3 Expert Tips on building an exceptional presentation

In this article, I share some of the lessons I have learned throughout my journey as a keynote speaker and exec-level presenter. Here are my top three surprising tips for giving great presentations.

1️⃣ - Show up with a givers mindset: Most people present to get something from their audience. Whether that is to get applause, generate a sale or to get followers for example. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting these things. After all, they generally contribute towards our success in business. 

However, I encourage you to flip the switch and to show up to your presentation not to get, but instead to give.  Concentrate not on what you want to gain from the event or presentation, but instead on what knowledge or experience you can provide. Focus on how you want people to feel after the interaction with you. Why does this matter? 

Well firstly, because your audience will sense negative intentions and you will turn people off. You will radiate sleaze. No one wants that. And also because when we feel like someone has our best intentions at heart, we want to be around them. We are also much more forgiving of mistakes. Showing up with a givers mindset will make you feel more comfortable. It will relieve your nerves. When you know that you are there to give and are not depending on getting something out of a situation, you can relax and things tend to flow more smoothly. 

2️⃣ - Start backwards: When it comes to outlining your presentation, most people start by telling the story of how they have reached a conclusion. For example, if we are presenting a business case for a new tech initiative to the C-suite, they will tell the story around how they have collected the information that has resulted in this conclusion. Boring! Really, no one cares and by the time you get to make your point, half of the audience will be fast asleep. 

What people actually care about is what the outcome will be. Good or bad. They care about the positive or negative future vision for either success or failure. So start with this vision for the future. Make an impact and then work backwards from there. Start by telling the presenter what the world will look like if they do invest and paint a picture. Then tell the story about how you got to that conclusion. You will keep people hooked and interested in what you have to say. 

3️⃣ - Think small, not big - This one sounds counterintuitive, but stay with me. Here’s what I mean.  When presenting, we are telling stories. We want these stories to be memorable so that when we leave the room, those that have heard them can pass them on and represent them if necessary. This is how we leave a lasting impression. 

People resonate with individual stories much more than statistics. Think about it. Do you connect more with the idea of your family dog being hit by a bus, or one thousand dogs being mistreated? Logically, we understand that one thousand dogs is arguably the greater problem here, but for some reason we resonate with the individual story much more deeply.  Why? Because it is more personal and simpler to comprehend. 

When presenting large datasets for example, try to focus on what this information means to a specific person or persona. Tell their story and paint a picture of how life will improve for the individual. Your audience will be able to associate with the outcome much more effectively. 

Implementing these three tips has made my presentation skills much more effective. I really hope they do the same for you!

For more tips to help you build your confidence and skills as an incredible woman in STEM, access my 100 Free Resources To Empower Women In Tech Here!

BIO: Charlotte, a leading female figure in STEM is a world traveler and an expert in helping companies adopt the latest industrial digital technologies. She earned her Master’s in International Business and has more than a decade of experience working with real-world organisations. Through her keynote presentations and workshops, she now supports organisations in building confident, high-performing female STEM talent.

Before taking on consulting privately, She worked with leading providers of digital transformation services during her time with Microsoft / Accenture. She has worked with many industry-leading companies to leverage technology & create operational efficiencies, drive more revenue, and build the teams required to meet the exact needs of their customer.

To keep up to date with her latest updates, insights and top tips join her community here.