There’s no questioning the stark contrast between millennials and their Generation X and Boomer equivalents. We’ve talked extensively on the blog about how to present to millennial audiences and even how millennials should present to other generations. On the other hand, investigating the different themes and ideas which provoke the minds of millennials provides a vast amount of insight into the most effective presentation narrative to employ in your next deck. And the breadth of literature, studies, and research available on this young, spunky generation is of no shortage.
With 87.5 million American millennials – 21.1 million more than the baby boomer populace – brands, companies, and organizations must learn to craft a presentation narrative this group is able to relate to positively and effectively. This exercise begins with selecting an appropriate theme for your millennial audience. So, what themes does this group respond to?
Individualism/autonomy
For the first potential presentation theme, let’s look to Disney. As a millennial, I grew up watching and obsessing over my favorite Disney princess – Ariel, from The Little Mermaid. The impetus behind Ariel’s transition lies in her desire to live on land. She isn’t happy in her current situation. She knows life can be better – for her and for those she cares about. And she recognizes that she holds the reigns in her own life; not her dad or even evil Ursula. There’s a sense of autonomy, which is hammered throughout the narrative as she admires humans dancing on a ship – in awe of those magical legs.
Love
Nearly two times as many millennials will donate to a certain cause if their supervisor – not necessarily a CEO or high-ranking executive – requests that they participate, the 2015 Millennial Impact Report revealed. Attributed in part to the importance millennials feel to contribute to the greater good, this fact provides the evidence to support using the theme of love in a presentation.
Growth
A 2011 article from the Organizational Health Initiative in St. Louis, Missouri found that millennials value growth and development in their careers and professional lives. On average, a millennial would not only prefer, but also expect to be promoted after 15 months of working in a new job or position. While they anticipate nothing less than speedy growth, millennials also realize that they may have to settle on a first job that is not in their field or not exactly what they envision themselves doing – demonstrating their understanding and appreciation of career development. Therefore, a presenter would benefit from incorporating a theme of growth in a presentation narrative.
You’ve chosen a theme for your content. Now what? Here are 4 ways to further enhance your presentation narrative and dazzle millennials in the crowd:
1. Create a life plan for your presentation
The key to any presentation narrative capable of connecting with a millennial audience is a cohesive structure and clearly-defined purpose. Millennials like to have information distributed to them in a highly-efficient and ultra-useful manner. To ensure that your presentation accomplishes this task, produce a presentation plan, like Tony Robbin’s life plan concept. Here’s a list of steps and questions to get your narrative on the right track:
- Determine your ideal presentation outcomes. What do you want your audience to do or where do you want them to go following your speech? How do you want your slides to be recalled? What about your content/text on the slides? And your delivery? What personality do you want to convey and what tone do you want to evoke?
- Next, make a list of your presentation priorities in these main areas – Audience Reaction, Presenter Performance, Content Quality (as well as any others that are important to you and your brand, business, or organization).
- Finally, create a plan of action for each of the priorities established above. What is the current state of your deck? Where do you want it to be? And what specific steps will you take to get there?
2. Insert discussion checkpoints
Some researchers argue that millennials were much more involved in the familial decision-making process than generations before them. This is a significant factor in the workplace too. Researchers Neil Howe and William Strauss argue that millennials view a “relationship with older adults as a peer-to-peer relationship.” The lesson for presenters? Include opportunities for your millennial audience members to speak their opinions and offer input. You can achieve this by inserting discussion checkpoints throughout your presentation narrative at relevant and obvious transition or stopping points. Also, feed millennials’ need for exploration by allowing audience members to innovate off of your content during these discussions.
3. Keep content conversational
Caroline Beaton, a content marketing and brand consultant emphasizing the psychology of working millennials, wrote in a recent Forbes article that “on the most basic level, working millennials need support to explore.” Through attachment theory, Caroline connects the way an individual formed a relationship with his or her parents to how that same individual responds to mentor and executive figures in the workplace. She outlines 3 attachments: anxious/ambivalent, avoidant, and secure attachment – the third being the most effective for relating to millennials. When a millennial feels protected, yet encouraged to break boundaries and gather additional information, they are operating within a secure attachment. Develop this kind of relationship within your presentation narrative by using the word “you.” According to a study of content in the Google Books database, second-person writing increased 4X over a long time period, while use of the words “we” and “us” decreased. Likely, this could be due to millennials responding to authoritative and ambitious individuals in the workplace. They want direction. They want a roadmap. And the use of the second-person is commanding and inspiring.
Conclusion
A presenter hoping to launch a connection with millennials in his or her audience should first contemplate appropriate themes that correspond with their overall message and appeal to the younger generation. After settling on a theme, presenters must create a presentation plan, create discussion checkpoints, and create conversational content. For more information about engaging millennials, review the resources below:
The Millennial Mind on Nonprofit Presentations
Gen Y Overwhelm: 4 Steps to Simplify Your Priorities When Everything Seems Important
