The biggest secret in presentations

I am going to give away one of the biggest secrets of great presentations today and it is one that is so simple that you will not imagine how important it is!

The secret is that every presentation is theatre! - perhaps this sounds simple or even unachievable - however if you think this way you will create a totally new way to present.


Here is an exercise for you to try:


Try to think back to two occasions, when you last went to the theatre and the last business presentation you heard, I am imagining that the two were like this...

At the theatre	At a business presentation
There was an air of anticipation as you took your seat	You sat in the back row not wanting to be there
There was music playing, setting the scene	There was an awkward silence broken only by the muttering of the audience
The curtain rose and the players appeared seamlessly	The projector didn’t work and IT had to fiddle with it before the presentation started
The show was exciting and well delivered	The presentation was poorly delivered

Now you may not have exactly the same experience, however you should realise that it is common and we let ourselves down when we give presentations. We need to learn some of the techniques of the theatre to give our presentations some presence.


There are simple things you can do, for example playing background music while people take their seats. This can serve two purposes, it covers the awkward silences and you can use music to set the mood (fast paced and exciting or slow and calming). You may not have a curtain to raise, but why not have a little animation with some music to start on a remote control click when you are ready. Think of this as your 'title sequence' as it gives the audience the cue that you are about to speak. Tie this with dimming the lights (if possible) so that people concentrate on the presentation more strongly.


And most importantly remember that you almost never see a theatre technician on stage during a show. Get to your presentation early, make sure the technology works and then have it running BEFORE people enter the room. I call this 'Swan Theory' on the basis that, like a majestic swan swimming down a river you cannot see how much hard work is going on beneath the surface to keep going.


Above all, if you think theatre, you will not be thinking that this is just another presentation - give the audience a show and they will reward you with greater attention and a better response!


Happy presenting


Wilf




I will give you some examples of opening sequences in the future, feel free to drop me a line if you would like some tips!