I spent 17 years in the advertising business. Though most of it is now a blur, I do remember one particular meeting I attended in 1985. We were sitting around a conference table in a dimly lit, stuffy conference room. The presenter was droning on. Statistics and research findings filled the screen. One or two people popped No-Doz. Suddenly the guy sitting next to me, screamed and jumped back from the table. Now Im no Colombo, but I sensed something was amiss. I checked to see if he was okay and he assured me he was. He seemed a bit embarrassed, but not hurt. During a break in the meeting, I couldnt help but ask what happened. Evidently he had become so bored during the presentation that the whirling fan inside the overhead projector became of great interest. After watching the fan for awhile, he couldnt help but take out his pencil and start poking at it through the protective grate. Sort of a white collar version of the game Chicken. So as luck would have it, he probed just a wee bit too far and the fan snapped the pencil out of his hand. This startled the poor man and thats when he yelped.

So whats my gripe? Well, if the fan in the projector is more engaging than the presenter, then the presenter needs help. As a communications consultant, Ive worked with top executive leaders at all kinds of companies. While some of them are outstanding presenters, the biggest problem I see with many others is that theyre boring. Here then, are four suggestions that will jumpstart any presentation.

1. Whats In It for Me?

This old adage stands the test of time. Your audience wants to know right from the outset, Whats in it for me? How will I benefit by listening to you? Will you improve my productivity? Lessen my stress? Make me money? Help me be happier? Without giving them a WIIFM, you wont hook them.

2. Passion Sells

If theres one thing that can grab and keep your audiences attention, its your energy. Many executives speak to their audience with the same energy level they have when theyre feeding the parking meter. Sorry, that just doesnt cut it. Audiences are mirrors. They reflect the presenter. If your energy is up, the troops will be more attentive. If your energy is flat, youll lose them. So how do you communicate passion and energy? Smile. Project your voice. Emphasize key words. Gesture openly and own the room.

3. Involve Them

Boring speakers build invisible walls between themselves and their audience. As they see it, the less interaction the better. Great speakers, however, engage their audience in a dialogue. Great speakers involve their audience. Great speakers ask their audience questions. They have fun with their audience. They actively seek questions from their audience. And they even get their audience members to interact with each another. Next time you give a presentation, create a conversation with your audience.

4. Add Sizzle

In advertising, as the saying goes, You dont sell the steak, you sell the sizzle. Same goes for giving a presentation. You must add interest and intrigue to your content. (And dont say, Well what I talk about isnt very exciting. Heck, thumbtacks can be made exciting if you know how.) Many of my clients have been successful in using everything from M&Ms to motorcycles to make their presentations memorable. Next time you present, use more stories, analogies, props, surprising statistics, themes quotes and activities. The opportunities are endless.

So there you go 1) WIIFM, 2) Passion, 3) Involvement and 4) Sizzle. Do any one of these and youll grab your audience. Do all four and no one will ever stick their pencil in the projector while youre speaking.

Kevin Carroll teaches executives how to develop and deliver outstanding presentations and speeches. He is also the co-author of Make Your Point! (Available on Amazon) To contact Kevin, or for more speaking tips, go to: www.kevincarroll.com

Contact: Kevin Carroll President, Carroll Communications 2 Broad Street Westport, CT 06880 (203) 226-6493

Kevin Carroll is a professional speaker, trainer, consultant and author. His style is both dynamic and pragmatic. Kevin is an expert at helping others think creatively and communicate persuasively. He consistently receives outstanding reviews from those he works with. His active client roster includes companies such as Merrill Lynch, Unilever, Cisco Systems and Purdue Pharmaceuticals. Before launching his own company in 1996, Kevin spent 17 years in the advertising business. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Mary, and their two children, Collin and Claire.

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