Dan Pink is a legend in the presentation realm. His unique style is admirable for its poise and power, and his authority (you have to respect anyone who is actually knowledgeable in their field) is undeniable. But knowing a presenter is good–really good–and identifying what exactly it is that makes him or her so good is sometimes a different matter. We’ve been following Dan Pink for some time now and we’ve got a few thoughts about the essential qualities Pink displays that the rest of us could and should spend time emulating:
1. Concise: Being brief is one of the most difficult lessons anyone can learn in business. It must have something to do with youth, excitement, an eagerness to learn and share, etc. I went through it, and nearly every other experienced professional I know went through it as well. But we all came out understanding the same basic concept that Dan Pink illustrates every time he steps on stage: you need to be direct, to the point, and (whenever possible) right. In my personal experience, I’ve found it takes 5 to 6 different run-throughs to identify all the unnecessary text in a presentation. I don’t know how many passes Dan Pink takes to achieve his classic concision, but I’d be willing to bet it’s up there!
2. Comfort: Being comfortable with who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and where you’re going is the essential foundation to any public speaking platform. If you haven’t achieved comfort on all levels, you may not be ready to counsel others on their careers, life, technology, etc. It’s not about charisma or dynamism; it’s just plain old comfort. Get comfortable with all of the facets of your professional life before you head on stage with a message. Otherwise, why exactly would you bother?
3. Conversation: There’s less and less space every year for individuals to bark, lecture, talk, or moan at audiences without attaining a certain conversational tone. Blame (or praise) Twitter, Facebook, or God, but facts are facts: today’s audiences increasingly value their own opinions and they expect those opinions, or sometimes questions, to be actively incorporated into a presentation in real time. Dan Pink’s tone is always warm and accessible, but it takes serious practice to be this kind of presenter on stage. Are you ready to invest the time it takes to be the best?
With the right mix of concision, comfort, and conversation, you can be a dynamic presenter anywhere you go. We’re not promising that you’ll be Dan Pink’s cover speaker at his next show, but we know this: as we train and counsel speakers, we find that the same principles Pink evinces in his day-to-day presentations ring true for all presenters. It’s not just personal style; it’s a recipe for success. So get out there and try these steps today.
