Comments on: Creating a Memorable Presentation

By: Shirley George Frazier

Shirley George Frazier — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:17:52 +0000

These are wonderful suggestions, Daniel, and certainly a great blueprint to follow before the presentation and during one’s time at the podium.

I especially like what you said in No. 3 about not putting anyone on the spot. That’s a good way to repel a potential customer.

By: Daniel Nagel

Daniel Nagel — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:34:32 +0000

Since all your presentations will be given to adults, and the goal is to have them learn something, then it is critical that you, the speaker, have a good understanding of the principles of adult learning. Adults learn differently than children. In the end, the goal of your presentation is to teach so as to effect behavior change. Ie. Buy more, buy differently, buy from you…
The knowledge base on this subject is too vast to synthesize in this short post, but here are three important things to remember:
1. Adults learn best when the presentation is based on a question and adults never argue with answers they themselves conclude. For example, “What do all those small markings and words, such as the u in a circle or the word parve, on packages mean and what is their significance.” Then provide them with the tools, knowledge, and examples to contrive the answer on their own. After they have the answered the question, through their own discovery process, the knowledge will be with them forever.
2. Adults learn best went the presentation is grounded in real world experiences. This is how adults and children really differ because children do not have the vast life experience pool that adults have. “Why is it that a lot of people turn to chocolate, or food in general, when stressed?” Then proceed with giving them the knowledge to answer this question and then provide ways that this type of behavior can be leveraged in business.
3. Adults learn best by doing. It’s a fact so make sure to include some interactive component to your presentation but DO NOT call on individual people and put them on the spot, adults hate that! For example, “How do you think our industry could better serve ethnic groups, such as Jews, in a profitable and positive way?” This combines all three; it is a question that is grounded in real world experiences and pushes the audience to interact.
Well, my two cents. Good luck everybody!

By: Shirley George Frazier

Shirley George Frazier — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:50:32 +0000

Your advice is on the money, Flora. The audience wants to know what’s in it for them to sit through your presentation.

A 10-minute advertisement will bore them and won’t convince anyone to buy.

By: Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D.

Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D. — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:12:57 +0000

Thanks for the good tips for this subscriber.

I’d like to add that it’s important to be sure your talk focuses on giving the audience useful information rather than a blatant commercial for your business.

When I gave one of these 10 min. talks for my networking group I explained the meaning of kosher food, how it’s processed and why it is frequently used in gift baskets. One guy came up to me afterwards and thanked me. He admitted that up until my presentation he just thought kosher meant “satisfactory” or “okay.”

When you establish yourself as an expert in your field the audience will seek you out.