Learn to Connect with Your Target Audience: The Pincus Group’s Presentation Training NY

At the core of any successful presentation or briefing is the ability to connect with your audience in a way that resonates with them. The Pincus Group’s Presentation Training NY helps you develop the skills necessary to forge these connections and move your audience.

Through personalized coaching sessions and interactive workshops, you’ll learn to tap into the power of messaging and storytelling to create presentations that resonate with your audience. You’ll learn how to meet your audience where they are and be remembered, increase your influence and overall effectiveness of your presentations.

Importance of Connecting with the Audience and the Pincus Group’s Expertise

As a presenter, your goal is to connect with your audience in a way that moves them toward a purpose or new understanding. Whether delivering a sales pitch, presenting research findings, or delivering a keynote address, your ability to engage and persuade your audience is critical. At the Pincus Group, we understand the importance of meeting your target audience where they are and reaching your goal of informing, inspiring and persuading. We’re here to help you achieve that goal through our tailored Presentation Training in NY.

With years of experience in coaching individuals and teams, our coaches are skilled at helping clients overcome any obstacles to deliver clear, powerful presentations that engage and persuade their audience. Our comprehensive training program equips you with the skills and confidence needed to address or brief any audience, bringing your best, most confident self in the process.

Executive Presentation Training: Unlocking Your Potential as a Speaker

The Pincus Group’s Presentation Training in NY offers a range of competencies that helps you become a more effective and engaging presenter. Through our training, you can expect:

Enhanced self-confidence: Our program is designed to help you overcome any fear of public speaking and remove any road-blocks. Developing confidence and authority is about helping you identify and

build on your individual strength, using that skill to deliver presentations, speeches and briefings that enhance your authority.

Strengthen public speaking skills: Our trainers will work with you to identify and develop your individual qualities as a communicator, refining your delivery, including your non-verbal communication, as well as developing your storytelling abilities.

Boosting presentation content and design: We’ll provide you with the tools and techniques needed to ensure all of your presentations are visually appealing and engaging for each target audience.

Techniques for Keeping Your Listeners Engaged: Our program taps into emotional intelligence tools to strengthen your connection with your audience, and enhance your authority, authenticity and credibility.

Expert Strategies for Handling Challenging Q&A Sessions: We’ll provide you with strategies for handling difficult questions and maintaining control during Q&A sessions.

Features of our Presentation Training in NY include:

Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and recognizing how to meet your audience where they are, and meet their needs to gain trust, motivate and persuade.

Storytelling for Impact: Learn how to craft engaging stories that heighten credibility and engage your audience. Our trainers will guide you through the process of developing your own most compelling messaging and narrative, that resonates with your audience in any venue

Vulnerability and Authenticity: Bringing authenticity to your presentations helps you stand out and forge connections with your audience. Our trainers will help you identify your personal strengths and minimize any weaknesses, bringing your best and most relatable version to every audience for every purpose. You’ll learn to tailor your presentations in ways that highlight your strengths as a presenter.

Empathy and Active Listening: You’ll work on how to identify your target audience and what they need to hear from you, and how to address those concerns or interests even extemporaneously.. You’ll learn how to deliver your material with authority while addressing your audience’s concerns, creating presentations and briefings that truly resonate.

Non-Verbal Communication: Harness the power of your natural body language, including facial expressions, tone of voice and pacing in order to convey your own commitment and connection with your audience. Our trainers will work with you to most effectively use non-verbal communication tools to enhance the impact of your briefings, keynotes, pitches and speeches.

With the Pincus Group’s presentation training NY, you’ll not only strengthen your public speaking skills in any venue and for any purpose, but you’ll also develop the ability to connect with your audience no matter the subject, making your presentations more impactful and memorable.

A Comprehensive Overview of Our Presentation Training Program in NY

At The Pincus Group, we pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence in presentation training and professional executive communication. Our mission is to empower our clients to become more effective communicators, enabling them to achieve their personal and professional goals.

We achieve this by providing personalized coaching, expert guidance, and a supportive learning environment, tailored to each client’s unique needs and objectives. Our trainers are dedicated to helping clients overcome any fears, develop new skills, while enhancing existing ones, and build the confidence needed to excel in their professions. As a leader in presentation training NY, The Pincus Group’s program is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our clients’ success.

Customized Coaching:

A personalized coaching plan is created for each client through an initial assessment. Our trainers evaluate presentation skills and identify areas of improvement. Clients discuss goals and objectives for a personalized coaching plan. Trainers create a customized plan with appropriate modules, exercises, and resources. This plan is a guide for the client’s journey to become a better presenter with ongoing assessments by our trainers. This ensures clients get effective training, helping them reach their presentation goals. Whether our clients choose short or longer term goals, there’ll be a coaching plan to meet their objectives.

Expert Guidance:

Our experienced trainers work closely with clients to develop personalized coaching plans that target specific areas for improvement. Through one-on-one sessions or group workshops, our coaches provide immediately applicable techniques and offer immediate feedback to help clients put their new presentation skills to work immediately.

Practical Exercises to Hone Your Skills and Build Confidence

Our training emphasizes hands-on, practical experiences in real-life situations. Participants will practice techniques for organizing their own materials, designing engaging visuals, and delivering messages with clarity and confidence for maximum impact.

Experience the Thrill of Delivering Winning Presentations in High-Stakes Situations:

The skills acquired through Presentation Training NY can be applied to a wide variety of real-life scenarios, equipping clients with the tools they need to excel in their professional lives. Learn about in which scenarios these skills are useful:

• Boardroom Brilliance: Presenting updates, proposals, or strategies to boards of
• Investor pitches: Meeting potential investors in support of a startup, enhanced offering, or new
• Conference Confidence: Delivering research findings, case studies, or best practices with confidence to industry
• Sales Savvy: Team or individual presentations on the value of a product or service to potential
• Training Excellence: Teaching new skills or sharing information with colleagues or

By practicing and refining their presentation skills, executives will be better prepared to navigate professional communications with confidence, achieving professional company, team and individual goals in the process.

Engage in Interactive, Hands-On Exercises That Build Your Skills and Knowledge

Our Presentation Training NY training sessions are designed to be interactive and engaging, providing ample opportunities for participants to practice their skills and receive constructive feedback. By actively participating in group and individual exercises, professionals gain hands-on experience and learn how to apply the techniques they’ve learned.

Access to a Wealth of Resources and Expert Guidance Long after Your Training is over

At The Pincus Group, we’re committed to providing ongoing support and resources to help our clients continue to grow and develop their presentation skills. After completing the Presentation Training NY program, clients receive access to ongoing virtual support , as well as opportunities for follow-up coaching sessions to ensure long-term success.

Customized Training Programs to Meet the Unique Needs of Your Industry

Presentation Training NY is designed to be adaptable to the unique challenges and requirements of various industries. Our trainers work closely with clients to develop training solutions that address the specific communication needs and expectations of their fields. Some examples of tailored solutions for different industries include:

• Technology Titans: Focusing on simplifying complex concepts and highlighting the benefits of new technology solutions for both technical and non-technical
• Medical, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industries: Enhancing organization and team messaging for specific outcomes, enhancing clear and concise communication for both professional and lay audiences, and dealing with complex, data-driven briefings tailored to specific
• Finance Fundamentals: Enhancing clarity and authority when presenting financial data, enhancing complex data for a clear, concise, and visually appealing presentation, to engage stakeholders and decision-makers for any
• Manufacturing: Addressing the unique challenges of presenting technical information related to production processes, quality control, and supply chain management for any target
• Non-Profit Navigators: Crafting compelling narratives that showcase the impact and value of an organization’s mission, learning to craft appealing narratives for donors, partners, and all
• Education Excellence: Developing engaging and informative presentations for diverse direct and indirect audiences, including students, parents, administrators and

No matter your experience or industry, Presentation Training NY will equip you with the skills and confidence needed to make your next presentation a resounding success.

Boost Your Presentation Skills with Our Customized Training Modules

At The Pincus Group, we understand that each individual has unique strengths and challenges when it comes to public speaking. That’s why our Presentation Training NY program offers a variety of specialized offerings designed to address specific aspects of presentation skills. These can be combined and tailored to meet your specific needs and goals, ensuring that you receive the most relevant and effective training possible, designed for immediate impact.

Storytelling for Impact

Learn the art of storytelling to create a compelling narrative for your presentations, speeches and briefings. This training focuses on teaching you how to craft stories that resonate with your audience, making your message more memorable and engaging.

Visual Design and Slide Creation

Enhance your presentation’s visual impact with our module on visual design and slide creation. We’ll teach you how to create visually appealing slides that complement and reinforce your message, helping you to maintain audience interest and attention.

Vocal Techniques and Body Language

Discover the power of non-verbal communication in our vocal techniques and body language module. You’ll learn how to use your voice effectively, project confidence, and harness the power of body language to engage your audience and convey your message.

Handling Question and Answer Sessions with Confidence

Master the art of handling challenging questions and audience interactions with our module on Q&A sessions. This module will equip you with strategies for responding to questions effectively, maintaining control, and staying on message even under pressure.

Cultivating a Confident Mindset

Develop the mental tools necessary to conquer your fear of public speaking and maintain a confident mindset during your presentations. This module explores techniques for managing stress, overcoming anxiety, and staying focused in high-pressure situations.

You’ll receive a comprehensive and personalized learning experience that addresses your specific needs and objectives. With The Pincus Group’s expert guidance, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a confident and captivating public speaker.

The Key to Mastery and Continued Growth as a Presenter

While completing our training is a significant step toward improving your public speaking skills, it’s essential to continue practicing and refining those skills even after the training is over. Regular practice will help to solidify your new skills and ensure continued growth and development.

To maintain and improve your presentation skills, consider incorporating the following practices into your routine:

Revisiting Your Materials: How to Stay Sharp and Build on Your Knowledge over Time

Periodically review the resources provided during the Presentation Training NY program to refresh your memory and reinforce key concepts.

Seeking Results: The Importance of Honest Feedback in Achieving Your Presentation Goals

Solicit constructive feedback from colleagues, friends, or mentors after giving presentations, and use this feedback to identify areas for improvement. Take advantage of included support to offer continual feedback.

Workshops and Webinars: Additional Resources for Continued Learning and Skill Building

Participate in additional learning opportunities, such as workshops, webinars, or conferences, to expand your knowledge and stay current on industry trends.

Recording Your Presentations: Tips for Self-Reflection and Improvement

Record yourself giving presentations and review the footage to identify areas where you can improve your delivery, body language, or vocal techniques.

Public speaking is vital for personal and professional success, but it can be intimidating. Pincus Group’s Presentation Training NY program helps you conquer your fears, gain skills, and build confidence. The Pincus Group provides personalized coaching, expert guidance, and supportive learning for effective training. With specialized training and ongoing resources, clients achieve remarkable advances in limited time. Call now in Presentation Training NY to conquer fear and become a skilled public speaker.

Master the Art of Connecting and Engaging Your Audience Today!

Good communication is crucial for success in today’s business. The Heartfelt Presentation Training NY program by The Pincus Group can improve public speaking, confidence, and communication skills. With our coaching, guidance, and skill development, create powerful presentations that engage your audience. Adapted to your needs, our program provides relevant and effective training. Take action and

call us The Pincus Group’s presentation training NY to overcome fear and reach your potential as a presenter. Contact us to gain the skills and confidence to connect with your audience and achieve your goals. Call or visit our website to schedule a consultation. Start your journey as a powerfully effective communicator and a star presenter now.

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We tell clients that they are the presentation, not their scripts and nothing brings that home like facing an audience without one.

Know that, the good news is if you are prepared, speaking from notes is going to greatly increase your effectiveness as a speaker. No one in your audience wants to be read to, no matter what the topic. They’ve come to hear what you have to say, not what you have to read. (After all, you could have saved everyone time and bother by just emailing your script if that weren’t the case.) The bad news is, you’re going to have to get over the notion that preparation stops once you get your content down on paper.

Follow some basic guidelines to help you power up your presentation without that script:

• Always start by determining key messages. Your messages are your port in a storm. Lose your place? Return to port. Wondering if material is relevant? Look at those key messages and decide whether any of your material helps explain or convince us of their validity. If material doesn’t directly do that, leave it aside. This is how you’ll begin to reduce a lot of unnecessary material and get to the essence of why your audience has come to hear you.
• Reduce notes to key ideas and phrases. Don’t use full sentences on your note cards and don’t fill your notecards with small script. The whole idea here is to get away from just reading to the audience. That process gets much more complicated if you’ve simply transferred an entire script onto small notecards. Instead, focus on larger points with key phrases, using more of an outline reduced to a bulleted form (and numbering your note cards prominently). The idea is to maximize eye contact with an audience and gain some feedback from them. If you see heads nodding in agreement, or faces staring back in thought, you’ll get a cue you’re on the right track.
• Don’t memorize. You want to practice your talk until you’re comfortable with the general shape and outline, but give yourself the freedom to speak in the moment. No one knows what you meant to say. Meanwhile, by freeing yourself from exact phrasing and even exact order, you’ll have a better opportunity to really connect and give your presentation a flow that’s easier for the audience to understand.
• Try and leave even the notecards behind. If there’s a small table or surface off to the side you can place your notes on, work toward reviewing your notes periodically rather than holding the notes in your hand. Yes, it takes practice. If you need to return to your notes to check your place, don’t stress. Simply stop talking. Review your notes, and then begin again with your audience. Once you really free yourself from the need to fill every second of time with a scripted phrase, you’ll discover how much your props (notecards) have actually been holding you back. If you need to shorten your presentation to accommodate your ability to stay on track, then do so. It’s well worth it to your audience to get a sense of your passion and knowledge about a subject, then it is to try and follow a technically detailed presentation that’s just read to them.
• Practice, practice, practice.  Did I mention practice? Nothing will increase your proficiency and the audience’s enjoyment more than having a real sense that you’re not lecturing them but really communicating your ideas for some purpose. When you’re comfortable, it’s going to show, in natural hand movements, in a more relaxed voice, natural pace and more compelling presentation.

Remember, you are the presentation. The rest are merely aides to help you make it.

Aileen Pincus is a communications consultant and President of the Pincus Group, Executive Communications Training. She can be reached at www.thepincusgroup.com

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Ever hear the one about picturing your audience naked to overcome your fear of presenting to them? How about the one about practicing in front of a mirror? Anyone who has ever tried either of those well-meaning tropes knows how futile they are. Deluding ourselves that we can calm fears by laughing at our audience, or that we can convince them of anything by faking authenticity, is worse than a waste of time.  It prevents us from using our greatest power as presenters: our true selves.

Nothing is quite as powerful as watching and listening to someone who is passionate about what they know and knows how to share it with an audience they know how to connect with. So what other well-meaning advice can we ignore as we build those powerful presentation skills? Try ignoring these “how to’s” and substituting some genuine skill builders.

Worst Advice:

Memorize Your Presentation
Now this one sounds reasonable enough on the surface. After all, much of our fear about presenting is wrapped up in our fear of looking foolish in front of others. Some of that comes from our fear of drawing a blank when all eyes are on us. If we memorize our presentation, that won’t happen, right? Perhaps, but what will certainly happen is that we’ll be taken out of “the moment” as we put all of our energy and attention on recalling the least significant portion of our presentation: the literal words. Suddenly, we’re not focused on the immediate reaction we’re getting from the audience or on making sure we’re connecting with them. We’re focusing instead on making sure the words keep coming. That sets the bar too low: surviving the presentation until the end isn’t your goal. CONNECTING to your audience is.

Instead: Know Your Presentation
Focus on the essence of what you’re presenting: namely your key messages. This is what’s most important for your audience to understand. If the worst happens and all of your materials and notes disappeared, how would you summarize what you came to say?  Put those bigger ideas up front and build your presentation around them. Your audience won’t likely remember all of the supporting details, but they should remember your key points. Worry less about repeating the exact words you intended and more about making sure you’re connecting. If you see heads nodding, react. If you see puzzled looks, don’t just plow through. Stop and make sure you’re not rushing ahead of your audience just to fill space. Slow yourself down and make sure you really see your audience and gauge their reactions. Remember, no one knows what you were supposed to say, so don’t let a pause or different phrasing than you’d planned throw you.

Use a Lot of Bullets
For some reason, lots of presenters think they can take a long, dry presentation and suddenly make it come alive if they can just add enough bullets to the screen. Ever sit through one of those presentations where the bullets don’t in any way indicate an abbreviated point? Heck, they may not even indicate a point! Here’s the thing: TEXT ON A SLIDE IS NOT A VISUAL AID. There is nothing about text that makes it more understandable, or illustrative, than the spoken word, by itself.

Instead: Put the Visual Back in Visual Aid
Are there actual visuals that would help illustrate your points? Can you bring in relevant charts, graphs, photos, illustrations to help your audience “see” your points? If you must use bullets, greatly reduce them and the words you use. Your audience didn’t come to read and they didn’t come to listen to YOU read to them. (Hint: if you use punctuation in your bulleted information, you’re using too many words.)

More is Better
Ever sit through a presentation that’s a product of many hands? More detail, more slides, with the presenter intoning something like…”..and here you can see again..…“ or “this is just yet another example of…” Yes, you want to prove your key points. Data does help you do that. However, information overload may quickly confuse your audience and actually mask your key points.

Instead: Pointed is Powerful
Limit your backup points and secondary data to your “best stuff.” Ask yourself whether any given slide is necessary, why, and what might instead be moved to handout material. Remember, this is ORAL presentation. That means it’s necessary for presenters to pay attention to higher messages, with just enough information to lend strong support. Remember, you are the presentation, so stay center stage.

Aileen Pincus is a communications consultant and President of the Pincus Group, Executive Communications Training. She can be reached at www.thepincusgroup.com

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Remember “Mean are from Mars and Women are from Venus”? Family therapist John Gray was hardly the first to insist communication problems are gender-based. In fact, Gray’s pop-psychology tome of the early 90’s simply gave way to decades of popular psychology about the supposed female deficit communicating from the executive suite.

For many women trying to climb the corporate ladder, the takeaway unfortunately has been that communicating “like a man” would be essential to success. A whole marketplace of communication training now exists, based on the notion of fixing” women’s supposed lack of professional communication skills.The only thing wrong with the concept is that it’s bunk.

Even if you don’t believe the research debunking gender communication differences in the brain (i.e.one of many studies such as the  Purdue study finding gender differences even in interpersonal communication smaller than differences between individuals , or a 2015 brain scan study debunking the popular notion of gender brain differences www.newscientist.com/article/dn28582-scans-prove-theres-no-such-thing-as-a-male-or-female-brain/),  it’s hard to set aside widely held notions of a female disadvantage in workplace communication skills.

The healthier reality I’ve observed in coaching hundreds of executives to success, is that there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the communication problems of the sexes.

There’s nothing actually gender-specific about confidence or clarity—two essentials for powerful public communication. The ability to maintain eye contact or to speak thoughtfully using direct and powerful language is gender neutral. Certainly it would be difficult to correlate gender to the ability to speak with conviction and passion—all hallmarks of powerful and persuasive communication.

What I see instead is an array of common communication problems. Highly successful executives of both genders often have trouble knowing what to leave out, how to explain complex ideas without overwhelming an audience, how to motivate, how to project confidence, how to communicate powerfully and portray authenticity. Both male and female executives often complain when seeking help about not having a “natural” talent for communicating, by which they mean, it fills them with anxiety (particularly when the stakes are high). Of course nature and talent aren’t what’s called for here; preparation and hard work are.

The good news is powerful communication is about the clarity of the vision; not the gender of the visionary.

It’s about the power of the message, not the sex of the messenger.

The truth is, women aren’t a special class of disabled communicators, nor are men who don’t feel masters of the skill, somehow ‘naturally’ lacking.

Presenting and public speaking are acquired skills and the real truth is anyone can improve. Anyone can learn to be a powerful and effective public communicator for their ideas. Anyone can learn to let others see them at their authentic best. So whether you get professional coaching (ahem), or opt for informal feedback on your own, resolve to get there. Commit to showing yourself at your absolute public best. It’s too important for your own career success to perform at anything less than at your most powerful!

Aileen Pincus is a communications consultant and President of the Pincus Group, Executive Communications Training. She can be reached at www.thepincusgroup.com

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We tend to avoid what we fear, so before you hand off that presentation to someone else or try side-stepping the responsibility altogether, consider what you’d be passing up. Each presentation in front of your peers, your boss, an important client is a unique opportunity to showcase your value. A home run in a presentation or briefing can do more to lift your reputation and cement trust for these important relationships than all of the hard work you’ve already put in getting ready for it.

That’s because your audience can see and hear your ideas for themselves. They can connect the messages with the messenger and get the full measure of their impact. Importantly, they will give credit for those ideas to you, the presenter. In short, presentation and briefing skills are essential tools every executive needs to master.

Embrace the presentation opportunities you have by conquering those fears and letting your expertise shine. Follow these pro tips to help:

Don’t memorize

If you memorize (instead of just getting comfortable with your ideas), all you’ll be concentrating on when you deliver your presentation is remembering what you were supposed to say. That’s going to interfere with being your best, most confident self. Instead, stay in the moment and give yourself permission to express your key ideas in a way that sounds natural and comfortable for you. Don’t worry about perfection. Your audience isn’t.

Do prepare (the right way)

Get your essential ideas down to (no more than) three main points. Practice delivering these orally. Pay attention to how you naturally communicate them, what details you use to explain each and how you transition from one main point to the next. There’s simply no substitute for hearing yourself present and building some muscle memory of how you want the presentation or briefing to flow. (Recording yourself is a great tool for this.) If you write out a full script, begin practicing with a greatly reduced one with just bullet points or notes with key points and phrases. It’s far more important to stay connected to your audience than it is to remember every detail of something you’d prepared.

Build in a breather

Many presenters need help controlling their fears at the very start of their presentations. Once they get into the body of their material, the content of what they’re saying helps them find their stride and pull through. If you’re most anxious at the beginning of your presentation, try a different approach. A question to the audience momentarily allows you to subtly shift the focus to your audience and might offer you the breathing room you need to settle in. (Of course the question has to be one you’re reasonably certain will draw the right response, or a survey with no right or wrong answer that helps you set up your points). You might also use a prop, or a handout to momentarily draw people’s attention to something you’re about to speak to. You might even start with a short video or other visual after the briefest of introductions.

Go with what works for you

Many executives heave a sigh of relief when the presentation or briefing is over and they can move on to answering questions. If that’s you, don’t feel constrained by formats. Keep the presentation shorter and lengthen the q and a. You’ll still need to deliver some key messages about your conclusions, but you can save the detail for when your audience signals they want it; by asking a question. Just tell your audience what you’re doing (“I have a brief overview and then I want to get right to your questions about what this means”). Remember to present with your audience first and foremost in mind: what is the essential information THEY need?

Treat the symptoms

Fear causes a physical reaction in us, as our brains signal to our bodies that we’re in some kind of danger. Our breathing becomes more rapid, our voices might shake, our palms sweat. It’s those ‘symptoms’ that many presenters fear displaying, so have a plan for handling those reactions. Know that no one can hear what you’re thinking, and are oblivious to your fear. Tell yourself you’re going to be great, remind yourself of past successes, and visualize how good it’s going to be to hear the congratulations afterwards (even if you don’t believe it). Tell yourself: You’ve GOT this! Remember no one knows what you were supposed to say, so if you forget something, just move on without apologies. If you forget something, it’s a good time to pause and ask, “any questions so far”? Don’t try to banish your nerves, channel them. It’s the same energy that will help fuel your performance. Expend a bit of it if you can just before your presentation (a quick walk, some deep knee bends and long, slow deep breaths).

Remember, the more presentations you do, the easier this will be. Don’t avoid speaking to your own ideas and your own capabilities. Remember how scary things were the first time you tried them, that you now do with ease. You can build this ‘muscle memory’ of success, one presentation, one briefing at a time!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9634281

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Emotional intelligence is sometimes defined as the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s self empathetically and appropriately; and to be able to use emotional information to guide behavior. How then is emotional intelligence used to strengthen presentation skills?

Next time you get ready to present, think about how you and your audience are responding to each other and how you can make use of that information to enhance your performance and your results. Some guides to consider:

BUILD IN TIME TO READ YOUR AUDIENCE: This sounds easier than it is. Many presenters think mostly (if not exclusively) about their own performance during a presentation. They understandably want that presentation to go smoothly and without mishap, so are focused on remembering details of what they planned to say, as well as how to get from point to point without missing anything. Master presenters, however, know the test of a great presenter isn’t whether the delivery proceeded without hesitation or that everything you thought you might include was delivered. The emotionally intelligent presenter is aware of the audience’s reaction. Make it a point in every presentation to gauge audience reaction as often as you can. You can do this either by literally stopping occasionally and asking for feedback (“Does this make sense”?  “Everyone agree?” ) or you can simply build in pauses that allow you to gauge reaction yourself.

YOUR AUDIENCE IS COMMUNICATING WITH YOU IF YOU LISTEN:  Audience feedback is often subtle, which is why for many presenters, it’s easy to overlook. Many audiences won’t interrupt your presentation or offer you the kind of verbal feedback that lets you know how you’re being received. The emotionally intelligent presenter checks for non-verbal signs. Are they maintaining eye contact? Are expressions neutral? Interested? Is body language open? Or are they shifting constantly in their seats, avoiding eye contact and giving you other signs of disinterest or disagreement?

TALK BACK: The point of being aware of audience reaction is to react to it. If you sense you might be losing your audience, don’t ignore the signs. Stop and react. If you sense boredom or disinterest, don’t stick to your script. You might quicken your pace or even skip ahead to a different section of your presentation. (“Why don’t we move ahead to some action items.”)  If you sense disagreement, you might react in turn by testing the resistance. “I can see there’s some skepticism. Anyone want to offer some reaction?” That will give you a clue as to whether the resistance or reaction is shared by others or an isolated problem you identified and can quickly address.

TAKE IT IN STRIDE: The purpose of getting audience feedback is to increase your chances of successful communication. Don’t take any negative feedback you get personally, even if you disagree with it or think it unfair. You might even end the presentation portion early in order to devote more time to the q and a section of the presentation, to make sure you’re addressing your audience’s concerns. (I can guarantee that no one will complain about not enough slides, handouts, or data once you’ve gotten through the basics of the presentation.) Keep your additional materials on hand in case someone asks a specific question the additional data can help you explain, but let the audience guide you in when and how much to use.

Emotional Intelligence is now identified as a crucial leadership skill. Remember that displaying it, proving your ability to connect with others right in front of them, will do far more in proving your leadership ability than all the slides, charts and graphs you could possibly display.

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Presentations are powerful things. When they’re done well, they can persuade an audience, enhance the presenter’s credibility and motivate action. So how do you know when you’re hitting the mark with your audiences?

For most presenters, the answer is to simply ask a colleague or audience member afterwards. The problem is, a simple “How’d I do?” isn’t likely to be answered with an illuminating response. Many people are uncomfortable at giving anything but the most positive or at least neutral feedback (“I thought it was fine.”) Of course, getting helpful and precise feedback is one of the reasons executives hire presentation coaches. You can get good feedback though after your performances if you learn to ask the right questions.

Next time you present:

MAKE FEEDBACK EASY: You can construct a simple feedback survey on index cards to hand out after your presentation if it’s an outside audience. This removes the uncomfortable hurdle for some people of having to tell you in person, should they have anything but positive reactions. Always include at least one open-ended question about what could have been improved. For internal audiences, you might select a few people to ask the same questions via email.

ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS: If you know someone who’ll be attending your presentation, ask them ahead of time if they’ll listen for specific things you’re working on. For instance, if you’re working on reducing the “uhms and ahs” or other verbal fillers when you present, tell a colleague to listen for those as you present. If you make it clear that you’re welcoming that feedback precisely, you’re more likely to get accurate feedback on how you did.

PICK YOUR PRIORITIES: Don’t ask for more feedback than you can handle at one time. Select one or two priorities at a time, such as slowing your hurried pace, or making more eye contact with the audience. You’re much more likely to make real improvements by narrowing your focus.

TAKE IT IN STRIDE: The purpose of feedback is to better your performance as a presenter. Consider the feedback you get but don’t use it as a substitute for your own best judgement. If you have good reason for doing what you do, and it’s working for you, take that into consideration as well. Remember, presenting isn’t “acting”, so if any suggested changes make you uncomfortable, stay true to yourself.

Every time you present, you want your audience to see you at your best. Put the effort into improving this key executive communication skill so others can truly appreciate what you have to offer.

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There are things successful executives do to display the kind of strong “executive presence” that’s helped them get ahead. Beyond the words they choose and even the ideas expressed, successful executives have another tool to demonstrate executive presence: their voice.

Borrow their tips to “power up” your presentations:

YOU’RE ON STAGE – SOUND LIKE IT: There is such a thing as “quiet confidence” but a public presentation is a better venue for displaying enthusiasm and certainty. Your voice is one of your main tools for commanding a room. Make sure you use its full range of power. Nothing can sink a presentation’s effectiveness more quickly than delivering a presentation in a monotonous or soft voice. Think about “presenting” in its full, theatrical sense. Let your voice really show your commitment to what you’re saying.

PROJECTING ISN’T SHOUTING: Project your voice to the back of the room and the people farthest away. That doesn’t mean shouting at them. Breathe from your diaphragm (like a baby: if your hand moves while resting on your diaphragm, you’re doing it right). Your goal is to use your voice naturally, but at a powerful level. Make sure no one is straining to hear you above the noise of those attending or conversely, wondering why you’re so shouting at them.

LET YOUR PRESENTATION BREATHE: Don’t pack so much into your presentation that you rush through in order to fit everything in. You want to make sure there are brief pauses built in, particularly when you’re delivering key points or changing to a new section. That will give you time for change-ups and help the audience as well. Remember we hear much faster than we process information. Especially with ideas we haven’t heard before, it’s important we have time for processing these ideas. Pauses (along with a bit of rephrasing and repetition) help your audience focus on your most important points and remember them.

SOUND LIKE YOU MEAN IT: Short, declarative sentences delivered with a voice that drops at the end, have power. If you leave your voice up or leave it in a neutral tone, it will have less power and thus less authority. Try not to string a series of phrases together in a sort of stream of consciousness delivery, connected with “and” or “so.” Instead, consider what you want to say and rehearse saying it out loud in shorter “bites.” The idea isn’t to memorize your notes or script in rehearsal, but to familiarize yourself with its broader themes and rhythms so that you know exactly what you want to emphasize. Listen to yourself as you deliver your material. If you’re stopping for breath mid-sentence, that’s a clue to shorten up your points. Successful presentations don’t happen by accident. Work for them, and sound as confident as you are in your ideas.

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If you’re presenting to clients or perspective clients about your company’s capabilities, your entire team should be capable of presenting powerfully each and every time. Having the right team leader is important, but it’s not enough to ensure success. Your team leader is there to guide the team toward clear goals but anyone listening to the pitch knows it’s the group effort that will determine whether those promises you’re making will be kept.

Before your next team presentation, make sure each member of your team learns to present powerfully and in concert with one another. Remember these best practices for team presentations:

IT’S ABOUT THE SHOW, NOT JUST THE TELL: If all you needed to win business was to detail your capabilities, you’d be able to win it just by emailing your proposals. There’s a reason for the oral bid or proposal even today when we have so many other options for giving and receiving information. Your potential clients want to “see for themselves” who you are and develop a level of confidence in the team. Make sure your team understands how to show their strengths. Each member needs to be truly comfortable with what they’ve been asked to present and fully prepared for what’s expected. Will they handle direct questions or defer? On what areas might they expect to be questioned or defer to others?

REHEARSE TOGETHER: However limited your time to prepare for the team presentation, don’t use that time solely for individual members to prepare for their individual parts alone. This is a team presentation and you’ll need to rehearse as a team in order to better see and hear the presentation the way your client sees and hears it. Give each other feedback on performance as well as content, with an eye toward how the potential client might view it.

IT ISN’T ACTING: Your team can’t “pretend” to feel confident, they have to be confident. If you see hesitancy or nervousness from a team member in their part of the presentation, get to the root of it before it can be displayed in front of the prospect. By the same token, if your team doesn’t know each other well, or doesn’t like each other, don’t ignore that. That kind of dissonance is exactly what your perspective client is on the alert for. A look of boredom or disagreement will send the perspective client exactly the wrong message about this team, despite what your words say. Understand your team cannot be stronger than its weakest link.

PREPARE FOR SUCCESS: Make sure your team has what it needs to present successfully. Share your due diligence with all members of the team, not just your team leader, so that everyone knows what to expect. Share your strategy too, so that each member of the team understands not only their part in the presentation, but your company’s strategic objectives and goals. Don’t give vague feedback (“keep practicing”)—make that feedback direct (“You need a stronger message to begin with. Make it more definitive.”)

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Work on the whole of the presentation, not just its distinct parts. Pay particular attention to transitions between team members. Does the whole of the presentation flow in a logical way, with each piece as strong as the next? Is each member paying attention to what was said (and literally referencing what’s come before or supporting what’s coming next?) If you can’t work with a coach, video tape your presentation and watch yourselves to make sure you’re not missing something a client would notice.

Successful team presentations don’t happen by accident. Work for it. Invest in your executives and in your company’s success with executive coaching.

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Have a message  

This is author Lauren Weisberger on her book “The Devil Wears Prada” speaking to “Readers Read”:

“Hopefully readers everywhere can relate to the other things in Andrea’s life. The repercussions of her job on her personal life, the problems that arise with her best friend and boyfriend and family, and the way it feels to live in the big city for the first time, are common experiences for so many young women. At the end of the day, I’d be thrilled to hear that readers related to Andrea and this year in her life, and that they had a few laughs while they read. This is clearly not War & Peace, so I’d love to hear that people just enjoyed themselves while reading the book. That would be perfect.”

Ms. Weisberger’s messages sum up that her book is about a relatable young woman, living life in a big city, coupled with the author’s hope the book brings enjoyment and laughter to readers. While there are any number of things she could say about the book (based on a real-life internship she had for a noted designer in the fashion industry), her core messages simply revolved around her central character’s test of strength and ambition that anyone can relate to.

Messaging isn’t about the details of the book, but rather opening a window into its bigger ideas and themes. Think about what you’d like people to remember and take away from what you’ve written and build your talk from there.

Tailor your pitch

Always speak about your book with your audience in mind. Knowing what you know about them, what would they be most interested in hearing? Is there an excerpt or anecdote that you can summarize that you know your audience would especially want to hear? For instance, in an interview with NBC’s Dateline, Author JK Rowling spoke about how her life has changed since becoming one of the world’s best known authors.

“…Everyone wanted my emotions to be very simple. They wanted me to say, ‘I was poor and I was unhappy, and now I’ve got money and I’m really happy.’ And it’s what we all want to see when the quiz winner wins the big prize, you know. You want to see some jumping up and down, for everything to be very uncomplicated. The fact is, I was living a very pure life. There was no press involvement, there was no pressure. Life was very pure and it became more complicated.”

Instead of details of her well-known characters and speculation about where the story might go next, Rawlings surely knew that the very broad and mostly adult audience she was speaking to would focus more easily on what her personal success has meant. She might have expected far different questions from a different media outlet, based on the interest of their viewers.

Understand as much as you can before doing any interview or appearing before any audience about the audience itself. Be prepared to understand their perspective and speak to what about their particular interests intersects with your subject.

Leave them wanting more

Of course you want to turn listeners or viewers into readers. You want to give your audience just enough information to fascinate them, but not so much detail that there is no point in reading your book! This will take some work and practice. Learn to speak about your subject in broad terms, adding color or anecdotes to spark more interest. Think of speaking orally about your book as the equivalent of the “book jacket,” with more color and one or two anecdotes added in.

When people hear or see you in person, they also want something that’s NOT in the book. A backstory, a funny or interesting anecdote, something about the way your book came to be is always interesting to a broad audience.   Here’s how Anthony Bourdain described his route from chef to well-known author to Powell’s Books:

“I was getting frustrated, so I mentioned it casually to my mother, and like a good mother she said, ‘Oh, you should send it to The New Yorker. It’s good enough.’ Yeah, right. That’s gonna happen. An unsolicited submission to The New Yorker? Never. I was absolutely floored when they called up a month later and said they were going to run it. They explained to me that the odds are something like one in ten thousand, if not more. They use me as a case study now when they do seminars at colleges. Very shortly after it appeared, a publisher called up and said, “Want to write a book?”

Remember, oral communication is very different than written communication. Most people listening and watching won’t be taking notes. You have to be understood the first time. Be brief, be engaging, and know that no one is more qualified to speak on your book than you are.

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