Presenting with Power

The most effective way to earn business, gain referrals, sharpen your selling skills and grow any enterprise is by speaking and presenting with confidence, clarity and effectiveness.  The most successful leaders in business and life have worked hard to become exceptional speakers.  There are only a few basic guidelines you need to study, practice and in time master to be just as successful as the best speakers out there.  Here are the guidelines to follow so you can take action right now.

1. Know your audience: What do they like?  Dislike? What are their greatest needs and concerns?  Why do they think you are speaking?  What is their expectation?  How can you surprise them with an approach or freshness that they’ve not experienced in this venue?
2. Know your purpose:  What do you hope to accomplish from your speech or presentation?  What do you want the listeners to think, feel and then hopefully do or take action on because of what you’ve inspired in them?
3. Get to the point with a story:  Everyone wants to hear stories - that’s what life is all about.  Be sure that your presentation tells a story that most of your audience can relate to.  Introduce meanings that hit your message home that are most likely to resonate with the group.  Practice this story and deliver it with conviction and confidence – accentuating the message and the words that will inspire feeling, emotion and action. 
4. Follow the speaking and presenting process 101:
   1. Plan to use ¾ of your time to speak and ¼ of your time to invoke a good question and answer experience (demonstrates your awareness of the crowd and also of your expertise)
   2. Tell them why you are here
   3. Tell them what you will do for them, what they will gain, learn, experience (this is called pre-framing the presentation)
   4. Tell a story that captures attention
   5. Share some facts, statistics and insights that the audience will relate to and will consider “wow” facts
   6. In summary - remind them what they’ve now learned and what they can do about it now
   7. Leave them with one thought to remember and make it memorable
   8. Make the last comment about the audience and their world and congratulate them on their ability to choose (this can be applied to any business purpose) “Isn’t it nice to know that just by remembering this one thing and sharing it with others when it’s helpful, you can save them an entire future of problems and make their life better.”
   9. Don’t make the #1 most common mistake in presenting.  Your audience isn’t interested in your awards, accolades or expertise. They are interested in getting a solution to a problem that they actually understand.  They want it now and your expertise isn’t nearly as important as your audience solving a problem.  Become obsessed with solving a problem, describing a problem – how it can be solved and what exactly they can do, think, change to solve it in their own world.  This applies whether you are presenting “a better life with a pet” or “Your land, your home, your view”.  You decide the story you get to tell, but don’t make it about you at all.  Get “I” and “me” out of it as often as possible.  Replace it with “You”, “Your”, “they” – and other outward focused words. 
   10. More than anything – remember that you are sharing your GIFTS™ when you present.  When you are about to begin, think to yourself, “How may I serve?” at least 3 times and know that the message you need and the guidance, resources and information required to serve this audience is already there – ready for you to present.  This isn’t about you, it’s about serving others.  GIFTS™: Giving, Intentional Inspiration, Focus, Tools and Service.  Simply put – Be giving in mindset and action, intentionally follow your inner compass of passion and inspiration.  This is the free fuel that takes you down YOUR path, not just A path.  Focus – where your focus goes, your energy flows.  Focus becomes your reality at any given time.  Tools: Never confuse the tools for the purpose or the creative force of your work.  First, know your destination, mission (how you’ll get there) and vision (what it will look like).  Service: The law of service and reward states that rewards are commensurate with service.  Increase service and rewards follow in your favor.