Help The Audience GET IT!
Educate – Entertain – Explain
The 3 Es of Presenting will help ensure your audience understands your message; i.e. Gets It!
They may not agree with everything. They may not agree with anything.
Unless they Get It!, there can’t be a meaningful discussion going forward.
Education is the first E. Future posts will discuss the other two Es.
As the presenter, I want the audience to leave my presentation with more knowledge of the subject than when they arrived.
It is my responsibility to make that information valuable. The title and description of the presentation brought them in. What I present should exceed their expectations.
Put this into your own world of presenting. Ask yourself some questions:
- What do they already know about the subject I’ll be discussing?
- How do you know what they already know? Did you survey individuals or the meeting planner before your schedule time?
- Will all audience members have the same knowledge, or will there be a wide range of wisdom.
- If wide, how wide will their education be on this?
- What new information are they expecting; i.e. what are their expectations?
- Do all audience attendees have the same expectations?
- Is there anything specific you, or they, expect them to do with the new information they will learn from you?
- Is this the first of several presentations to the same audience, or a one time talk?
- If so, how close to this presentation?
- Do you have plans in place to survey the audience after your presentation?
People have different learning styles:
- Kinesthetic – learn by moving, touching and doing
- Auditory – learn by listening
- Visual – learn by seeing
Generally, people are dominant in one, but use a combination of these to learn. This is why it is important to build the different styles into your presentation.
Learning by doing, the kinesthetic style, may not be possible when presenting.
It should be relatively easy to craft a presentation that talks to visual and auditory learning styles. Props, including PowerPoint, can be ‘seen’ while you speak. Those two compliment each other and increase the chances of the audience Getting It!
Use the 3Es of Presenting!
Do that, and my prediction is this.
Your presentation will be:
absolutely, positively – There’s no doubt in my mind – No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Your presentation will be – ‘No Sweat!’
About the Author:
Fred E. Miller coaches, speaks and writes about Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
314-517-8772
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
https://nosweatpublicspeaking.com
9 Comments
Fred, great points. One of the things that I try to do before I speak to a group is ask the organizer to give me a lot of context. (e.g. What do they know, what do they want to know, how will this help them?) This helps to frame the discussion.
Thanks for this article!
This is great Fred, you always have something constructive to say about public speaking.
It is indeed a challenge to speak effectively to an audience that has widely different perspectives and levels of understanding.
I’ve found it helpful to speak on multiple levels so that both the most learned AND the least learned both walk away with something valuable. Some content might go over one person’s head, and other content might be old hat to others. But if you spread it out, it will be worthwhile for all.
Thanks for sharing your expertise.
That’s one of the reasons you are a great speaker!
Thanks for visiting and the comment.
Good afternoon Fred…
I always value your articles and get a chuckle from your video clips — coinsistently helpful and good material for anyone whether they are a novice or well practiced over the years. We all need to pay close attention to our delivery and every aspect of it. You, Fred, make it easy! Thanks for keeping me on your e-list.
Deb:
YOU are the consumate presenter!
Thanks for visiting and your comment!
Good stuff Fred.
Last night I was watching The Apprentice and each team makes a tiny 30 second presentation before they began.
The first team leader made an excellent presentation without a blip or stumble. It was totally smooth and creamy! The Donald complimented her on her presentation.
The second group’s presentation was delegated to one of the associates. She stammered and stumbled around and generally crapped out. The Donald later asked why she didn’t memorize her 30 second presentation. She was had no answer. Oops!
Guess who got fired?
Great example, Tom, of the power of being able to present well. (And not presenting well!)
Thanks for visiting and the comment!
Steve:
Thanks for visiting and the excellent advice.
Speaking on multiple levels will help more audience members GET IT! and that’s the objective in delivering a presentation.