presentation

presentation

The Art of Persuasive Presentations

1. Introduction to Persuasive Presentations

A presentation is the most effective way to persuade people. However, let’s consider another reality. People cannot easily persuade others in effective ways, and most of them become frustrated. The main cause is their inability to use effective ways to persuade others. But the problem is, how do we make an effective way to persuade? The answer is by using a persuasive presentation. In a persuasive presentation, someone can easily persuade others with effective methods. However, it requires special skills and knowledge to create one. In conclusion, to make a persuasive presentation, someone must be able to understand what a persuasive presentation is and how to create it.

Public speaking has become an essential part of someone’s life. Some people have trouble with public speaking, while others are very talented at it. However, it is not fair if some people miss opportunities because they cannot give a speech in front of the public. The most common cause is having to face a lot of people and deliver a persuasive speech. Public speaking can also be a problem for students who rarely do it and suddenly have to speak in front of their friends. One important public speaking moment is when they have to do a presentation to persuade people.

2. Crafting a Compelling Message

Crafting a compelling message. To persuade an audience to accept your proposal or support your position, you need to present to them a message that is both appealing and convincing. When developing such a message, consider the three parts of a persuasive speech: the logos – the logic, the reason, the evidence that you use, the pathos – the passion, or the emotional energy that you provide, and the ethos – the personal character; the credibility that you demonstrate. While they are delivered in a speech, the message should be embedded in the flesh of your proposal. Think of each part in terms of the overall effect you want to have on your audience. Make the evidence that you provide provocative, interesting, and easy to remember. You probably have already compiled a good store of evidence and reasons in support of your position. You need to carefully select the details that you will present and then decide how you will package this information in a way that it stands out in your audience’s mind. You may consider using analogy to the following of opposition to the usual phrase or the vivid description. Simulation and examples are also helpful tools. Whichever method you choose, make sure that the information is directly relevant to the issue and is relatively easy to follow. This will increase the likelihood that your audience will comprehend what you are trying to communicate.

3. Engaging Visuals and Delivery Techniques

Make sure you have structured your delivery in a way that will be suitable for the environment in which the presentation will take place. Consider whether you will be audible and visible to the whole audience and also the size and seating of the room. It is important to practice your delivery a good few times with particular emphasis on expressive phrases and effective guidance from one segment of the presentation to another. This preparation will ensure fluency in the real presentation. A presentation is often improved by increasing the volume and quality of the speaker’s voice. Vary your voice as much as possible using volume and pitch to interpret your meaning. Be careful with dramatic effect. This is a powerful tool but too much of it may be perceived as artificial. It should be used to add impact to what is already a strong point in your presentation. Always maintain solid eye-contact with your audience and be receiving of cues that they have understood a point. A nod or a smile from you in response to a message well received will improve the morale of your audience. As mentioned earlier the objective of this phase of your presentation is to add meaning to your message and ultimately persuade. This should be constantly in your mind whilst delivering a presentation.

Visuals are your ally in delivering a persuasive presentation. Use them wisely – too many visuals will detract from your message. A good visual is anything that helps to clarify your message, is supportive of a point in your presentation, or that your audience will enjoy. The most effective visuals are often the simplest – a key phrase, or an image. Remember if you are using slides that these are for the benefit of the audience and not a prompt for the speaker. Keep them simple and uncluttered. High contrast, clean lines and bold colours will create simple, effective slides. When delivering a slide, question or phrase it in the same way as your audience would think of it. Leave the slide up for only as long as it takes for them to understand and try not to refer back to it. You want your audience’s attention on you. Always be ready to introduce a different visual to keep your audience interested. This will prevent mind-wandering and keep your audience focused. A good change from the regular slideshow is a short video or audio bite. This can be very attention grabbing and allows the speaker time to compose themselves in preparation for the next segment of the presentation. Always link the visual back to your message. Do this explicitly if you have to and always check that your audience has interpreted it in the right way. An ambiguous visual will only add confusion to a presentation. This phase of a presentation is simply another opportunity to persuade your audience of the message. Delivery of the spoken word is your chance to add feeling, interpretation and meaning to your message. It is your voice’s job to guide your audience to the cause of action and your belief.

4. Building Credibility and Trust

Employ a conversational tone. Be question driven. Avoid sounding like a textbook. Building trust is a key factor in persuasive presentations. It will not be easy to convince your audience, let alone move them to action, if they don’t believe in you, your message, or your ability to deliver it. Trust encompasses several factors: – Competence: Does your audience believe you are qualified to present on this topic? – Integrity: Do you have their best interests at heart, or is this all about you and what you want? – Open-mindedness: Are you able to see more than one side to an issue? – Similarity: Do you identify with your audience? – Likeability: Are you considerate, friendly, and well-intentioned? To build trust, you’re going to have to cater to the diversity in your audience. If there’s a lot of resistance related to your issue, it may be an idea to try and build trust before you launch into your persuasive message. If it’s a somewhat hostile audience, again, you might have to build credibility and trust as a prelude to getting them to listen to your message. How can this be accomplished? You’ll have to persuade the audience that you are someone worth listening to, and that this is an issue worth listening to. There are two persuasion routes to this end, depending on whether the issue is of low relevance to the audience or whether the audience is straight out hostile. High credibility sources are the more persuasive and are more resistant to change. If you are a high credibility source, you are simply seen as having the knowledge and the access to the relevant information. This is where your competence is important. If the issue is of high relevance to your audience, you can also use the central route, arguing your point with well-thought-out logic and reason. If you wish to simply effect a quick but temporary change to convincing your audience that you are likable and that the issue is likable, you may use the peripheral route. This may involve associating yourself with imagery of a highly attractive and likable person (but I suppose you have to be that person already!), or perhaps it will involve some celebrity endorsement. This won’t always work, and it doesn’t lead to strong belief, but quite often it will be enough to get the audience to suspend their disbelief and listen to your message.

5. Closing with Impact and Call to Action

The closing is one of the most crucial phases of the presentation. A strong call to action will result in the audience being motivated to take necessary steps towards the product. There are a few key steps to ensure the closing will have maximum impact with its audience. Firstly, summarize your benefits to the audience. This will make sure that you leave a lasting impression of what’s in it for them if they take your suggestion. Remind them of their pain and how you can solve it. It’s like giving a starving man a whiff of a great meal, it will leave them wanting more. We ensure the appetite stays by then painting the world of the possibility of success. The tangible and intangible gains that can be made by taking our advice, and the consequences of not doing so. With there being a clear understanding of what can be achieved, it will create motivation to take the steps to attain it. A tried and tested method of getting the audience to envision a better future is the use of guided visualization. This involves taking the audience through the steps of what can be achieved if they take the advice, painting a vivid mental picture of what success would look and feel like. This can be a powerful tool, if presented well the audience will actually experience the emotions, and given their newly found motivational state it is likely they will take actions to turn this into a reality. Coming out of a visualization straight into the call to action has great effects, it’s striking while the iron is hot.