Tips for Being a Masterful Presenter

1.    An effective presentation builds a relationship with people who are giving you the gift of their time and attention. You may be able to require their time, but you have to earn their attention.

2.    To paraphrase Lani Arrendondo, to relate like a Pro or master of communication,
a.    Relate what is relevant and important to the audience and to your topic
b.    Satisfy these four needs of your listeners:
i.    Expectation: to help them know what to expect in your presentation, state your objective and give them a preview of what you are going to say
ii.    Recognition: let them know YOU know who they are
a.    Know who is in your audience
b.    Address your message to them.
c.    Affirm and praise them for their good qualities
d.    Vary the pace of your presentation so that you keep their attention
iii.    Participation: get the audience involved
a.    Ask questions
b.    Use recalls or remind them of something in their life or something you have already said
c.    Relate scenarios or examples from their lives
iv.    Application: tell your audience how what you say can benefit them
a.    State the value of your message to the audience. Value can be growing in knowledge and understanding, or making money, or getting a competitive edge, or…

What are Five Important Numbers for Global Communication and English Speaking? 

In my previous blogs, we were talking about my favorite advice from pros and experts about preparing and delivering a presentation.  Here in this post and the next couple we are going to look at wonderful numbers which give a snapshot of our wonderful world of talking people.

From Time Magazine, July 29, 2013

• 6,800  is the estimated number of languages in use around the world.
• 12.5% is the share of the world’s population that speaks Mandarin Chinese, the most common language.
• 850 is the approximate number of languages in Papua New Guinea, the world’s most polyglot country.

From New America Media, Commentary, Andres T. Tapia, Posted July 04, 2010

• Nearly a billion people around the world speak English, which means that more people speak English as a second language than there are native speakers.
• In Asia, the number of English-users has surpassed 350 million, equal to the number of people who live in countries where English is the dominant language: the United States, Britain and Canada.  More Chinese children now study English – about 100 million—than there are Britons.

“There’s never before been a language that’s been spoken by more people as a second language than a first, “ says David Crystal, whose numerous books include English as a Global Language.

Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercise.

• The scenario:  You are asked to do a presentation. Perhaps it is at a lunch or you are asked to talk as part of a team. You were asked to speak because you have recognized expertise. To paraphrase Kevin Daley, the temptation for any speaker is to stuff the audience with facts. You need to provide information, but don’t think that’s everything.  No speaker was ever praised because he or she broke a world record for reciting data.

• We get lauded for being interesting, not for being a fountain of numbers.  Statistics are not interesting by themselves.  We use factual evidence to increase our credibility and to support our viewpoint.   But audiences don’t pay attention enough to track statistics.  An audience is much more moved by a story.  That is what grabs their attention and sways their viewpoint.  That is what impresses them.  If you want the audience to love you, tell a story.