Do you make presentations for your business?

Here is the #1 tip that will make them so powerful, that your prospects and clients will want more!!

It is amazing how often I see people conduct a presentation for 1 person or a group and they get so caught up with “what they are going to say”. You worry about what words to say when, what information you need to “tell” them and how you are going to “convince” them that what you are saying is right or needed by them.

Do you ever get this in your business?

This is most probably why “public speaking” is one of the greatest fears for many people.

One piece of advice I always give somebody when they are preparing for their first presentation is to always “make it about your audience”. NOT, what you want to tell them, but what they want to hear from you in the context of your presentation!

So how do you do this you might be asking?

Simple.

Concentrate on what questions you will ask the audience and focus on how you can have them participate with you. Make it a dance between you, not a lecture.

If you do not know exactly what they want, the easiest way to get this is to ….

ASK!

Before every presentation I do – 1 on 1 or a group, I gather information about who they are, what their background is, what their current situation is and what they want from my presentation. In a 1 on 1 context, that is a simple 1 page I ask them to fill in before we meet, or if it is a group presentation, we send them an email requesting the 3 things they want to get out of the presentation (as specific as possible)

Problem Mindset:  Stop TELLING your audience and trying to sound amazing
Solution Strategy: Start ASKING great questions and have them participate, so they feel it is ALL about them

Now does it matter if you get minimal response from these requests – NO. The fact that you ask them to do this shows that you care! You care about;

• Them
• Their needs
• Making the presentation as powerful as possible
• Making it the best use of time
• Ensuring it is applicable and MEMORABLE

Just getting a little bit of information from them helps your understanding and opens up the presentation before you even begin it physically!

When I do this in a group format, I always REWARD the people who responded to my request, by designing the presentation around their needs and then ask them specifically (yes, their name), is that what you needed. When you see their face when you say “So, Daniel, does this cover off what you wanted when you said “xyz …”?

99% of the time, it is a pleasant surprise and they have a sense of feeling special.

Having the ability to empathise with your audience immediately enables you to gain trust from them. Once you have this or move in this direction you have the ability to influence their decisions so they have what “they” need. Once this happens, you are presenting to people with open minds and open ears.

Aaahh, that’s better – now I don’t have to worry about what I say so much, I just need to focus on having them participate and giving them what they need.

If you do not know what your prospect, client or group need or want from you, welcome to stress city and good luck!

If you want to present with fun, success and connection – ask questions that illicit their needs!

Try what I am suggesting here once or twice in the coming 30-60 days and prove to yourself whether I am right or wrong. I have done this in presentations for the past 9 years all over the world and have created bonds and opportunities I could never have dreamed of through logical thought.

Have a terrific weekend and next week

Trent