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Steve Herzberg’s 10 best tips for delivering persuasive presentations

1. Focus on your key message and repeat it over and over and over again. Use it running through all your slides if you choose to use slides. Make sure the key message is a benefit to the audience

2. Know your content inside out. Do your homework on your audience as well. What will they want to get from this presentation

3. Tell real stories about real people / clients. Each story should have a problem they faced, an outcome they wanted and how you were able to assist them to achieve that outcome.

4. Use statistics to support your argument. 88% of statistics may well be made up or unsubstantiated. People still remember them. Try and support your statistics with the source

5. Start every presentation with a powerful hook. Use the 3 R’s at the start of every presentation.

Rapport - Find common ground. Receptivity - make them thirsty about what is coming up and why it will benefit this audience. Reason - be very clear about the reason we are all here today. What will this presentation achieve?

6. Structure your content in a clear, easy to follow fashion. 3 key messages are enough. Any more and they’ll struggle to recall anything. Any less and they may feel short changed.

7. Use regular response checks throughout the presentation to keep the audience engaged. “Have you ever noticed…?” “Can I ask you to picture this…,?” “Can I get a show of hands of the 3 ideas I’ve just suggested, who prefers the first, the second, the third?” “Take a guess. How many of ourcurrent customers …?”

8. If you must use PowerPoint slides try the 10/20/30 formula. 10 slides maximum, 20 minutes duration, 30 as the minimum font size.

9. Handle questions in a clear and concise fashion. Use techniques for dealing with them. Assess the type of question you being asked before jumping in with an answer. Are you being challenged? Do they need further information on something? Is the questioner just flexing his / her ego?

10. Clearly define the next steps at the end of the presentation. Who’s in? Who needs more time? What is a realistic time line? Why can’t we move this forward?

Steve Herzberg is one of Australia’s most engaging and persuasive presenters. He works with clients including

Lend Lease, ANZ Bank, IAG and Fitness First. He helps their staff understand how to get their message across.

For more information on Steve and NRG Solutions please go to www.nrgsolutions.com.au