10 Effective Presentation Tips and Tricks

The other day I was helping a friend improve their presentation and figured I would share a

couple of my thoughts in general for making effective presentations.

1. Know your audience! Make sure the presentation style suits the audience.

If they like money (and who doesn’t), talk about money, if they want their jobs to be easier

talk about that. Target their interests, or use those interests to explain or improve your

presentation/points.

I remember one of the harder presentations I had to do was convincing a group of people

at a conference that the technology I was representing was fun and interesting. I played a

fun game based on the ever loved Price is Right. The audience was involved, shouted their

ideas of what was the right answer to a number of trivia questions and I had fun prizes

such as a new car!… freshner, and all inclusive trips to Tim Hortons (gift cert and gas

card). The key reason this game was effective was because it built right into the topics I

was discussing and the audiences involvement was crucial to the presentations success.

The entire presentation from that point on was a discussion of ideas and concepts. Try that

with executives or people looking for heavy content/details and it would never have been as

effective.

2. Know the goals of your presentation.

Try and keep it to one primary goal, and two secondary goals. Any more than that and you

will struggle with trying to pass all that information on. Make your presentation represent

these goals and try and set it up so your audience has motivation to meet these goals, or

are just as interested as you are in them.

3. Show interest and enthusiasm!

Don’t act like you have done this talk, presentation, or dealt with this topic for years.

Pretend this is the most exciting day of your life. People enjoy seeing energy and

enthusiasm and YES it does rub off on the audience. Even if they never liked what you are

discussing before they will start to associate it with excitement.

4. Always have at max 3-4 points on a slide. Simplify the slides.

Any more than this and the audience will lose interest. Never throw huge data intensive

graphs or metrics in your slides if you are doing so, or are thinking, but I need these think

about what you are trying to show and I bet you can summarize it in a much simpler

fashion. This isn’t a report, or a document, it’s a presentation.

5. The slides are just a tool, the presentation is how you talk, move your body and

interpret the audiences responses.

If they don’t seem to be understanding or listening to your presentation change it up, raise

your voice, lower it, whatever you do try and keep it interesting and engadge their

attention. I am a big fan of changing volume and tone for topics as well as interacting with

the audience. One helpful thing to do is to talk quietly and pretend you are offering some

secret or important advice, another is making a joke or stating something excitidely. Use

the words, oh and I love this part, or This is really interesting etc to help garner the

attention for what you are discussing.

6. The best presentations are those that are interactive.

If you cannot complete the entire presentation due to questions but are able to cover the

key points that is one of the most successful presentations. The reason people ask

questions and provide feedback is because they are interested in the topic. All good things.

7. Images are worth 1000 words.

Using the odd image to keep the presenation looking fresh, clean, or to subtly imprint

images of joy, success, or happyness is important, but the real power is when you use an

image that summarizes lots of words. Try and use images for points on a page. This helps

with memory association.

8. Demonstrations are always better than slides if possible.

These change the monotony of the slides, and most importantly make what you are talking

about seem tangible and easier to understand. Even if it’s a simple demonstration, these

can really win more interest, and support from your audience.

9. Respond to questions, comments and concerns.

An effective presentation always brings up questions, comments and/or concerns. Try and

deal with these right away, and see if you can relate them to what you have been

discussing/presenting. If you think it might be de-railing the presentation (especially in

large presentations) praise them for their input and let them know you will take their

questions/comments at the end.

10. Follow up.

This one is missed so often. Follow up on a presentation. Send an email to your audience if

you can saying thanks for coming and provide them with links to the content or something

related. This helps keep it fresh in peoples minds and often can open up new opportunities.

Even if you don’t know who attended approach one or more of the people who attended if

you see them again and just thank them for attending and being so attentive/receptive.

Hope this helps someone else,

Richard Harbridge

5 Powerful Ways to Open a PresentationBy Scott Schwertly on July 22, 2013 | 112 Comments

We’ve all been there before: staring at the glow of your blank computer screen with no idea on how to open or start your talk. For starters, you should never be staring at PowerPoint with no clear objective (that’s a conversation for another day), but let’s be honest, we’ve all struggled with the best ways to open a presentation.

It’s time to get unstuck. Here are 5 powerful ways to open a presentation:

1. Use Silence

Most people won’t be able to pull this off very easily, but if you are feeling like a rockstar during your next presentation, opt for silence. Say a few words then be quiet. Say a few more words then be quiet. It’s a quick and easy way to own the room. Just make sure you can hold your composure.

2. Point to the Future or Past

I have two simple statements for you:

-Prospective (looking to the future): “30 Years from now, your job won’t exist.”

-Retrospective (looking to the past): “In 1970, Japan owned 9% of the market. Today, they own 37%.”

The reality is that looking into the future or past always sparks engagement since that’s where our hearts live.

3. Quote Someone

The easiest way to open a talk is simply to quote someone. Think about that last presenter you heard when they opened their talk with a quote from Albert Einstein or Napoleon. A quote equals instant credibility.

4. Share Something Extraordinary

I don’t know about you, but I love Snapple. Even more so, I love their bottle caps since they always share fun facts or extraordinary insight into ordinary things. Is my life going to be improved because I know how many times a bee’s wings flaps in a second? No. Is it crazy interesting? Yes.

5. Tell a Story

Here’s the amazing thing about stories: If your presentation is based solely on facts and stats then your audience is going to react in one of two ways: 1) agree or 2) disagree. However, if you tell a story, your audience will participate with you. Still not sold? Stories have been known to increase audience retention by up to 26%.

So, what are you waiting for? Experiment. Try something new. Step outside your comfort zone. You’ll see some amazing results by trying any one of these techniques.

Read More: 5 Powerful Ways to Close a Presentation

Scott Schwertly is the author of How to Be a Presentation God and CEO of Ethos3, a Nashville, TN-based presentation boutique providing professional presentation design and training for national and international clients, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to branded individuals like Guy Kawasaki. 

5 Powerful Ways to Close a PresentationBy Scott Schwertly on July 29, 2013 | 35 Comments

We live in a world of judges: You will be judged by each and every person during your next presentation.

Sound intimidating? It should be. No one ever said giving presentations is easy. So, how do you minimize the level of judgment that will be placed upon you?

For starters, you need to know how to open your presentation with confidence and purpose. Last week, I offered up 5 Powerful Ways to Open a Presentation. This week, I will help you with your close.

Your close is just as important as your open — it’s your lasting impression on your audience, your final words of wisdom. Your open grabs people’s attention; your close leaves them in awe. Here are five powerful ways to do that:

1. Circle Back Around

I love films that provide me with a sense of closure. One movie that comes to mind is Mel Gibson’s film, Apocalypto, a tale about a warrior fleeing possible death from the Mayans in the deep recesses of the jungle. What makes this movie beautiful is that it starts with the cameras entering the jungle and ends with the camera exiting the jungle, providing a complete sense of closure. As an audience member you completely understand that the adventure is over for now.

2. Build Up to Something

Since we are taking some inspiration from Hollywood in this post, make sure you take a lesson from M. Night Shyamalan, director of The Sixth Sense: Have a climatic ending! Create that “I had no idea… ” experience.

3. Repeat the Important Stuff

Author Daniel Pink often states that presentations are all about brevity, levity and repetition. I want to focus on the latter. If you are making a handful of significant points throughout your talk, use your ending to remind your audience of those items.

4. Have a Call to Action

I have seen one too many presentations where the presenter never invites the audience to do something with the new information that was just presented. Audiences are always thinking – “What’s the next step?” Download a PDF? Buy a book? Contact someone? The audience has just invested 30, 60, or 90 minutes looking for a value-add, so make sure you provide purpose to your talk by creating a compelling call to action.

5. Inspire

Every great journey begins with a single step. Unfortunately, most people aren’t willing to even take that action. If you find it challenging to do any of the above, then seek to create inspiration. Every human being loves a good “pick me up,” so if you can encourage your audience to take that first step, you have added more benefit than you can possibly imagine.

Are you going to be judged during your next presentation? Sure thing. Should you be nervous? You bet. Are you going to look amazing embracing these principles? Oh yeah…you’ve got this covered.

Scott Schwertly is the author of How to Be a Presentation God and CEO of Ethos3, a Nashville, TN-based presentation boutique providing professional presentation design and training for national and international clients, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to branded individuals like Guy Kawasaki. 

5 Typography Tips for Every PresenterBy Scott Schwertly on September 30, 2013 | 20 Comments

Today, everyone is a typographer. If you have access to a keyboard and a basic software program, you have control over typography. For instance, if you construct email, write for a blog or build presentations, you have a type of control (pun intended) over your words and letters that your great grandfathers would envy. Be thankful. Typography used to only be an art form available to the ink-stained laborers of the early 19th century.

A lot has changed since the days of Gutenberg, but the sad reality is that even though today’s presenter has control over type, most don’t quite understand — much less utilize — it as an art form. It is one, and its power can be immense.

Moving forward, I want you to apply significance to typography just as you do with color and photo selection. Here are 5 basic tips to get you thinking within the right context:

1. Match Your Brand

For starters, if you have a brand style guide, stick to it. There are most likely 1-2 fonts that you must adhere to to keep brand consistency. If so, follow the rules. If not, take advantage of the opportunity to seek out a new font that is still visually engaging and in a similar font family.

2. Pick Two Fonts

I always recommend aiming for only two font styles. Why? One font style is too boring. Three font styles are too much. Consider two font styles as the Goldilocks approach. It’s just right. If you insist on using multiple fonts, three should be the absolute cap.

3. Go Big

A few years ago, Masayoshi Takahashi changed the presentation industry by rolling out a big text approach to presenting. Think 500 point size. Large font is all he utilized on his slides. It was go big or go home, and it’s a simple and easy design tactic that anyone can implement.

4. Be Bold

Certain points are always going to be more relevant than other items. For instance, let’s look at the phrase “Change the world.” Depending on your perspective, you may want to really emphasize the idea of “Change.” Utilizing the bold feature to create contrast with your message then becomes essential: “Change the world.” Even with something so simple like the phrase above in this blog post, adding contrast adds plenty of visual value.

5. Keep it Simple

At the end of the day, your font choices need to be easy to read. It’s that simple. If you can’t decipher a letter, then you can’t expect your audience to decipher it, much less comprehend your message, as well. Choose wisely.

Remember, typography is an art. You aren’t going to become a typography expert overnight but you can definitely start building some more engaging slides by understanding the rules.

Read More: Top Design Resources for Non-Designers

Scott Schwertly is the author of How to Be a Presentation God and CEO ofEthos3, a Nashville, TN-based presentation boutique providing professional presentation design and training for national and international clients, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to branded individuals like Guy Kawasaki.

The Best Way to Outline Your PresentationBy Scott Schwertly on September 9, 2013 | 10 Comments

An impressive number of people can recite the presentation advice: “Tell them what you are going to say. Say it. Tell them what you just said.”

You know it. I know it.  Yet, few people actually embrace this presentation technique.

Why? Is it too predictable? Too boring? Personally, I think that this beloved approach to presentation organization is like a valuable diamond – that needs to be polished.

Ensure that the central message of your presentation content sparkles by following this 5-step process:

1. Tease

The Climate: State or tease at the current market/cultural situation.

The Problem: Briefly describe the problem for your business, your competitors and your customers.

The Solution: Tantalize your audience by hinting at your answer to the problem.

2. Unveil the Mystery

The Reason: In 10 seconds or less, state why everyone has gathered to listen to you speak.

The Preview: What are your three main points or “golden nuggets”?

3. Inform & Ignite

The Good Stuff: Relish in the pleasure of watching your audience frantically scribble notes as you dive into the three main points of your presentation.  These three main points are the heart and soul of your presentation. Each main point should be followed with at least three supporting claims.

4. Lock Down

The Review: For the audience members who could not take notes fast enough, and for the other people who simply cannot get enough of your genius insights, review your three main points.

5. Launch

The Call to Action: Now that your audience is hooked on your message, do not leave them hanging.  Give a clear and easy-to-follow call to action.

It is common knowledge that as a presenter you should “Tell them what you are going to say. Say it. Tell them what you just said.” I am guessing that you are not average though, so elevate your message beyond the cliché.

Read More: “Want to be Memorable? It Starts With Your Content”

Scott Schwertly is the author of How to Be a Presentation God and CEO of Ethos3, a Nashville, TN-based presentation boutique providing professional presentation design and training for national and international clients, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to branded individuals like Guy Kawasaki.

18 Tips for Killer PresentationsAugust 23 by Scott H Young 1.2K Shares | Communication, Featured

Jerry Seinfeld has a skit where he points out that studies show public speaking is a bigger fear than death. That means, he claims, that if you are going to a funeral you are better off in the casket than doing the eulogy. While there isn’t a lot you can do to melt away your anxiety, a the best start is simply to make a better presentation.

Becoming a competent, rather than just confident, speaker requires a lot of practice. But here are a few things you can consider to start sharpening your presentation skills:

1. 10-20-30 Rule – This is a slideshow rule offered by Guy Kawasaki. This rule states that a powerpoint slide should have no more than 10 slides, last no longer than 20 minutes and have no text less than 30 point font. He says it doesn’t matter whether your idea will revolutionize the world, you need to spell out the important nuggets in a few minutes minutes, a couple slides and a several words a slide.

2. Be Entertaining – Speeches should be entertaining and informative. I’m not saying you should act like a dancing monkey when giving a serious presentation. But unlike an e-mail or article, people expect some appeal to there emotions. Simply reciting dry facts without any passion or humor will make people less likely to pay attention.

3. Slow Down – Nervous and inexperienced speakers tend to talk way to fast. Consciously slow your speech down and add pauses for emphasis.

4. Eye Contact – Match eye contact with everyone in the room. I’ve also heard from salespeople that you shouldn’t focus all your attention on the decision

maker since secretaries and assistants in the room may hold persuasive sway over their boss.

5. 15 Word Summary – Can you summarize your idea in fifteen words? If not, rewrite it and try again. Speaking is an inefficient medium for communicating information, so know what the important fifteen words are so they can be repeated.

6. 20-20 Rule – Another suggestion for slideshows. This one says that you should have twenty slides each lasting exactly twenty seconds. The 20-20 Rule forces you to be concise and to keep from boring people.

7. Don’t Read – This one is a no brainer, but somehow Powerpoint makes people think they can get away with it. If you don’t know your speech without cues, that doesn’t just make you more distracting. It shows you don’t really understand your message, a huge blow to any confidence the audience has in you.

8. Speeches are About Stories – If your presentation is going to be a longer one, explain your points through short stories, quips and anecdotes. Great speakers know how to use a story to create an emotional connection between ideas for the audience.

9. Project Your Voice - Nothing is worse than a speaker you can’t hear. Even in the high-tech world of microphones and amplifiers, you need to be heard. Projecting your voice doesn’t mean yelling, rather standing up straight and letting your voice resonate on the air in your lungs rather than in the throat to produce a clearer sound.

10.Don’t Plan Gestures - Any gestures you use need to be an extension of your message and any emotions that message conveys. Planned gestures look false because they don’t match your other involuntary body cues. You are better off keeping your hands to your side.

11.“That’s a Good Question” – You can use statements like, “that’s a really good question,” or “I’m glad you asked me that,” to buy yourself a few moments to organize your response. Will the other people in the audience know you are using these filler sentences to reorder your thoughts? Probably not. And even if they do, it still makes the presentation more smooth than um’s and ah’s littering your answer.

12.Breathe In Not Out – Feeling the urge to use presentation killers like ‘um,’ ‘ah,’ or ‘you know’? Replace those with a pause taking a short breath in. The pause may seem a bit awkward, but the audience will barely notice it.

13.Come Early, Really Early – Don’t fumble with powerpoint or hooking up a projector when people are waiting for you to speak. Come early, scope out the room, run through your slideshow and make sure there won’t be any glitches. Preparation can do a lot to remove your speaking anxiety.

14.Get Practice – Join Toastmasters and practice your speaking skills regularly in front of an audience. Not only is it a fun time, but it will make you more competent and confident when you need to approach the podium.

15.Don’t Apologize – Apologies are only useful if you’ve done something wrong. Don’t use them to excuse incompetence or humble yourself in front of an audience. Don’t apologize for your nervousness or a lack of preparation time. Most audience members can’t detect your anxiety, so don’t draw attention to it.

16.Do Apologize if You’re Wrong – One caveat to the above rule is that you should apologize if you are late or shown to be incorrect. You want to seem confident, but don’t be a jerk about it.

17.Put Yourself in the Audience - When writing a speech, see it from the audiences perspective. What might they not understand? What might seem boring? Use WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) to guide you.

18.Have Fun - Sounds impossible? With a little practice you can inject your passion for a subject into your presentations. Enthusiasm is contagious.

What tips do you have for making killer presentations?

PowerPoint Presentation AdviceMike Splane –© 2006

Structuring Your Talk:Preparing a talk always takes far longer than you anticipate. Start early!

Write a clear statement of the problem and its importance. Research. Collect material which may relate to the topic. Tell a story in a logical sequence. Stick to the key concepts. Avoid description of specifics and unnecessary details. If you are making a series of points, organize them from the most to the least important.

The less important points can be skipped if you run short of time. Keep your sentences short, about 10-20 words each is ideal. This is the way people

usually talk. Strive for clarity. Are these the best words for making your point? Are they

unambiguous? Are you using unfamiliar jargon or acronyms?

Preparing Your Slides:Presentation Design

Let the picture or graphics tell the story - minimize the use of text. Don’t overload your slides with too much text or data. FOCUS. In general, using a few powerful slides is the aim. Type key words in the PowerPoint Notes area listing what to say when displaying the

slide. The notes are printable. Number your slides and give them a title. Prepare an Agenda or Table of Contents slide. You can reuse the same slide at the end

of the presentation by changing the title to Summary. Prepare a company logo slide for your presentation. You can add a logo and other graphics to every slide using the slide master feature or by

adding them to the footer. Proofread everything, including visuals and numbers. Keep “like” topics together. Strive for similar line lengths for text.

Visual elements

A font size of 28 to 34 with a bold font is recommended for subtitles. The title default size is 44. Use a san serif font for titles.

Use clear, simple visuals. Don’t confuse the audience. Use contrast: light on dark or dark on light. Graphics should make a key concept clearer. Place your graphics in a similar location within each screen. To temporarily clear the screen press W or B during the presentation. Press any key to

resume the presentation.

Text

Font size must be large enough to be easily read. Size 28 to 34 with a bold font is recommended.

It is distracting if you use too wide a variety of fonts.

Overuse of text is a common mistake. o Too much text makes the slide unreadable. You may just as well show a blank

slide. Stick to a few key words. o If your audience is reading the slides they are not paying attention to you. If

possible, make your point with graphics instead of text. o You can use Word Art, or a clip art image of a sign, to convey text in a more

interesting way.

Numbers

Numbers are usually confusing to the audience. Use as few as possible and allow extra time for the audience to do the math.

Numbers should never be ultra precise: o “Anticipated Revenues of $660,101.83” looks silly. Are your numbers that

accurate? Just say $660 thousand. o “The Break Even Point is 1048.17 units. Are you selling fractions of a unit? o Don’t show pennies. Cost per unit is about the only time you would need to show

pennies. If you have more than 12-15 numbers on a slide, that’s probably too many. Using only one number per sentence helps the audience absorb the data.

Statistics

Use the same scale for numbers on a slide. Don’t compare thousands to millions. When using sales data, stick to a single market in the presentation. Worldwide sales,

domestic sales, industry sales, company sales, divisional sales, or sales to a specific market segment are all different scales. They should not be mixed.

Cite your source on the same slide as the statistic, using a smaller size font.

Charts

Charts need to be clearly labeled. You can make more interesting charts by adding elements from the drawing toolbar.

Numbers in tables are both hard to see and to understand. There is usually a better way to present your numerical data than with columns and rows of numbers. Get creative!

PowerPoint deletes portions of charts and worksheets that are imported from Excel, keeping only the leftmost 5.5 inches. Plan ahead.

Backgrounds

Backgrounds should never distract from the presentation. Using the default white background is hard on the viewer’s eyes. You can easily add a

design style or a color to the background. Backgrounds that are light colored with dark text, or vice versa, look good. A dark

background with white font reduces glare. Colors appear lighter when projected. Pale colors often appear as white. Consistent backgrounds add to a professional appearance. For a long presentation, you may want to change background designs when shifting to a

new topic.

Excitement

Slides for business presentations should be dull! You don’t want to distract the audience. Sounds and transition effects can be annoying. Use sparingly.

Animation effects can be interesting when used in moderation. o Too much animation is distracting. o Consider using animated clip art o Consider using custom animation

You can insert video and audio clips into PowerPoint. You can also insert hyperlinks.

Hints for Efficient Practice:Timing - Practicing Your Presentation,

Talk through your presentation to see how much time you use for each slide. Set the automatic slide transition to the amount of time you want to spend discussing

each slide. Are you using the right amount of time per slide? Decide which slides or comments need

alteration to make your presentation smoother. Change the automatic slide transition settings for individual slides to fit the amount of

time needed for that slide and practice again. Are you still within the time limit? Decide if you want to remove the automatic slide transition feature before giving the

presentation.

Content

Make a list of key words/concepts for each slide Read through the list before you begin. Don't attempt to memorize your text; Your words will probably be different each time you practice. Think about the ideas, and your words will follow naturally.

Delivering Your Talk:

Pre-Talk Preparation

Plan to get there a few minutes early to set up and test the equipment. Dress appropriately for your audience. Turn off your cell phone.

Handouts:

Edward Tufte, the leading expert on visual presentation techniques, advises speakers to always prepare a handout when giving a PowerPoint presentation.

Make about 10% more handouts than you expect to use. Distribute handouts at the beginning of your talk.

Opening:

Jump right in and get to the point. Give your rehearsed opening statement; don't improvise at the last moment. Use the opening to catch the interest and attention of the audience. Briefly state the problem or topic you will be discussing. Briefly summarize your main theme for an idea or solution.

Speaking

Talk at a natural, moderate rate of speech Project your voice. Speak clearly and distinctly. Repeat critical information. Pause briefly to give your audience time to digest the information on each new slide. Don’t read the slides aloud. Your audience can read them far faster than you can talk. If you plan to write on the slides to emphasize key points during the presentation,

practice ahead of time. To select the writing tool right-click during the presentation.

Body Language

Keep your eyes on the audience Use natural gestures. Don’t turn your back to the audience. Don’t hide behind the lectern. Avoid looking at your notes. Only use them as reference points to keep you on track.

Talk, don’t read.

Questions

Always leave time for a few questions at the end of the talk. If you allow questions during the talk, the presentation time will be about 25% more than

the practice time. You can jump directly to a slide by typing its number or by right-clicking during the

presentation and choosing from the slide titles. Relax. If you’ve done the research you can easily answer most questions. Some questions are too specific or personal. Politely refuse to answer. If you can’t answer a question, say so. Don’t apologize. “I don’t have that information. I’ll

try to find out for you.”

Length:

To end on time, you must PRACTICE! When practicing, try to end early. You need to allow time for audience interruptions and

questions.

Demeanor:

Show some enthusiasm. Nobody wants to listen to a dull presentation. On the other hand, don’t overdo it. Nobody talks and gestures like a maniac in real life. How would you explain your ideas to a friend?

Involve your audience. Ask questions, make eye contact, and use humor. Don’t get distracted by audience noises or movements. You’ll forget a minor point or two. Everybody does. If you temporarily lose your train of thought you can gain time to recover by asking if the

audience has any questions.

Conclusion:

Close the sale. Concisely summarize your key concepts and the main ideas of your presentation.

Resist the temptation to add a few last impromptu words. End your talk with the summary statement or question you have prepared. What do you

want them to do? What do you want them to remember? Consider alternatives to “Questions?” for your closing slide. A summary of your key

points, a cartoon, a team logo, or a company logo may be stronger.

PRESENTATION TIPS

Subsequent sections of this notebook provide options for delivering presentations that will help faculty fully include students with disabilities in their courses. Pages 63-74 of this section contain case studies to use during presentations. Once you select a presentation topic, consider incorporating some of the following suggestions to make your presentation more effective.

Prepare

"The mind is a wonderful thing. It starts working the minute you're born and never stops working until you get up to speak in public." (Unknown)

The quality of your presentation is most directly related to the quality of your preparation. Rarely will you have difficulties in your presentation due to being overprepared.

If you are responsible for the promotion of your presentation, create an accurate, but inviting, description. Emphasize the relevance of the content to the audience.

Include a statement in promotional materials on how participants with disabilities can obtain disability-related accommodations for the presentation. This statement will provide an example that may be adapted by participants to use in their own publications.

Believe in the importance of your message. Visualize yourself giving a great speech. Organize your material in a way that is most comfortable to you by using a script, outline, notes,

or 3 x 5 cards. Number them. Proofread all printed materials. Practice, practice, practice—by yourself or with someone. During practice sessions you can work

out the bugs and add polish to your presentation. (Note: a rehearsal usually will run about 20% shorter than a live presentation; adjust your content accordingly.)

As participants enter, consider providing them with 3 x 5 cards and asking them to write at least one question they have about the topic of the presentation. Read them silently as people settle in. Address the questions throughout the presentation and/or at the closing.

Have a backup plan for delivering the presentation if all of your audiovisual materials become unavailable. Do not rely on technology to work.

Test all audiovisual equipment. Practice using your presentation slides and other visual displays. If you are using a video, make sure it is set to the correct beginning point, at the appropriate volume and with captions turned on.

Check the lighting. If you need to adjust it during your presentation, practice the adjustments before you begin. Consider showing someone else how to make the adjustments for you.

Have a glass of water available for yourself. Think about questions that might be asked and rehearse brief, clear answers to each. Memorize the first few minutes of your presentation. Review your main points. Dress for success.

Create a Comfortable Learning Environment

"More important than the curriculum is the question of the methods of teaching and the spirit in which the teaching is given." (Bertrand Russell)

It is important to create a learning environment that is comfortable and welcoming. Arrive early and get a feel for the room, including its temperature, size, and overall set-up. Re-

arrange furniture as needed. Warmly welcome participants, use eye contact and a welcoming posture, and thank participants

for coming. For smaller groups, ask them to introduce themselves and indicate what they hope to learn. For

larger groups, poll the audience, asking them to respond to questions related to your topic. For example, ask the audience, "How many of you have had a student with a learning disability in your class?" and then ask one individual to elaborate.

Create a safe and nonthreatening environment where participants are not afraid to ask questions. Encourage them to share experiences and ask questions of you or other participants.

Emphasize that everyone can contribute to the learning process. Clearly identify the objectives at the beginning of the session. Keep to the time schedule, but show that you value participant input by not rushing. Frame questions so that they are easy to understand. Do not criticize or allow audience members to criticize other participants. Maintain confidentiality and ask the audience to respect the privacy of other participants.

Manage Your Anxiety

"There are two types of speakers. Those who get nervous and those who are liars." (Mark Twain)

Nervousness before a talk or workshop is healthy. It shows that your presentation is important to you and that you care about doing well. The best performers are nervous prior to stepping on stage. Below are suggestions for assuring that anxiety does not have a negative impact on your presentation.

Use nervousness to your advantage—channel it into dynamic energy about the topic. Remind yourself that you and the audience have the same goal, and, therefore, they want you

to succeed as much as you do. Speak about what you know. Keeping your presentation within the realm of your knowledge and

experience will build confidence and minimize nervousness. Focus on delivering your message, not on how you feel. Smile. Be relaxed, poised, and at ease on the outside, regardless of how you feel internally.

Acting relaxed can help make you relaxed. Keep presenting! Your anxieties decrease the more presentations you give.

Create a Strong Beginning

"The greatest talent is meaningless without one other vital component: passion." (Selwyn Lager)

Keep your opening simple and exciting to engage your audience in your content.

Consider using a short icebreaker activity. A tasteful, humorous commentary can be effective if related to the topic. Explain the purpose of your presentation in one sentence that is free of professional jargon and

emphasizes what participants will gain. Start off with a natural pace—not too fast and not too slow—to establish a strong, positive

image. Make a strong ending statement that reinforces the objectives of the presentation.

Incorporate Universal Design Principles

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." (Confucius, 451 BC)

Model accessible teaching methods that your participants can use. Incorporate universal design principles to address the needs of participants with a wide range of knowledge, abilities, disabilities, interests, and learning styles. Examples are listed below.

Use large fonts in your visuals. Make copies of slides available for participants. Be prepared to provide your materials in an alternate format, which may include electronic text,

audio recording, large print, or Braille. Show captioned videos. If not available, provide a transcription of the content upon request. Arrange for a sign language interpreter if requested by a participant. Use a clear, audible voice. Use a microphone as needed. Face the audience at all times.

Make sure the room is well-lit. Use multimedia in your presentation, such as videos, visual aids, props, and handouts. Demonstrate how to speak the content presented on slides and other visuals. For example,

verbally describe graphs and cartoons.

Create a Dynamic Presentation

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." (Albert Einstein)

If your audience enjoys and remembers your presentation, it is because you presented it in a dynamic or compelling manner.

Talk to your audience, not at them. Project enthusiasm for the topic without preaching. The majority of communication is

nonverbal, so how you look and sound are vital. Present your material in a well-organized manner. However, be flexible to adjust to your

audience. Let participants know if you wish to field questions during or after your presentation. Speak to the knowledge level of your audience. Define all terms they might not be familiar with. Choose your major points carefully and illustrate them with examples or stories. Incorporate real-life experiences into your presentations. Recruit students with disabilities or

faculty to share their experiences. Ask audience members to share experiences and use these examples to illustrate key points or to answer questions.

Role-play interactions between students and professors. Use natural gestures and voice inflection to add interest to your presentation. Address different learning styles by incorporating a variety of instructional methods that use a

variety of senses (e.g., visual, auditory, kinesthetic).

Repeat questions participants pose to ensure that the entire audience hears and understands them.

Redirect the discussion if it strays from the topic at hand. Postpone questions related to resolving specific or individual problems to private discussions

later. Do not get locked into an extended dialogue with one person; move on to questions from other participants and offer more time to talk after the presentation.

If people ask questions that you cannot answer, say that you will locate the answer and get back to them (and then do!), suggest appropriate resources that will provide the answer, or ask for suggestions from members of the audience.

Give demonstrations. Never apologize for your credentials or your material. Tailor your topic to audience interests. Never read your presentation word for word. Talk clearly and in well-modulated tones. Avoid speaking too rapidly, softly, or loudly. Make sure

that the ends of your sentences don't drop off. Maintain eye contact. It conveys confidence, openness, honesty, and interest. It also lets you

know how the audience is responding to your presentation. In large groups, mentally divide up the room into sections, and then make eye contact with different people in each section on a rotational basis.

Use hand gestures naturally, gracefully, and to emphasize points. When not gesturing, let your hands drop to your sides naturally. Keep them out of pockets, off your hips, or behind your back. Avoid fiddling with clothes, hair, or presentation materials.

Maintain good posture, but do not be rigid. Occasionally move from one spot to another, stop, then continue to speak. Don't pace. Remember that adult learners have a wealth of experience; are goal oriented and appreciate

outcomes more than process; have set habits, strong tastes, and little time to waste; have strong feelings about learning situations; are impatient in the pursuit of objectives, and appreciate getting to the point; find little use for isolated facts and prefer application of information; and have multiple responsibilities, all of which draw upon their time and energy.

Make Your Presentation Interactive

"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers." (James Thurber)

Avoid simply lecturing to your audience. Engage your audience in an active discussion.

Listen attentively before responding to questions. Encourage interactions between audience members. Present an accommodation challenge and ask audience members how they would address the

issue. Respectfully reflect back to people what you observe to be their attitudes, rationalizations, and

habitual ways of thinking and acting. Allow plenty of time for questions. Address all questions within your presentation or direct

participants to appropriate resources. Demonstrate or provide hands-on experiences with assistive technology.

Give useful or entertaining prizes for responses from the audience or have a drawing for a larger prize at the end of the presentation.

If your audience is small, ask members to identify themselves and their experiences and interests related to the topic. Involve the audience in a learning activity. People remember more of what you teach them if

they are able to learn it via an activity. Ask audience members how they have used specific accommodations or worked with students

with specific disabilities. Ask questions like, "Has anyone done this? How did it work for you?" Stimulate group interaction and problem-solving. Promote discussion to help participants integrate themes and key points.

Include a Group Activity

"Real prosperity can only come when everybody prospers." (Anna Eleanor Roosevelt)

Include a short activity that makes an important point and encourages participation and discussion. Here's one to try. Announce that you're going to have a five-minute activity, then ask your participants to choose someone sitting nearby and share with each other two things:

1. One thing you are very good at. 2. One thing you are not very good at.

Have the instructions written on a presentation slide or write them on a flip chart. Read the instructions aloud. Give participants three to four minutes (there will be a lot of laughter and lighthearted talk), and then say you're not really interested in what they do well; ask people to share things that their partner does not do well. (This usually ends up funny—participants enjoy sharing that he can't do math, he hates public speaking, she's not good at fixing things around the house.)

After the fun, make the point that, "You have experienced, in a small way, what a person with an obvious disability experiences all the time—that people first notice something he or she is not particularly good at (e.g., walking, seeing, hearing) and don't take the time to learn his or her strengths. A disability may impact 10% of a person's life, yet is considered a defining characteristic by others. We need to pay attention to what everyone, including those with disabilities, can do, rather than accentuating what they can't do." To emphasize the point ask participants to reflect on how they felt when you said you weren't really interested in what they do well.

This activity is short, fun, and effective. It addresses the issue of attitudes, yet does not have some of the negative elements of traditional simulations that leave people feeling like having a disability is an impossible problem with no solution. This activity is also good to use when talking about internal and external barriers to success for students with disabilities, which can include lack of self-advocacy skills (internal barrier), and negative attitudes or low expectations on the part of individuals with whom they interact (external barrier).

Incorporate case studies

"Learning is an active process. We learn by doing . . . Only knowledge that is used sticks in your mind." (Dale Carnegie)

Have participants discuss case studies in small groups. At the end of this section are sample case studies that can be used in your presentation. They are all based on real experiences at postsecondary institutions. Each case study is formatted as a handout that can be duplicated for small group discussion. On the back of each activity sheet is the full description, including the solution actually employed. This version can be used for your information only or can be distributed to the group after the initial brainstorming has occurred. Participants can compare their ideas with the resolution in the actual case.

Address Key Points

"Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic, and faithful, and you will accomplish your objective. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Be sure that your presentation covers the most important content for your audience.

Explain the legal requirements regarding accommodating students with disabilities in clear, simple terms. Make it clear that legislation, such as the ADA, provides broad statements about accessibility, but our judicial system ultimately decides what is legal or illegal in a specific situation.

Explain the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities, faculty, and the disabled student services office.

Describe specific situations that have occurred on your campus, including what was successful and situations that could be improved, and how.

Demonstrate low-tech and high-tech accommodations, including adaptive computer technology.

Explain how accommodations that are useful to students with disabilities can also benefit all learners.

Provide information on campus-specific resources and procedures.

Provide Resources for Participants to Keep

"The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it." (Karl Marx)

Make sure that you provide your audience with information on which they can follow up after your presentation.

Provide written materials of key content for future reference. Provide contact information and invite participants to contact you with questions after the

presentation. Distribute business cards. For further exploration refer participants to The Faculty Room at

http://www.washington.edu/doit/Faculty/ and to the Center for Universal Design in Education at http://www.washington.edu/doit/CUDE/.

Conclude with a Strong Ending

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own." (Benjamin Disraeli)

The most important and remembered words you speak are the last ones.

Summarize key points. Consider concluding with examples that show the importance of providing educational

opportunities for students with disabilities. One idea is to have an alumnus with a disability discuss how he or she navigated your campus, worked with the disability services office, received the accommodations he or she needed, graduated with a degree, and went on to succeed in employment.

Empower your audience to use information you presented to improve access for and education of all students with disabilities.

Improve Each Presentation

"I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best." (Oscar Wilde)

Take steps to gain feedback about your presentation that will lead to improvements.

Practice your presentation with colleagues or friends and ask for their feedback. Record your presentation for self-analysis.

Evaluate your presentation through an anonymous written survey. Two examples of evaluation instruments are included on pages 188-190.

Incorporate suggestions into subsequent presentations.

Conclusion

"When you can do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." (George Washington Carver)

In summary, to give effective presentations where participants gain valuable information in a dynamic way, make sure to

prepare well in advance; incorporate universal design principles; facilitate interaction, sharing of experiences, and creative problem?solving within the session;

and promote a welcoming and non?judgmental learning environment.

Great Presentations: Tips From Great Presenters

High Velocity Marketing I’ve found that the graphics used often distract from the message.

Presenters try to be too funny and lose their way. What is the worst graphic you have se [...] Ken

Krogue, ContributorHVC, jim osselaer Great points and education never ends. I recently learned

about how to transition between topics from my Griffin Hill sales training. One nugget that may h [...]

Ken Krogue, ContributorJim, jim osselaer Absolutely. It is so easy to fall into those traps of commonly

used phrases. It helps you stand out from the competition because you know you won’t be the [...]

Ken Krogue, ContributorThanks Jim. Ken Rob Nielsen ★ So true Ken.

I worked at Franklin Quest for four years right before they merged with Stephen R. Covey’s organization and became FranklinCovey. For a while we were not only the biggest Time Management Company, but the largest training company in the world. We would put on 300 or more seminars a month.

Hyrum Smith, the Chairman of the Board, and an incredible presenter himself, pulled in and often partnered with the world’s best trainers like Stephen R. Covey, Denis Waitley, Ken Blanchard, Joel Weldon, and many more.

Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Great Presentations, by Nancy Duarte, Kindle Version on Amazon

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Some, like Joel Weldon (we called him the trainer’s trainer), would give special seminars just for us. He would teach us his craft. I took copious notes. I would buy all of their tapes, but especially his.

My colleague, Chris Jorgensen, shared a book with me called Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations, by Nancy Duarte. It finally made me willing to use PowerPoint. Many of these points are Nancy’s, and Joel’s.

Get Nancy’s book and find a way to listen to Joel Weldon. And watch TED for really great presentations.

Consider this a pre-flight checklist for delivering world-class presentations:

1- Am I passionate about my message? Joel Weldon tells the story of rising up through Toastmasters and the single most important rule of a great presentation is to speak about what you love and know well.

Les Brown is probably the most passionate presenter I have ever heard. He tells the story of how he became a disc jockey. He says you must be hungry: One of the most motivating presentations I’ve experienced in my entire life.

Les Brown, "Mamie Brown's Baby Boy" shares his signature statements often and may be one of the most passionate speakers ever. He says you "Gotta be hungry!"

2- Could I speak without notes? One way to measure how prepared and passionate you are is whether you need any notes. A true master taps into the spirit in the room and adapts the message to the specific needs of the audience, they can’t do this if they are bound in notes.

3- Do I have something really important to say? Does what you say matter? Enough said.

4- Do I need to use PowerPoint or can I go live? I don’t like PowerPoint but I use it when I have to. I love a whiteboard and markers. A PowerPoint is linear, static. You can’t anticipate a perfect presentation in advance. But a great slide deck is possible and sometimes necessary.

Salman Khan, a graduate of MIT and Harvard Business School, and the founder of Khan Academy, perhaps the most exciting new development in online education, uses a dynamic tablet and just draws as he talks. At last count, he has done over 3000 online tutorials for kids and adults alike to learn at their own pace, and have fun doing it.

5- Do they focus on my slides or me? Too often we have so much content one the slide the audience doesn’t focus on the presenter. This is a bad thing. Do I want them to experience, watch, listen, or just read?

Steve Jobs made absolutely sure that everyone in the room (and often around the world) was focused on him.

6- Can they see what I’m showing? This is the single rule that kills most presentations, especially in large rooms. Nancy calls it the 30-point rule. Are the words on your slides big enough to be seen from the back of the room?

Nancy Duarte - Author of Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Great Presentations

So basic… don’t forget the basics.

30-point fonts are where you begin. Find the size of the room and the size of the screen in advance. Don’t rely on old, worn out hotel projectors. Test them.

7- Can I say it with fewer words? –

“If all you want to do is create a file of facts and figures, then cancel the meeting and send in a report.” Seth Godin – Really Bad PowerPoint.

Nancy says if there are 75 words on your slide, put it in a document and hand it out. If there are 50 words, it’s really just a teleprompter. Few or no words… perfect. Try and distill it down to one word. A Mnemonic.

Think of your slide as a billboard on the freeway… 7 words at 65 miles per hour is about all.

Mark Twain is credited with the quote (though probably penned in French by Blaise Pascal)

“If I had more time I would write a shorter letter.”

8- Are my slides well designed… or just decorated? Just because there are lots of really cool special effects, clip art, stock photos, and things you can do, doesn’t mean you should.

Less is more.

Blow away the chaff.

Ken Krogue, Contributor

I'm an entrepreneur sharing ideas and research to grow your business

Follow Following Unfollow (373) Entrepreneurs |5/16/2013 @ 7:42PM |38,119 views

Great Presentations: Tips From Great PresentersHigh Velocity Marketing I’ve found that the graphics used often distract from the message. Presenters try to be too funny and lose their way. What is the worst graphic you have se [...]Ken Krogue, ContributorHVC,jim osselaer Great points and education never ends. I recently learned about how to transition between topics from my Griffin Hill sales training. One nugget that may h [...]Ken Krogue, ContributorJim,jim osselaer Absolutely. It is so easy to fall into those traps of commonly used phrases. It helps you stand out from the competition because you know you won’t be the [...]Ken Krogue, ContributorThanks Jim. KenRob Nielsen ★ So true Ken.57 comments, 57 called-out Comment Now

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9- Do I pay attention to the housekeeping issues? These little things make all the difference. Inspect the room. Is it clean? Is there clutter? Are there distractions? Joel Weldon would even tape the door latch open because it made a bothersome noise if people came in late or left early and distracted others. Wow… really? They don’t call him “America’s Most Prepared Speaker” for nothing. Thanks Joel.

Joel Weldon - "America's Most Prepared Speaker" pays attention to every little detail for flawless presentations... even taping the door latch so it won't distract if people come and go.

10- Do I control the environment? If I have my choice, I set the room up with doors at the back, so people coming in don’t distract. I check air conditioning controls, sound systems, open windows. Plan for distractions… they will happen.

11- Am I hiding behind the podium? Don’t.

12- Have I tested my audio and video? Do.

13- What if my slide animations fail? Fancy animations are often better handled in multiple slides… if at all. Test it on the mac, on Chrome, on Firefox, on a PC.

14- What do I do if the power fails? This happened to me. Halfway through a half-hour keynote, my laptop battery died…. Completely died. I thought I was toast. That is the real test. No time to bring up something else. You better be ready to continue. I jumped down in the audience and just turned up the energy and winged it. So ask yourself…. Are you plugged in? Do you have a backup thumb drive or even an entire laptop?

15- Death by logo. Every CEO (my business partner included) thinks that you have to have your logo prominently displayed on every single slide, sometimes more than once. (If the boss persists, make it unobtrusive.) But really, people aren’t dumb, if you have a logo on the front slide and the last one, they will know it is from your company.

16- Death by bullets… Bullets are well named. They kill presenters. Remember: ”Gun’s don’t kill… bullets kill.”

17- Death by acronyms. The main method that doctors, lawyers, dentists, and developers use to ensure their job security is to develop a language that only they understand. They abbreviate everything. CRM. SaaS. T1. Don’t use them with normal, real people.

If you do, translate the first time. Explain that CRM means Customer Relationship Management. Have someone call you out if you shoot an acronym across their bow.

18- Death by Umms and Ahhs. This one is really hard. Don’t fill sentences with umm or ahh. It sounds like you don’t know what to say and you are making it up as you go. Listen to yourself. Anything you say over and over is the equivalent to an Umm or an Ahhh. Have a friend hold up a finger every time you say one or the other or your favorite repetitive equivalent.

Painful. But do it.

19- Have I set expectations? Start with an agenda, including when you will be done. Give them a reason to stay. It’s old, overused, cliche, but still relevant.

““Tell them what you are about to tell them, tell them, and tell them what you told them.”

20- Don’t make your host look bad! The worst sign of a rookie presenter is the one who gets up there and starts their talk by saying, “Well… I was just called last night and assigned this topic that I don’t know much about…”

Don’t do that… ever!

21- Am I selling or teaching? You violate the trust of your audience if you try and sell to them. There is nothing worse than a thinly veiled sales pitch when they truly need to learn something.

Don’t do it.

The only exception is the Timeshare Condo pitch, but you go into that knowing it is a sales pitch. The $150 gift certificate to Nordstrom’s or the free night at the Marriot get’s you past that.

I often get criticized because people actually say I don’t sell enough on stage. I look at our company’s growth and success and I ask… Really?

Here’s my rule, don’t sell on stage, ever! If they are interested, they will find wait for you off stage.

Michael J Fox playing 'Jonny B. Goode' by Chuck Berry in Back to the Future - He was so intense and crammed so much in that he lost his audience. But still an awesome scene!

22- Am I trying to say too much? Wow, I just blew this one recently. A friend in the audience reminded me of the scene in one of the Back from the Future shows where “Marty McFly” (Michael J. Fox) drives a

Delorean time machine 30 years into the past and is given the opportunity to play a guitar on stage at the high school prom.

He decides to give them a sneak peak of Chuck Berry’s ‘Johnny B. Goode’ and gets going so fast and furious he’s done before he realizes nobody is with him, and their jaws are hanging open. That’s what I did. I was going so fast in my own world of research I woke up 30 minutes later on stage thinking I did a great thing. With some of the worst reviews I’ve ever had: “Great research but hard to remember,” “Needs more time,” “Not enough stories.” Great feedback…

Note to self… don’t do that.

When in doubt… cut it out.

23- Have I said too little? Then there are some companies who let a committee get ahold of the presentation and send it out to a design firm with a dozen revisions and it comes back with no substance at all. That’s worse. I think a committee has only ever done one great thing… That was the movie Toy Story. But, for the most part, they get lost in the thick of thin things. People ask, “Where’s the beef?”

24- Have I prepared enough? A long time ago I decided I would spend more time preparing myself rather than preparing a presentation. Refer back to rules 1 and 2. If you live and breathe your content day in and day out, you’ll do great.

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25- Do I know my audience? My favorite question is:

““What would I do if I were you?”

How would I apply what I know with what my audience needs. Is my audience mostly employees, managers, Vice Presidents, CEOs, owners? What do they care about? What is their stress? What are their dreams? What are their headaches and hassles?

26- Will my stories be remembered? Facts, logic and research speaks to the mind, stories speak to the heart.

Seth Godin (again) recommends you find remarkable stories. He breaks the word into sections ‘remark’+‘able’. Will people make remarks about your presentation? Are they ‘able’ to remember your stories so they can ‘remark’ them to others?

Stories become legends when they are remarkable.

Brian Regan - one of America's premier comedians, brings a presentation to life with stories. - From BrianRegan.com

If you want to hear remarkable (and funny) stories, listen to Brian Regan. One of my favorite is his story of going to the emergency room. He can take an everyday story and make it so you will never forget it. He may be the best comic on the planet, and he’s suitable for the kids (He and Bill Cosby, not many of those left.)

27- Have I backed up my arguments with research? If you can’t prove it… don’t say it. Your research or better yet, somebody else’s… who is credible.

Did I say to use research that is credible?

28- Am I rounding my numbers? You are far more credible if you quote the exact number in the research… to the decimal point. If you round the number, you don’t seem to know the number… or you’re making it up.

29- Have I checked all my facts? I once told a story that later turned out to be a rumor… Note to self… don’t do it. A friend called me out on it. I was grateful and learned a very hard lesson.

30- Have I given proper credit? My favorite thing to do is to promote other people. Call out the people who came up with the ideas you are using. Oh, and the Golden Rule still works.

31- Do I speak to the whole person? We are told in the scriptures we have four aspects: heart, might, mind, and strength. My mentor, Chauncey Riddle, taught me that heart is what we desire, might is our power or influence or our result, mind is our understanding, and strength is our body and its capacity to act. He shared that the proper order to engage all four aspects of a human being is mind, heart, strength, and might. Or understanding, desire, action, and result. So ask these four questions:

32- What do I want them to think? Start your presentation by engaging their mind. Define the terms. Socrates said,

““The beginning of wisdom is a definition of terms.”

Facts build knowledge, application of facts builds wisdom. Questions get them thinking. Thinking comes before feeling. Feeling comes before action. Action comes before results.

33- What do I want them to feel? The source of energy that causes action is desire, or motivation. This comes from the heart. Stories and experience play to the heart. How do you teach something the mind does not understand? How do you teach virtue, or courage, or honor, or integrity in a classroom? You don’t. They don’t come from mathematical equations. You model them yourself, by your example, and by proxy with stories of greatness.

Take them face to face with greatness with a story.

34- What do I want them to do? The greatest presentations end with a call to action. We have lately been using a cool webinar tool called ON24 that let’s people act several times along the way by downloading content any time during the presentation, while they are thinking about it, or feeling it. Strength is the body, the body has capacity to act… to do something.

35- What should their result be if they act on my words? Tell stories of the results other people have gained by thinking, feeling, and doing the very things you are asking your audience to think, feel, and do. Answer the question of relevance, “So what?” What does this mean to me? What is my result?

Oliver Demille - Author of 'LeaderShift' and bestseller 'A Thomas Jefferson Education', teaches to read and present for epiphanies as the ultimate take-away!

36- What can they take away? Software developers ask a great question, “What is the deliverable?” What do they get to take back to their business and apply that very day?

Takeaways are both content and great ideas. My friend Oliver DeMille (who has inspired much of everything I do) taught me to read and mark down my epiphanies…. Those “aha” moments that change something inside.

Those are the best takeaways.

37- Do I start with high energy? I like to start with a question or a really great story. Jokes are ok, but too easy. Move, but never pace.

38- Do I maintain high energy? Get someone in the audience to tell you if you are dropping the energy.

Appoint a yawn monitor to scan the audience and have everyone stand up and stretch if you start to see yawns. Then it’s their fault, not yours.

If you start to lag, change your position, raise your voice level… stand up… ask a question… share a story.

One of the greatest things I ever learned while presenting is that I control my own energy level… and hence the energy of the entire audience.

The best energy in a group setting is called by Dr. Covey synergy: that synchronization that sometimes occurs where every person is attuned and resonating to the same thought, emotion, or spirit.

It’s real.

You know it when you feel it.

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Like a tuning fork, it gives off its own sound and energy from each member of the audience. It’s cumulative. It’s additive. Some even know where it comes from.

39- Do I know how to take back my energy? Once I was knocking doors selling David Early tire coupons. They were $39 and you got three free oil changes, and lots of discounts. Great deal. I knocked on the door of a big huge guy with a Harley in the front yard who proceeded to yell at me and scare me to death. Immediately a woman came up behind him, put her hand on his shoulder, and said, “Don’t mind him, he’s just had a bad day.”

I asked with a grin, “How did I do?”

He smiled sheepishly and said, “You know, you did great. Good luck!”

I felt great.

I took back my energy with my question.

From then on I realized I could never let anyone steal my energy away. I could give it, but I won’t let them take it. And if they try, I take it back. After that, I try and end every speech, keynote, or presentation with, “How did I do?”

40- Do I have a signature? Besides ending with “How did I do?” I answer a phone and ask, “How the heck are you?” And the person at the other end knows it’s me. They also know I’m from Utah. :)

The Late Paul Harvey had a several signature statements in his presentation like, "This is Paul Harvey... Good day!" - Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune

Paul Harvey would always end a story with, “And now for the rest of the story.” He would end his radio show, “Gooood day!”

Les Brown would end everything he did in front of an audience with I’m “Mrs. Mamie Brown’s baby boy!”

42- Do I end on schedule? Build up to your finish. End on a crescendo. Start well, maintain, and end well. Save your impact for last.

43- Am I ready for questions? Brush up on the topic and the space. Review the numbers in the research… to the decimal point. Know the stories. If you don’t know something, or can’t quote it exactly, just admit it. It’s ok to paraphrase if you tell the audience you are doing so, and point them to a source.

44- Can I record my presentation? It’s a lot better than trying to recreate it later. And in todays world of YouTube, Slideshare, iTunes, eBooks, Twitter, Google+, and Blogs, it’s an amazing way to repurpose your valuable content in many other valuable media and channels. Often I’ll have someone pull out their iPhone, after all, it’s HD!

Denis Waitley, one of the greatest presenters in America, made a point to respond to those in his audience who would reach out to him... often changing their life and helping their careers.

45- Follow up with the people in your audience who reach out. I listened to a cassette tape set by Denis Waitley once while I was at the Naval Academy. He told stories of Wilma Rudolph and the interrogation tactics during the Korean war. He was a graduate of Annapolis. I hung on every word he said. I was young and idealistic, and decided to write him a letter. I found out his address and wrote. I unburdened my soul, I shared my dreams. I told him I was a kid from Utah, just having left the Academy on a 2 year sabbatical. I remember believing he would respond, he seemed like that kind of person.

He did.

He wrote me a 4 page letter.

He talked about Spencer W. Kimball, a man very important to him, and to me. I still have the letter. That was 27 years ago. Years later I met him at Franklin and he remembered my letter. That is the single reason why I respond to every comment on Forbes.com, every letter someone sends me. He was my Michael Jordan. My Jimmer. The best.

Thanks Denis.

James D. Murphy, author of Flawless Execution and Founder of Afterburner seminars teaches presenters to brief first, present, and then debrief afterward to learn and improve - Amazon.com

46- Have I scheduled a debrief? Again, Chris Jorgenson turned me on to “Flawless Execution” by James D. Murphy or “Murph” as he is known at Afterburner, Inc. He teaches the time-tested techniques of America’s fighter pilots to help entrepreneurs and businesses perform at their peak.

The trick?

•Brief the team before the mission.

•Perform the mission.

•Then debrief afterwards.

(On no! Did I really use bullets?)

American pilots have their names and ranks on Velcro patches. When they go in to the debrief room with higher and lower ranking officers, they leave names and ranks on a table at the door so they can say anything that needs to be said… to improve. They are the best in the world for this reason and many others.

When I was a Scoutmaster, we used a methodology called “shadow leadership.” We would teach the boys what they needed to do to prepare for an activity, hold the activity, then sit around afterwards with the leadership and discuss what we did well and how we could improve.

I learned that I had to let them do it if they were ever to learn and improve what they did.

The best learning experience I ever remember came on one campout to 1st Hemagogue, above Alpine City. We had trained the Quartermaster, walked him through what we needed to take for dinner and breakfast. The boys wanted oatmeal.

But the Quartermaster forgot the bowls.

10 boys ate oatmeal with their hands.

The 2 hour debrief was one of the most interesting learning experiences they (or I) ever had.

47- Do I review this ‘Tips from Great Presenters’ before presenting? This is the most important, or this list is useless.

48- Check consistency and spelling - As a frequent creator of powerpoint presentations, you always want to check for consistency! Make sure if you have a fact or figure on one slide, that it matches up with the content on later slides as well. Always check for errors and typos as well. Nothing makes you look more unprofessional than a spelling error, and they really distract the audience from your message. (From Megan Strong)

49- Don’t over prepare – (from Trish Bertuzzi) I over prepared. I rehearsed. I did not lead with my passion and personality. Now, I am not saying not to rehearse or prepare but at some point, if you love to speak, you can do too much. And that is what I did.

Note to self: you can still know your material and be authentic. It is your voice they came to hear not the “perfect presentation”.

50- Some notes are good, have a high level concept summary – (from Cheryl Conner) - even if you are prepared enough to speak without notes (as you should be), having just the very highest bullet points written down can be good. Otherwise, your passion and preparation on the topic could fill the time (and

your focus) to the point that you end up forgetting to cover one or more of your most critical points. (the voice of experience here…)

51- Don’t put light color text on a dark background on your slides - At least if you want your content to be read. You lose 30% of readability when you do this. Even worse is white text on a light blue background. Beware of creative designers who love to make things look good at the cost of function. (I’m sitting in a presentation right now in Washington DC and can’t read the slides! Ken)

52- Don’t use ALL CAPS IN YOUR SLIDE COPY – Only use all caps in headlines and occasionally for emphasis. USING ALL CAPS IS LIKE YELLING AT SOMEONE FOR EMPHASIS! People aren’t used to reading all capital fonts and you lose readability.