How to Use Audience-Centric Presentation Techniques

I don’t consider myself to be a speaker so much as a learning facilitator. I really appreciate a well crafted presentation where you can tell how much the person has prepared to serve their audience. Here are some of my lessons I’ve learned along the way to becoming a more effective public speaker that might not seem as obvious. 1. Storytelling - the AUDIENCE is the protagonist of the story (not you). A good story isn’t just about being “entertaining” or “charming”. Winning over an audience isn’t about making them think “gosh, he’s really great.” It’s about being able to serve their needs by providing insight into their journey that they might’ve missed on their own. The best compliment a person can give me after is “you really made me think.” 2. Don’t worry about the people who are ignoring you. It can really derail you to start focusing on why a person isn’t paying attention, or why they’re not laughing at your jokes, or why they seem upset. You have NO idea what’s going on in their heads. Move past it, and find the people who are engaging and stick to them! You don’t need 100% of the audience to engage. You need the engaged members of the audience to get 100%. 3. The master storytellers do most of their work in the editing room. Cut slides, cut words, cut superfluous stories, and cut, cut, cut until you have distilled the most essential parts of your story. It takes COURAGE to purposefully not connect all the dots but rather give enough context so your audience can connect the dots. (They’re part of the story, this way.) 4. Ruffle a few feathers. We worry so much about being likeable that we end up playing it too safe to ever hope to be remembered. Attack ideas but never people. Challenge ingrained thinking by putting the audience in the position of the potential change maker. 5. Humor is a secret weapon. It can bring people back in when you’re sidetracked. Self-deprecating humor can help build rapport or trust. It relaxes people just enough to keep their interest. But remember you’re not just there to entertain. Jokes have to drive the bigger point. Study comedy - in particular the rules of improv. There are basic comedic structures (just google them). Don’t repeat tired old, stale jokes the entire industry uses. Use relevant and appropriate humor to drive the story forward. Even if you don’t plan on being on stage or in front of your industry’s peers, you are likely presenting to people in some way pretty frequently. A microphone isn’t about amplifying your voice. A microphone is about helping your audience to better hear. A lot people won’t get what I mean by that, but I’ll tell you what. That epiphany TRANSFORMED the way I approach speaking gigs, content writing, leading meetings, and much of my communication mindset. 🎤 💜

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 Building an extraordinary relationship with your audience is vital for the success of your presentation. This relationship hinges on two crucial elements: intellectual and emotional connections. While logic engages your audience’s thinking, it is emotion that motivates them to take action. The intellectual connection stems from the content you present and the logical reasoning you employ to make your case. When you utilize charts, statistics, and survey results, you establish an intellectual bond with your audience. To establish an emotional connection, on the other hand, is relatively easier. The most effective way to achieve this is by using “you-focused” language, creating a balanced “I-You ratio.” Pay attention to how frequently you say “I” compared to “you” or “us.” “You” is your ultimate advantage—a single word that can work Wonders. To enhance your presentations, eliminate certain phrases such as: “I am going to talk about...” “What I would like to talk about...” “What I am going to do first is...” Instead, replace them with more captivating and engaging alternatives like: “Great news! You are about to learn ten techniques guaranteed to make your presentations memorable.” Compile a list of you-focused phrases that resonate with your presentations. Here are a few examples that I personally use to kick-start interactions. Feel free to incorporate them if they suit your style: “In your experience...” “If I were to ask you...” “You can feel confident...” “How often have you felt, seen, experienced...” “When was the first/last time you...” “It might interest/surprise/amaze you to know/learn/discover...” “Do you remember a time when...” “What advice did your dad/parents/mother/first boss give you?” “Think back to when you... frustrated/upset/happy/enthusiastic/disappointed?” Allow me to share a success story to emphasize the impact of a you-focused approach. Recently, I assisted a sales executive from a renowned hotel with a concise presentation aiming to secure a $500,000 convention in San Francisco. With two other cities competing fiercely, a compelling presentation was crucial. I recommended an opening that focused on the audience. “In the next 8 minutes, you will decide that the best decision you can make for your association and your members is to bring your convention to San Francisco and the Fairmont Hotel.” In this statement, I used “you” or “yours” five times and “Fairmont” once. This created a potent emotional connection. This was not the only element to successfully secure the sale. However, together we creative a compelling message that combined intellectual and emotional connection. Best of luck in forging strong connections with your audiences. If you require any assistance, I’m here to help. Let’s have a conversation. #presentationskillsexpert #keynotespeaker #publicspeaking #frippvt #patriciafripp

I recently made 4 big changes to how I present. #3 made such a huge difference! 1️⃣ I speak ahead of my slides. ► Andy Churchill, PhD is right. ► Instead of "click, then speak," try "speak, then click." ► Feels weird at first, but then it feels natural. ► You should be leading the talk, not your slides. 2️⃣ I keep slides very minimal. ► Something not totally necessary? Delete it. ► Have an image that just looks cool? Delete it? ► Seriously, delete things that doesn't add anything. ► When I speak, I want as much focus on me as possible. ► The first rule of UI Design: direct the viewer's attention. ► Same goes for a presentation: keep focus on what matters (you). Example: I'm including my slides from my West Chester University of Pennsylvania keynote yesterday. These slides are somewhat meaningless without my presence. That's my goal! 3️⃣ I do mini Q&As along the way. ► I know...I'm a broken record at this point. ► Don't do a huge 20-minute Q&A at the end. ► Split it up into small 5-minute Q&As along the way. ► No one wants to hold onto their question for 30 minutes! 4️⃣ Bonus: I Include Blank Slides ► It's a small change. ► If you want open discussion, give a blank slide. ► As long as content is on screen, people are in passive mode. ► The discussion is the content. So, it deserves its own PP slide. --------------- I've been speaking with so many colleges and organizations this year. I'm talking about: Union College York University Amarillo College Arcadia University Five Towns College Seton Hall University Baldwin School District West Chester University Sacramento City College Zurich International School Association of Private Colleges Hudson County Community College Montana Colleges Summer Conference New Jersey Distance Education Conference That's just a few of them. And there's more to come. In fact, my Fall speaking gigs are filling up. Colleges around the country are implementing AI strategies. And I love weighing on on what they are doing. If you need someone to talk to your faculty, hit me up. Here's are some blurbs from a presentation I did 4 days ago: "Jason Gulya was such an inspiration! I loved the mix of big ideas and actionable suggestions." "As someone who's been really nervous about and mystified by AI, the AI sessions were really illuminating and did a great job explaining the basics of how these programs work and what they can and cannot do. Now I have a better idea of how my student workers interact with this technology, and the potential it has to be useful instead of just its potential negative effects."

Stop memorizing words on a slide. There's a more effective and easy way to convey ideas in your presentation: Tell a story. I recall several instances where I sat in front of my computer, meticulously flipping through slides in preparation for an upcoming presentation. The slides were filled with smart-sounding words, interesting images, and convincing data points. I reviewed the material, slide by slide, carefully stringing together the perfect words to accompany them. I rehearsed the talk track diligently, starting over whenever I forgot a key phrase or missed a transition sentence. What I had failed to realize then was that it wasn’t the exact words I chose to say, but rather the story I was telling that made the biggest impact. Storytelling has a way of bringing clarity to your thoughts that no combination of words, data, or pictures on a slide can. There's a level of vulnerability and honesty that comes with telling a personal story. This builds a connection between the storyteller and the audience. Last week, I did a product demo where I tied in my chronic use of German Curry Ketchup. Does our product have anything to do with ketchup or Germany? No, but it helped me drive home the value of a new feature we launched. Next time you're presenting, weave in a story. You'll find it transforms passive listeners into active participants, doubters into advocates, and skeptics into customers, far better than any slide ever could. #productmanagement #storytelling #communication #leadership

𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝟮 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 💬 Struggling to get your ideas across clearly? You're not alone. Many leaders find themselves grappling with this. I hear from them about it. I know it's more than just frustrating. When your thoughts don't translate as you intend it not only doesn’t land with your listeners, it starts a whole inner dialogue of self-critique that can really knock your confidence, both in and out of the office. And communication is the most important part of leadership, so if you don’t get this handled your progress will be blocked. ⚠️ But why stay stuck in this communication rut? The ripple effects are real: misunderstandings, weakened team dynamics, and yes, it even stretches into your professional relationships. It's time to shift gears and find your voice! So, here's a strategic pivot to transform your communication: 📢 Audience-Centric Approach: I had an eye-opener years ago. I used to think that as a speaker and leader, I was the big deal. Wrong! The big deal is not my talking or leading, it’s their listening! It's all about how the audience receives your message. When they're engaged, your words take on a whole new life. So, shift your focus from just speaking to ensuring your speaking really has the audience listening. This perspective shift is a total game-changer. 📢 Break the Ice with Impact: Time to ditch the same old intro. You know, the "Hi, thanks for having me..." yawn-fest. Instead, why not start with something that really hooks your audience? Throw a curveball – ask a question that gets them thinking, share a slice of your life, or drop a statement that makes everyone sit up and listen. Make your speech memorable from the get-go. ✔️ Incorporating these methods into your leadership approach will do more than just captivate your audience; it will also enhance your confidence and enhance your communication game. Have you tried any of these approaches? Or do you have other communication tips to share? Let's hear them in the comments below! #communication #personaldevelopment #leadership #management #selfhelp #leadershipdevelopment