Achieving Presentation Zen

At the end of 2011, author Garr Reynolds released a revised version of his classic  book Presentation Zen. In his book, Reynolds gives readers new and fresh ideas on how to best connect to your audience—through storytelling and simplicity.

Reynolds believes that simplicity itself is not sufficient in your effort to improve communication. He says “it is a consequence of our ‘letting go’ of bad habits and much of what we have learned about multimedia presentations in the era of PowerPoint.”

And when it comes to presentations, Reynolds says it should be all about the audience and presentations should cater to the way that they absorb and process information. Reynolds points out that there are three components to any presentation: the presenter, the audience, and the medium. These three things must work in harmony in order for the presentation to be successful and the beneficiary of this success will be your audience.

In his book as well as through other sources such as his website and speaking engagements, Reynolds shares some tips for achieving Presentation Zen. One vitally important tip is that your slides should have a minimal amount of text. Use images, videos, and even audio clips to enhance what you are saying. A deck of PowerPoint slides done right and sent to someone who could not attend your presentation would never be a suitable substitute for being there. If people need and want more information, compose a handout with detailed information as something conference attendees can take with them to help remember parts of the spoken presentation.

Reynolds believes that you should never use your slides to serve as a script for your presentation. There is no faster way to lose your audience than to regurgitate what is being projected onto a giant screen in front of them. Not only is it boring to your audience, but it reveals that the presenter is not engaged with the material or the audience. If the presenter is not engaged, why would the audience be?

Get out from behind the podium and walk around the stage. Turn off the slide presentation all together when you need to make an important point.  Tell stories, be engaged, and make eye contact with your audience. You have all the facts and figures but connecting with the audience, keeping it simple, and appealing to both sides of their brain is what makes them remember you and what you’re saying.