Originally published in 2012.
In my previous blog I asked you whether you take your audience for granted. The first step towards not taking your audience for granted is to realise that a presentation is not about you, it is about them (your audience). It doesn’t matter what you say, it matters what they understand, remember and do with the information. Coincidentally (or not), focusing on your audience is the number one weapon to beat nerves. In the past, before a presentation I used to think it was all about me. I had to speak smoothly, look good, and impress the audience. No wonder I was so nervous before a presentation. During the presentation my knees would rattle. How about you? Do you feel nervous before a presentation? My nerves went away when I learned that a presentation is not about me, it is about my audience. I don’t have to impress them; I have to provide them with value.
Once you realise that a presentation is not about you, it’s time to put the principle into practice. During your preparation ask yourself the following questions:
- Who is my audience? (the more specific your answer the better)
- What is their level of knowledge about my topic?
- What do they want to get out from my presentation?
Your job is to provide your audience with the information they want and need. If you don’t care about the needs of your audience, they won’t care about your needs. If you ignore your audience, they will ignore you. If you want to be listened to, remembered, and feel confident before a presentation, start your preparation by asking the three questions above. In my next blogs I will continue giving tips on how not to take your audience for granted and provide them with value. For now, consider this: it is not about you, it is about them.