To bond with an audience select a topic of great interest to them.
Remember eighty percent of a presentation is in the preparation.
When preparing keep in mind the fleeting nature of oral communication. Good visual aids can improve recall.
Try to get attention right from the beginning. If you fail the rest of your message could be lost,
A handful of tips to establish rapport with an audience when making a presentation
*Look for common ground
Talk about local experiences, associations or environmental issues. Try to find common perspectives with your audience and always be honest.
Refer to familiar places and quote people the audience like and respect.
*Focus on the audience’s concerns
Agree with some of their hopes, beliefs, attitudes and values.
People like new information, so make your message fresh, exciting and stimulating.
Punctuated your message with amusing stories and anecdotes, to help make it more memorable.
If you make recommendations explain the benefits and advantages.
*Don’t say too much
Focus on a simple clear message.
Be brief, sincere, enthusiastic and seated,
Three by three may be the key. Tell them what you are going to say. Say it. Then tell them what you have told them by summarising your message.
At the beginning compose yourself, pause, smile and tell a story, or an anecdote. A little bit of humour can help if it is clever, topical and clean.
Don’t be in a hurry. Let your audience get used to your voice before you start on your main message. Chat to them. Don’t lecture.
Keep your presentation simple and to the point.
Give them facts and reasons why.
Sum up with what you have told them and end with a strong memorable finish, such as a call for action.
*Be polite and respectful at all times
Keep calm even if you have a hostile audience. Let the chairperson deal with any problems that arise.
*Share your feelings and emotions
Tell them how you feel about things. Be honest, modest and sincere.
Pause from time to time between messages. Take care not to talk too fast.
Share your emotions and feelings.
A speech should be ended, not allowed to expire. The end should be a climax, not an anticlimax.
–Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)
“A presentation is a journey – it has a purpose, direction and a goal.”
Source: “Persuasive Ways. ‘Tricks of the trade’ to get your ideas across”. First published by Moss Associates Ltd., New Zealand and in Chinese by the Shanghai People’s Publishing House, the Singapore Institute of Management, Kogan Page Ltd, U.K and Hungarian by Bagolyvar Konyvkiado. Also published as the “Secrets of Persuasion” by Cengage Learning Asia and as an e-book and sold by Amazon.com.
Another Handful of Tips 