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Nima

359

Keeping you Seen.Heard.Empowered.

02/10/20 at 5:43PM UTC

Career

What do you focus on before you're on stage/presenting

You have a presentation, pitch, or interview coming up. Where do you spend most of your time? 1. figuring out what you'll be saying 2. researching the audience/ whoever you're speaking with 3. choosing your outfit

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LEANNE TOBIAS

4.05k

Investment real estate/sustainability

02/15/20 at 8:11PM UTC

All 3. I fit my content and clothing to the specific audience while I am preparing. Right before presenting, I focus on reviewing my content and simultaneously relaxing and getting psyched for the presentation. And, very occasionally, when I’ve been extremely nervous (large speaking engagements), I’ve prayed. Which has worked!

Nima

359

Keeping you Seen.Heard.Empowered.

02/15/20 at 9:54PM UTC

Great! Sounds like you're totally on top of things :)

Suzanne VanPatten

Cybersecurity/Firewall SME in Atlanta Georgia.

02/14/20 at 1:50PM UTC (Edited)

Another comment - I give a lot of speeches, about a subject I am passionate about. I turned over some of these speeches to an associate who was really nervous, looked down a lot, spoke too softly etc. I asked him how important he thought it was for the audience to understand what he was telling them. He said very important. So I told him to think more about them than himself, watch them constantly, scan the room, watch for reactions on their faces showing they understand or don't understand what you are trying to get across. I often ask questions like "please don't raise your hand, I don't want to embarrass anybody, but - how many of you are configuring something like "X"?? And then say, that is the wrong way and here is why...etc. Examples, real anonymized examples of anything are key. I do Cybersecurity speeches and it's amazing the difference between saying "don't do this wrong" and then "here's proof folks are doing this wrong". Also, my PPT's are mostly screenshots, NOT words. (lots of notes in the PPT) but just a great screenshot or whatever is amazing, they get curious, what is going to say about this one, etc. Less words, more impactful screenshots, pictures, etc.

Nima

359

Keeping you Seen.Heard.Empowered.

02/14/20 at 2:03PM UTC

Thank you for sharing! All fantastic points.

Nima

359

Keeping you Seen.Heard.Empowered.

02/11/20 at 6:07PM UTC

Yes to questions! Dialogue over monologue for sure... LOVE what you do! Perhaps a virtual martial arts gender session is due?

Elina Beck

IT Management professional in all aspects of IT.

02/11/20 at 4:25PM UTC

What do you focus on? All of it really. If you get a chance, meet some of the people you are speaking to first and see where they are coming from in order to relate the message better. I give a lecture on how men and women are different in martial arts, and my word selection and examples change if the composition of the audience is mostly male, female or mixed. For the guys it is a "I'm telling you a secret here....." and "Ever wonder why she reacts this way?" if it is mostly women, it is more of a "this happens to me, and I bet it happens to you too." When it is mixed I say "Hey guys, here is what she is thinking, seriously, look at her face right now" The point is, knowing the audience can help with delivery of the message. It will also let you know if there are some misconceptions that should be addressed, and this will make you a more confident speaker. Know your subject, and realize you won't be able to download all of it to the audience at once, if you take questions, they can guide you to what is important for them.

morales971

430

An essential worker for the power of positivity.

02/10/20 at 8:18PM UTC

1. You have to be able to compel your audience in some way; otherwise people start checking their IG feed. When presenting, you are asking for people's attention. You should strive to make it worth it.

Nima

359

Keeping you Seen.Heard.Empowered.

02/10/20 at 8:24PM UTC

YES! A quick question I ask people is 'why should they care'. Figure out why the audience should care about what's being said. Why should they bother paying attention. So true.

Mimi Bishop

1.33k

Biz+Career Coach for Modern Gen X Women

02/10/20 at 7:31PM UTC

Truly, all of the above. But after knowing your audience, so you can deliver valuable content, knowing your content inside and out will allow you to deliver it effortlessly.

Rose Holland

935

02/10/20 at 7:15PM UTC

2 then 1. If I don't know the audience, it is a challenge to create a meaningful presentation. For 3, I have pretty standard outfits based on the audience. If it is a work presentation to colleagues, I'll dress up slightly more than usual and will wear more basic colors, if it includes outside organizations a dark suit with a white/pastel top. I want the focus to be on the presentation, not what I am wearing.

Nima

359

Keeping you Seen.Heard.Empowered.

02/10/20 at 8:03PM UTC

Love your line ' I want to be the focus of the presentation, not what I am wearing'. I see so many brilliant women give away their power because they have to fiddle with their outfit/ hair when it should only be about what they're saying....

Nima

359

Keeping you Seen.Heard.Empowered.

02/10/20 at 6:53PM UTC

Brilliant! You are so right... it's all 3, with least on 1 - as long as you have your message 'sorted'. And you know, my 'c' word is comfort - confidence is used 'against' women so much - and means different things to different people. Sounds like you are sorted - on all fronts!

Aspasia Kalapothakos

HR Leader

02/10/20 at 6:34PM UTC

When you are on stage/presenting you would need to focus on all the areas that you mentioned above. Less about number 1. figuring out what you'll be saying, because you should have a presentation, notes, and/or the topic to focus on what you will be saying. Researching the audience is very important to help in tailoring your message, and making sure that you can drive your message in the most concise manner. Choosing your outfit is also very important because it can easily derail your message if you are not matching your look to what and who you are presenting to. There are times when I am presenting to students, and it is perfectly appropriate to be in jeans while there are times I am presenting to Executives, and choose to be very formal in my attire. Another area that you should reflect on is your confidence. I always test my confidence by going over the material on tape before I present it. If I find that I am using words like "um" or "uh" frequently, it is a way for me to work on my confidence level, and try again. The other way is to ask for feedback post the presentation. Feedback is a gift that will help you do better the next time, and give you the confidence that you did well. Good luck!