The Music of Words

The moment arrives. You begin to speak. Within minutes you notice a few audience members drifting away. A couple are mezmerized by their cell phones, a few are diligently making doodles on your handout and several are giving significant consideration to the cobwebs on the ceiling. “What is going on?” You think back on your preparation…

• The research is sound.
• Your slides are just right.
• The topic is pertinent to the audience.
• You’ve given some thought to your voice, hands and posture.
• You even had a good writer check your speech for structure and clarity.

Where did it all go wrong?

All of these preparations help to create more solid presentations. But one mandatory attribute – that is too often missed – is simply this: Passion! Passion is the one thing that will get your audience to sit up and take notice. Without it, all the best slides and statistics will inevitably fail to ignite them. Consider these 10 essential keys to building a passionate presentation:

1. Does your topic inspire you?
   If it doesn’t, the bigger question is “Should you be speaking at all?” If you are unenthusiastic about your topic, everyone loses!
2. Do you believe in the substance of your material?
   Even if you love your topic you need to trust that the material you are providing will benefit your audience. If you don’t believe in it, your audience will know.
3. Do you have stories which illustrate the most dramatic points?
   Stories are the perfect vehicles for transferring passions from one person to another. Good storytelling, with active verbs and descriptive nouns, is a way to share experiences and to give your audience a taste of what you feel.
4. Is it meaningfully relevant to your audience?
   Even though it might be the most important topic you can think of, is it truly of interest and import to your listeners?
5. Might audience members be transformed by the information you provide?
   Every good speech gives the listeners an opportunity to become someone new and improved. Does your presentation provide that?
6. Be real.
   Authenticity is more valuable than polish.
7. Take risks.
   A willingness to be creative emboldens your perceived commitment.
8. Be willing to go ‘off script.’
   If you determine that the presentation needs to go in a different direction, follow your instinct. It rarely leads you astray.
9. Bolster your enthusiasm with research.
   Having a well substantiated point of view frees you focus on your passion without concern for the nay-sayers.
10. Have “One Conversation at a Time”
    Converse WITH your audience. Don’t talk AT them.

Passion is the first and most important requisite for all good presentations. If your heart does not lead you there, stay clear. By considering these points you will have a clear understanding of the elements that embody a passionate presentation. I sincerely hope you find some value here.

Cheers!
   Robert