SPEAKERS’ CORNER | What our favorite speakers are blogging about

Many of my friends are frequent presenters and often asked to tailor their talks.

Building on Chris Brogan's recent post related to this subject, I want to offer an alternative to the “death by PowerPoint notes” approach that most speakers take in this situation. Sure, it’s hard for you to remember all the details, especially if you are integrating research you’ve done for this talk. There are new terms, statistics that will be fact checked and unique points you want to make. You may not be comfortable shuffling notes around in your hands, and it’s true, you look less professional when you do.

While you are adding value by giving a one-of-a-kind talk, asking the audience to read and listen to you makes the presentation long and according to Nick Morgan, straining on the audience. When you use ‘overhead-notes’ you are making your memorization problem your audience’s as well. How can you possibly remember your points without using PowerPoint slides as your prompts?

1. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse. Give your custom talk at least two times (all the way through) prior to giving it for your audience. Give it one time the day of your talk, even if that means you have to get up at 5:30! If you really want to commit this to memory, give your last rehearsal… to yourself in the mirror.
2. Create an outline on 11 x 17 paper, much like a set sheet that a band uses. Use bold magic marker, and write down cues (see the picture above, from my recent talk for Rich's Products). The audience won't notice you are occasionally looking down at them, all they know is that you are giving them a talk that's written for them.
3. Make every PowerPoint slide beg for it's life. In my situation, I only use slides that illustrate a point graphically. The acid test is this: Can I make the point without showing the PowerPoint?
4. Carry around a one page outline of your talk and read it from top to bottom for the last hour before you go on. Test yourself, reciting the bullet points absent your notes. Include any key words that are new to you.

The audience, like a customer, responds to a good experience. When they get to listen, and only view essential images, you are maximizing the experience. But to quote Pine and Gilmore, customization is the ultimate experience!

See comments.

• Go to Tim’s Blog
• Invite Tim to Speak
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Order Tim’s book: Saving The World At Work