There are three key components that all world-class presentations have: content, charisma, and circumstance.
Most speakers fumble at least one of these components, so let me break them down for you.
Your Content: The Foundation
Content is the bedrock of any presentation.
No matter how engaging or funny you are, if your content lacks substance, your presentation will flop.
People might find you entertaining, but your presentation won’t leave a lasting impact.
For your presentation to truly resonate, it needs to offer actionable insights.
To create great content, you need a clear message that guides your audience toward a specific action or understanding.
Throw in educational elements such as frameworks, visuals, charts, and illustrations to reinforce your points.
Ideally, your content should reflect original thought leadership and be bolstered by your “pillar points” (i.e. catchphrases or concepts that are uniquely yours).
Your Charisma: The Delivery
Charisma is all about your delivery.
It’s the emotional sparkle that makes your presentation memorable.
How funny, inspiring, and engaging are you?
Disney-level storytelling will bring out your charisma.
Other elements of charisma include effective stage usage and humor.
You don’t have to be a comedian, but don’t take yourself too seriously either.
Your voice is a powerful tool here.
Use it to command the audience’s attention.
Combine that with deliberate gestures to emphasize your points and you’ll go from an average to an amazing speaker.
(If you want to improve your speaking delivery, schedule a free Brand Strategy Call with our team. We can coach you to become a more charismatic speaker.)
Your Circumstance: The Environment
Circumstance is the most overlooked component, yet it can single-handedly determine your audience’s reaction to your message.
Several factors fall under circumstance:
– Proximity of the Stage to the Audience: Closer proximity fosters a stronger connection.
– Ceiling Height: Lower ceilings help retain energy, making the experience more intimate and powerful.
– Audience Density: A sparse audience in a large room diminishes the experience. Closer seating enhances it.
– Time of Day: Morning sessions might find audiences sleepy, but evening audiences might face content fatigue or distraction.
– Audience Composition: Women generally engage more than men.
The thing to keep in mind here is to tailor your presentation based on the audience and room set-up.
Connecting the Dots
The synergy between content, charisma, and circumstance determines the strength of your connection with the audience.
The more you optimize these areas, the stronger your connection with the audience and the more powerful your presentation will be.
Quality content is the ticket to entry, but it’s not enough on its own.
Layer it with charisma to captivate your audience.
Then control the circumstances to create an environment conducive to connection and engagement.
Master these three components and you WILL become a world-class speaker.
