How to Present for Retention

Motivate the audience

Brio

identify the 'learning goals' or take away to them before you deliver the content use a 'carrot and/or stick' approach: get them interested in 'what's in it for them' (carrot) or warn them of the dangers of not paying attention (stick); or, use both. be available to them as a presenter Interact with those present check for understanding; provide reasons / rationales for all key points identify their doubts & objections, and respond to these use dialogue rather than straightforward address as frequently as possible Three Key Points only three identify what these are for yourself (if someone were to come away from your presentation with only three points or concepts, what would you prefer these to be?): then structure the presentation so that your chosen key points will indeed become the 'take away' use repetition 3x: tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them this, and then tell (or ask) them what you have just told them: then, explaining the same thing in two or three different ways, or using, for instance, a metaphor and an image as well as descriptive language, is also a very useful technique. less is more You are welcome to provide supplementary or additional information around these three points; but don't let it drown them out. You can always provide written handouts or emailed notes containing detailed technical information or statistics, if need be. A concise, clear presentation with time to pause for thought, and for exchange between those present, will always be retained more effectively than a deluge of information delivered in an interminable and monotonous manner.
1 Kate Bligh

Improving Communication Efficacy

Self

Brio

When presenting, nerves (or, the innate fight, flight or freeze reflex) can disable or impair the degree to which you can function as your normal, articulate self. The key to overcoming this is to make choices about how to process fear, and what to focus on instead; how to use your self as a 'performing body'. Using your body: plant feet firmly -centre your body weight -flex your knees -relax arms, neck & shoulders Using your eyes: friendly -shared focus -active contact -scanning wide & far -divide large crowds into cells Using your breath: -try to relax your ribs -enable your diaphragm breathe in at the nose, out at the mouth try taking 10 deep breaths beforehand -take the time you need to breathe in Using your voice: -warm it up beforehand release neck muscles -hum or sing (in the shower?) -exercise your mouth -practice difficult phrases -take water -breathe in whenever possible --speak calmly & slowly -fill the room generously (without shouting) -remember that the voice follows the eyes -carry the energy through to the key word, or the period at the end of each sentence.

Notes
If you are reading verbatim from a pre-written text: -use large fonts and double-spacing -secure binding -look over the text at the audience If you are speaking from abbreviated notes: -use cards include key words & phrases -secure binding -speak live not from memory If you are using PowerPoint or projected pages: -use slides for key points and images only -maximum 5 lines of text to a slide avoid looking at the screen (read from the monitor) -keep out of the beam -make sure you can be seen 2 Kate Bligh

Improving Communication Efficacy

Presenting
When you begin:

Brio

-stand tall & firm breathe in -look at them all -smile -begin as slowly and clearly as possible -use enthusiasm / passion During: Speak in short sentences and pause to breath in frequently - speak with a 'musical' intonation - change pitch for new paragraphs and topics When you finish: -raise your energy -summarize your key points -look at them all -thank them -finish cleanly

Kate Bligh