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In the business world, there are all types of presentations that we do on a daily basis: sales presentations, prospecting meetings, staff meetings, client meetings, introductions…the list goes on and on. Instead of reinventing the wheel every time you face a new presentation, knowing the 10 elements to a powerful presentation will cut down on your preparation and save you from unnecessary stress.

1. Theme: What is point of the presentation? You should be able to answer that question in one sentence. The benefit of having a theme: Knowing your theme during the development phase of a presentation you keep you on track and help you avoid tangents. It also helps your audience remember your message.

2. Opening and Closing: Yes these could be two different elements, but they serve a very similar purpose. The opening and closing are the bookends that give you the opportunity to once again state your beyond benefits (#3) and you theme. Ideally, your closing should tie into your opening, creating the feeling of coming full circle.

3. Beyond Benefits: The focus of the presentation is not you, it’s the audience. Write down a list of the benefits of either working with you, implementing this method, following this strategy, using this product, or buying you services. Then, look at the list and for each item ask yourself this magic question, “So what?” See if you can take that benefit one step further and find the Beyond Benefit. What is the true end result that your audience is looking for? How will what you’re offering make their life easier?

4. Stories: People process information intellectually, they buy based on emotion. Creating an emotional connection with your listener(s) leads to a relationship which leads to more business. So in your presentations, how do you create that emotional connection? Stories. Find a story that is analogous to your discussion. Use the story that ties into your theme. A great place for your story is in your opening and closing.

5. Powerful Questions: Anthony Robbins so wisely says “Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.” Your presentations should have opportunities for dialogue. Learn what your prospect or client is needing and wanting. Assuming too much is just bad business. Remember, it’s not about you, it’s about them. (Aside: If you are giving a keynote to a large group, you rarely want to open the floor for dialogue. However, you still want to ask powerful rhetorical questions to keep them engaged and thinking.)

6. You and We Statements: The first half of your presentation should have a high ratio of “you statements”, ensuring that you are engaging them by stating their needs and the Beyond Benefits of what you’re offering. In the second half, there should be a seamless transition to high ratio of “we statements”. Subconsciously your audience will start to see you as already part of the team.

7. Options: When you’re giving a presentation to a prospect or a current client trying to convince them to try a new endeavor, it always helps to give them options. I learned this from Alan Weiss. It then changes the listener’s thinking from “Should I do business with Shari’?” to “How should I do business with Shari’?”

8. Talk Back: No, I don’t mean be rude. When you ask your powerful questions, it is always a good idea to repeat what you heard. “I understand that you are looking to…” This will help you clarify the needs of your audience. Then, your audience will be thinking, “She knows what I need. We’re on the same page!”

9. Planned Follow-Up: Make it easy on yourself! In the meeting, set a time and method for follow-up. This way it opens the door to make another “touch” with your client or prospect. That way you are not call out of the blue when they thought everything was said and done.

10. Preparation: This is the most important. Prepare for your presentation ahead of time! It is the most simple and yet the most overlooked. You never know what curve balls are going to be thrown your way, but if you have a plan and a clear picture in your mind of what you want to cover, you will always get back on track. Now that you know what the 10 elements are to powerful (and profitable) presentations are, you have an outline to follow and your preparation time will be cut in half.

Presentations are a vital part of any business. Don’t lose business because of a bad presentation. Implement these 10 elements and watch your business grow!

Most of us would agree that having humor in our lives increases rapport, strengthens our relationships and overcomes communication barriers. People who work in a positive, often playful environment are more likely to stay. Productivity and creativity increase while stress is reduced. We just feel better after a good laugh. Think funny!

1. Open with a humorous story.. I remember the time the lights when out and I fell off the stage. I wasn’t hurt and quickly said, Now I will take questions from the floor. I’m at my best when taking questions in the dark. Before you can be funny, you must learn to see funny. Find the humor around you, in your life every day. The lady who takes an aisle seat rather tan sit next to the window… doesn’t want to mess up her hair. Practice telling the story out loud, and cut out any parts that aren’t crucial. As Shakespeare so wisely said, “Brevity is the soul of wit.”

2. Use props (candy bars, hats, funny faces, etc.) Props can be used as a metaphor or an analogy for a point you are introducing. They get your creative juices working while providing an anchor for your audience to focus on.

3. Cartoons use your own or others a picture saves a 1000 words. Put cartoons on an overhead or use as part of a PowerPoint presentation.

4. Humor – should be relevant to your topic. Tom Peters said, I deeply believe in humor; not in jokes. Humor is spectacular. Humor relieves anxiety and tension, serves as outlet for hostility and anger, and provides a healthy escape from reality. It lightens heaviness related to critical illness, trauma, disfigurement, and death. It comes as no surprise that many people are utilizing humor to deal with the trying times. But is the humor timely? Is it appropriate?

Do not use ethnic, racist, political or religious jokes. Include a joke that helps bring back the attention of the audience or as a way to lighten up your remarks. We all can use a good laugh from a well timed, funny joke.

5. Self effacing humor- it is better to admit you made a mistake than to admit that you are one. One of my lines as a mother of five is: For someone who isn’t Catholic, I sure did my share for the pope! Phyllis Diller is in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the most laughs per minute. A laugh is measured by:

5 points if everyone is laughing and applauding
-4 points if everyone is laughing and there’s a smattering of applause
-3 points if everyone laughs but there’s no applause
-2 points if some people are laughing
-1 point for a titter or giggle

6. Mime- Marcel Marceau makes us laugh and moves us. Charlie Chaplin was an all time great without using the spoken word.

7. Move Your Body -Try lifting your nose, look off to the side, jut out the bottom of your jaw, and notice how you become arrogant or aloof, Take a wide stance, shift your hips forward, and now you’ve just gained 50 pounds. The use of body movements will help to visually enhance your remarks.

8. Repetitive oral recitation- (repeat after me, Remember, if you can see funny, you can be funny. Repeat a particular sentence throughout your presentation to encourage audience retention.

9. Use taped music for a stretch break. Get the audience to sing a funny song. Pass out words to a song. Lighten up your attendees have some fun and your audience retention will increase. Don’t be afraid to be theatrical or silly. It’s why we pay actors the big bucks; and your audiences won’t forget you. Be outrageous. It’s the only place that isn’t crowded.

10. Group exercise a fun way to conclude your presentation is to use a group exercise. Use the football huddle to get the group to repeat a cheer or an affirmation to take some action.

It’s that time again…the monthly meeting. You break out in
a cold sweat just thinking about it. Whether you present to
your managers or your employees you are saying to
yourself:

What if I mess up?

What if I repeat myself?

What if the audience doesn’t like what I say?

What if I forget a part of my speech?

What if I look nervous?

It’s okay! You’re not the only one feeling this way. The
Book of Lists states that the #1 fear is speaking in public.
This fear is greater than the fear of death.

Well, I have the answers to your fears and can help you
become an outstanding presenter. These 10 tips will help
you become more confident making presentations that
achieve results.

1. Start with an End in Mind

Ask yourself, “Why am I speaking?” “What do I want the
audience to do after listening to my speech?” This will help
you focus on the message you want to share with your
audience. It will help you focus on who is your audience,
the key points, and what you want your audience to do after
listening to you.

2. Keep It Simple

Keep your presentation simple by learning to “speak to
express instead of speaking to impress.” What I mean by
speaking to impress is when you see speakers using $5
words for $2 situations during speeches and they look
uncomfortable doing it. Another example of this is when
presenters overuse PowerPoint. Your audience will soon
lose interest in what you are saying.

Also keep it simple with the structure of your speech. An
opening, body with tree major points, and a closing will help
you connect with your audience.
Just be sincere, concise, and simple in your presentation and
you will always connect with your audience.

3. Practice, Practice, Practice

Master your presentation by practicing. Here’s the secret to
practicing…first read your speech to yourself 2-3 times. This
allows you to work out the majority of the rough spots in
your presentation before you start rehearsing.

Then rehearse in front of a mirror or even better a video
camera or tape player. Also try to rehearse in front of
someone whose opinion you value.

Then practice as close as possible to your speaking
environment as possible. For example, if you will be
speaking behind a lectern, practice with your notes on an
ironing board.

4. Visualize Success

Before going to sleep the night before a presentation I take
time to visualize the success of the presentation. The key to
making visualization work for you is involving as many
senses (sound, touch, sight, smell, etc.) as possible in your
visualization. Have you ever had a dream where it seemed so
real you awoke in a cold sweat (You don’t need to tell me
what the dream was)? It was because you used all your
senses and that dream became so real to you that you
needed to escape from it.

Visualize yourself giving a successful presentation where
you see yourself as a confident presenter, hear yourself
handling questions, etc. Visualize successful presentations
so that it becomes real.

5. Eat the Elephant

I ask the timeless question, “How do you eat an elephant?”
Piece by piece. The same answer applies to presenting to a
group. How do you present to a group? Person to person.
Break the group into individuals.

“How do I present to a large group?” is one of the biggest
questions people have when giving presentations. Get
personal. Whenever possible, I will make sure I arrive early
to the room I’m presenting in and plant myself by the
entrance. I will then greet as many people as possible that
walk through the door. I will shake their hands and let them
know I am glad they came. Here’s a tip for guaranteeing a
positive audience:

* As you greet, look for pleasant, upbeat people. Then say
something like, “I’m especially glad you made it today. As a
matter of fact there’s a sit in the front row with your name on
it. Please enjoy!”

The audience member will usually chuckle and you started
the personalization process. Also this allows you to stack all
the friendly audience members in the front rows. It’s always
nice to see friendly faces in the front row.

Remember, when giving a presentation, it’s not about your
needs or concerns. It’s about the audience’s needs or
concerns. Make it personal and eat the elephant!

6. Nail Your Opening

It’s the first words your audience hears. Know your opening
like the back of your hand. Know exactly what you are going
to say. Once you get started and gain some momentum you
will start to gain confidence for the rest of your speech.

It helps to pause for 3-5 seconds before you are about to
start your presentation so that can focus on what you are
about to say.

7. Nail Your Ending

It’s the last words your audience hears and reminder about
you. You can have a great opening and body and have a
bad ending and your audience your always remember how
you ended.

Ask your audience to take action, think about an idea, etc. so
that they understand why they are there.

8. Backup if You Forget

If you forget what you are about to say or lose your place in
the presentation do the following:

* Stop speaking. Take two steps backward. Then take a deep breath. Collect your thoughts. Smile. Take two steps forward and proceed with your presentation.

* Go back and repeat the last sentence. That will help trigger what comes next in your presentation.

* If you really go blank, ask an audience member what was the last sentence you said. Also, if they have handouts of your speech, you can ask the audience what is the next subject we will discuss. You will be surprised how many people will volunteer this information to help you. This will give you time to collect your thoughts, involve the audience, and go forward with your presentation.

Note: If you forget a piece of information, collect yourself,
and then go forward. Never say, “I’m sorry.” Unless the
audience has a copy of every single word of your speech
they will never know you forgot something.

9. Realize Nervousness is the Tool of Great Presenters
Believe it or not, all presenters, whether professional or
occasional, are nervous when presenting. The difference is
the best presenters use nervousness to their advantage by
turning nervousness into positive energy. Here are some
tips to control nervousness:

* Whenever possible walk from the back of the room to burn some of the nervous energy.

* Slow your breathing

* Stretch

10. Get Excited

Get excited so that the audience is excited about hearing
your presentation.

Some of the ways you can become excited is:

* Remember what you say is important and can make a difference for your audience.

* Every opportunity to present is a chance for you to succeed.

* Every time you speak you become better than the last time.

* Presenting will expose me to countless opportunities I wouldn’t have by not presenting.

So the next time you have the opportunity to present apply
the above techniques. You will have fun while presenting on
a whole new level.