How to be a memorable presenter

Quick: what’s the thing you remember most about the last presentation you heard?

Maybe it was yesterday’s company meeting? Last Sunday’s sermon? Or the keynote from a conference you just attended?

What do you recall from the presentation you heard?

I’ll wait while you think. [Cue the Jeopardy theme song, please.]

Despite not being able to hear your answers, I’m willing to wager that—if you remember anything from the last presentation—the reason you remember it is the same reason anyone remembers anything. 

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6 public speaking lessons from “I have a dream”

View from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was undoubtedly one of the greatest orators in history. Though his legacy is far more encompassing than his speaking proficiency (and we have yet to fully realize his dream), his ability to communicate that dream played an enormous part in the progress made toward it. 

His labors were tireless. He spoke often, in one-on-one conversations, smaller groups, and to the masses. Let’s refrain from reducing his effort to merely the most famous of his speeches while also learning what we can from its message (as people) and its content and delivery (as speakers).

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If you write out your entire presentation, do this

Not everyone writes out the entire content of their presentation (or speech… or sermon…), but many people do. I always coach my clients to avoid doing so because it causes us to become too focused on word-for-word delivery—which isn’t helpful for either the speaker or the audience.

But there’s another reason it becomes a problem. If you’ve written out your content in full sentences, you’ve likely hampered your delivery (and the success of your message) without realizing it. 

How? 

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