Think back to your favorite teachers, coaches, and mentors of your youth. Who comes to mind? Who do you remember? Why? Maybe it was a struggle you had. Maybe it was how they unconditionally loved you. Maybe they gave you a new perspective when you needed it the most. You remember them.
When you are on stage or online in front of an audience, we have an enormous opportunity to influence. We prepare, we practice and we tweak our stories and slides over and over again. But where is our focus? What are we truly trying to accomplish?
In our minds, we usually know our topic and the obstacles our audience faces. Most presenters do. So, what is the difference between good presenters, great presenters, and the ones that we remember most? You know, the ones that when you think of them or their magical presentation a smile warms your face.
What made it magical to you? Simple. They helped you. Whether they inspired you or gave you a new perspective that you may not have even known you needed, they mattered to you. That’s what unforgettable presenters do. Don’t over complicate it. I could make this article longer, but the point is made. Help people.
The biggest challenge we have is meeting them where they are at and heading them in the right direction. We can connect our experiences to their lives. That is challenging. So much baggage we and our audience drag with us to the presentation. If you truly wish to help people, we must let go of our ego and relentlessly pursue helping. This means constantly learning, craving feedback, and a million adjustments. Commit to truly helping your audience. When you do, they will always remember you.
What do you take from this?
Great points about focusing on your audience. So many times I have heard you say that it is important to spend time getting to know your audience before you speak. Spend some time getting to know people that will be in your audience. You are right, knowing your audience is vitally important to your speech!