a few, well chosen words can evoke amazing images.

there’s been some recent comment in the blogosphere on this. for instance CreativityWorks’ post citing Churchill’s ‘iron curtain’ speech.

here in australia, an equally evocative phrase, ‘stolen generation’, conjures up plenty of desperate and emotional images.

 in this context, the link between words and images is summed up in one word itself: emotion. photos, paintings, pictures – phrases, poetry, prose are all at their best when they convey emotion.

 I don’t know, but emotion, to me, in both words and pictures means an ability to suggest. Stimulating the audience to conjure up the texture and dimension of the story themselves produces the strongest reaction. it’s the classic – tell me you’re funny, or tell me a joke – maxim. the inclusion of involvement is the imperative. without it, life is a lecture, with it, it is an adventure.

 the images we create from certain words are individual, private even; but often, when the suggestion, the emotion, is extremely powerful, the images have the commonality of an ‘archetype’. and as such can be immensely powerful, binding us all together, collectively, in the human condition. producing the equivalent of a profound, ‘we understand’.

 even words that don’t on the face of it ‘paint pictures’, can, used in the right way, in the right context, be dramatic and a driving force. think about Obama’s ‘yes we can’.

 but all too often words are trotted out ad infinitum, machine-gun style. too many words, or the same words delivering, basically, the same information, in the same way. a lazy, fearful, vacuous soup where all too many business presentations, unfortunately, reside.

 words are about communication. if we are to communicate well, we need to pay words more respect. the famous line ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me’, is perhaps the most disrespectful and inaccurate use of words, in history. words cause all wars.

 but, equally, words also deliver hope. and without them and the connection they provide, we wouldn’t even be here.

 words to me exist to paint pictures. so I think we should all learn to paint with them. some days we will use words to create modern art, some days to paint impressionist landscapes, other days to measure out exact technical drawings or precise diagrams. but never to create grey, fuzzy photocopies.

 in business, this means don’t tap out PowerPoint slides full of words. use words carefully. parsimoniously. try alternatives for words that are overused, words that have lost their shine from the battering of the bandwagon they’ve been on.

 imagine, for a moment, being the word ‘agenda’. your very soul would be so dull these days, you’ve been ‘photocopied’ so many times; used to the point of becoming almost invisible. the same, it’s a pity to say, goes if you were any one of the words: ‘objective’,  ‘leverage’ or ‘strategy’. you just don’t evoke the same passion, imagery or meaning that you once did.

 so here’s some practical food for thought. say, for example, you’re in Sony’s digital camera sales division and you’re at some swanky, exotic location for your annual sales conference. the first slide in the presentation on screen reads ‘objective 2010 – increase sales by 15%’. you’re in the audience. I’m guessing here…but I don’t think I hear your adrenaline pumping in your eagerness to hit that mark’?

 so, instead, what if the first slide had read ‘what are we gonna do this year – make 9 million more people say ‘cheese’ with a Sony’. now there’s an evocative image! doesn’t that involve and inspire you a bit more. and what about the ‘agenda’ slide. how about ‘a million smiles in the making…’

 understand? get…the picture?

 words. they are at their best when they paint pictures. so learn to paint with them.

1.  What we can to set the scene and take control

2.  How we can say it in order to own the room

1.   Set the scene and take control 

To set the scene, all presentations should have a Purpose, and possibly some Background information, some Housekeeping and/or an Attention Grab.  For more information on these, have a quick look at my blog ‘Mission Control.  Ready for lift off’. 

Great, so now we have some relevant scene setting information to ease you and your audience into the presentation, plus they all now know why they are there listening to you.  Now let’s look at how we can own the room and create a really strong 1^st impression.

2.  Owning the room

It’s essential that you use the first 60 seconds to establish your presence, authority and credibility i.e. to sell yourself.

The first thing to do is MARK YOUR START i.e. decide where you physically want to be to start your presentation.  You obviously want to be where everyone can see you (usually at the head of the table) and you ideally want to position yourself as close to the audience as is comfortable.  This is because increasing your proximity to your audience increases your presence and appearance of confidence.  Once you’re at the spot where you want to begin, take a moment to collect and connect.  

To do this, pause as this will raise your perceived confidence and authority. As you pause, breathe.  Breathing naturally will help you to appear in control, whilst also reducing your nerves.  At the same time make eye connection with your audience.  Obviously don’t eye ball every individual, but you do want to start building some non-verbal rapport with them.  As part of this, make sure you smile!  This is one of the most important assets we have – it makes us appear relaxed, approachable and in the moment – and smiling also helps to reduce nerves!

The above sounds complicated but really it’s no different to how you would behave if you were being introduced to someone for the first time – and it only takes 2-3 seconds, and these few seconds can be crucial in helping you appear poised, self assured, and ready to begin.

Ok, so now it’s time to own the room.  Here goes!

Simply go through your first scene setting chunk (i.e. purpose, background, housekeeping or attention grab) then pause.  If you don’t pause at this point, what comes out of your mouth will sound like verbal porridge.

Now change gear, up or down it doesn’t matter.  This is to make sure you begin to engage the audience and don’t come across as monotone.

Next, see if you can move/change position.  This doesn’t have to be dramatic!  A lean back in your chair or a step forward will do.

Now deliver your next scene setting chunk.  Then pause, change gear and move and so on until you reach your agenda.

QUICK WARNING – This may feel unnatural at first! But I guarantee it’s well worth it as the combination of pausing, changing gears and moving is incredibly powerful. Together they will help you own the room and come across as comfortable, confident, and in control.  At the same time, you will get the audience’s attention, maintain their engagement and build a sense of anticipation for your presentation.  A pretty good 1^st impression I’m sure you would agree – all achieved in a matter of seconds. Plus, this will reduce your nerves, so that by the time you get to your agenda you should feel you’re firing on all cylinders and ready to deliver a really successful presentation.

If you want to kick off a presentation and own the room remember the first 60 seconds can make or break a presenter. So plan & practice the start so you know you’ll make a great 1^st impression

p.s. remember it’s your personality that powers your presentation performance.