As with many things in life, the key to improve is to avoid making mistakes.
If you want to turn your next presentation into a memorable performance, make sure you don’t misstep on the following:
The Opening Act
- At the start of your presentation, please don’t begin with:
- It’s a great honor…
- Thank your for the opportunity to…
- Please excuse me, I’m not a very good speaker….
- Let me start with thanking the following people….
- This is strange. These are not my slides….
- Is this microphone on?
- Instead, start with one of the Triple S Power Openings:
- Statistic: 70% of all strategies fail…
- Story: When Alexander the Great left Macedonia….
- Statement: Your skillset has a half-life of 3 years….
The Presentation Body
- While you’re presenting, please don’t say:
- I know it’s a lot of text, but I think this is important….
- I will discuss the following 21 points in the next 30 minutes….
- Where was I?
- In view of the time, let’s skip the following slides….
- I’m not sure where this slide comes from.
- Instead, use the SEES Structure with every point you make:
- Statement
- Explanation
- Example
- Summary
The Grand Finale
- Please don’t end with:
- Let me use the final 5 minutes to cover these last 7 points.
- Ok. Any questions? If not, then I guess this is the end of my presentation.
- I know we’re out of time, but is it ok if we continue for 10 more minutes?
- I hope you have found my presentation somewhat useful…
- Improvement: Use the SQC Grand Finale Sequence.
- Summary: This is an overview of what we discussed.
- Questions: Let’s now open the floor for questions.
- Call to action: Let me use our final two minutes to wrap up….