Comedians are known for telling humorous stories, jokes, and monologues that bring excitement and interest to audiences. Corporate presenters, on the other hand, focus more on delivering detailed information to inform and persuade the crowd.
Do you need to be a comedian to be an effective presenter?
No, but there are few crucial tips that stand-up comedians can teach professional speakers about delivering sales presentations.
What, then, do comedians and public speakers have in common? Where do they differ, and what lessons can we learn from them?
What’s the Secret?
Comedians are experts at cracking jokes and convincing audiences to have fun during their performance. Like them, you can do humorous presentations that convince the crowd to listen while understanding your message. They also use silence to emphasize a certain point and give the audience time to absorb a particular idea.
Aside from your presentation’s content, your delivery can also contribute to a successful communication.
To help you become a more confident, passionate, and entertaining speaker, here are three things to consider:
1. Be Prepared
Lack of practice will only harm your pitch. If you don’t make time for it, chances are, you’ll get sidetracked by unexpected situations.
Preparation is still the best way to manage your fear and overcome anxiety. If you know your content by heart, you’ll be able to deliver a clear presentation. This involves warming up your voice, mastering proper facial expressions, and rehearsing your business pitches to engage your audience effectively.
2. Stay Away from the Lectern
Lecterns aren’t bad at all. While they can be used to hide your notes and materials from your audience, comedians often avoid lecterns and focus on throwing puns at their audiences. They also maintain eye contact so as not to lose their attention and keep them in tune.
When presenting, avoid relying too much on the lectern. This can help you concentrate on dealing with the crowd and remove any barriers that create distance between you and your listeners.
3. Learn from Failures
Everybody makes mistakes, including presenters.
Making people laugh is one of the hardest things to do. However, comedians do their best to meet this expectation.
When you fail, remember: it can teach you to be a better presenter. Giving up will only stop you from improving. Understand this: all professionals experience hardships. Use this knowledge to improve and excel.
The Punchline: Learn the Basics
Being well-prepared, staying away from the lectern, and learning from failures are only a few lessons presenters can borrow from comedians. Once you master these techniques, you’ll be able to develop good relationships and achieve a more effective presentation.
To help you deliver a more dynamic and entertaining presentation, SlideGenius experts can assist you and offer you a free quote.
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