Unforgettable Presentations

Unforgettable presentations have FOUR basic, core elements and today Darren and Mark drill down on CORE 3: HUMOR and CORE 4: DELIVERY. Learn how to use humor well and deliver with impact…to be unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Humor is a key to engagement; they work together

• The problem is funny; the solution is serious

• Find the audience’s frustration

• Comedy cuts down; humor lifts up

• Use appropriate humor

• Intention is part of delivery

• If you’re in your head, your emotions are dead

• Take your time at key moments.

• Pause to let the audience reflect

• Bring your personality to every presentation

Unforgettable presentations have basic, core elements that help to make them unforgettable. Today Darren and Mark discuss CORE 1: CONTENT & STRUCTURE as well as CORE 2: STORIES. Their principles will set you on the path to delivering your unforgettable presentation.

SNIPPETS:

• The CORE 4 lay the foundation of your presentation

• Use a strong structure on which to hang your presentation

• Strong structure makes your presentation digestible and unforgettable

• Choose content that serves the audience best

• Visuals and stage use should reinforce your presentation’s structure

• Stories are the heartbeat of your presentation

• Stories should pique curiosity

• Stories must elicit emotion

• Stories should include emotional shifts

• Well-told stories deliver ‘moments’ in your presentation

There will likely be times when you must present, but you are not at your best. Perhaps you’re not feeling well, facing a personal challenge, or exhausted because of a lengthy flight delay. Mark and Darren prove that they know this all too well as they share their experience and advice about how to be unforgettable…even when you are ‘a little off.’

SNIPPETS:

• Inform the event planner

• Remember that you’re there to serve the audience

• Acknowledge the ‘elephant in the room’ and ask for grace

• Focus on what you CAN do instead of what you cannot

• Commit to delivering the best that you can under the circumstances

• Consider herbal throat sprays to keep your voice healthy

• How you respond will affect your reputation

• If you must, pass the gig along to an associate

• Ask a seasoned pro for options to handle the situation

You will be on the platform in FIVE MINUTES. What goes through your head? How can you get ready to SHINE? Darren and Mark share how to maximize your last five minutes before stage time to be unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Be prepared…and be PRESENT

• Ground yourself, and center yourself

• Apply any method that serves you best

• Prayer, meditation, silence, walking, vocal exercises, physical movement

• Speaking is a privilege…and a RESPONSIBILITY

• Prepare like a pilot…do a full ‘instrument cockpit check’

• Create a routine

• Prepare to deliver DEEPER

What can clown presence teach us about being unforgettable presenters? Darren and Mark find out from Don Colliver, comedian, improvisor, director, writer and clown. He shares his insights and experience on audience engagement and reveals how to make every presentation FUN…for you and your audience.

SNIPPETS:

• Take IMPROV classes; improvised can be better than prepared

• Train yourself to lose your audience then get then back

• When you err, acknowledge your humanity and move on

• Wrap your error in a callback

• Find joy and pleasure, like having a meal with your audience and serve them

• Enjoy ‘le jeu’ – the game

• Keep curiosity and compassion for your audience

• We don’t need jokes; acknowledge the moments and find humor there

• Use engagement activities to reinforce your points

A speaker at an event you’re attending can’t make it and someone asks YOU to step in on very short notice. Are you READY? Today Mark and Darren share insights on how and why to be ready for any presentation opportunity. They also disclose the benefits, to you and others, of being ready. 

SNIPPETS:

• Don’t GET ready; KEEP ready

• Identify the opportunity, jump on it, own it

• Have a ‘front pocket’ speech ready to go at all times

• Attend events with a servant’s heart

• Introduce and offer yourself to meeting planner an event staff

• Ask yourself what presentation you would give if a speaker doesn’t show up

• Be willing to fill the void; you will make the meeting planner the hero

• New relationships; the speaker who couldn’t show, audience, event planner

• If you get stuck, refer another presenter; others will refer you, so BE READY

Does a speaker need more than one coach? Can a speaker have too many coaches? What if I know several equally qualified coaches; should I use them all? In this episode, Darren and Mark tackle this thorny issue and offer specific guidance on coach selection…to help you deliver your unforgettable presentation.

SNIPPETS:

• Pick ONE coach

• Choose a coach who understands your backstory

• Choose a coach who appreciates your style

• Be careful who you listen to

• Equally qualified coaches can give conflicting advice  

• Each coach has their own ninja skill

• If you select a team of coaches, decide on your head coach

• You are the CEO of your speech

• Bring suggestions to your head coach and trust them to guide you

What makes a pro SHINE? Today Mark and Darren identify three techniques that true pros use to be unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Engage the audience instantly

• Stand out before you even say a word

• Be fully present

• The first second and a half is critical

• Note cards are not a liability  

• Don’t be concerned about perfection

• Love the audience, love the moment

• Work the room in your style

• Do what you must to hit your points and serve your audience

• Sit in audience seats beforehand to get their perspective

Stories can greatly enhance any presentation but they can be confusing if characters aren’t clearly identified. In today’s discussion, Darren and Mark explore the value of naming characters and they offer ideas for making your characters unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Name every character for clarity

• Allow the audience to see the characters

• Avoid giving two characters similar names (Jane, Jean, Joan)

• Give a physical and characteristic and a personal trait

• Amalgamate characters for simplicity  

• Tell the emotional truth

• Use adjective names to describe characters (Patty Party Pooper)

• In conversation, let the characters address each other by name

Imagine hearing a presenter and thinking, “They remind me of Tony Robbins and Les Brown. The perfect Motivational Speaker!” Then you meet them in the hallway and they sound ‘normal’…as if they turned off their ‘speaker voice.’

In this episode, Mark and Darren discuss authenticity and pose the challenging question: Are YOU ‘Super Speaker?’

SNIPPETS:

• Be yourself. Bring your personality to every presentation

• If your assignment warrants a dramatic voice, then use it.

• No need to try being the ULTIMATE EXPERT

• Your audience is already there and they want to hear YOU

• Record and watch yourself on video

• Do a gut check and assess yourself

• Avoid the risk of seeming disingenuous

• Authenticity + Vulnerability = Credibility

“But it’s some of my FAVORITE MATERIAL!”  

We want to give our audiences ALL our wisdom and experiences. But that’s not always the best decision. Today Darren and Mark expound on three reasons why our favorite material must sometimes end up on ‘THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR.’

SNIPPETS:

• Your stories, anecdotes and references must serve your ‘PREMISE PURPOSE’

• The WEIGHT of your story may be heavier than your message

• Your content shouldn’t overshadow your premise

• Consider the RELEVANCE to your audience

• Your liking a story doesn’t mean the audience will

• If a story is too long for the allotted time, you may need to cut it

• Store Cutting Room Floor material in your Story Folder for later

• You can use Cutting Room Floor material to create handouts

• Test your content

Poor corporate presentations can cost you money. Today Mark and Darren will discuss NINE corporate presentation mistakes and offer tips on how to avoid them, helping you to become an unforgettable presenter.

SNIPPETS:

• Be clear on what you want your audience to Think, Feel & Do

• Clarity, Clarity, Clarity!

• Include a clear Call To Action (CTA)

• Be aware of what your audience is thinking

• Ping the audience, check in, engage

• What does your audience NEED

• Are you overwhelming your audience with data

• Respect your audience’s time; you might be the only obstacle to LUNCH

• Don’t let anyone ‘out-prepare’ you

Should we tell our most painful stories…the ones that take us to The Dark Place? Today Darren and Mark have a serious conversation about this touchy subject and offer solid advice about when to go to your Dark Place.

SNIPPETS:

• Your message is a MESS with AGE

• You must be able to laugh about your struggle before you can talk about it.

• Don’t abuse the privilege of the platform

• Your Dark Place story shouldn’t overtake your speech

• Go to your dark place when it’s appropriate and effective

• There may be value in going to your Dark Place

• Cushion the setup of your Dark Place story

• Be sure you can find your way back

• Be sure you have healed before going to your Dark Place

“But I wasn’t born funny!” may be a common exclamation, so what’s the SECRET to being funny? For answers, Darren and Mark turn to television producer and comedy writer Chris McGuire has worked with celebrity talent like Justin Bieber, Martha Stewart, Arsenio Hall and Snoop Dog. Lessons from his experience behind the scenes and on the stage will help you to be unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Confront your discomfort

• Pay attention to the news of the day

• Use your experience and your interests

• Filter out the raw material and choose the best bits

• Write 20 jokes to get 2 good ones

• Keep a notebook and write 3 ideas a day; that’s 90 a month, 1,000 a year

• Authenticity is key

• Be willing to bomb

• Don’t give up too soon and get up after a bad experience; move on

• Tap into common experiences with your audience

Believe it or not, your audience can be an ally who helps you to hone your content and make your presentation even better. Mark and Darren explain how being attentive to your audience can make you unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Have a pre-event conversation with meeting planner and client

• Listen for client stories that you can use to customize your presentation

• Ask about the client’s challenges and concerns

• Listen between the lines (oohs and aahs); reactions reveal what resonates

• Observe between the lines (nods, notes etc.); confirm that content connects

• Record post-event conversations…with permission.

• Sift through audience comments and use what will help improve your talk

You want to believe that your audience remembers you and your message, but how can you KNOW? Today Mark and Darren explain the value of KEEPERS and ACTION ITEMS, tools that will help you know that you are UNFORGETTABLE.

SNIPPETS:

• Set up the value of keepers and action items very early

• Use cardstock sheets that are separate from a workbook

• Use separate bright colors for each

• Use editable pdfs for virtual attendees

• Keepers are written confirmation of the transfer of value

• Keepers reinforce value to employers, managers and supervisors

• Keepers are consistent reminders of ideas, tools and techniques

• Action Items are immediately actionable next steps after a presentation

• File keepers and action items in their own separate folder and review often

• Refer back to accomplished action items to reinforce belief

Co-hosts Darren & Mark encourage their clients to stretch and challenge themselves. Today Mark discusses his greatest speaking challenge…a 12-minute speech in French…and he is joined by his French-speaking coach Alexandre Matte. As they discuss this unique journey you will learn how and why accepting a challenge and following through can help you to be unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• NOT accepting a challenge deprives your audience of learning opportunities

• When faced with a challenge get a coach and an ally

• Be open to tools and techniques to help you overcome your challenge

• Use a challenge to upgrade your skills

• Be encouraged by past challenges you have overcome

• It’s never too late to grow

• Don’t let your ego get in the way

• Learn all you can about your audience

• Even if you reach a summit, keep climbing

• After the challenge, ask, “How did I grow?”

• Challenge yourself to serve, even if your execution isn’t perfect

AI is everywhere. How can presenters use AI as a tool, without diminishing their expertise? Today Darren and Mark offer THREE specific ways that presenters can use AI advantageously.

SNIPPETS:

• Think of AI as an intern

• Speakers who don’t use AI could be replaced by AI

• Use AI to create ‘sticky’ phrases

• Use prompts to get the options you need

• The more specific the prompts, the better the results

• Meeting planners respond to catchy presentation titles

• AI can help you to customize your speech to serve different demographics

• AI can give good feedback, but will never replace a qualified coach

You’ve just delivered your presentation, then someone gives you feedback, and it feels tough…even harsh. Now what? Mark and Darren have been there, and today they talk about how to receive critical feedback and use it to your advantage. They also examine how we as presenters can GIVE constructive feedback to benefit our fellow communicators and offer advice on how to maximize the feedback we receive.

SNIPPETS:

• There is a time and place for tough feedback

• Be willing to improve based on the feedback we receive

• Don’t let your ego get in the way of learning

• Don’t let tough feedback cause you to stop

• Crave feedback, not a pat on the back

• Don’t miss the golden opportunities to improve your speech

• Don’t deprive yourself of the opportunity to leave your message

• Don’t deprive future audience of the opportunity to learn from you

• Look for kernels of truth on all feedback

• When feedback hurts, it helps

• Let tough feedback be a rung on your ladder to being unforgettable

“I’ll just add a couple of stories, insert a few activities, and I’ll convert my keynote into a training. That should work, right?” It’s not that simple, and in this episode Darren and Mark find out why as they speak with fellow Certified Speaking Professional and trainer extraordinaire Ed Tate. Together they discuss the differences between speaking and training and offer specific techniques for being effective at both.

SNIPPETS:

• Keynote Speaking share a BIG IDEA

• Training teaches the execution of the idea

• Keynote speaking informs, entertains, and inspires

• Training changes behavior

• With keynote speaking, attendees are impressed with the speaker

• With training, attendees are impressed with themselves

• Keynote speaking includes minimal participant activity

• Training includes movement; kinesthetic learning is the stickiest

• Stories are to keynotes as instructions are to training

• Training takes attendees through a process