Presentations, done right, could be mesmerizing! And I don’t mean that as an overstatement. I’ve sat in on a few presentations, even in business settings, when I have walked away spellbound and marveled at how incredibly well that ‘gig’ was pulled off! The 2006 drama, ‘The Prestige’ comes to mind where the magician structures his tricks into three distinct ‘acts’ – the ‘pledge’, where the audience is presented with an ordinary object, the ‘turn’, where something extraordinary is done to the object (like making it disappear) and finally the ‘prestige’, where the object is brought back or restored to its original status. A note-worthy training in presentation skills should incorporate this three-part act So, what would that look like? Well, it might look something like this:
‘The Pledge’
The presenter must begin with the simple (or complex) state of affairs as it is. He must paint a picture of the current predicament with all its nuances and intricacies. This will give his listeners a sense of context. Whatever the aspect may be – current sales numbers, projected revenue for the year or showcasing the deficiencies of an existing product, giving the listeners a glimpse of this first ‘act, sets them up naturally for the second.
‘The Turn’
This second part of course is where the ‘proposal’ is made; a revolutionary idea, a concept or an overhaul of the system that might potentially raise some eyebrows or even evoke a few gasps in the room. This part has to be executed tactfully by the presenter to make sure he still has the attention and interest of the listening audience. After all, a change is being proposed and no one likes change. The net result better warrants such an idea. This suspense can be crucial to good presentation skills.
This is the ‘piece de resistance’ of the act. This is where the presenter gets to show the exact effect or result the idea or proposal is going to have on the whole project or assignment. Whether it is a boost in sales numbers or magnificent product ideas, this act of the presentation is where the audience needs to be wowed. Executed well, regardless of theatrics, the presentation should be a success. This is certainly one way of how to do a presentation!
In Larry Kim’s well-written blog post on “20 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills” he covers everything from how to plan and structure your presentation, to how to engage your audience and use visual aids effectively.
Are you ready to take your presentation skills to the next level? With Presentation Skills Training from Momentum Training Solutions, you can become a pro and unlock new opportunities in your career and personal life.