Imagine preparing for your next presentation and you know there is one word that can change the entire tone of your talk right from the beginning.

Imagine using this word to actually open your presentation. It would be the very first word, the first sound, that would come from your lips.

Imagine that this word is so powerful it immediately grabs the audience’s collective minds, places your topic into their thoughts and invites them to explore your ideas in their world.

Imagine this word is your secret weapon, people don’t notice you are using its superpowers until it’s too late – until they are well down the path of your ideas.

Imagine this one word can be used just about anywhere in your presentation: to open, to close, to begin a story, anywhere you want to bring your audience back into your world with maximum effect.

Imagine that this word comes with the danger of diluting it – using it too much. So, you are careful and apply it sparingly for maximum effect.

Imagine using this super word for your very next presentation.

Cool huh?

Imagine becoming a much more confident, engaging presenter! Try this guy: https://ready2speak.com/coaching

Tom

P.S. What if there were 2 words that you could use that would open your audience’s minds and invite them to take on a great quest with you? There are.

Here is a very useful technique from a high school guidance counselor.

When my daughters were attending high school and planning to go on to college, both parents and kids were invited to attend a nighttime “lecture” telling us all about what lay ahead in the college application process.

It was led by Guidance Counselor Neil Clark and he did one thing in his presentation that was simply brilliant. I think we should all adopt this in its exact form or at least in its spirit.

He would welcome everyone, make a silly joke of some kind and then say something like this: “It is now 7:10 we will end exactly at 8:30. We have a lot of material to cover so let’s get going.”

He would then launch into his content, hand out handouts, ask and field questions and at exactly 8:30 he would end.

Additionally, he would remind us throughout of his pledge: “It’s now 7:45. We are on track. I am going to keep my promise. At 8:30 sharp – we are done.”

I have heard it often said that the two most egregious sins a speaker can make is to 1) be boring and 2) run long. We can discuss the first in many future emails, but the run long thing is critical. No audience member ever complained if you end before your time.

You may have the most spectacular content but if you run long you are jeopardizing the entire experience for your listeners. They may start throwing things. A gentle reminder: this is where the phrase “get the hook” originated.

It is a matter of respect for your audience. Neil diffused the fear of a dragged-on presentation in everyone’s minds right off the bat.

And then he kept that promise.

A very powerful technique.

Here’s a good deal: Download “3 Mistakes that Are Ruining Your Presentations” https://ready2speak.com

Tom

P.S. If you must run long — ask permission. Maybe 10 minutes before the scheduled end of your presentation ask the audience if it is ok to go a bit over. They will almost always say yes. But don’t push it – just go for a little while more.

It’s a matter of respect.

My brother, who is a classically trained actor, watches my videos and lovingly teases me: “Stop it with the flying arms already.”

He has a point. But the bigger question is this: what are appropriate gestures for a presentation today? And what are appropriate gestures for you as a speaker? And how do you go from a gestureless talking head to a full-gestured, arm-flying crazy person.

Let’s see what we can figure out.

Item 1. Back in my youth most of the speakers we ever saw where men in suits like Walter Cronkite. If they gestured on camera it was very little and controlled.

I think it is safe to say that today things are different. We want speakers who are engaged, active, lively and, most important, show passion about their topic. I think that reasonably requires some vocal dynamics and body and hand movement.

I know there will be people who disagree, but you are wrong. Actually, you do have a case to make, but how else will you display your energy and commitment? By shear eloquence? I am not that good, and I think audiences today want some additional avenue of connection.

Item 2. What are appropriate gestures for you, your subject matter and your audiences?

This is much more fluid. I can only tell you what I have found works for me. For years, since TED was a boy, I watched countless presentations online and in person. I studied their structure, their tone, their presenters and all the nuanced components. And I guess I just picked up ideas for body movement and gestures through osmosis.

And I experimented.

I remember I had committed to a very critical business presentation before a small influential audience. I rehearsed endlessly and as part of that I intentionally added specific gestures to parts of my story. Those movements became embedded and then spread to my general presentations.

Item 3. So, my take-away here is this: If you want more natural and frequent gestures then practice. Real practice. Imagine an audience. Stand. Practice movements and gestures. Video. Watch, edit and repeat. Start small with just a section of your presentation, perhaps your opening or a story. Push your comfort zone just a little. (go ahead — it is very liberating!)

I am sure these movements will feel uncomfortable at first, but they will evolve. Then you will see yourself using them in everyday conversations.

And when you will get a mocking email from your brother, you know you have arrived.

Gesture coaching? We don’t need no stinking gesture coaching. But you might…