What type of speaker are you?

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There are very different methods for approaching a lecture or presentation.

In general, one could distinguish between 3 types of presentations: Firstly, those who rarely do it and also don't like it. The one actually depends on the other, by the way! Then there are those who do it often and enjoy it, but work little on the execution and optimization, for whatever reasons. This can work out well, but in many cases, it can also be a challenge for the audience to listen attentively to this speaker. And finally, there are those who give (have to give) many lectures and occasionally seek support for improvement. If you belong to this group, then: Congratulations. Every presentation is an opportunity: You already know that every presentation is a real and immediate opportunity to successfully present your product, service, research results, or idea. No other form of presentation allows such closeness and directness to the presenter as personal presentation. A great opportunity, but also a certain risk. A good presentation cannot simply be improvised. Even and especially stage professionals know that. Steve Jobs allegedly practiced each of his elegantly casual-looking speeches at least 15 times out loud before stepping on stage. Don't worry - your authenticity is not lost in the process. The speech should still be spoken freely, but one should know what to say to whom and how. These questions are crucial: These are already important questions that every speaker should answer in advance. Who is speaking to whom with what goal? In what role are you invited as a speaker, or are you planning the lecture yourself? Are you the one representing a thesis, a service, or a specific opinion? Or are you the neutral moderator who interviews other speakers or conveys information? Or are you even the controversial newcomer with a challenging idea? Just here, you can already sense that the preparation will be very different in each case. Now it also matters to whom you are speaking: is it a professional audience or laypeople? Are there special personalities or dignitaries who, for example, expect a personal greeting? What diversity should you expect? Are the viewers favorably disposed towards you or already biased against you or your topic? What does the audience expect from you? You see: relevant questions! And finally: what is the goal of your speech? Do you want to inform, entertain, maybe even sell something, or inspire with an idea? What should the audience think or do after your presentation? It's worth investing a few minutes here before you start compiling your visual support! That would then be another topic. Most of us are all too familiar with "Death by PowerPoint." But one thing at a time. Once you have your concept ready, it's time for the next step. You are welcome to download my comprehensive presentation checklist to answer the questions. If you then make it a habit to go through the checklist before each presentation and also practice the speech aloud, you will soon belong to the presentation professionals who know exactly how valuable the personal appearance is and how to use it successfully! Enjoy it! Download the Checklist   Article by Silvia Pitz, she is one of the Top100 trainers in our catalog. Find her profile here!