Some of the people with whom I work are not comfortable standing at a lectern or in front of a video camera when they have to make a presentation. So I have them sit when they first begin work on their delivery. I ask them to imagine that they are simply having a conversation with me in a living room as they deliver their material.
Surprisingly, this technique is very effective. I do record them but I don’t point the camera in their direction. At this stage, I’m only interested in picking up their voice. When I play it back, it is wonderful to hear their reaction. They are surprised at how natural and normal they sound. My job then is to get them to sound the same way standing at the lectern or in front of the camera.
At this point, many of my clients are ready; however, not everyone is. So, for those who can’t quite make it to the podium, I will have them stand by their chair and deliver it again. I will record it, play it back, and once again, let them hear how well they did. If they don’t do as well standing, they go back to the chair and do more practicing sitting down.
My job is to build their confidence; and, video equipment is the best tool for this type of training so that they can hear themselves and eventually see themselves on camera.
Part of good presentation skills training is to teach the individual to speak to their audience and not at them. The problem for many people is that they think they have to be someone other than themselves when they deliver their material. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you listen to good speakers, they are first and foremost themselves.
One of my clients, a very out-going and well-spoken lawyer, was scheduled to give a presentation on real estate law to a large group of realtors. Here was a man who had no problem in the courtroom getting his points across; however, ask him to stand on a stage and speak to an audience and he was beside himself. He phoned me in distress, stammering as he admitted that he could not do this presentation. In working with him a few days later, I found his delivery to be very boring. When I played back his video, he could see and hear how stiff and flat he looked and sounded.
I had him sit, suggesting that he imagine he was at the kitchen table with his wife giving this presentation. He felt that it wouldn’t sound natural. (Of course his earlier presentation sounded anything but natural!) He did as I requested; I played it back; he was amazed. Why? Because he sounded like he was having a conversation. He was then able to stand at my lectern and deliver an excellent presentation with expression, with emotion, with color.
[Incidentally, he phoned me immediately after speaking to the realtors, telling me that he had done a great job and that he loved doing it!]
If your fear is holding you back, first practice your presentation sitting down with your camcorder running; play it back; and watch it. You may be surprised at just how good of a job you do.
