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So You've Been Selected!
6 Tips for Conference Presenters
"Someone's got to do something, and it's just incredibly
pitiful that it has to be us." -- Jerry Garcia
Some are chosen, some are forced…but in the end, most business
professionals present at industry conferences, annual meetings,
or other events during the course of their careers. Please allow
me to be the first to congratulate you if you have been recently
selected to present! You were chosen out of many, and are now charged
with a fantastic opportunity to enhance your reputation as a credible
expert in your field.
These TIPS will help you give the best presentation possible,
while fulfilling your responsibility to your audience. Use them,
and you'll come off like a pro!
TIP #1: Get off the WHAT. Tell them HOW.
The sad truth is that no one really wants to know how great your
program, discovery, or event is. But everyone wants to know HOW
it got to be that way! Be ready to provide at least 3 specific,
tangible HOW-TO's that others can use in their own businesses,
organizations, or communities.
Examples of tangible HOW TO's:
- How did we get 2,500 people to participate in our annual fund
drive? (What specific actions did we take?)
- What were the most important 5 steps we took to accomplish…
- Mistakes we made--things NOT to do…
TIP #2: Do what you said you would do in your session proposal.
Most conferences have a Program Committee, which selected your
session based on your session objectives. Re-visit those objectives.
Did you say participants would…
- Identify methods to develop corporate-community partnerships?
- Develop next steps to connect to technology resources?
- Learn at least 3 new business development techniques?
Don't b.s. your audience…Make sure you give them what you
promised. That is your primary responsibility to the people who
will sit through your session.
TIP #3: PREPARE.
Do you really want to come off like an unprepared buffoon at
a professional conference? Demonstrate your respect for the audience
and for yourself by spending quality time preparing and practicing
your presentation. Run it by your spouse and friends, and take
their feedback to heart. Your presentation should never be "last-minute."
If you're on a panel, make a solid plan with your co-presenters
about what specific aspects each will address. Talk with ALL of
them at least twice before the conference. Make sure you are all
clear on time limits. Put your plan in writing, and meet once more
before your session to make sure everyone's clear on what's going
to happen. Don't "assume" anything.
TIP #4: Make it active.
As an audience member, do YOU really like sitting there like
a lump on a log? On the other hand, few of us enjoy participating
in meaningless "fluff." Here are some easy strategies
to bring your content alive while keeping your group energized:® INTEGRATE
Q-A throughout your presentation. DON"T wait until the last
5 minutes to ask "Are there any questions?" But always
bring the conversation back on track. (That's when your preparation
will really help you!)
- ASK the audience questions. They can either answer you or
talk with their neighbor about the issue. Be ready to pull them
back to order.
- MINIMIZE your PowerPoint slides or transparencies. A good
rule of thumb is to use only 3-6 slides for a 75-minute presentation.
Use your time to look at and discuss relevant handouts, materials,
case studies, financial reports, etc.
- BREAK THE GROUP INTO SMALL GROUPS to discuss and solve a problem.
Don't ask for reports from each group--5 top responses from the
entire group may suffice. Remember, people can often learn as
much by talking to each other as they can by listening to you.
TIP # 5: Begin and end ON TIME.
Tough luck if people are late! You are responsible to those who
got to your session on time. Maintain your awareness of time throughout
the session. True professionals never "run out of time," because
they have practiced thoroughly beforehand.
PLAN the last five minutes for an overall summary, written evaluations
and last-minute questions.
TIP #6: Relax and Have Fun.
If you've followed the preceding tips, this one will be much
easier to achieve. Remember that your presentation is really not "about
you," it's about your audience. Give them what you promised
and what you practiced. The audience wants you to succeed!
When you're done, give yourself a pat on the back. Think about
what went right and what you might change next time. Find a friend,
buy a coffee, and enjoy the rest of the conference!
Your Feedback is Important to Us
Let us know if you have any questions or comments about the information on
this page. Please include your email address if you would like a response.
About Guila Muir & Associates
Guila Muir and Associates is the premiere Train-the-Trainer firm
on the West Coast. Using participatory adult education since 1981,
Guila Muir & Associates has developed the skills of hundreds
of trainers and facilitators in business and government. Enhance
your organization's ability to transmit information the way adults
learn best-actively! Visit our web site at guilamuir.com, write
us at connect@guilamuir.com
or call us at (206) 725-1994.
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