So, you’ve done your research and prepared your talk. It’s important now not to let the way that you present it let down your carefully crafted material.
Notes or full script?
Both have their fans but, on balance, I would recommend notes, for a number of reasons:
- you will talk more naturally
- you will stick to your key points
- you have more flexibility if the amount of time you have is cut short
- you avoid getting lost if (as you should) you look up at the audience then look down and can’t find your place
- you make eye contact with the audience and speak out at them, rather than down at the page and so can see how they are responding to what you are saying
If you feel that you must have the illusion of security that a script gives, then think carefully about the format. You are writing something to be spoken, not read: people cannot go back and reread if what you say is complex or unclear, so avoid long sentences with several ideas. Build in some questions: “so what does this mean in practice?” or “how does this actually work?” to develop some sort of involvement and engagement with your audience. On a practical level, double space your text and use large type. Put extra spacing between paragraphs and have only a few sentences in each paragraph. Number your pages (always helpful if you drop your papers) and don’t split a paragraph between pages.
“He’s a natural”
Brilliant or even quite good presenters are made not born – the best will tell you that it took some work and practice to get to where they are. Although some people are and always will be better than others, I don’t believe that it ever comes naturally. Everyone feels, and should feel, nervous before they speak. Not sick with “oh my goodness, what am I doing here?” kind of nerves but a bit of “stage fright” helps the adrenaline flow and, again, the most experienced performers will tell you that they still feel nervous before they go on.
It is also worth remembering that, unless you’re the Chancellor of the Exchequer announcing tax rises and benefit cuts, the audience is generally on your side. They are there, by and large, because they want to hear what you are going to say, so focussing on them and making it easy for them to listen is a good tactic.
Style over substance?
Develop your own style. Many inexperienced presenters make the mistake, quite understandably, of imitating the style of someone they admire or that they think presents in an interesting way but you are NOT that person and you don’t know their methods of preparing. Trying to be someone else will always sound unnatural and your goal should be to come across as relaxed and confident of what you are saying and the way you are saying it. If you sound genuine and (more importantly) enthusiastic, then your audience will trust you and you will come across much better.
“I’m in charge”
A friend of mine, when she was a junior lawyer, had to present on behalf of her senior partner to a large group of important clients. Her first instinct was to be very apologetic, along the lines of “I know you were expecting James, sorry but you’ve got me and I’ll try do the best that I can.”
Luckily, she thought it through a bit more and realised that she did know just as much about the transaction as her boss and she could talk knowledgeably about it. Never try to play the sympathy card to try to win your audience over. If you appear hesitant, why should the audience have any confidence that you know what you are talking about? Of course, it is perfectly fine (and actually good manners) to say “unfortunately X can’t be here today, so I’ll be taking you through…..
Confidence and authority are important in every speaking situation. You are the specialist in your presentation area and if you have prepared well, then you have no need to appear timid when you speak.
“Can we talk?”
So, there you are standing in front of your audience. How can you get their attention? How can you keep it? How will you make them feel involved?
Tune in next time for the answers to these and other important questions such as “should I use visual aids?”
