Apr 11
Presenters Think This is an Impressive Strategy, But It’s Not!
When a presenter gives an overload of information, it’s akin to the speaker throwing pasta against a wall, hoping something sticks, and it makes the audience feel like it’s drinking from a firehose. Neither scenario is sexy.
“I know your head’s spinning.”
Have you ever heard a presenter say that at the end of a presentation after giving you a whirlwind of information?
If you’ve heard that as an audience member, you either dismissed it (or didn’t hear it in the first place) and went back to checking email on your phone, or you felt frustrated because you signed up for and attended the presentation with the hope of getting at least one new piece of information or clarification on the presentation topic. Then again, neither may be the case. Regardless, there is one thing that is for sure …
You did not attend with the goal of leaving with your head spinning.
Speakers say that because they think it’s impressive — they’ve given this flood of information that makes it seem like they are really informed. And they may indeed be informed, which is great! But …
Never say that to your audience.
First, event planners do not hire speakers with the hopes of them overwhelming and confusing their audiences.
Second, never put yourself in a position to want to say to your audience “I know your head’s spinning.”
Instead, show up to your presentations with an actual plan. No true professional shows up anywhere without a plan, not if they want to be successful — sales rep, home builder, hair stylist, personal trainer, marketing expert. They all arrive with a clear idea of what they will do or what they want to accomplish. Even in an instance of something as mundane as grocery shopping or taking a road trip — if you have a list or a route to take, you’re far more likely to experience success. This should be no different for a presentation. Show up to your presentations with a plan that puts a smile on event planners’ faces. Here’s how.
1. Identify the takeaway(s) you want for the audience.
Ask yourself what the ultimate goal is for everyone once you finish with your presentation. For instance …
- Do you want them to become better versed at strategies for using social media to promote their businesses?
- Do you want them to know how to become more inclusive leaders?
- Do you want them to know the benefits of becoming published authors?
2. Identify the three to five pieces of information you can provide that will help your listeners reach that ultimate goal.
Keep in mind these pieces of information need to be easy to understand or at least delivered in an easy-to-understand fashion. They need to be pieces of information that the audience can immediately use, or they should sound like practices they can immediately and easily put into place. And the information needs to be simple and easy to understand; think A. What is it? B. How do I use it/do it? C. Why is important?
For instance …
- What are the three to five pieces of information they can immediately use as strategies to promote their businesses on social media?:
A. Explain a strategy, e.g., each post should use the PIE method — promote, educate, and inspire.
B. Explain how to implement it, e.g., create a calendar of when you will make each type of post.
C. Explain how it improves business visibility, e.g., people see you as a go-to in your industry because your posts do not just promote your services and/or products, but they also educate and inspire them.
- What are the three to five pieces of information they can immediately put in place to practice being more inclusive leaders?:
A. Provide a practice, e.g., use more inclusive language.
B. Give examples of how it’s done, e.g., an innocent enough phrase such as “you guys” can be viewed as excluding females; use “you all” or “all of you” instead.
C. Explain why the use of inclusive language will make a difference, e.g., all team members feel seen.
- What are the three to five pieces of information they can immediately see as an advantage to being published authors?:
A. Identify an advantage, e.g., be seen as an expert.
B. Give a specific for how they can use their published books to capitalize on that advantage, e.g., get booked for speaking engagements because you’re seen as the expert.
C. Detail the results of that advantage, e.g., increased profitability.
3. Finally, give those three to five pieces of information and only that information plus a call-to-action (CTA).
With the CTA, ask yourself “What do I need them to do now to further the learning?” You can …
- Provide them with a complimentary analysis of one of their social media profiles, then make one or two recommendations for how the profile can be improved.
- Direct them to a link to order your book or read your blog, which contains more information that will help them understand/implement strategies for how to be a more inclusive leader, and invite them to your next inclusive leader bootcamp.
- Provide them with a complimentary discovery call to explore their book ideas as well as a free download to help them get started with writing their manuscript.
In short, make it easy for them. Show them that you can support them. Give them a good experience during your presentation. And whatever you do, do not make their heads spin.
Did you enjoy this post? Get more presentation strategies in my award-winning book, REAL TALK: What Other Experts Won’t Tell You About How to Make Presentations That Sizzle.
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Bridgett McGowen is that speaker, and she is currently booking in-person and web-based engagements that will give your audience a different experience.
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