Here is what I want you to do: Think about the most recent presentation to which you have been subjected. Be it live, on the Internet, or via the television.

Without referencing the presentation, what were the top 10 points of the presentation? If you are like myself and can’t remember, then you are not alone.

Yesterday I sat though an hour long presentation. Today, I cannot recall any of the main points. I can’t remember anything because the speaker did not care enough about the material to connect with the audience and make a point. Epic Failure for a presenter.

Here is what you can do to not connect with the audience and make a point:

  1. Take silence as a meaning the audience understands your points
  2. Throw up a lot of information on a PowerPoint slide and then proceed to read it line by line
  3. Present other people’s information as your own
  4. Be arrogant and assume that what you are presenting is the best way to solve the problem
  5. If you are facilitating a brainstorming session and someone’s idea doesn’t match your idea, then reject it

That is what most corporate presenters are good at doing during their presentations. They don’t connect and we don’t remember their points.

Instead, you should try connecting with the audience:

  1. If they are silent, then do an exercise to get them to interact with you. Make them physically demonstrate your point so that you know they understand what you are trying to present.
  2. Get away from PowerPoint. Start with a flip chart if you need to diagram information or start with very simple concepts and work your way to more complex diagrams.
  3. Have the person that gave you the information present their findings, or make sure to quote the person if they are not there. Get their permission to quote them if they are not present.
  4. Be humble and present the material so that the audience can understand the material in more than one way.
  5. Write down every idea the audience has during a brainstorming session…even if you don’t agree with it. Who knows? You might be wrong.

Remember that your job as a presenter and facilitator is to present factual information in a way that the audience understands, build consensus, and give a solution to a problem facing an organization.

Are you up for it?
If you are serious about connection, then I suggest picking up a copy of Connect with Any Audience:

If you want to learn from the best live and in person, then I suggest a Coaching Champ Camp. You will walk away knowing how to truly connect with any audience.


About the Author: My Toastmasters Blog is written Chris Elliott. Chris serves as a leader for supply chain and international non-profit organizations. He enjoys uses his knowledge and experiences during his speaking engagements, workshops, consulting projects, and one-on-one coaching sessions. The result—connecting people and empowering change. If you would like information on how you can bring Chris to speak to your club or organization, please click here.