Episode #21: Seven Key Things At The Start Of Your Presentation

Question: how long does it take you on average to form a first impression of someone? My presentation training participants tell me “two seconds”. I was thinking, “what does this mean for the speaker?”. It could be in the boardroom, the meeting room, at the networking event, a public presentation or at the pitch to the client. Regardless of the occasion, one thing is sure – everyone is a critic.

Think back to the last time you saw someone present, did the speaker get right into it or was there some logistical finessing of the laptop, the lapel mic or the notes being shuffled on the rostrum? If there were any such diversions, then our two second window for the first impression has come and gone completely.

What would help us to maximize this incredibly brief two second window we have been given? Getting straight into the content without any distractions, is so important because it allows us to set the tone for the occasion.

Here is how we can do that:

1. Traditionally, we could thank the organisers for the opportunity to present. Doing this with a huge, warm smile would be a good use of the two seconds.

2. We could start by telling an episode, an incident, a story.We love listening to interesting stories involving real life and real people, because we can easily identify with the content.

3. We could refer to a member of the audience, immediately shattering the mental barrier separating speaker and audience. “Anne Smith from XYZ and I were chatting earlier and she made a very good observation about….”. We are now one unit – audience and speaker.

4. After having launched into proceedings, we can now backtrack and use the laptop, our notes, the spreadsheets or whatever we need to explain the content. Rather than wasting our initial two second window on these adjustments, we instead get right into it and capture the attention of our audience from the very start.

5. Another powerful tool is voice quality. Nature may not have blessed you with a deep throated baritone or mellifluous instrument that harkens the angels, but no matter, do the best with what you have. That means speak clearly, with sufficient volume, so that you can easily be heard. Use the microphone properly by holding it just under your chin and speaking across the mesh.

Have some variation in the delivery so it is not totally predictable. Hit key words with a roar or a whisper to highlight them. At the start, go for the roar rather than the whisper. Show confidence through voice power. Slowing the words down for emphasis is equally powerful. For example, “This--is--the--moment” and delivered slowly with a dramatic pause after each word.

6. Eye power is a must. Pick a single person about half way down the middle of the venue and start by speaking directly to them. Smile and look them in the eye. We have now personalised our interaction in that first few seconds and created a connection with the audience. I recommend holding the person’s gaze for around six seconds, as this allows for engagement without generating fear of retina radiation burn. Spend the entire talk selecting one person after another, randomly selected and speak to them maintaining eye contact.

7. This means carefully instructing the venue organisers beforehand to not drop the lights on the audience or yourself. You want to be able to read their faces for confirmation they are with you.

Remember to: start with a big smile; open up with a story or reference a conversation with someone in the audience; go to our notes or the screen after we have captured the attention of the audience; use voice modulation and eye contact and make sure to keep the lights up the whole time.