“Presentation… Who Me?”

This month’s Inspiring Innovations, LEARNING MOMENTS September 2024 podcast is important/special to me in so many ways! First, I have always believed and preached that everyone that I worked with should be confident and prepared to make a good presentation on their work “stuff” anytime.

Next, as I transitioned more in to the consultant world-of-work, I tried very hard to be the very best-in-the-business when doing a workshop, teaching a class, or making a presentation.

The “Presentation… Who Me?” podcast contains a number of suggestions on preparing for and delivering a GREAT presentation whenever asked. So maybe take notes?! 

Enjoy the listen.

Transcript

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Hello again and welcome to the September of 2024 Inspiring Innovations Learning Moments Podcast. As always, this is your discussionist host, Marv Pickla. And it is again my monthly pleasure to share a special message with everyone out there listening about related topics to one of our central, central points, priorities. You remember them leadership, communication, professional development, and of course, innovation. Each of these priority topics have their way of impacting both our personal and professional life sectors. And it's always my goal to offer at least a small area of creative support in each message that might help everybody be just a little better every day. Yeah, every day. So this month's learning moments topic is one that is often commonly discussed in the workplace, but at the same time is creatively ignored because of its always anxiety building effect, impact. You know what I mean? You know what I'm referring to. The topic is presentations? Who me? Yeah, presentations. Who me? Yep, this month. I'm going to talk about doing a more excellent job when asked to make a presentation, no matter the topic. And yes, all of my suggestions are personally driven and are suggestions, but they're backed by years of my presentation experience. So get ready, because it's it's a learning moment. Here we go. First, as you prep for your presentation, consider the time that you have. Consider about how much time you have and the main points that you want everybody to retain, the takeaways you know, from your presentation. This means that you have to decide on your presentation priorities and then assign each one so much time, the time that you can dedicate to each one of those priorities. I'll tell you this action will help you get to the point more often than not during your time delivering the messages, and not be wasteful of other people's time. You get it? You know what I mean? So if you have two hours and you come down to five main topics, you can give each topic about 20 minutes, and then you have some time left over for intro and exit questions. Okay? But give each priority some equal time so you then share it effectively with everybody a little bit more. So prioritize well. Next, be careful about your use and dependency on technology. Yeah, yeah, I already can see the looks and the faces out there, but I know in a way I'm old-fashioned in this area, but I do not use technology at all, but I can count the number of times that I've witnessed a guest speaker totally lost because their PowerPoint or video didn't work. You, they, I lost interest, momentum, and it is very difficult, very hard to get that momentum back. So don't allow yourself to become held hostage by technology. But instead, when you're asked to make a presentation, make sure you have a backup game plan instantly, not after 15 minutes, but instantly. Okay, moving on. Another critical area is to know your audience as best you can. And build your presentation with unique, special, not regularly available information. Why? Because most times presentation attendees do not want to leave your time with them and say, Oh, I have already heard all of that. No, they really don't want to leave with that thought in mind. So try to build in examples and data that alters those kinds of thoughts and comments and makes it fresh and new for them every time you get a chance, okay? So now let's talk about presentation delivery. First, if at all possible, move about the room. It's not always possible, but move about the room. It makes the whole event more personal to everybody attending. Also, don't be afraid to just ask your attendees questions. They're going to ask you questions. Go ahead and ask them questions. Their answers about what they've expected in this presentation will help you know more about why they're sitting in the room and also help you adapt your later messaging to better meet their needs. You can be adapting on the fly, and it and you can, it'll work. And also during your prep time, try to ask yourself questions that they may ask. It may be that you won't have the perfect answers, but you will come across as knowledgeable and aware of particular issues surrounding the presentation. Finally, let me say this real simply. Always be you. Do you hear me? Do you understand? Always be you. And let me explain why that's important. Early in my consultant career, I tried real hard to make my presentation, my workshop presentations, like my longtime college professor and professional mentor. He's a great guy. And I wanted to be like him. And guess what? I was terrible. It was a great learning moment for me. Be yourself, be authentic, go ahead and stutter, laugh, make mistakes, but always, always be you. Well, I think that's enough presentation suggestions for today, and some information about presentation, why me? So just to recap, though, think about these points. Prep well. Every time, all the time. Second, prioritize and provide equal time to your equal points. They're all important, that's why you were asked to do the presentation. So give them the appropriate equal time. Next, include unique, special ideas, data, whatever. It'll make you stand out from other presenters. Carefully rely on technology and always be ready if it fails. Next, deliver your presentation, maybe on the move. You'll be closer to the people, and that personal touch will mean a lot. Next, anticipate and practice answering expected questions. It will make you know and feel that you're totally prepared. And finally, but maybe most importantly, be you and be authentic. I know and hope that this podcast on making great presentations should will be helpful. I also know that the audiences will know and feel that you put a lot of effort into this. And one thing that I always say when I join a group is I let them know that, quote, no one stops me from having a good time presenting to you today. So let's do this and have fun together. It sets a great stage for what you say afterwards, and it works. Thanks so much for listening to this inspiring innovations learning moments podcast. Hey, and we'll talk more next month.