Presentation style coaching: The feelgood factor

I got a great email from Kris the other day.  I’ve been coaching others around the business who want advice on their presentation styles and helping them create a better experience for their customers.  Often its not what you say during a presentation, it’s the way you say it, and your stance, body language, tone and voice often have a lot to do with how the audience feels about you.  There are some excellent presentations which I’ve talked about in the past, tips to enhance your presentations, and lots of books on the subject.

For me it’s the way you start a presentation.  The words “Is it on yet?” or “can you hear me at the back?” often can put people off the presenter with his first sentence.  Saying “Umm”, “You know” or “So” at every juncture can drive the audience wild with irritation.  And often, we don’t realise that we’re doing this – until someone points these habits out to us. 

I’ll sit in on a session if I’m asked to give feedback, watching the way that the session is presented and making notes on the style used (not the content).  A fresh pair of eyes is sometimes all that’s needed when you’ve been presenting for a while.  And sometimes this feedback on someone’s style pays off well.

Last month, I talked to about 60 Microsoft Student Partners.  They’re the people still in University who evangelise to other students about Microsoft software.  I start my session using ALL of the worst presenter traits all rolled into one – until the audience are squirming with embarrassment and a desire to run out of the room.  it forms a great basis for coaching.  Kris was one of my volunteers during the session.  Here’s what he said:

Hello Eileen,

I’m not sure how to get this across in an email, but I’m going to give it a go..

You might remember me, my names Kris and I’m one of the Student Partners that attended your Presentation Skills lecture last month.

Im the guy with the spiky hair who volunteered, took my jacket off and everybody went woah!

Yesterday, I gave my first proper presentation at the GameCity event in Nottingham with the rest of the academic team. I talked for 10 minutes about a student’s perspective on XNA.

Thanks to the tips I picked up from your talk, I think I gave the best presentation I have ever done. I got laughs and people genuinely looked interested in what I was saying.

Afterwards, I got loads of really positive feedback not just about the topic, but the style in which I presented it in.

I think the words “thank you” really isn’t enough to cover the benefits your training has had on my confidence, but it’s all I can say in an email! If I ever see you at an event, I will be sure to get you a drink

Thank you once again

 

Knowing that I’ve helped someone like Kris feel more confident about presenting to an audience gives me a really warm feeling and really makes my job feel worthwhile and I’m doing the right thing.  Thanks Kris, you’ve really made my day…