We are in part 2 of a series about what public speaking expert Chris Anderson calls the 2 presentations streams: information and inspiration. He references this simple but profound idea in his book, TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking.
Yesterday, we talked about how we can communicate more effectively with our audience. And it begins by laying a strong foundation of information. If you missed that blog, you can check it out here. Today, let’s look at what Anderson calls the “human overlay.” Let’s figure out how to inspire our audiences.
What is inspiration?
Here’s how Anderson defines it. “Think of a talk as two streams of input running parallel. Words are processed by your brain’s language engine . . . But layered on top is a stream of metadata that allows you to (largely unconsciously) evaluate every piece of language you’re hearing, determines what you should do with it, and how you should prioritize it . . . this is inspiration. Inspiration grabs an idea and rushes it into our minds’ attention spotlight.”
At its most basic level, inspiration aims to move people. It takes them from where they were at the beginning of the presentation to where you want them to be at the end. Just like a great piece of music or art, a great presentation can capture the attention and the minds and the hearts of your listener.
In his text, Anderson says inspiration can accomplish many things. Here are just a couple, adapted from his list. When you inspire your audience, you:
- create connection, building trust with your audience.
- foster engagement, inciting passion and action in the listeners.
- build curiosity, helping the audience to want to dig deeper.
- promote empathy, causing audience members to identify with the experiences of others.
- establish conviction, disrupting the status quo and leading to change.
How do we accomplish it?
While the information stream mainly happens before your presentation, the inspiration stream generally occurs while you are presenting. Granted, you can write content aimed at inspiration by using powerful language and metaphors. But your audience will generally feel inspired because of how you present your content. And that boils down to your delivery. It’s everything you do with your voice and your body to communicate that you feel passionately about your topic. Here’s a few tips to get you started:
- Take some time before you deliver your presentation to tap into the feelings you have about your topic. Name them.
- Deliver your speech with expression in your body. Don’t be afraid to move around. When people are excited about something, it comes across in their posture and movement.
- Use a variety of facial expressions. If you aren’t sure how expressive your face is, I’d suggest recording yourself practicing your presentation. See how much your face changes. If your face isn’t moving a lot, work to slightly exaggerate your natural expressions to help build inspiration.
- Use the full range of your vocal variety. Your voice is capable of communicating a lot. Think about how changes in rate, volume, and pitch all help to reinforce your message and express emotions.
As you prepare for your next presentation, keep Anderson’s 2 presentation streams in mind. Remember that your job as a speaker is to both inform and inspire your audience. If you focus on those two goals, you’ll be well on your way to a winning presentation.
Need more information or inspiration on presentation design or delivery? Get in touch with us now.
