Shoot for Effectiveness, Not Perfection

It can be intimidating to watch someone with strong presentation skills doing their thing… flawlessly moving from point to point, seamlessly moving from slide to slide, and naturally performing in front of an audience. It’s like the ultimate skill that we all wish we had: To be the perfect presenter. But that is NOT what the game is all about, my friends.

I have worked with really experienced communicators. They create a great script, they hit all their points, and they use their voice masterfully. But some of them miss the point because they are so intent on a perfect delivery that they forget what a presentation is all about: Connecting with others at scale.

 A “perfect” presenter works against their own purpose - because they don’t seem real. It feels more like they are playing a role. They feel inauthentic and insincere. They just seem like they are trying to sell. And they can even be repelling. In fact, I once had a client remove our top performer from a pitch because she disliked him so much.

You just need to be yourself. Yes, you need to do the required work: understanding the audience, building an appealing narrative and rehearsing to comfort.Through your preparation process think about three things:

1. Build in moments of personal vulnerability with the audience. Use Day in the Life statements like “I am kind of a nerd because I am fascinated by the craziest things. In fact, trying to find the right solution for you has been the main entertainment for my long daily commute…” This will cue reciprocity in the audience and create likeability and trust for you.

2. Use social engineering to create authentic moments of engagement: You can say “I would think that this wouldn’t work, but as I got into it, it’s the exact direction for us to take for these reasons. What do you think?” They will be compelled to engage and more likely to accept your logic.

3. If you are a good presenter, make a mistake! Give your script a moment of recalibration and self-awareness. People LOVE when they see someone make a mistake and recover. This naturally triggers a release of oxytocin in the audience that promotes social bonding.

In the final analysis, the object is NOT for you to be a flawless presenter. It’s to be an effective communicator. Get the audience to like you. Then they will trust you. And ultimately believe in you. Then you will be a truly effective presenter.