The Future of High Impact Presenting: Recent Episodes
Maurice DeCastro
The future of high impact public speaking & presenting tells you in a clear, compelling and inspirational way everything you need to know about high impact public speaking and presenting. Most presentations today (especially business presentations) are fare too long, repetitive, uninspiring and boring.
We live in a world of noise where everyone is so busy being busy they don't have time for more unhelpful, long drawn out information. Mindful Presenter was created through a combination of frustration, curiosity and passion. Maurice DeCastro, the founder of Mindful Presenter Ltd in London, UK reveals the real truth about what it takes to craft and deliver a content rich, compelling presentation.
Having spent years in the board room of some of the UK's best loved brand Maurice and the team at mindful presenter are leading the way in helping presenters connect emotionally as well as intellectually. The Mindful Presenter Truths Series is a podcast which is highly rich in content designed to challenge, inspire and empower presenters or aspiring public speakers to lead each time they speak and present.
Have you ever sat through a presentation wondering what on earth the presenter is droning on about?
If you have, it’s likely that the content was simply not relevant to you. It can be extremely frustrating listening to irrelevant content. Imagine how you would respond if an audience member stopped you half way through your presentation and asked; ’ Why exactly are you telling us this, how will that information help me?’
Solution – As you craft your presentation, ensure that everything you plan to say, show or do is of relevance and value to your audience. If it’s not completely relevant, leave it out.
The moment you read text on a slide out loud to your audience, you are insulting their intelligence.
You are suggesting to your presentation audience that they can’t read and so you will do it for them.
I haven’t met anyone who likes or appreciates having slides read out to them. I have however, met countless professionals who agree it’s the ultimate presentation mistake yet continue to read slides themselves.
Solution – Craft a conversation rather than a recital. Remember that your audience have come to listen to you speak, not to read to them.
What is your message?
What is the one thing you want your audience to take from your presentation when they return to their car or desk?
If your audience could ‘Tweet’ the content of your presentation with one, clear message what would they ‘Tweet’.
If you don’t know the answer to that question your presentation will probably be forgotten in a heart beat.
Solution – Set a clear, rich and compelling message. Make sure that everything you share supports it and don’t forget to repeat it.
‘The mediocre presenter believes that they can run through their presentation a couple of times beforehand and if it makes sense to them then it will be fine for their audience.
The Mindful Presenter does everything they can to make their content a part of themselves and so they spend many hours rehearsing.
Not memorising, just rehearsing.
They know their content inside and out and leave no stone unturned in ensuring that everything they have crafted to say and the way they say it will be of significance to their audience.
Mindful presenting is about internalising our message.
Solution – Own your message – Internalise your message. Practice the verbal and non-verbal expression of your presentation.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin
Solution – Prepare, prepare, prepare.
Some presenters believe that ‘winging it’ is their way of improvising. This may work for you but it’s not fair to your audience. It’s highly likely that your audience will see that you are unprepared, and they won’t thank you for it.
Solution – Don’t rely on your charm or talent. Do the work.
‘The prerequisite to a brilliant presentation, before focusing on delivery, is to ensure that your message is supported by rich, relevant and rewarding content.’
The primary purpose of any presentation is to share information with your audience. Disorganised, boring or irrelevant content is the fastest way to annoy, bore or lose your audience.
Solution – Make your presentation content rich and compelling
The mediocre presenter believes that their slides are their presentation. PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides or any other visual aid software is not your presentation. High-quality presentation software can help your presentation audience receive your content more effectively. This software exists to help rather than replace you as a presenter.
Solution – Remember that your audience have come to hear you, not to see your slides. If visuals don’t add significant value to your audience, don’t use them.
How do you want your audience to feel?
If you don’t have a very clear answer to that question, it’s highly unlikely that you will feel it yourself.
If you don’t feel it the moment you begin to craft and deliver your presentation your audience won’t either.
There are two types of presenter. The mindful minority understand the power of intention.
Solution – Set a clear and meaningful intention for how you want your audience to feel emotionally.
Death by PowerPoint is something every presentation audience has experienced. It’s broader than the bullet point phenomenon. Imagine a slide fraught with text, numbers, charts, or data. A slide crammed with data is annoying and unnecessary.
Solution – One idea per slide; no more. Don’t clutter slides; less is more.
What do you want your audience to do when you have finished presenting?
If you don’t have a very clear answer to that question, it’s highly likely they won’t do anything at all with the information you share with them.
Solution – Set a clear and meaningful objective for exactly what you want your audience to do at the end of your presentation. Make sure you tell them.
The moment a presentation audience sees a list of bullet points their hearts sink.
Bullet points are a signpost that they need to brace themselves for a long, boring presentation.
Solution – Use images instead! If you have to use bullet points have as few as possible and keep the short!
Mindful Presenter is far more than a training and development business helping people to speak with greater confidence and impact. We are in the business of helping people to connect with each other. Connecting themselves and their ideas with others in a way that is calm, creative and compelling. Mindful Presenting is the route to connecting emotionally as well as intellectually with your audience? What do you do? Support this podcast
If you've been following the Mindful Presenter Truth Series you will have experienced our passionate belief that high impact public speaking and presenting involves far more than simply presenting data. At the heart of our presentation we need to send our audience a sincere feeling of love. Support this podcast
You could be the best presenter and public speaker in the world but that doesn't mean you know the answer to everything. Occasionally you will be asked a question during or after your presentation that you either don't know the answer to or have momentarily forgotten the answer. Public speaking and presenting isn't easy but it becomes much easier if we own the entire experience, including the fact that we can't know the answer to everything. It's ok to say 'I don't know'. Support this podcast
Public speaking and high impact presenting is about how we make people feel. It's not simply about sharing knowledge and data, that's easy. The five most important words in presenting and public speaking is Please Make Me Feel Something. Imagine your audience silently screaming those 5 words out to you from their own minds. Support this podcast
At Mindful Presenter we don't believe that you can having a boring topic, product, service or idea to present on. We do however, believe that any presentation can be made boring because the presenter is boring. The key reason for this is the lack of energy given in the crafting and delivery of the presentation. Your audience really do need your energy and if you are involved in public speaking or presenting in any way we owe it to them to give them as much as we can. Support this podcast
We all need to have our physiological needs looked after, we need to feel safe, we need to feel a sense of belong and connect, we need a healthy self esteem and we all want to be the best that we can be. In public speaking and presenting it's worth remembering that whilst we are all unique and have a vast range of very personal and specific needs at the core we are all the same. That knowledge and understanding can be very helpful to us and our audience when we sit down to craft our presentation. Support this podcast
Every presentation has to be personal and relevant to your audience in a specific and meaningful way. Effective public speaking and presenting isn't about simply turning up to tell your audience what you want to see. Mindful presenting and high impact public speaking involves telling your audience what they need to know. Support this podcast
A high impact presentation is far more than a presenter simply speaking and presenting; it's a conversation. Public speaking success requires us to actively involve our audience in the presentation. Support this podcast
Far to many presenter prepare and deliver presentations without knowing exactly who there audience are, how much they know and how they can help them. Public speaking is about making a difference to people and the only way presenters can do that is by understanding the expectations of their audience and then mindfully managing those expectations. Support this podcast
The challenge of public speaking and presenting is to craft and deliver content and a message which is so mindfully considered that it'e memorable. If your audience don't remember your presentation then you've wasted their time and yours. Support this podcast
PowerPoint and other visual aid platforms are used in all walks of public speaking and presenting. There is nothing wrong with PowerPoint but there is often a great deal wrong with the way we use it. If you have a presentation to craft and deliver soon, watch out for these 5 big mistakes. Support this podcast
High impact public speaking and presenting isn't about the length of time it takes to present. It's about the impact and difference it makes in real terms to our audience that counts. Whether a presentation takes 5 minutes or 25 minutes is largely irrelevant; it's about impact. Support this podcast
If you've ever had to prepare and deliver a presentation you'll realise as most presenters do that there are 3 types of presentation which makes public speaking a challenge. There is the presentation you prepared The presentation you delivered The presentation you wish you had delivered Support this podcast
One of the most important elements of high impact presenting and public speaking is eye contact. If you are giving a presentation its crucial that you make eye contact with your audience. That doesn't mean the presenter scanning the room, it means taking a few seconds to genuinely make eye contact with as many members of the audience as possible. Support this podcast
The only example you will ever need of how not to speak, present or debate in public. Did you see last nights US Presidential Election debate? This was one of the most disturbing political debates I have ever witnessed. Support this podcast
The starting point to crafting a high impact presentation and public speaking success is to question everything. The mediocre presenter begins by opening their laptop and populating a template they have used before. A mindful presentation involves asking ourselves an exhaustive list of important questions to help us to prepare effectively. Support this podcast
Our most important task when presenting and public speaking is to connect with our audience. That all important connection begins the moment you stand to present and before you utter a word. Don't be in a rush to give your presentation and start speaking before you have made a momentary connection with yourself and your audience. Support this podcast
Ownership is the watchword of high impact public speaking and presenting. That means taking full responsibility for every aspect of the presentation even if that means being assertive and sometimes pushing back. Support this podcast
Like many things in life most people are looking for the hack. The hack is the short cut, easy way, magic pill that means they don't have to work hard to get the result they want. When it comes to high impact presenting and public speaking there are no hacks or short cuts. To craft and deliver a great presentation you have to put in the work. The good news is, if you're prepared to do the work there is a great deal you can do. Support this podcast
Success in presenting and public speaking depends upon not only a strong opening but an equally strong close. Many presentations end with a lack of clarity and imagination. They often drift off like damp fireworks. Closing your presentation with impact is a must for every presenter. Support this podcast
Public speaking and presenting is a challenge for many people at work and most people don't like attending business presentations. At Mindful Presenter we believe is that one of the reasons for this is that we haven't really changed since we were at nursery school. Our audience want much more from us Support this podcast
Public speaking and presentation skills training isn't always easy to measure as a return on investment in pound notes. High impact presentation training is an investment to develop confidence, authority and personal impact. The results are always visible but not necessarily financially. At Mind Presenter we believe it is the most important skill that we all need to develop even if we are not formally presenting or speaking in public. Support this podcast
When you are presenting or face a public speaking challenge the few words really matter. Don't start your presentation by saying words such as 'look', listen, 'let's be clear'. Support this podcast
Presentation and public speaking skills are key components of every business meeting. Every meeting is a presentation. Whether it's in a physical meeting room or through an online platform your presentation skills are always at play. Positioning yourself mentally to be in the right space in your mind is critical to presenting your thoughts and ideas effectively in any business meeting. Support this podcast
In the world of public speaking and presenting when the presenter asks if there are any questions and responds to a question with 'that's a good question, it's not true. If you find yourself presenting and say this to your audience they won't thank you for it. Support this podcast
Public speaking and presenting is difficult enough without the presenter trying to read the audience. If you expend to much energy trying to read your audience your presentation will be adversely affected. Support this podcast
Public speaking and presentation skills success requires presenters to develop, stretch and challenge their voices to extend their vocal range. Presenting and speaking in a monotone voice without having warmed it up first will do a great deal of damage to your reputation and your audience's experience of your presentation. We need to warm up our voices. Support this podcast
Every really good presenter and presentation will leave you with a clear image of what the future looks like when they have finished speaking. Support this podcast
Crafting and delivering a high impact presentation is hard. Every presenter who has faced the challenge of public speak know that if it's not going to be hard then it's probably not worth doing. Support this podcast
Public speaking and presenting in business can be stressful and anxiety provoking for even the most experienced presenter. When you are presenting paying attention to your physiology, focus and language is the key to success. Support this podcast
Public speaking and presenting has become even more of a challenge since the arrival of Covid-19. Social distancing has left professionals with no choice but to present and speak online. Virtual presenting has become the norm. Support this podcast
A high impact presentation always includes stories. Exceptional presenters understand that the key to public speaking success revolves around their ability to tell short, relevant and compelling stories. Support this podcast
If you want to develop your public speaking skills or grow and excel as a presenter you have to be able to ask and answer two very important questions. Support this podcast
We live in a rapidly changing world. If everything has changed as such an exponential rate then the question is, what has changed in public speaking and presenting. Have presenters kept up with the pace of change? Are business presentations better, the same or worse that a decade ago. Support this podcast
Public speaking and high impact presenting is all about connect. If the presenter is in the room physically but not mentally and emotionally too their presentation will be uninspiring Truth 16 shares our belief that when presenting the most important thing you have to do is to be truly in the room. Support this podcast
When it comes to public speaking and presenting, movement is vitally important for every presenter. A presentation without movement lacks energy and visual stimulation. Support this podcast
When we are presenting or engaged in any form of public speaking we need to think, feel and behave like your favourite tour guide. Every presentation should be an experience, a journey which is mindfully crafted by the presenter. Support this podcast
Many presenters are understandably concerned about bad habits when presenting and called for public speaking. Before you craft your next presentation having some clarity on what bad habits really are and how they can affect a presentation will serve you well. Support this podcast
Public speaking anxiety can be eased substantially by changing the way you perceive the opportunity. Seeing your presentation as a means of making a difference and connecting rather than performing is far more empowering for presenters. Support this podcast
Truth 5 shares our belief that presenters need to connect emotionally as well as intellectually with their audience. A presentation or presenter at a public speaking even whose only intention is to inform and engage their audience will lose their attention. Support this podcast
Public speaking confidence is a gift we can all inherently tune into.Many presenters experience a high level of nerves before the presentation but we all have our own confidence thermostat we can turn up when we need to. Support this podcast
A vast number of presenters use visual aids such as PowerPoint. Truth 4 shares our belief that there is nothing wrong with PowerPoint; it can be used beautifully or miserably. The challenge in public speaking and presenting is to breathe life into our words which visual can help with if used effectively while presenting. Support this podcast
Truth 7 shares our belief that every presentation should be highly tailored and made personal and relevant to each audience. A presenter with the mindset that every public speaking opportunity is the same is doomed. When it comes to presenting and public speaking one size definitely doesn't fit all. Support this podcast
Presenting or engaged in any public speaking event you have moments to capture your audience's attention, interest and curiosity. The first thing they care about isn't you. Exceptional presenters open their presentation with impact. Support this podcast
If you are a presenter or public speaker the one thing that you need to know is that every audience wants the 'gold'. A presentation without 'gold' is simply a data dump of noise. Support this podcast
Truth 3 shares our belief that when it comes to public speaking and presenting everyone gets nervous. How a presenter harnesses and uses that nervous energy is the issue. Whether their anxiety is visible during the presentation is also interesting. Support this podcast
Truth 6 shares our belief that the vast majority of business presentations are far too long and could be delivered in at least half the time with much more impact. When it comes to public speaking and presenting exceptional presenters believe in the principal that 'less is more'. Support this podcast
Truth 2 shares our belief that most presenters don't prepare properly for a presentation and what preparing effectively really looks like. To present effectively and connect in public speaking we have to prepare. Support this podcast
Anyone can dramatically improve their public speaking and presentation skills. A tree can't be anything other than a tree. A presenter can be as effective as they choose to be. Support this podcast
Leaders have a significant role to play in helping people to present and speak with confidence. Leading the way in public speaking and delivering presentations in the workplace has to come from leaders. Support this podcast
Mindful presenting and high impact public speaking isn't about meditating. Presenter need a high level of awareness, clarity and focus. A successful presentation requires presence. Support this podcast
If you are presenting or part of any public speaking event it's not enough to just be yourself. Truth 1 shares our belief that authenticity involves far more than being ourselves; we need to be our best selves. Support this podcast
Successful presenting and high impact public speaking is measured by how the presenter helps the audience to remember the message, how the presenter makes them feel and what the audience does after the presentation. Support this podcast