If you have 15 minutes to watch an inspiring video, check out Steve Job’s commencement address at Stanford’s 2005 graduation below. Listen to the end – all three of his stories. I loved the honesty and the emotion it invoked (in me). He has a lovely turn of phrase … such as:

“No one wants to die – even people who want to go heaven don’t want to die to get there….Sorry to be so dramatic but it is quite true.  Your time is limited so don’t waste it  living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition – they somehow already know what you truly want to be come .”

This begs the questions:

What makes a great speaker? How is a great presentation constructed and delivered? Is a presentation about facts more or less appealing that those about possibilities? Are the answers as varied as the audience?

Here are some of my musings on what makes a great speaker and presentation and I would love to hear yours.

1. I’ve been told by friend and colleague Dianne Legrow that magnetic speakers ask powerful questions. A powerful question is one that may not have an answer. One that makes the audience stop and think. A powerful question can change the listener forever. Curiosity is evoked. Transformation can happen.

2. Have you noticed that often great presentations come from presenters that are present in the moment?

In other words, when people read a presentation or have it so structured that the focus is on the content only, the audience has implicit permission to not be present at that moment either.

3. A great presentation appeals to multiple learning styles.

We all know that some learners are visual, some auditory and some kinesthetic. We’ve also been taught about emotional intelligence. So why is it that we still do many of presentations with a power point projector and time at the end for questions? I have been guilty of this myself at times.

4. A great presenter knows how to manage the level of interaction with the audience.

This one is not always easy – especially when we want the audience members to be happy. But we’ve all been to presentations when someone who says they have a question but ends ups giving a lengthy personal comment or commentary.

If this happens to you, understand two things. First – this person is usually clueless as to how their behavior is affecting the others, so you may need be be direct with him or her. Second, the rest of the audience is counting on you to do just that. You might say, “You certainly have something interesting things to say. Is there a specific question you have?” Or if they go on repeatedly, “I bet you and I could talk about this for days, but let’s give someone else a chance shall we?”

My personal favorite was when a presenter told a rather talkative attendee, “You have had the opportunity to share a lot. Keep raising your hand and I will eventually call on you again. But for a while, I will be calling on others.”

5. Finally, great presenters speak to the resistance to the topic early on in the presentation.

This is also called sharing the ‘WIIFM’ You audience wants to know “What’s In It For Me?” They may, inadvertently of course, come with a rigidity and resistance along with their curiosity about the topic. Great presenters address this early so that the attendee is more relaxed and able to enjoy the information, and hopefully, the transformation, that is to come.

I am curious. What do you think makes great presentations? Feel free to share them in the comments section below.

Until next time,
Casey

PS Have you noticed that what worked to build your practice in the last decade may not be working this decade? Stay tuned for more tips on how to refresh your marketing for 2010. But as a hint – giving presentations in your community is a great way to build your connections, reputation and attract prospects.