Tips to Energize Your Presentations

"There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be aware of a truth, yet until we have felt its force, it is not ours. To the cognition of the brain must be added the experience of the soul."
â€" Arnold Bennett (1867-1931)

Ask yourself, "What is the audience feeling?" and "How would I like him/her to feel?" You need to be aware of:

How frequently you use positive emotional words.

How you moderate the use of negative emotional words.

Here are some ways that you can help your audience interact with each other.

  • Room set-up. Be sure people face each other so they can talk to each other. Use round tables, rather than theatre or classroom style.
  • Don't permit cliques. Get your participants to sit with new people. Be innovative in your approach to seat people differently. Some examples: Use a colorful post it, group by hair color, or place cards.
  • Use icebreakers. You can ask your audience to say a word that describes their week. Give them something else to talk about other than business when the meeting breaks.
  • Setup small groups or dyads to discuss issues. This technique will get your participants to brainstorm with their partner or group.

Coaching point: Forced interaction engages people. What can be more fun?

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About Sandra Schrift

Sandra Schrift 13 year speaker bureau owner and now career coach to emerging and veteran public speakers who want to "grow" a profitable speaking business. I also work with business professionals and organizations who want to master their presentations.

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And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Steps To Organize Your Home Office

Follow the lead of a well-organized home office. Using the checklist below, incorporate many of the organizing tips found on the list. You will have both a professional and efficient home office.

ORGANIZE YOUR BOOKKEEPING

• Prepare and send invoices to clients

• Enter monthly transactions into bookkeeping software

• Reconcile bank, credit card, and other account statements

• Send reminders for paying bills on their due dates

• Write and prepare checks to be signed to pay bills

ORGANIZE YOUR DESKTOP PUBLISHING

• Design and print brochures and business cards

• Create flyers, price lists, and other marketing documents

• Lay out, printing, and mailing regular client newsletters

• Prepare professional-looking certificates for seminar participants

• Print labels using company logos or clip art

ORGANIZE YOUR DATABASE MANAGEMENT

• Enter business card data into a database

• Send an introductory letter to new prospect leads

• Send scheduled marketing pieces to clients and prospects

• Track marketing efforts and summarize the results in a report

• Send regular follow-ups, reminders, and communications to clients

• Call people for missing contact information

• Send fax and email broadcasts

ORGANIZE YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX SERVICES

• Receive telephone calls while a client is out of town

• Forward important messages that require immediate attention

• Retrieve voice messages and responding to routine requests

• Receive and handle faxes while a client is out of town

ORGANIZE YOUR TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES

• Type letters and memos from tape or handwritten notes

• Type legal transcripts from cassette tape

• Type medical reports from tape or handwritten notes

ORGANIZE YOUR WORD PROCESSING

• Type handwritten notes from a meeting or seminar

• Type letters, printing on stationery, addressing, and mailing

• Proofread, edit, and check spelling / grammar

• Lay out larger documents

ORGANIZE YOUR MARKETING SERVICES

• Send out the appropriate sales brochures for inquiries

• Create and mail a customer feedback questionnaire

• Track the responses to this questionnaire

• Summarize the responses and suggestions in a report

ORGANIZE YOUR INTERNET SERVICES

• Maintain a newsletter subscription database

• Post announcements and newsletter issues to the list

• Perform an internet search for an item or piece of information

• Edit or upload new information to a website

ORGANIZE YOUR MAIL AND EMAIL SERVICES

• Retrieve email and mail, sort, and get rid of junk

• Respond to routine email requests

• Forward items of importance to the client for attention

• Track and forward urgent issues while client is out of town

• Prepare packages and mail out products as orders arrive

ORGANIZE YOUR RESEARCH

• Research potential locations for an upcoming seminar

• Find which locations have the appropriate dates available

• Find which can accommodate the size and type of event

• Research the services available (decorating, food, entertainment)

• Obtain written quotes and specifications from each location

• Monitor periodicals and clip articles of interest

• Visit the library to copy specific articles

ORGANIZE YOUR PERSONNEL SERVICES

• Send reminders for annual performance reviews

• Prepare or update resumes and introduction letters

• Review resumes and summarize each in a short biography

• Sort resumes for a job according to pre-arranged criteria

ORGANIZE YOUR PRESENTATIONS

• Prepare PowerPoint slides from sketches of diagrams and charts

• Send questionnaires to seminar participants before the talk

• Track completed questionnaires and call non-responders

• Summarize the questionnaire results in a report

ORGANIZE YOUR SECRETARIAL SERVICES

• Confirm upcoming appointments

• Schedule or reschedule appointments

• Get directions for a meeting or appointment

• Store back-up computer tapes for safekeeping

• Track birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates

• Send out the appropriate cards or gifts for special events

• Manage lists of necessary office supplies and ordering refills

• Coordinate air travel, car rental, and hotel reservations

Summary:

Taking control and being organized requires commitment - your commitment - to try something new and to break old bad habits. By being in control of your work day, you'll be more confident about yourself and your career.

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About Nishanth Reddy

Nishanth Reddy is an author and publisher of popular self help blog. Visit his website for more information on how to get organized, goal setting, motivation, self help, self-improvement and personal growth. http://www.selfhelpzone.com