to be honest and personal with your storytelling. When you relate a story that is close to your heart, don’t be afraid to be real. Sharing your experiences openly is the best way to reach your audience on an emotional level and convince them to take action. Try to avoid completely scripting your presentation so that you can tell your stories in an authentic voice. Having only a loose idea of how the presentation will go will also help you work in audience questions more organically.
Voice Your Story
As presentation experts, we speak at length about visuals and slide design, but your voice is still your most powerful tool. Without you and your words, your presentation is without heart. People gather for presentations to connect with presenters. If that wasn’t the case, we’d read manuals and watch cartoon webinars instead. While using a boatload of technology can be tempting, you might not always need it or even have access to it. But you always have your voice, which as I learned through Catherine’s powerful presentation, is a luxury we tend to overlook all too often.
