Tag: presentation delivery

The Power of Music in Presentation Delivery

presentation delivery

presentation insight

presentation tips

research

Sep 04, 2014

If your presentation delivery is feeling lackluster, there’s one solution you can try–listen to the 70’s rock anthem, ‘We Will Rock You’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tJYN-eG1zkThey say music is the universal language. It has such a transcendent quality that it’s hard to imagine life without it. Songs can leave an emotional impact on us. And there’s no rhyme or reason to it, either. Even with the absence of lyrics, tunes have the ability to make us feel a myriad of emotions: melancholy, nostalgia, happiness, and even the unwitting urge to dance.Just imagine how a period drama would look without the swelling of violins in the background. There’s simply no denying the influence that music has on our mood and emotions.Apparently, this influence can also decide the outcome of your presentation delivery. According to a recent study, there are certain types of music that can make us feel powerful and confident. Not only that, but these tunes can also shape how we think and behave.The research, led by Dr. Dennis Hsu, found that “music can evoke a sense of power and produce power-related cognition and behavior“. So if you’re feeling wary about giving a presentation, science offers that the best solution may be a song.

Choosing your power song

Of course, not every song can leave you feeling like a presentation superhero. To feel pumped for your presentation delivery, you need to listen to a song with a heavy bass beat. In their research, Dr. Hsu and his team observed how respondents reacted to 3 “high-power” songs:

These songs all have a distinctive heavy bass line that makes listeners feel dominant and powerful. Apparently, when we hear components in music that “express a sense of power”, we are able to “mimic those feelings internally.” Further studies even found that heavy bass music leads to listeners feeling more determined to accomplish a task. Among these tasks is the presentation you’re about to deliver.Queen’s lyrics certainly offer the push you need for a successful presentation delivery. We all want to deliver a presentation that “rocks” the audience off their seats. But without its repetitive and heavy beat, it probably won’t work as well. As the researchers put it, “powerful people are more likely to speak with a deep, bass voice, and a bass voice is often associated with higher perceived power.”

Shaking off your nerves

There are plenty of cures for presentation nerves. We’ve even discussed some of them in the past. Listening to a high-power rock anthem is another fun technique you can try. If after all the breathing exercises you still can’t calm down, why don’t you try to pump yourself up instead?Blogger and Forbes contributor Nick Morgan suggests quick tips that might help your presentation delivery. Aside from listening to heavy bass music, it might also help if you try to get yourself excited. Your adrenaline is responsible for all the physical symptoms associated with nervousness, like breathlessness and sweaty palms. With some power music, you can turn your feelings of dread to feelings of anticipation and determination.But even if you’re not feeling nervous, listening to high-power music can still do a lot for your presentation delivery. The more powerful you feel during a presentation, the better you can relay a thought-provoking and memorable message.

References

Hsu, Dennis Y., et. al. “The Music of Power Perceptual and Behavioral Consequences of Powerful Music.” Social Psychological & Personality Science, August 5, 2014. Accessed September 4, 2014.Morgan, Nick. “Three Secrets To Delivering A Powerful Speech.” Forbes. September 2, 2014. Accessed September 4, 2014. Featured Image: kris krüg via Flickr

Presentation Set Up: Things to Do Before You Start Speaking

presentation delivery

presentation set up

presentation tips

Sep 03, 2014

It’s the big day. You’ve spent weeks preparing for this presentation. Your PowerPoint deck follows every design tip you found online. Your content is straightforward and concise. You even prepared handouts. And now you have a few minutes left before you’re scheduled to present.[sg-blog-modules module=three]If you want your presentation to be successful, make sure that you’ve got these things pat down:

1. Familiarize yourself with the venue

It’s hard to be comfortable in an unfamiliar setting, so use the extra time to scope out your environment. When addressing an audience for a big presentation, you need to feel relaxed. It will be hard to do that if you can’t adjust the microphone to your height, or if you’re blinded by stage lights. Familiarize yourself with every aspect of the venue, including its equipment and seating arrangement.Most importantly, set up your PowerPoint deck right away to make sure that everything is working perfectly once your presentation begins.

2. Rehearse the beginning of your presentation

According to communication coach Gary Genard, the first minute of your presentation is crucial. During that time, your audience will start forming their opinion of you as a presenter.Do you know your material well? Are you a trustworthy source? To give them the best impression, you need to begin your presentation with something unique and captivating. Whatever you have planned, rehearse it in your mind before you take the stage.

3. Listen to your body

With moments left before your big presentation, you might think it’s better to just jump right in. As much as you want to start as soon as you can, it’s also important to listen to what your body is telling you.Is your heart beating fast? Are you breathless from feeling nervous? Take a moment to calm yourself down with some stretching and breathing exercises. And if you feel like you have to, make sure you use the bathroom.

4. Focus on achieving a positive outcome

It’s normal to feel anxious about presenting. In order to calm yourself down, try focusing on positive thoughts. Don’t think about the myriad of things that could go wrong during your presentation.Try not to worry about how your audience will react or how the equipment might malfunction. Keep your eyes on the prize and concentrate on the outcome you’re aiming for.

5. Assume the “power pose”

In her famous TED Talk, “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are,” Amy Cuddy introduces a way you can channel success and confidence by simply changing the way you stand. She calls it the “power pose.”According to Cuddy, a social psychologist by profession, power posing can affect the levels of testosterone and cortisol in your brain. Simply stand straight, hold up your arms in a ‘V’ shape, and lift your chin.Think of the times you posed as a superhero when you were a child. It may seem silly, but it’s an effective way to “fake” confidence. Hold the pose for two minutes if you feel nervous about starting your presentation.–Your presentation set up can make or break the outcome you’re aiming for. Make sure you take the necessary steps so everything runs according to plan.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References:

“How to Begin a Presentation: The Critical First 60 Seconds.” Genard Method. Accessed September 03, 2014.Your body language shapes who you are. Amy Cuddy. TED. Accessed September 03, 2014. Featured Image: Oscar Rethwil via flickr.com

What’s Your Presentation Delivery Style?

examples

presentation delivery

presentation styles

Aug 07, 2014

Every presenter has a unique delivery style that affects how they connect with the audience. Understanding your presentation style can help you play to your strengths and work on areas for improvement. There are several key delivery styles, each with its own advantages, and knowing yours can help you deliver more engaging and effective presentations.Here are four common presentation delivery styles and tips on how to optimize each:

1. The Storyteller

Storytellers use narratives, anecdotes, and personal experiences to engage their audience. They often weave stories throughout their presentation to illustrate key points and make their message more relatable and memorable.Strengths:

  • Emotional Connection: Storytelling creates a strong emotional connection with the audience.
  • Engagement: Audiences are naturally drawn to stories, making it easier to hold their attention.

Tips to Optimize:

  • Use stories strategically to illustrate your key points, but don’t overuse them. Make sure each story ties directly into your main message.
  • Incorporate a mix of personal anecdotes and case studies to make your stories both relatable and informative.

2. The Instructor

The instructor is focused on educating the audience. This style is structured and informative, with an emphasis on providing clear explanations, data, and actionable insights. Instructors excel at delivering detailed, step-by-step presentations.Strengths:

  • Clarity: The instructor’s logical and methodical approach ensures that complex ideas are explained clearly.
  • Authority: Audiences often view instructors as knowledgeable and trustworthy.

Tips to Optimize:

  • Avoid overwhelming the audience with too much information at once—break down complex ideas into simple, digestible sections.
  • Engage the audience by asking questions or including interactive elements like polls to make your presentation more dynamic.

3. The Performer

Performers are charismatic, energetic, and use body language, tone, and humor to capture the audience’s attention. This style is often entertaining and keeps the audience fully engaged throughout the presentation.Strengths:

  • Charisma: Performers can hold the audience’s attention with their energy and enthusiasm.
  • Memorability: The use of humor and dynamic delivery makes the presentation more memorable.

Tips to Optimize:

  • While energy is key, make sure your presentation is also informative—don’t sacrifice substance for entertainment.
  • Be mindful of pacing—don’t let your energy rush you through important points.

4. The Facilitator

Facilitators focus on collaboration and audience participation. They guide discussions, encourage questions, and create an interactive environment. This style is ideal for workshops or sessions where audience input is valued.Strengths:

  • Engagement: Facilitators create a dialogue with the audience, making the presentation feel more interactive.
  • Collaboration: This style fosters a sense of collaboration and makes the audience feel like active participants.

Tips to Optimize:

  • Balance audience participation with content delivery to ensure you stay on track with your key points.
  • Be prepared to manage time effectively, especially if discussions run long.

Final Thoughts

Knowing your presentation delivery style can help you play to your strengths and refine your approach. Whether you’re a storyteller, instructor, performer, or facilitator, the key to success is understanding how your style resonates with your audience and making adjustments to enhance engagement, clarity, and impact.

Get to the Point: What You Need to Cut from Your Presentation Delivery

presentation delivery

presentation lessons

presentation tips

Jul 18, 2014

An effective presentation has a clear and definite message. Whether you’re aiming to inform, pitch, or promote, the message should ring true in both your design and content. More than that, it should also be emphasized through great presentation delivery.[sg-blog-modules module=one]In delivering your pitch, the main goal is to communicate your key message in the best possible way. Length doesn’t always mean quality. In fact, compact content—that is, a short but informative delivery—is more likely to stick to the audience than a rambling speech.Because our minds are attuned to process information in bits and not in chunks, clarity usually comes from being brief and straight to the point. Review your presentation notes and omit things that are clouding your message. And then work on cutting out the following things from your presentation delivery:

1. Long-winded introductions

Here’s a familiar scenario: “Hi everyone! It’s John Doe from the Marketing team. Thanks for sharing your time with me. I promise it will only take 30 minutes. I’m here to give you a brief report about Project A. It’s something that we’ve worked hard on, and we’re all excited to share this with you. So I’ll give you a quick overview and outline our progress and if we still have time left, you can ask me questions or give your feedback. There’s a bit of information to cover, but I tried to condense it as much as possible into a few slides. Oh, and if you want a copy of the slides, just approach me after the presentation and I’ll email it to you. So anyway, to start it off…”Never start with an introduction that is so long and inconsequential.  You’re sure to lose your audience’s interest at the get go. Don’t waste the crucial first few minutes of your presentation explaining things that are completely unrelated to your discussion.There are only three things your audience needs to know the minute you start your presentation. Our hypothetical but scarily accurate example can be trimmed to a few short sentences by answering these questions:

  • Who is presenting?
  • What is the presentation about?
  • Why is it relevant to the audience?

2.  Awkward icebreakers

There’s nothing wrong with using an icebreaker to engage and build rapport with your audience.The beginning of your presentation is a crucial time. Anything that can help you connect with your audience is helpful. That said, some techniques are still better than others.Don’t attempt an ice breaker that you can’t tie back to the message of your presentation. Don’t waste time picking the audience’s brain with games if it doesn’t help introduce your topic. And while we’re on the subject, don’t make them play along something too complicated and will take up too much time explaining.An example of an effective presentation icebreaker is still a good story. Presentations work when they make an emotional connection. While jokes and games are entertaining, sharing an anecdote that’s related to your topic will give your core message a relatable human dimension.

3. “Um…” and other fillers

Most of us say filler words out of habit. There’s nothing wrong with saying “um,” “like,” and “you know” in a casual setting. It’s something most people do unconsciously when formulating their thoughts. But presentations are a different case. When you’re presenting to an audience, you’re the one in charge. Saying “um” every time you pause makes you look like you’re not sure of what you’re saying. It’ll make your audience lose confidence in you.Avoid filler words by rehearsing your presentation delivery. Teach yourself to pause when you catch yourself blurting out a filler word. After some time, you’ll find yourself more used to pausing than resorting to the usual verbal blunders.If you’re nervous about presenting in front of an audience, click here for tips on fighting public speaking anxiety.

4. Self-affirming questions

While you should definitely make it a point to acknowledge your audience throughout your delivery, it’s unnecessary to ask them questions that only affirm you. Think back to your experience as an audience member, has a presenter actually ever stopped to hear your answer when they ask, “Are you with me?”The only questions you should be asking your audience ones where their answer is relevant to your presentation. If, for example, you want to gauge how they feel about the topic at hand, ask them by a show of hands. If you’re presenting to a smaller group, you can set a brief portion of your presentation and have select audience members share their answers.

5. “Next slide, please”

Don’t break the immersion of your audience by uttering the words “next slide, please.” If you can’t have your laptop near you to advance slides yourself, use a remote control instead. There are plenty of devices that allow you to control your PowerPoint deck from a distance, and they’re a great investment.Presentation expert Garr Reynolds suggests the brands Keyspan and Interlink. According to TechRepulic‘s Deb Shinder, if that’s too much of a splurge, you can download apps that allow you to use your smartphone as a remote control.–Remember that the success of  your presentation lies on three things: content, design, and delivery. If one of these aspects fall flat, the rest of your presentation will suffer. Create an engaging experience for your audience by cutting out unnecessary details from your presentation delivery.[sg-blog-modules module=two]