Lights, Camera… ACTION! Maximize your presentation with the best reasonable outcome. [Speak on the Shoulders of Giants]
What outcome do you expect every time you attend a lecture or a presentation?
Additional knowledge?
Training?
Interaction with the speaker(s)?
No doubt these are all part of a presentation outcome, but in every good presentation, there’s this thing called the “Best Reasonable Outcome.”
Plutarch, a Greek philosopher and biographer, once said this about Demosthenes, one of the great Greek speakers in his time:
“When Demosthenes was asked what were the three most important aspects of oratory, he answered, ‘Action, Action, Action.’”
What is the “best reasonable outcome” in every presentation?
ACTION.
As a speaker, every time you present in front of your audience, you have to take note of these questions:
- At the end of the presentation, what did the audience learn?
- What new concept did they get to understand?
- How will they apply these new learnings?
When you present, you ought NOT JUST THINK about the outcome of your presentation. There should also be a movement, an action.
During his Speak on the Shoulders of Giants presentation, Professor Joel Litman, CEO and President of Valens Research, said:
“If you’re going to take the time to get in front of an audience to convey something, it’s because you want them to do something different than they would have otherwise.”
Whether you’re speaking in a small meeting or in a large gathering, there’s always something that has to be done after your presentation—a call-to-action that your audience or the people you’re talking to is encouraged to do after hearing you speak.
What is it that your audience ought to do differently after hearing your discussion?
– – – Build your presentation and plan your communication around the answer to that question.
Best Reasonable Action
A reasonable action is any positive action or reaction that can improve the lives and outlook of your audience after listening to your presentation.
When you deliver a good presentation, it can motivate your audience to take the next step that will lead them closer to their goal.
It can also inspire them to make decisions that will help them build happier lives.
The “best reasonable action” is usually NOT these two things below:
- Education and Training
If your only goal in delivering your presentation is to give your audience the “education” and “training,” then you’re missing out on a lot of good things in your presentation.
Every other lecture, presentation, and seminar aim to educate and train their audiences as well―there’s nothing new about it.
As your audience sits through and listens to your presentation, they will want to hear something that will help them change their lives for the better.
What good is your presentation if it doesn’t motivate people to do better?
How will you measure your presentation’s success without a reasonable action from your audience?
What is the purpose of education and training if your audience can’t apply what they learned afterwards?
No matter how great your presentation is, if it only stays in your audience’s minds without an accompanying change in their lives, it has no use at all.
- Meet-and-Greet
As a speaker, you’re presenting to impart knowledge and the necessary training that will result in a reasonable action on your audience’s part.
You’re not there as a celebrity who’s having a meet-and-greet with his or her fans.
You may be a famous speaker, but a presentation is different from a fansigning event.
There are other ways, places, and situations to conduct a meet-and-greet. Don’t include it into your presentation schedule.
There always has to be a REASONABLE action that you aim for your audience to do after your presentation. An action that goes beyond just a simple workshop or presentation to educate and train.
A reasonable action is the APPLICATION of the concepts, ideas, knowledge, and insights that your audience receives from your presentation.
More than just writing down notes on a notebook or putting the highest rates on a post-presentation survey, a reasonable action is the step that would enable your audience to reach greater heights…
Overcome their fears…
Unleash their full potential.
As stated by Ben Stein, a writer, comedian, and commentator:
“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.”
As a speaker, you have to decide what you want to see at the end of your presentation.
Having a firm decision and a clear vision as a first step will make a difference in what you present, how you present, and why you present.
If your audience finds your presentation useful and insightful…
It might encourage one of them to take the next flight overseas and accept that long-time job offer.
One might apply for the job that he or she has long been eyeing.
One might set up the next meeting with his or her client and business partner.
Another might talk to their company CEO and discuss what he or she has learned from your presentation, thinking that the company would benefit from your insights.
Whatever topic you’re presenting, think about the purpose of your presentation. Think about its best reasonable outcome―action.
Don’t just make an impression… make an impact as well! It might be the key that will open doors of opportunities for you and your audience.
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Wednesdays: Speak on the Shoulders of Giants”
In a meeting with one person
…a boardroom with five people
…or a huge venue with hundreds of people
—whatever the situation or setting, it’s very important to learn and eventually master the art of public speaking.
No matter what, you always need to effectively get your message across.
What good is a presentation with awesome content if you don’t deliver it properly?
Every Wednesday, we publish different tips, insights, and secrets on how you can improve your presentation skills to captivate your audience and lead interesting discussions.
The need for great presentation skills applies EVERYWHERE.
(Small meetings with your team, big meetings with your boss, an important marketing pitch, speaking engagements for events with a big audience, etc.)
Learning these skills is not just for the corporate world. Being in other industries such as the Arts, Information Technology, Medicine, and Education while knowing how to present well will definitely give you an edge.
Have that advantage.
Hope you’ve found this week’s public speaking tip interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Wednesday’s Speak on the Shoulders of Giants!
Cheers,
Kyle Yu
Head of Marketing
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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