speechcraftUncategorized / Monday, August 22, 2022
Presentation structure: 3 ways to get your knowledge across concisely in your presentation.
Danja
I experience it time and time again. So many speakers beat around the bush. They jump from one point to the next in their speech, practically overwhelming their audience with information. They speak incoherently, vaguely, and in a way that's far too complicated.
In the end, the audience has heard a lot but retained very little.
Is that really convincing?
Certainly not!
Science provides clear results: Those who get straight to the point and speak plainly are perceived as more competent and confident.
Neuroscientists at the University of Missouri discovered that we can only remember three things in our short-term memory. If your listeners can only recall a small amount of information from your presentation, why overwhelm them with so much information when they can only remember a little anyway?
In my own presentations and speeches, I reduce my acquired knowledge to three essential points. This is how I bring more clarity and structure to my chaotic stream of ideas, knowledge, and thoughts.
In my coaching sessions with clients, I delve deeply into this method—the Power of 3. It empowers us speakers with greater self-confidence and poise on stage.
Learn more in my free masterclass, "Your Confident Public Speaking Performance.". Melde dich gleich hier an.
Und auch hier in diesem Blog-Beitrag bekommst du kurze, wertvolle Information:
We already learned this in school. A good essay has a clearly recognizable beginning, main body, and conclusion. The structure of a good oratory is the same.
The Intro: The most important thing in the intro is to capture attention. “Good afternoon, esteemed listeners. I’m happy to be here today” – you can definitely skip that. It's more likely to elicit a tired yawn. Start off excitingly, like a rocket, and you'll have your audience's attention right away.
Furthermore, the listener is wondering why they should even listen. This question should be answered right at the beginning, and the benefit for the audience should be demonstrated.
It's also important to mention why you are an expert on this topic and why you are passionate about it.
In the main body, use the power of three again to summarize your knowledge and your message concisely. You'll learn exactly how to do that in a moment.
In the outro, summarize the three most important points, reiterate your message, and include a clear call to action or encourage your audience to rethink their position.
When I'm giving a speech on a particular topic, I do a lot of research. I incorporate my own knowledge and also watch videos or read books. In the end, I have a ton of ideas. Then I bring more structure to my chaotic thoughts and ideas using the power of three. Here's how it works.
a) BRAINSTORM: What ideas do you want to talk about in your topic? Write down everything that comes to mind. And always keep your audience in mind. What's relevant to my audience? What information does your listener really need to understand the subject matter? You'll give basic knowledge to an audience that's learning about the topic for the first time. You'll convince a more experienced audience with more in-depth information.
b) Divide your information into three main groups:
In your main body, present three key ideas or points you want to convey to your audience. Asking yourself, "What are the three most relevant ideas for your audience?" will help you find your three diamonds.
For example:
Problem 2. Solution 3. Benefits or
Past, Present, Future
c) Support these three main ideas with emotion, e.g., a personal story and images; with reason, e.g., with numbers, data, facts, quotes; and with a practical example (how can my listeners use this information?). This will allow you to effectively address a wide range of people in your audience.
In a maximum of one or two sentences – what is your core message, your most important piece of advice from your presentation?
Many speakers lack a clear message. A message could be a simple sentence – like in Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech: "I have a dream," or as in a good song: "You're simply the best." Underline important messages by repeating them three times in a row. This will make you more memorable.
In conclusion: A good presentation gets straight to the point and has a clear message.
Scientists have found that we can remember a maximum of three things best. So use the power of three! It brings you, as the speaker, and your audience more clarity and structure. It gives you, as the speaker, more self-confidence and a commanding presence.
Would you like to learn more about how to present yourself with more confidence and poise as a speaker? Then sign up for my one-hour masterclass, "Your Confident Public Speaking Performance."
Also, feel free to check out my posts:
Wie beginnst du am besten deine Rede?
Wie beendest du deine Präsentation auf erinnernswerte Weise
About the person: Mag. Danja Bauer
With over 25 years of experience as a singer, presenter, and speaker on national and international stages, Danja Bauer is an expert in effective and captivating presentations. A multi-award-winning speaker, including at the 2020 Toastmasters International Public Speaking Competition, Danja Bauer helps executives and entrepreneurs become compelling public speakers. She shares her extensive knowledge through coaching, workshops, and keynote speeches.
Contact Danja Bauer at:
info@danjabauer.com