Article I – The 4 E’s of Presenting

by Paul Kirch, President/CEO

Over the years, I have had many an opportunity to present to clients and other audiences, on various topics. I believe I have become a very good presenter. In my earliest days, however, I can’t say I was very engaging. I focused on the topics so much that I worried less about one of the most important parts; how I was coming across to the audience. I wanted to make sure I covered every point and often missed the point of presenting. If you believe your job is to give every detail and expect the audience to remember your words, you’re sadly missing the point. To be a good presenter, there are several points where you need to focus. I believe there are a number of items to consider, but I always try and focus on, what I call, the 4 E’s of Presenting: Engage, Entertain, Energize and Expertise. Under each topic, there are multiple elements which make up a great presentation. Here is my top 15 list of items on which any presenter should focus:

1. Be Entertaining – If you’re not entertaining, you’ll struggle to keep their attention.

2. Increase Your Energy Level – Get yourself excited about the topic. If you’re energized, the audience is likely to respond.

3. Be Seen As An Expert – You better be seen as an expert before and after you speak. A poor presentation can lead to people questioning your expertise.

4. Use Questions – Use questions which engage or make the audience stop and think.

5. Make Your Point – If you give too much detail, without making your point in a memorable way, are you really keeping the audience engaged?

6. Keep Language Simple – Put your word of the day calendar away and use language the audience can understand and relate to.

7. Give Take Away Points – Give the audience something of value. If it’s something that will help them in their job or life, they’re likely to remember it and you may be seen as a resource.

8. Use Voice Inflection – If you are monotone, you’re likely to bore them, even with the most exciting of topics.

9. Stand Up – If you are presenting to a client, stand up and project your voice. If you’re presenting over the phone or via webinar, use a headset and stand. You will come across as more engaging. If I’m talking to more than 1 or 2 people, I’m standing while presenting.

10. Evaluate Your Efforts – Was your audience responsive? Did they ask questions? Did they seem to want more? If not, your performance may not have engaged them as much as you think.

11. Remember The Point – It’s not what you say, but it’s what they remember. What do you want them to walk away with? Find a way to make it easy for them to remember.

12. The 6X6 Slide Format – Avoid using a lot of words on your slides and avoid graphs and charts which can’t be viewed from the audience. I try to use no more than 6 lines on a slide with no more than 6 words per line. There may be exceptions, but anything more and the audience won’t read it. Engage with your voice and with the slides. If you’re using too much of one and not enough of the other, you’re likely to lose them.

13. Have Fun – If you’re nervous or scared to present, try putting a smile on your face. Remember, you’re being seen as an expert, so enjoy the process and have fun. When you’re smiling, your energy level is increased, you appear more exciting and people respond well to someone who is happy.

14. Use Analogies – Want to make a point? Use examples and give analogies the audience can relate to. Analogies are underutilized and extremely powerful.

15. Less Is More – Yes, you’re presenting, but your job isn’t to talk the audience to death. Make points, ask thought provoking questions, use analogies, but avoid rambling on about a subject or point. Talk too much and you’re likely to bore the audience or have them walk away with nothing.

Your job as a presenter is to engage, entertain and inform, and, I believe, it’s in that order. Yes, you want to give valuable information and you want it to be powerful, but if it’s not engaging, will they remember what you said? How many times have you sat through a presentation and remembered everything the presenter said? I’m willing to be bet you were happy to take away a point or two. If the presenter were boring or not engaging, you might struggle to take away any point. If you can ask thought provoking questions and focus on getting them involved, it goes a long way toward a winning presentation. Human beings respond really well to a good story, examples that they can relate to, or to questions. Want to be a powerful presenter? Find a way to leverage these items.

Of course, preparation and practice are also crucial. Going in unprepared can backfire on you, since your audience will see you stumbling or missing points, no matter how clear they may be in your head. When you’re unprepared, you can appear nervous and the audience may start to tune you out. Sloppy presentations are rarely successful. So, be prepared and focus on the points above and you’re likely to have a successful engagement. Want a captivated audience? Remember to go in with the 4 E’s of Presenting: Engage, Entertain, Energize and Expertise. Create a winning presentation by focusing on the first three, and the fourth is likely to follow naturally. Expertise is never underrated, but poor presenters often are.