Let’s just go ahead and admit that it would be pretty cool to be the First Lady of the United States. You’d get all the perks of being the President’s significant other without having to deal with all those arduous problems like the debt crisis, terrorists and wars in Middle Eastern countries. Instead, you’d get to decide what you care most about and focus on that during your four (or eight) year stay in the not-too-shabby White House. (It might be a tiny bit cooler to be one of the daughters of the POTUS, but that discussion is for another time…) Here are some presentation lessons we can learn from the FLOTUS herself, Michelle Obama.
Look Good, Feel Good
Mrs. Obama is continually praised for her chic style. She graces the pages of tabloids and fashion magazines– sporting designer labels and more populist couture– holding her own amongst the celebrities known for lesser things than being FLOTUS. She certainly has a dedicated following with multiple websites dedicated to her latest wears. And it’s not just her style that earns her accolades, it’s also the way she carries herself. She is confident and collected, graceful and poised. Precisely the kind of attitude you want to have as you go into a presentation.
As we’ve mentioned before on this blog, if you look good, you feel good. It’s much easier to feign coolness– in spite of those nervous butterflies– if you look your best. Channel some Mrs. Obama when you get ready for your next presentation (and if you’re of the male persuasion, simply look to her husband for tips). Look great, feel great and give a great presentation.
Be Who You Are
Mrs. Obama once said, “One of the lessons I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals.” This is a great lesson to remember before you begin presenting. Inevitably, you’re going to be nervous. It’s obviously not the easiest thing to get in front of a group of people and speak. But remember to be yourself. Make who you are work for you. Don’t listen to negative criticism and don’t pay attention to those people who are clearly on their phones in the back of the room. Focus on your presentation. Be confident in its content, and give a compelling delivery. Let yourself shine through. You’ll relate much easier to your audience. Think of how easily women in this country relate to Mrs. Obama. Certainly some of that appeal comes from how she completely embodies who she is. “When I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am,” she says.
Show, Don’t Tell
One of the notable things about Mrs. Obama is how personally involved she’s been with various important causes. Since her arrival at the White House, she’s founded the Let’s Move! campaign whose goal is to reverse the endemic of childhood obesity. She’s constantly on the news encouraging kids to get moving, and what’s most compelling about her involvement is that she doesn’t just tell them to get moving, she gets moving herself. She dances with kids, she plays games, she jumps rope. She’s not just all talk, she gets moving herself, further encouraging the kids to do the same.
Show rather than tell as much as possible during your presentation. Your audience will retain the information longer, and they’ll also be more convinced and trustful of your expertise if you show them that you live it too.
In an attempt to inspire you to create your next presentation as a presentation that is going to change the world, here are a few parting words from our First Lady: “I believe that each of us– no matter what our age or background or walk of life– each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation.” Touché. You heard the lady– you have something to contribute to this nation and that, my friends, is an epic presentation. Now get crackin’.
Photo from whitehouse.gov.
