Tag: public speaking

The Power of Repeating Words and Phrases in Presentations

anaphora

presentation tips

public speaking

rhetoric techniques

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech communication

Jul 28, 2015

A person uses a stylus to interact with floating digital checklists on a screen in front of a laptop. The scene suggests a task management or productivity application, similar to organizing slides for a PowerPoint presentation, with a focus on organization and technology.

Repeating words and phrases in presentations is a powerful technique to enhance audience retention, engagement, and persuasion. This method, often referred to as anaphora in rhetoric, can make key points stick in your audience’s mind, build rhythm, and reinforce your core message. Here’s how repetition can significantly improve your presentation:

1. Reinforcing Key Messages

  • Why it works: Repetition helps emphasize your core ideas, ensuring that your audience remembers the most critical parts of your presentation. When you repeat a word or phrase, it signals to the audience that this point is important and worth retaining.
  • Supporting evidence: Studies in cognitive psychology suggest that repetition improves memory retention. When important information is repeated, it becomes easier for the brain to process and store, increasing the likelihood that your audience will recall it later .
  • Example: If you’re presenting a business strategy, repeating a phrase like “Our competitive advantage is innovation” throughout the presentation reinforces that this is the focal point of your message.

2. Creating Rhythm and Flow

  • Why it works: Repetition can create a rhythm or cadence that keeps your presentation moving smoothly. This rhythm makes your speech sound more polished and engaging, which can help hold the audience’s attention and make your delivery more persuasive.
  • Supporting evidence: Public speaking expert Carmine Gallo points out that great communicators, like Steve Jobs, used repetition to create rhythm in their presentations, helping the audience stay engaged throughout . Repetition is also a hallmark of great speeches by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Winston Churchill.
  • Example: Use a repeated phrase at the beginning of several consecutive points, such as “The key to success is…” followed by different strategies, to create a sense of rhythm that guides the audience through your ideas.

3. Building Emotional Impact

  • Why it works: Repetition can evoke emotions, especially when paired with powerful words or stories. By repeating emotionally charged words or phrases, you emphasize their significance, which can deepen the audience’s emotional connection to your message.
  • Supporting evidence: Aristotle’s concept of pathos highlights the importance of emotional appeal in persuasion. Repeating emotionally resonant phrases can amplify pathos, drawing the audience closer to your message .
  • Example: In a motivational speech, repeating phrases like “We can overcome” or “Together, we succeed” can inspire and emotionally engage the audience.

4. Simplifying Complex Information

  • Why it works: When presenting complicated ideas, repetition helps to simplify and clarify the message. Repeating key terms or concepts ensures that the audience has more opportunities to grasp the idea, especially if they missed it the first time.
  • Supporting evidence: Cognitive load theory suggests that individuals can only process a limited amount of information at once. Repetition reduces cognitive load by reinforcing important points, making it easier for the audience to absorb complex information .
  • Example: When explaining a technical concept, like a new software feature, repeating a phrase such as “This tool increases efficiency by automating tasks” ensures the audience understands the main benefit even if the technical details are complex.

5. Encouraging Audience Participation

  • Why it works: Repetition invites audience involvement. When you repeat a phrase multiple times, the audience becomes familiar with it and may start anticipating or even repeating it with you, fostering a sense of participation and connection.
  • Supporting evidence: In motivational speaking and teaching, presenters often encourage audience engagement by using call-and-response repetition, which can increase participation and reinforce learning .
  • Example: Use a repeated phrase like “What’s our goal? To grow” throughout your presentation, encouraging the audience to mentally or verbally respond to each prompt.

Conclusion

Repetition is a powerful tool in presentations that enhances clarity, retention, engagement, and emotional impact. By strategically repeating key phrases or ideas, you can ensure that your audience leaves with a strong understanding of your core message. Whether you’re simplifying complex concepts, building emotional resonance, or encouraging participation, repetition can make your presentation more memorable and persuasive.

Sources:

  • Garr Reynolds, Presentation Zen
  • Carmine Gallo on public speaking techniques
  • Aristotle’s Pathos theory
  • Cognitive Load Theory studies

Presentation Tip: 5 Things to Avoid in Your Introduction

audience engagement

presentation tips

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech patterns

Jul 10, 2015

You’ve probably read a great deal on why the introduction is the most crucial part in your presentation. It has two important purposes: to gain the audience’s attention and to motivate them to listen.What if you failed to meet these key elements from the very beginning? Don’t compromise your speech credibility and brand reputation.Break the bad introduction habits and start your presentations effectively.[sg-blog-modules module=three]Here are five blunders that you should avoid:

1. Going Mainstream

A good majority of presenters begin their talk with, “Good morning. I’m here to discuss x, y, and z.” But this heavy-handed and dull approach is a quick way to lose your audience.Why go mainstream if there are many creative ways to begin your discussion? Plan for something unique to impress everyone at the very beginning of your speech.Tell a story or borrow a pertinent movie quote that complements your main idea. Let this perk up your listeners enough for them to say to themselves, “That line was from the movie xyz!”Asking a rhetorical question also works in engaging your audience. It invites them to think about your arguments, making them active participants in your speech.Another powerful way to open a presentation is by sharing relevant data that either look to the past or the future. Drop an idea like: “In ancient times, women’s status were defined by their relationship to men. At present, women have become more independent and are now making names in the business world.”The comparison will make the audience perceive the topic in a new light and hook them further to your pitch.

2. Doing Equipment Checks

Checking if the equipment works exactly before you begin your pitch is another common pitfall in presentations. Although doing equipment checks is a good practice for speakers, it can become a bad habit when it eats up both yours and your audience’s time.To avoid falling victim to this gaffe, arrive early at the venue and set-up the equipment few minutes ahead the presentation time. This gives you enough buffer in familiarizing yourself with the equipment and in running compatibility tests.You don’t want the audience to see you rambling while troubleshooting technical problems. Make it a rule to check all the equipment even before your presentation starts. If possible, have an emergency back-up readily available.

3. Questioning People’s Ability

Presenters often make the mistake of starting by asking obvious questions that border on offending their listeners.Posing questions to your audience can be a good start, but questions that insult their intelligence damage your reputation as a speaker.Queries with obvious answers like “Do you know how to double up your sales?” or “Is there anyone here who earns more and works less?” are a few unasked for statements that can make your listeners cry tears of frustration.According to Stanford GSB lecturer Matt Abrahams, ask questions that stimulate curiosity instead. Questions that inquire about a possible future or historical past are great alternatives to the obvious ones.For example, “What would it be like if robots outnumbered the human population?” Here, the “What if” effect builds intrigue and gets your audience attention. Utilize the same refreshing tactic in waking up your audience.

4. Oversharing Company History

Sharing your company history at the beginning of your speech can be good at establishing credibility. However, doing this more than you should only consumes the time needed in explaining your main ideas.Similar to talking about yourself, it can come across as bragging, which can make you lose your audience quickly. Your presentation isn’t about you, so it’s best to focus more about what you can offer to them.The ideal way to impart your company history is by touching a part of it in the middle of your discussion. Look back and share a blast from the past on how you achieved and sustained long-term success.This not only makes your listeners buy your idea, but also helps in making yourself worthy of their trust and money.

5. Admitting Mistakes

Starting with an apology weakens your credibility and sets the wrong tone.After all, why would people listen to the rest of your speech if you spent your first few minutes apologizing? You’re only attracting a negative vibe, which kills the chance of leaving a positive impression.If your discussion is facing inevitable hurdles such as scheduling delays, incompatibility of slides and poor room set-up, handle it with grace and don’t call attention to negatives.However, there are rare cases where delivering a quick, sincere apology may be in your favor.The key is to act decisively without affecting your message negatively.

The Takeaway: Start Your Speech Right!

The introduction builds up the overall flow of a pitch. It does a lot of work in making good impression and in keeping people interested throughout the presentation. Unfortunately, there are instances where some speakers lose their audience because of poor introductions. Avoid their fate and steer clear of intro blunders that derail your professional image.Stay away from the mainstream self-introductions. Instead, think of creative alternatives like sharing a story, citing a movie quote, and asking rhetorical questions. Never do equipment checks at the beginning of your talk. It’s recommended to perform technical tests few minutes before your actual speech.Avoid asking questions that can insult your audience. Go for questions that drive curiosity and interest. Sharing company history is another taboo. Focus more in discussing what you can do for them.Lastly, don’t start with an apology. Keep your cool and maintain an upbeat tone even you’re under pressure.Avoid these four blunders to gain and retain your audience’s attention from the beginning till the end. Looking for presentations with lasting impact? Talk to the right people and get started now. [sg-blog-modules module=two]

Reference

Abrahams, Matt. “Matt Abrahams: A Good Question Can Be the Key to a Successful Presentation.” Stanford Business. July 25, 2014. Accessed May 27, 2015. www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/matt-abrahams-good-question-can-be-key-successful-presentation

4 Speech Patterns that Downplay Your Business Presentation

bad speech habits

presentation tips

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech patterns

Jul 09, 2015

Taking presentation ethics to heart may increase your speaking credentials, but your audience also judges your credibility based on your speech patterns.Though these conversational behaviors are unintentional, they still derail your image, hamper your flow, alienate your listeners or, worse, downplay your business presentation’s effectivity.[sg-blog-modules module=three]Here are four common public speaking habits you should avoid at all costs, along with their potential remedies:

1. Overusing Qualifiers

Qualifiers are words like “very,” “really,” or “somewhat” that emphasize or modify the degree of a statement. Though they limit or enhance the information presented, using them excessively weaken your message’s impact.These modifiers are commonly used for hedging or expressing vague language. They’re useful in narrative writing, but have no place in professional presentations. Using this set of words lessen your authority and diminish the impact of your message. You can get away with it to make your statement sound more solid and credible.Avoid overusing qualifiers because it only delays your main thought, shunning audiences in an instant. For example, saying “I believe we are the best ad agency in the district” can sound less appealing than “We are the best ad agency in the district.”Don’t be hesitant to omit words or substitute them with more assertive ones. Be confident and direct to maximize your credibility.

2. Adding Question Tags

A tag question or tail question is used to confirm someone’s understanding or connect with another person’s thoughts or feelings. Short phrases like “Isn’t it?”, “Don’t you?”, and “Aren’t you?” are few of the common examples of this conversational pattern.Adding these short questions at the end of your statement is not the best way to affect a conversational tone.  In fact, a study found that tag questions have indirectly adverse effects on audience’s perceptions of the speaker’s credibility.This speech habit brings confusion to your presentation, sabotaging your message’s quality and making you seem in need of approval and validation. It can also lead to a misconception that you lack self-belief and knowledge on the topic.Don’t let these speech fragments weaken your sentence’s ending. Think of other ways that can help involve people in the conversation.Asking an independent question can be an effective alternative to tag questions. Transition your message with a follow-up question, such as: “This research is another breakthrough in the marketing industry. What are your impressions on this?” to better engage your audience.

3. Repeating Filler Words

Filler words are another verbal hiccup that undermine your public speaking reputation. They are short utterances or words that are added unconsciously to a sentence for no reason.These include the dreadful words “Um”, “Well”, “You know” and “Uh”. Although they don’t have meanings, they still have an effect to your listeners.Repeated and excessive use of filler words is the best way to lose your audience and weaken your credibility. This conversational routine can distort your message and distract people from what you’re saying.Curb this bad public speaking habit by listing down your ideas prior to your business presentation. This lessens the panic, making you speak more comfortably and confidently.Practicing speech pauses also helps overcome the “Um” problem. Pause to your advantage to give yourself some time to think and respond more effectively.

4. Up-Talking

Are you guilty of ending your sentence with a high vocal pitch? This practice is called high rising terminal (HRT) or up talk.It’s a habitual pattern that makes a simple declarative sentence sound more like a question because of the rising intonation. Doing this leaves people an impression of you being weak and feeling inferior to them.In a survey conducted by Pearson, 85% of research participants said that up talking indicates a person’s insecurity or emotional weakness while 57% of them believed that it damages a person’s professional credibility.This implies that speaking in a very high pitch is discouraged especially when doing business pitches. When you make an important point like “Our sales are increasing,” avoid saying it like “Our sales are increasing?”Ending it like a question only makes your statement tentative and uncertain. Your goal is to inform your audience, not to confuse them.If you’re a natural up-talker, practice breathing exercises prior to your presentation. This allows you to relax and maintain your vocal range and speak with conviction without the rising intonation. Developing a sense of certainty. Learning how to communicate a sentence gives you confidence, so do it often.

Conclusion

It’s impossible to captivate your audience if they don’t see you as confident and credible. Bad speaking habits and patterns such as qualifiers, tag questions, filler words, and up-talking disrupt people’s attention and harm your credibility.Excessive use of qualifiers delay and weaken a message’s impact. Break free from this habit by making your statement more direct. Adding question tags at the end of your sentence can make you look like asking for approval from others. Instead, ask them a follow-up question to catch their attention.The dreaded filler words are one of the culprits to effective public speaking. Practice speech pauses to speak more comfortably and confidently. Up talking causes people question your certainty about a topic. Some breathing exercises might help in cooling you down and helping you avoiding speaking in high-pitched voice.Eliminate these bad speech patterns to effectively deliver your business presentations.Need help planning for your professional presentations? Book a meeting with SlideGenius. All it takes is fifteen minutes.

[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“3 Speaking Habits That Are Damaging Your Credibility.” No Freaking Speaking. n.d. Accessed February 5, 2016. www.nofreakingspeaking.com/index.html/3-speaking-habits-that-are-damaging-your-credibility/Marr, Bernard. “Want A Promotion? Then Don’t UpSpeak!” LinkedIn. January 20, 2014. Accessed February 5. 2016. www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140120061951-64875646-want-a-promotion-then-don-t-upspeak?trk=tod-home-art-list-large_0“Hedges, tag questions, message processing, and persuasion.” Academia. Accessed February 5, 2016. www.academia.edu/744111/Hedges_tag_questions_message_processing_and_persuasion

Paul Boross: The 7 Secrets of a Successful Business Pitch

Paul Boross

Pitching Bible

presentation tips

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech communication

Jul 07, 2015

Competition exists in every business. It’s what drives them to introduce new and original ideas that stand out from those of other companies.To achieve this, make a pitch that brings positive results.[sg-blog-modules module=three]Your presentation style, delivery techniques, and body language are other important elements in getting your message across.Craft your message’s content in an engaging and powerful way to convince your clients when starting your business proposal. This gives them an idea that you’re interested and you know your subject matter well.

Pitch like Paul

In his book, “The Pitching Bible,” Paul Boross revealed seven secrets of a successful business pitch. With over twenty-five years of experience in business, psychology, and performing arts, Boross has been recognized as the Pitch Doctor, having trained politicians and business professionals to deliver effective messages.Develop your business pitch with his seven secrets:

Secret 1: It’s All About Them

Your audience is your presentation’s main focus. They’re the reason why you’re presenting.Know what they need and propose a strategy to convince them to buy your ideas. This is to show that you care about them and their concerns.

Secret 2: By the Time You Start, It’s Already Too Late

Your presentation begins when your audience decides to attend, not when you introduce yourself and show your first slide.Meet their expectations before your performance starts by coming in well-prepared. If they can see that you’ve spent time doing your research and practicing your speech, they’ll decide that listening to you is a good use of their time.

Secret 3: Steady, Ready, Pitch!

Before you speak, breathe deeply to ease your anxiety. Establish a good relationship with them before you even begin by showing you’re comfortable with your audience.Engage them by telling a story or by asking questions that require their participation.

Secret 4: Dream the Dream

Since your goal is to connect with your audience, your idea should appeal to their emotions.While you present your facts and figures, incorporate stories that build an emotional connection. Though business presentations should be professional, having a genuine connection will help them remember your message.

Secret 5: Mind Your Language

Your business pitch’s content is as important as your body language. Though nonverbal communication greatly influences your message, your verbal language also plays a vital role in motivating your audience.Since they look for things that benefit them, apply “benefit because feature” to generate interest. This helps you connect with their needs and address their concerns.

Secret 6: Say It Again, Sam

Repetition is significant when talking about your main points. It helps your audience recall your message by reiterating it in different ways.More than words, tell your message by means of how you dress, how you interact with them and give them a good impression.

Secret 7: The End… Or Is It?

Your presentation isn’t limited inside the boardroom and doesn’t end after you’re done speaking.Motivate your audience by making them feel that they want more. Distribute handouts or other forms of white paper to help them remember your message.Doing a follow-up is vital especially when you want to give updates. You can also listen to your client’s side and get to know them better by networking.

Conclusion

Write a more powerful pitch that benefits both you and your audience by mastering these seven secrets.Your presentation begins before the actual date you’ll be speaking. Being prepared lets you draw your audience to your message because they understand that you care about meeting their needs. This increases your chances of winning more of your clients’ business the next time you present.To craft an effective and engaging business presentation, SlideGenius experts can help you out! [sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“4 Tips to Build Networks After Your Business Presentation.” SlideGenius, Inc. June 30, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2015.The Pitching Bible. Accessed July 7, 2015.”The Science of Effective Storytelling in Presentations.” SlideGenius, Inc.. September 28, 2014. Accessed July 7, 2015.

Addressing Needs: Maslow’s Motivational Theory for Presenters

Abraham Maslow

audience engagement

Maslow motivational theory

Maslow's hierarchy of needs

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech communication

speech skills

Jun 25, 2015

Ads are everywhere—the average person is exposed to hundreds of advertisements every day, be it television or radio commercials, billboards, transportation, or social media platforms.However, only a few of them capture our attention. We only remember appealing and interesting ones.[sg-blog-modules module=one]Human need is the main reason advertisers continuously introduce products to convince consumers to make buying decisions. In turn, this need motivates us to act towards a desired goal.Since people are longing for things that benefit them, they constantly search for whatever satisfies their needs.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Harold Maslow is an American Psychologist who introduced Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in 1943, a theory which illustrates the five stages of human needs: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, as well as self-actualization.Self-actualization lies at the top of the pyramid as humanity’s most advanced need. However, to reach it, one must fulfill the pyramid’s first four levels. This pyramid doesn’t only apply to general human needs. Various authors and presenters, like Deanna Sellnow, have theorized on its possible use in presentations.To successfully engage and motivate your listeners, use Maslow’s Motivational Theory with your business or sales presentations. Focus on how your topic benefits your audience. Remember, it’s all about meeting their needs.Understand your audience’s current situation before getting their attention to make them interested in your discussion. Once you make them believe that your proposal will help them, they’ll see a need to take action.

First Level: Physiological Needs

This phase concerns basic human needs: food, water, air, sleep, etc.Analyze your audience before crafting your pitch so you’ll know what to include in your presentation. How will you relate your topic to your audience’s concern?If your client has a problem related to budget, you can offer cost-effective strategies to address their concerns.

Second Level: Safety Needs

This level talks about your audience’s need for security, health, shelter, resources, etc.Let them know that their safety and comfort are your top priorities. Use personal stories that show you understand what they’re going through, and reassure them that everything will be all right.

Third Level: Love and Belonging

Since people reject loneliness or exclusion, they constantly look for acceptance and approval.Encourage your audience to form a small group after giving your presentation. Doing so lets them know their colleagues and to share each other’s ideas about the topic, making them feel involved.

Fourth Level: Esteem

This level involves the need for appreciation and self-respect. People want to feel that they’re valued because it boosts their self-esteem.To satisfy this need, acknowledge their presence and show them how thankful you are for their time. Do this from time to time during your presentation to make them feel important.

Fifth Level: Self-Actualization

Motivate people by challenging them to take possible action. This feeds on their need to show that they’re capable of accomplishments.End with a powerful call-to-action slide and statement to convince them that you believe in their potentials.

Conclusion

These five levels motivate your audience to learn from your presentation. Think about how your topic relates to your audience’s concerns to guide you when you start crafting your pitch. This gives you an idea how to meet their needs.Knowing how to satisfy their physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization needs let you effectively interact with your audience. If they feel like you care about them, then they’ll care about you and what you have to say.Successfully fulfilling each need encourages your audience to take action as they realize that they’re capable of achieving particular endeavors. This becomes your edge to producing a powerful and effective presentation.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“4 Types of Audience Members You Need to Present For.” SlideGenius, Inc. Accessed June 25, 2015.”Motivating Listeners.” Boundless. Accessed June 25, 2015.”Presentation Tips: 5 Quick Steps to Audience Engagement.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 16, 2014. Accessed June 25, 2015.Sellnow, Deanna D. Confident Public Speaking. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2005.

Professional PowerPoints: Dealing with Negative Feedback

audience engagement

handling negative feedback

negative feedback

presentation tips

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Jun 24, 2015

Hearing praises about your work boosts self-esteem and inspires you to be a better speaker.However, there are times that your professional PowerPoints fall short of your audience’s expectations, exposing you to harsh critiques about your pitch.[sg-blog-modules module=three]Criticism is hard to handle, especially when it knocks your ego down. But all types of feedback—even negative ones—can help you improve and become a better speaker.Here’s how to handle negative feedback positively:

Learn from the Negative

Don’t take negative feedback personally. Treat criticism as your door to growth and improvement.If pictures are developed from negatives, so are you. Stop looking into the rearview mirror, and focus on what lies ahead. Move forward and learn from those mistakes.Mold the feedback into something constructive, fostering effective change rather than solely concentrating on the critique itself.

Consider the Source

Sometimes, the feedback we get can be taken as hurtful insults and attacks on our person. These nonconstructive comments may be hard to accept at first, but don’t let them deter your progress.Consider the person criticizing you and understand that they don’t have the same mindset as yours.Feedback isn’t the same for everyone. Ignore distasteful comments and don’t dwell on it. Also, be aware of whether you’ve offended or angered a client or not.Read between the lines and ask yourself the following questions:

  • What are they concerned about? What are the key issues?
  • Why are they reacting this way?
  • What did I say that triggered them to give negative feedback?

These will help you digest the comment and understand where your critic is coming from. Always be mindful of how you engage the audience to avoid provoking anyone.

Maintain Professionalism

Taking feedback too personally creates a hurdle between you and your audience.Keep an objective stance on the issues being raised to save your professional image. Take a few seconds to breathe, evaluate the situation, and avoid reacting outright.Your audience seeks not only credibility but also a sense of professionalism. Reply to them with kindness and confirm that you are on the same page.Thank them for sharing their input and create a safe space where both of your arguments can meet.

Conclusion

Letting go of negative emotions in response to hostile feedback is difficult at first, but accepting or rejecting critique is your choice.Welcome your audiences’ criticism to improve yourself as a person and as a presenter.Please your audience with a professional PowerPoint design. Contact SlideGenius now and discover how we can help you with your presentation needs.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

Donald, Latumahina. “How to Handle Negative Feedback in 6 Simple Steps.” Life Optimizer. Accessed June 24, 2015.”Presentation Tips: 5 Quick Steps to Audience Engagement.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 16, 2014. Accessed June 24, 2015.

Alan Monroe’s Motivational Sequence in Sales Presentations

Monroe's motivational sequence

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech communication

Jun 23, 2015

Monroe’s motivational sequence is a powerful speech writing technique based on the power of persuasion and developed in the 1930s by Alan Monroe, a college professor at Purdue University.[sg-blog-modules module=one]Presenters should focus on their audiences. Since people avoid discomfort once they encounter a particular problem, they’ll be convinced to take action that will solve that issue.

Monroe’s Motivational Sequence

The objective of a sales pitch is to compel clients to make purchase decisions.As a presenter, you should answer answer their questions: “Why am I here?” and “What’s in it for me?”If they don’t see why your proposal is important, they won’t bother to listen. This makes your introduction the most crucial part of your sales presentations. It’s where you hook your audience and keep them interested.Here are five stages Monroe suggested to making audiences act on unresolved issues:

First Stage: Get Attention

How will you convince them to pay attention?Getting your audience’s attention is the first step in motivating them. Storytelling achieves this by providing them with stories that pique their interest.Explain the importance of having them as your audience. Include humorous stories, questions, and quotations to connect with them, giving them a reason to stay and listen.

Second Stage: Establish the Need

How will you address a problem that needs solving?Stating and emphasizing the issue points out the discomfort and dissatisfaction it brings. Use statistics to illustrate how this can affect them. Appeal to your audience’s emotions to connect with them.After this, they’ll start looking for a solution.

Third Stage: Satisfy the Need

How will you offer the solution?Provide them with concrete solutions to address the issues. Avoid confusing and misleading technical terms to keep them from misinterpreting what you mean.Explain and clarify each of your solution’s supporting details to show their importance.

Fourth Stage: Visualize the Future

How will you show the positive effects of applying this solution?Contrast the problem against your solution to illustrate the difference between the positive and negative outcomes. What happens if you apply this solution? What happens if you don’t?Create a picture of both to convince your audience to follow your advice and take action.

Fifth Stage: Inspire Action

How will you move them to act now?Return to your message’s main idea to remind them of its impact. Create a sense of urgency that challenges and drives them to act immediately.Tell them to quit delaying the problem. Reiterate the reasons why they should do it and how it can be done.

Conclusion

Monroe’s motivational sequence convinces your audiences to take action by getting their attention, making them stay and listen to what you have to say.Establish their need for a solution to stop the issue. Satisfy them with clearer and easier-to-understand solutions. Help them visualize how their decision affects their future, and inspire them to act now.This sequence increases your chances of persuading your audience enough to make them take action.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

Barker, Alan. “Five Steps to Action: Monroe’s Motivated Sequence.” Distributed Intelligence. Accessed June 23, 2015.”Why Storytelling Is an Effective Presentation Technique.” SlideGenius, Inc.. September 8, 2014. Accessed June 23, 2015.

The Secret to an Effective Sales Presentation Rehearsal

advise from expert

effective presentation

effective presentation skills

how to creat an effective presentation

powerpoint presentation tips

Powerpoint tips

ppt tips

presentation skills

presentation tips

public speaking

sales presentation

Jun 19, 2015

The best sales presentations are planned weeks in advance, with rehearsals taking several hours.Presenters refine several factors such as speech tone, body language, hand gestures, demonstrations, and even slide timing.[sg-blog-modules module=three]

The Secret

What’s the overarching secret to getting the most out of your rehearsal?Deliberate practice.According to brand communications expert Carmine Gallo, this is a form of training which involves setting specific goals (say, giving a sales pitch in five minutes), asking for feedback, and continuous improvement during your career as a professional presenter.

Setting Goals

Using this method of training means being specific down to the last detail.How powerful will your tone be? What sort of emotions do you need to use for presenting? How long will your speech take per slide?Gallo presents Steve Jobs as an example because of his meticulousness. Jobs spends several hours practicing the sales pitch’s every aspect, right down to how much lighting to use for showing his products.Similarly, a skilled presenter notes his pitch’s every detail and how they’ll work during the actual show date. This lets you plan how your deck work, including your speech’s timing, for an effortless sales pitch.

Properly Using Feedback

Do the presentation rehearsal with your team, supervisor or even in front of a mirror.If you have someone or something to help spot your errors, take note of your mistakes and avoid doing them during the actual pitch.Note if there were likable things you did (ex. building rapport with the audience, poking good-natured fun at yourself) that you can repeat.Sales strategist Marc Wayshak suggests that another effective way of getting feedback would be to ask prospects what works for them or what doesn’t. This won’t diminish your credibility. In fact, it will make you seem even more determined to connect with them and understand their needs.

Continuous Improvement

As simple as this sounds, improving yourself can take years. Practice is essential to a sales presentation, especially if you want to sound spontaneous.Over the course of your career, improve yourself by studying both your performance and your audience’s feedback.Combined with rigorous deliberative practice, you’ll eventually define and improve your mix of personal presentation techniques, letting you sell better than you ever could before.

The Bottom Line

Practice everything, down to the tiniest detail. If you’re as passionate about giving a presentation as Steve Jobs and the top TED speakers are, rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.Learn from your mistakes and strengths to reach your fullest potential as a presenter.Once you’ve honed your skills, work with a presentation design specialist to give you the right selling tools![sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

Gallo, C. The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.”Plan Ahead to Avoid PowerPointless Presentations.” SlideGenius, Inc. May 27, 2015. Accessed June 19, 2015.Wayshak, Marc. “5 Tips to Giving the Perfect Sales Presentation.” Salesforce Blog. January 23, 2014. Accessed June 19, 2015.

How Your Speech Rate Varies in Professional Presentations

presentation tips

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech rate

speech skills

Jun 18, 2015

How does your speech’s speed affect your professional presentations?[sg-blog-modules module=one]Speech rate is a form of paralanguage that determines how quickly or slowly you speak in words per minute (WPM).Six Minutes’ Andrew Dlugan gives a few guidelines to calculate this.First, divide your speech’s total number of words by the total number of minutes you were able to say them. While the average speed is around 125 WPM, know your normal speaking rate to see how it influences your presentation’s success.While some fast speakers are considered fluent, speed doesn’t indicate effective message delivery. Whether you talk quickly or slowly, you’re still able to convey your pitch’s main idea as long as you speak clearly.

How to Know Your Speaking Rate

Time yourself while practicing your pitch to determine your speech rhythm and adjust your tempo as necessary.However, rehearsal still differs from the actual performance with a real audience listening to you.Filming your entire speech lets you time yourself and count your words to figure out your speech rate.

Factors That Influence Your Speaking Rate

While there are reasons for speaking faster or slower, content, diction, tone of voice, body language, and even the audience can affect your talking speed.

  • Upbringing

The speaker’s speed is influenced by culture, family background, mannerisms, and profession.Each person’s speech rate is based on geographical location and their perception of the world.

  • Anxiety

Nervousness makes your heart race and pushes you to deliver words quickly.

  • Time Limits

There are times when you’re forced to talk quickly as you race to finish your presentation on time.Avoid this by carefully crafting your content and practicing before the actual performance.

  • Exhaustion

If you’re too tired to give a presentation, you’ll end up speaking slower to conserve your energy.On the other hand, if you’re so exhausted that you can’t process your thoughts properly, you’ll end up committing mistakes during your speech.

  • Heavy Content

Complex sentences give you time to pause as it slows down your speech rate.This also gives your audience time to absorb and digest your message.

  • Extra Pauses

Your audience’s responses are chances for you to catch extra pauses. After making your audience laugh, give them time to calm down while digesting your message at the same time.Distractions aren’t always bad. Sometimes, if there are technical problems or latecomers, their entrance gives you an opportunity to reiterate what you were saying.

How It Varies

Changing your speed from time to time allows you to interact with your audience more naturally and conversationally.How you do it depends on what emotions and ideas you want to focus on.If you’re trying to make them laugh, speak faster. If you’re telling inspiring stories, speak slower.

Summing It Up

As a presenter, speaking slowly is more effective than talking too quickly. It gives your audience time to process your message in their minds.However, there are opportunities where altering your speaking rate can benefit the point you’re trying to get across.Want to bring high energy and humor to your speech or add drama to an emotional moment?Know your audience first. Then, decide which approach will work best for the point you’re making.Need more tips? Our SlideGenius experts are here to help you craft a more effective presentation.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“Be a Presentation Virtuoso with Deliberate Practice.” SlideGenius, Inc. February 26, 2015. Accessed June 18, 2015.”Rate.” Boundless. Accessed June 18, 2015.”What Is the Average Speaking Rate?” Six Minutes. Accessed June 18, 2015.

Sales Presentation Tips from The Art of War: Know Your Craft

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Powerpoint tips

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public speaking

sales presentation

Jun 15, 2015

In their breakthrough book, The Art of War for Managers, business veterans Gerald and Steven Michaelson cite one of history’s greatest military tacticians, Sun Tzu.Drawing from one of Sun Tzu’s famous lines, “…the general who understands war is… the guarantor of the security of the nation,” these business gurus suggest that if you spend time knowing your business well enough, you’ll lead it effectively.The same principle applies to sales presentations.[sg-blog-modules module=one]CEOs and sales teams take time to know their businesses and products before pitching. They also have a firm grasp of the public speaking techniques they need to sell.As a presenter, here are three aspects you should master:

Your Product

Knowing your tools is the first step to building a selling idea. According to renowned author Jim Aitchison, learning every aspect of your product or service lets you explain its features correctly. It also helps you outline the benefits your prospects are interested in.Ask yourself these questions:

  • What is it?
  • How does it work?
  • What benefits does it give to clients?
  • What situations can they use it in?

These should lead to what clients need to know, more specifically: how the product or service help their business.

Your Presentation Techniques

Once you know how your business and products work, rehearse. There is no shortcut.As brand communications expert, Carmine Gallo, says, even some professional presenters spend several weeks rehearsing for a single pitch. They also take note of what works and what doesn’t so they can improve their public speaking.Professional presenters deliberately practice until they get their pitch just right, almost as if their work was effortless.Learn how to use the techniques and tools at your disposal before entering the boardroom to give yourself an immense advantage over others.

Your PowerPoint Deck

Once you know everything about your product or service and have spent hours rehearsing your speech, it’s time to prepare your third and most crucial component: your PowerPoint deck.Your deck is not a script, but it’s there to help your audience visualize what you have to say, so keep it as simple and understandable as possible.You can even hire professional PowerPoint specialists to help you design a deck that effectively sells your pitch.

Learn the Tools and the Trade

Presentation skills and techniques are acquired over time. Some spend hours practicing to gain them, while others have built them up over their careers. The same thing goes for knowing your business well enough to sell it.Know every aspect of your product first. There’s nothing to pitch if you don’t understand your own offering. Rehearse until you master your tone, gestures, and timing. All the information you have is useless if you can’t deliver it clearly.Finally, make your deck simple but packed with meaningful content. Don’t use them as your cue cards. Instead, use them to emphasize what you want to say. With enough practice, you’ll know how to best persuade a crowd by combining all these factors into a great sales presentation.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

Aitchison, J. Cutting Edge Advertising: How to Create the World’s Best Print for Brands in the 21st Century. Singapore, New York: Prentice Hall, 2004.Gallo, C. The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2010.”Knowing Your Products and Services.” Queensland Government. Accessed June 15, 2015.Michaelson, G., and Steven Michaelson. Sun Tzu: The Art of War for Managers: 50 Strategic Rules Updated for Today’s Business. 2nd ed. Avon, Mass.: Adams Media. 2010.”The Secret to an Effective Sales Presentation Rehearsal.” SlideGenius, Inc. 2015. Accessed June 15, 2015. Featured Image: “Chinese Brush for Writing Calligraphy” by epSos .de on flickr.com