E-Tips

Just Be Yourself

Q: Should I try to be funny and entertaining?

A: Not necessary, according to Forbes magazine.

In a survey of over 1,500 business leaders, the August 1999 issue noted that what business audiences are looking for in good presentations include: industry insight - 65%; organized thought - 20%; humor - 11%; entertainment - 3%; controversy - 1%. So, 85% of what people want concerns relevant information that is well organized.

Imagine Martin Luther King opening with "You know, a funny thing happened on my way to Washington today..."

Q: How do I keep from breaking down if I'm delivering an emotional message, like at a funeral?

A: Rehearsal

No magic tips for delivering emotional material without choking up. One thing that can help, though, is plenty of rehearsal. By knowing the material better, and "desensitizing" yourself to it, you can perhaps avoid getting tearful.

By the way, a little emotion - short of total breakdown can actually enhance your message. A famous example of this is when Walter Cronkite announced the death of John Kennedy right after the assassination in 1963. He started to lose it on national TV, and that only enhanced his humanness and reflected what the viewers were also feeling.

Q: When should I use a laser pointer?

A: Almost never.

Recently, I did a program for a group of 25 seasoned technical presenters. During the visual aid practice section, a volunteer got up to show the group how he uses his laser pointer when he teaches. When he finished, I asked him to do his talk again, this timeusing a hand-held mechanical pointer and standing at the screen. When he finished, I polled the audience: "How many preferred the laser?" Answer: zero. "How many preferred the pointer?" Answer: 25. The speaker who used the laser all the time was stunned by the response.

Q: PowerPoint data is so boring...is there anything else?

A: Personal stories

Use personal stories and metaphors for stronger impact. Without a doubt the best way to get your message heard is to make it personal. Lots of research supports this, but here is an example from our own coaching:

Chris Altobell, a manager with Hewlett Packard in Roseville, CA, felt that personal stories were not appropriate for business presentations. In our advanced training, he struggled to bring in a story about corporate waste and recycling, and he got a very positive response from the class when he did.

Recently, he gave a talk to over 200 people with a core message about the importance of everyone being committed on the team. He drew from his high school and college experience as a field goal kicker. "It's as though we have almost everything we need; good field; good conditions; good ball holder, but no kicker. That's where you come in. We need your expertise...etc." He said it was by far the best talk he
ever gave. His boss asked him, "Where'd you learn to do that?"

Chris drew on personal experience to create the right metaphor and got his messages across in a powerful and memorable way. Should you augment the data with personal stories? Absolutely!

The overall message: just be yourself. Draw on your personal experience in life and don't try to be someone you're not.