How to make presentations more persuasive

I have seen countless business and academic presentations. The majority of the people present relatively well. Less than 10% of presentations, however, actually pack a punch. Here is why.

Most presentations lack of a clear rationale persuasive. The inner workings of most of the presentations follow an informative rather than persuasive. As a result, we see a lot of presentations that have ordered the persuasive effect most speakers want.

Are we missing a significant opportunity here. We are almost always a case for doing something: a bigger budget, more staff, has added support from our head, etc. In addition, most professional trainers teach us how to make presentations more comfortable, but not convincing. Most university courses in public speaking only get to persuasion in short, at the end of the semester if at all.

Our main points of the body matter more than we think

One of the best places to start making our presentations more convincing is to reorganize our main points of the body. The traditional style of language information offers several ways to organize the main points: chronologically, topically, spatially, by cause and effect, etc., however, are rarely the best choice, if we want to convince.

For example, I was once asked to help people in a wonderful non-profit organization to improve their presentations. This organization specializes in fundraising and working to restore old buildings in small towns. They spent their time and effort on a worthy goal, making it appear the old buildings of the new center.

When I saw their presentations, I noticed that usually chose a chronological order for their main points. They showed before and after pictures of past restoration projects in neighboring towns to get new supporters to participate. Their information focused almost exclusively on the same buildings that were restored. The photos are large and quite convincing. The presenters also were skilled and composed. The choice of points before and after the main had a natural feel convincing. If I were to sum up their main argument, it would be landscaping. Let me be clear. There's nothing wrong with landscaping to accept the fact that it is a one-dimensional argument. They were missing a valuable opportunity to make their presentations more compelling.

I suggested that a chronological order of presentation was a good choice, but it was missing a few other ways to add weight to their argument. I recommended a problem-solution-benefit, one of the most interesting ways to order our main points.

The problem

We provide a very convincing basis when we deal with the problems our audience cares about. For example, the speakers of the group of restoration should be discussed all the problems run down buildings cause areas of the center of small dimensions. You could start with the need of embellishment and then expand the argument in favor of needs and associated problems. We could discuss the downward spiral or "broken window effect", so even one abandoned building can spread the perception that other buildings will inevitably follow (for example, the case "rust"). We could discuss the problem of declining values ​​of surrounding properties (for example, the case statement). They might discuss the need for more efficient buildings in the center to attract new businesses (eg, the business case).

If we take the time to brainstorm a good list, we should be able to produce between 3 and 4 clear problems without exaggerating our case. This develops well-rounded look at the problems that may relate to our audience and make them much more willing to listen to our proposed solution. Approximately 50% of the body of our presentation should be focused on the problem.

The solution

When we explain clearly the problems with statistics, stories and more evidence that our primary audience for our proposed solution. In presenting our solution, we should provide a concise and informative way for our listeners to follow. If we want our audience to donate time and money, for example, then we should say. "We would like to help us collect as many $ 50 000 needed for materials possible. We also need between 10 and 12 volunteers to do the job." This element was missing from the chronological structure of the restoration. A clear solution step makes it easy for the public to take action that is proposed.

If we made a sincere, convincing argument about the problems, we should not be afraid to support a clear solution. Since the solution of part of a presentation like this is quite dry, we should not at this point the main the same time. It should be the shortest of the main points, clear and concise, but not neglected.

The advantages

The last main point should focus on the likely benefits associated with the adoption of our solution. Once we made our step solution, we must explain how our solution helps. As the point of problem, explain the benefits that would be different. The restoration team could focus on how the building itself would look better, the rust would become gentrification, property values ​​improve for everyone, and new business growth was more likely in a restored building. They could share many success stories about how this is exactly what happened in other communities.

As a general rule, the expected benefits should solve all the problems we have previously introduced in the presentation. In other words, we should not introduce the problem of nuclear war, except that our proposed solution actually helps prevent it. We also discuss the intangible benefits associated with psychological and emotional to have solved the problem. The point of benefits should be almost as long as our point of problem in a business presentation.

In most cases, the elements for a convincing presentation are available to us, but they remain unused because we have chosen the wrong structure. We should be deliberate about choosing a structure for our main points that help us make our case as convincing as possible. The problem-solution-benefit structure is just one of many ways to add punch needs of our presentations....