Yesterday I rattled on about how a presenter can enhance their credibility by citing reliable and appropriate sources for the statements they make to their audiences. If done right, these references can show that you are not just blowing some smoke from your dorm room in the 70s but have actual research or expert knowledge behind your ideas.
My Toastmaster buddy and friend Sandy Pon quickly shot me this: “Idea for a sequel: How to cite many sources, i.e. what and how much to say for enough cred, in a speech without bogging it down, esp if you’re not using ppt.”
Sandy is a superstar research librarian and I assume she has to deal with technical people who are very demanding of established sources for any claims they may make as a speaker.
I have created presentations for this type of situation many times. There is always a need to give citations to sources. Often many, many citations.
My solution as with any presentation where you must show too much small detail – detail that will become a certain energy killer if spouted from the speaker — use handouts.
Handouts are a presenter’s safety valve.
Keep your oral presentation focused on your few powerful action items – the take-aways. Provide the major supporting details. But assign the minutia to a handout.
You will have satisfied both masters – the need to deliver a powerful message and the need to get into the weeds and prove you know your stuff.
Hope this helps.
Help could be heading your way: https://ready2speak.com/course
Tom
