If you prefer video content over text, I explain this material with fun, musical examples in my YouTube video.
You plan a presentation to the letter. You rehearse it to a T. And then…
Things don’t go according to plan!!!
In this article, I break down how expert presenters handle the unexpected:
What Not To Do
Consider how you’d handle this situation:
You’ve prepared a presentation on nonverbal communication. You plan to ask the audience this question at the beginning:
“When you see someone, what part of the body do you look at first?”
The right answer is “hands”, according to your research.
But because of all the practice you’ve done, you know the audience will likely give other reasonable answers: “eyes”, “face”, “mouth”, etc.
Now…imagine you finally go on stage, ask the question, and the audience says:
“Shoes”
Here’s where many people will freeze and freak out. Because they view presentations like this:
[First, I say point X] -> [Next, I say point Y] -> [Then, I say point Z]
That’s incorrect.
A presentation is not like a computer program, where tasks are executed in a rigid sequence you define.
A presentation is more like a conversation, co-created with your audience. You need to be able to adapt your material on the spot to your audience’s needs. Otherwise, you’re no better than a video recording.
What To Do
Check out how Vanessa Van Edwards, bestselling author of “Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication” handles this situation:
Notice how Vanessa doesn’t freak out when the audience unexpectedly says “Shoes”.
She goes with it.
She points at her shoes and says: “They are very high” in a completely unscripted but very natural way. Because she views a presentation more like this:
[First, I say X] + [I see how the audience responds] = [Then I see how to move to my next point Y by connecting it to the audience’s response] …
In other words, while Vanessa does have an entire roadmap for her talk memorized in her head, she is willing and eager to flow with the audience. She remains in control, but listens to their cues to determine the best way of navigating.
That sweet spot is where the magic of memorable presentation lives.
Summary
Remember: A presentation is a conversation. Rather than viewing it as a perfect product you need to plan and execute, view it as a living exchange where your audience has an active role to play.
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I’m writing a book on thinking quickly, speaking clearly, presenting convincingly, and supercharging your executive presence. My current focus: a section on how to think faster on the spot. This will be a deep-dive into associative thinking: how to make creative, meaningful connections between related topics.
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