Unleash the power of persuasion: 5 tips for an memorable presentation by Pilar Ortiz

The effectiveness of a presentation does not depend only on how well-prepared and structured your message is. Other factors influence the success of a presentation. 

The most common mistake I see in leaders and professionals is to focus on the script, and what they are going to say, but forget the delivery of the message. And I say mistakes because by doing so, they miss a great opportunity to persuade the audience through what is not said, but what the body or the situation reveals. 

That is why I am going to share with you five keys to making a persuasive presentation. Take notes and put them into practice: 

1. Connect with the audience from the beginning: Some speakers forget that they are speaking to an audience of people, people who are exposed to a thousand distractions per second, and that if they do not find a powerful enough reason to stay with you, they will get lost in their thoughts or the cell phone screen. 

How do you connect with them? You can start your presentation by offering a fact of interest, asking a question, or making a statement.

2. Don't read your notes or script: There is nothing more uncomfortable than seeing a presenter reading his or her speech most of the time, without spontaneity. Doing so makes you look stiff and boring. 

Believe me, when you practice your message and have key ideas or words, there is no need to read. It looks much fresher, and you connect better with the audience when you don't read.

3. Structure your presentation: Sharing a lot of ideas without sense and congruence is not ideal either. Improvisation is wonderful when it is structured. 

Plan your presentation with an introduction, a problem statement, a possible solution or reflection, and a call to action. And please, make your ideas concrete. 

4. Project confidence: There is nothing more distressing as a spectator than to see the presenter nervous... I assure you that people's attention gets scattered by this. 

What can you do to avoid this? Work on your confidence. To protect it you need to get it, and you gain it when you practice in front of a mirror, learn to breathe, and handle the fears of public speaking. It is an inside job that works. 

As you do it, pay attention to small leaks of nerves that reveal themselves through body language, such as moving your hands too much, avoiding eye contact, or speaking too fast. 

5. Use words and terms that the audience understands: Another big mistake when presenting is to use technical language that the audience is unlikely to understand. 

Simplify your message and ideas to terms and concepts that everyone can understand. There is no point in sounding like a great intellectual if your audience do not understand anything... It is not effective.

Put these keys into practice, and you will see favorable results in your presentations.