Make Your Presentations More Powerful
“The same techniques that make [TED Talk] talks so powerful can also make you more compelling in the workplace,” writes Gwen Moran in Fortune. Whether you’re asking for a raise or presenting a new project, you can adapt five TED Talk practices to elevate your speaking skills.
1. Know who you’re talking to.
As you prepare for your meeting, ask yourself what the most important things are that your coworkers need to take away from it. Tailoring your talk to your audience is key to getting buy-in for your ideas.
2. Practice makes perfect.
Organize your thoughts and then do a few run throughs to hone your message. “When you know your material well and you have practiced what you want to say, you can more easily think on your feet and adapt to a changing situation,” Moran says.
3. Ditch the jargon.
Talk as you would in a conversation, eliminating complex, formal language, as well as over-used phrase and clichés. “Audiences respond better to familiar language. Jargon and corporate-speak tend to obfuscate meaning,” Moran explains.
4. Share your story.
It’s OK to make your presentation personal to garner attention, sharing why the subject has meaning for you. “The right story—simple and relevant—can help people see your point clearly,” Moran writes.
5. Be the best for the job.
Bring a fresh perspective to your presentation, showing how you’re uniquely qualified for a task. Use anecdotes and examples “Getting on the same page about why you’re the right person to lead the team or get the raise needs to be a key part of your message,” emphasizes Moran.
About the author(s)
Barbara Ruben was a senior content creator at CASE.