3 Critical Things For An Engaging Presentation

communication powerpoint presentation speaking May 08, 2022

Delivering a presentation can be scary, particularly if you don’t do it often.

To help you get through the struggle, I’ve whipped up a few of the critical things that you should consider to ensure you deliver an engaging presentation.

1. Audience:

One of the critical things to be aware of is knowing who your audience is.

You need to be clear on the people you are talking to, and how this presentation is going to be useful for them. You’re communicating and presenting to them because they need to hear what you have to say.

However, you have an important task — to make the presentation relevant.

How are you going you make the presentation relevant to those listening?

I look at my legal career and if I was presenting to the marketing department about all things privacy. Privacy isn’t that hot of a topic, but I had to make it relevant for my audience.

For the marketing team, when talking about privacy, I’d refer to it as the way we need to secure talent. I wouldn’t refer to consent forms, I’d refer to it as talent release! I had to make sure I was connecting with the marketing team and answered the ‘what’s in it for me?’ question.

2. Content:

This one seems obvious but your content is going to be really important.

Based on what we discussed already, your content is going to need to answer the ‘what’s in it for me’ question we asked earlier. Your content needs to be good, and there should be a balance between education and entertainment.

You want to be able to educate and inform your audience, as that is likely why you’re presenting in the first place. But you should use this as an opportunity to entertain.

What can you do to make the content engaging?

Some tips for helping to make your presentation engaging include

  • Thinking about adding interactive elements such as an activity, a poll for people to vote, and using technology like Slido
  • Videos to illustrate a point rather than needing to use text (or maybe you could share a TikTok or something…?)

You want your content to articulate your point but also convince your audience that you’re interesting and engaging.

3. Practice:

Vladimir Horowitz said, “the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is practice.” The same can be said when delivering a presentation. One way to feel really confident, particularly in what you’re saying, and how you’re going to say it.

Practicing is one of the best ways to ensure you are able to speak well, learn your content and figure out the best way to deliver it with your voice. You can only become more confident with something the more you do it. In our professional environments, we will be required to speak more, deliver presentations that can influence change, and inform our peers.

Can I help you?

  1. I coach people one-on-one to assist them with their communications and speaking needs with single sessions available and 3, 6 or 9 month packages.
  2. Want a speaker for your event or to have a training session in your workplace? Let’s discuss!
  3. Book a virtual coffee with me and we can chat further!
  4. You can download FREE resources here
  5. Listen to the Craft Messages That Matter Podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts

About the author:

Theo Kapodistrias is a multi-national award-winning lawyer and keynote speaker, trainer, and public speaking coach. He is passionate about community involvement and holds several voluntary positions, including as the Executive Director of TEDxHobart. His keynote speaking, training, and advising business is designed to help professionals and business owners to be seen, be heard, and make an impact through their voice and through their words www.theokap.com.au

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