“Dance 10 – Looks 3!” – In the musical A Chorus Line, a talented dancer broke into a famously funny and, for the time, off-color lament about losing out to lesser, but prettier dancers. When it comes to style and substance, many speakers suffer a similar challenge. The dancer solved her problem with plastic surgery. Speakers can meet their challenge by developing a healthy balance.
Let’s face it. While “Style 10 – Substance 3” can make for an enjoyable presentation, the audience will come to realize there is “no there, there.” Similarly, “Substance 10 – Style 3” will likely leave the audience bored, overwhelmed and having gained little.
The good news is that you don’t need to be a “10” at either. Audiences will appreciate and gain more from a speaker who is a “7” and a “7’ than they will from one who is a “10” and a “3” or the reverse. Get your presentation to an “8” and an “8” and you will be awesome.
Six words can help. Work to make your presentations simple, substantial, earthy, elegant, witty, and wise.
Simple – Not simplistic. Know your subject so well that it you can discover its underlying simplicity and present it clearly.
Substantial – Get close to knowing 30X more than you say so you will exude the confidence needed to have your ideas accepted.
Earthy – Don’t be crude, but be practical and down to earth.
Elegant – Be refined, precise, stylish, and seemingly effortless.
Witty – Have the ability to simultaneously illuminate and amuse.
Wise – Be informed, foresighted, savvy, discriminating and all the other wonderful things that word means.
Learn this and more and make it your own at The Speaking Intensive!
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Hall of Fame speaker Alan Parisse has been coaching presenters and delivering keynotes for over 25 years. Named “One of the Top 21 Speakers for the 21st Century” by Successful Meetings Magazine, he is a keynote speaker for a wide variety of industries and organizations. Alan is a passionate presentation coach to executives, financial advisors, sports stars and sales presenters. |