Can you stand to attend one more boring presentation? Did you ever wonder why there are so many boring presentations? Is there something in the water? Is it genetic? Is there any hope for public speakers who bore the audience? The good news is yes. You don’t have to be boring. Gifted speakers are born but effective speakers are made. Here’s how to go from boring to brilliant.
1. Change your mindset: From Data Dump to Impact
Boring: Speaker-centered. This is the biggest mistake. The presentation focuses on what the speaker wants to talk about.
Brilliant: Listener-Centered. The focus is on the audience. The presenter speaks to the self interests of the listeners. Start with what the audience cares about. It It’s not about you. It’s about them!
2. Clarity and Structure
Boring: Rambling and unfocused message. There doesen’t seem to be a destination.
Brilliant: Presents a logical, sequence and structure with a clear opening, key points, and conclusion. Good delivery sits on structure. Build the foundation for your messages.
3.Storytelling
Boring: Recites, facts, data, and statistics. The audience will tune out early when the content is only about data.
Brilliant: Tells stories to communicate information and adds metaphors, analogies and examples to add color to the message and bring it to life. People remember stories over facts. Stories convey emotion and the audience sees themselves in the story. The most brilliant speakers are storytellers.
4.Body language and Executive Presence
Boring: Stiff fidgeting, slouching, looking down, slumping shoulders, stays planted behind the lectern, paces back and forth.
Brilliant: Smiling, straight posture, direct eye contact with different people in the room, working the room with purposeful movement and energy.. Puncutuates a point with appropriate gestures.
5. Vocal Variety
Boring: Monotone, soft spoken, voice trails off at the end of a sentence, slow pace.
Brilliant: Experiments with pitch, alternates volume, pauses for effect. Uses longer pauses for dramatic impact. Changes the pacing. Uses different voices when playing a role. Masters the pause and is not afraid of silence.
6.Audience Engagement
Boring: Talking head. Talks at the audience.
Brilliant: Connects. Talks with the audience. Is present in the moment and not afraid to go off script. Incorporates what happens in the room. Asks questions and challenges the audience.
7. Authenticity and Passion
Boring: Memorizes a speech and sounds scripted or rehearsed. May sound detached.
Brilliant: Speaks with heart, passion, and conviction. Not afraid to show emotion. They engage in self-disclosure which builds trust. Is true to their own style and doesn’t try to mimic another type of speaker. They care more about the audience than they do about their performance.
In summary, a boring speaker simply informs. A brilliant speaker transforms.
What is the lesson? Click here to find out.
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