If you have ever experienced a memorable presentation, you know what it is like to have a presenter inspire you to a point of action. Whether it is a sales pitch that leads you to the purchase of that new car or a nonprofit presentation that pushes you to make a trip overseas, there are a few unique qualities that every memorable presentation contains.
As a presenter you must learn to harness these 3 steps in order to take our presentations to the next level, because, let’s face it, there are not many of us who get up to present just for fun. Instead we are looking to move people to action. Whether we are looking to improve our sales, increase our donations, or inspire our volunteers to give more of their time, we are all looking to see a return on investment when it comes to our presentations.
Whatever the cause, if you can master these 3 steps, you are guaranteed to see results.
Embrace Authenticity
An audience can spot a fake from a mile away. If you do not come across as authentic, then your presentation will be perceived as a phony and fall on deaf ears. In fact a recent study from Boston Consulting Group, found that authenticity is one of the top qualities that attracts a customer to a brand. They also found that 63% of people would buy from a brand they deemed “authentic.” Whether you like it or not, as a presenter you are selling your brand, and the more authentic you are, the more likely someone is to buy it.
Take the time to develop rapport with your audience. Let them see the real you and experience bits and pieces of your life. Do not inflate who you are or what you have done, just be you. If the audience first falls in love with you, they will be much more likely to fall in love with your cause when you make the big ask.
Portray Humility
Humility is sometimes a hard thing to show your audience because the truth is, you have automatically been placed on a pedestal because someone gave you a platform. In fact, in a recent Catalyst study, they found that of 1,500 employees who were surveyed, those who would categorize their leaders as humble felt more included in their work environment. This feeling leads them to a higher rate of innovation, and they were more likely to engage in team behavior, going beyond the call of duty, as well as more likely to pick up the slack for their absent coworkers.
One great way to embrace humility in your presentations is through stories. I have made it a practice of mine to use my stories as an opportunity to celebrate my amazing team. When it comes to moments of victory or success I share the stories of other people; however, when it comes to moments of failure, I highlight moments in my own life when I have made mistakes and had to learn from. What this communicates is that it is not all about you and that you care about the people around you. Humility helps your audience see you as a real person — it makes you more approachable and breaks down the imaginary wall that the platform created.
Leverage Inspiration
We have all experienced true inspiration and felt the emotion it pulls from within us. Whether it’s a 30-second Instagram clip or a 60-minute documentary, inspiration is a universal language that crosses all race, gender, and economic lines. As a presenter you must master the art of inspiration using stories, experiences, and visuals to draw out the emotion of a moment. There is inspiration all around us. Whether it be first hand or through the experience of someone else, inspiration leads to emotion, and emotion brings our presentation to the next level. It moves our audience from a consumer mindset to a place of action. Though it takes work to draw out the true inspiration of a situation, it will always return 100x on the investment.
Impact is sometimes an intangible reality that is hard to measure. But what we can measure is how your next presentation drives people to action. If you are looking to up the game on the impact of your presentation, be sure to request a free consultation at Ethos3.com. We would love to help you take your presentation to the next level.
