Mastering the 3Ds of Presentations

"Every act of communication is, in some way, an act of translation”

Renowned translator, Gregory Rabassa

Most people find the prospect of giving a presentation daunting. There is an equal number of people who dread sitting through presentations because of past experiences with dull and boring presentations that left them none the wiser. But presentations are a huge part of working professionals’ lives-- Whether it is pitching for a potential client, delivering the bad news of a corporate downsizing or training the new hires of your company. In a sense, good presentation skills will allow you to get your message across. Effective presentations should be engaging, powerful and get the point across.

There are three areas of focus in mastering good presentations, that is, the 3Ds of presentation. The 3Ds stand for design, delivery and destination.

Begin with the end in mind and that applies for any presentation. To avoid babbling and going off topic, clearly define the objective of your presentation beforehand. Think about what effect you want to have on your audience. Do you want them to feel motivated or inspirational? Do you want them to be educated on the latest technological trends? Do you want to entertain them and make them feel engaged with the event you are hosting? Once you have figured out the purpose of your presentation, you can then plan how to engage the audience based on their needs. Here are some questions to help you get started:

1. Why are you delivering this presentation?
2. What is your audience expecting?
3. What outcomes do you wish to drive?

Broadly speaking, there are 4 types of presentations. They are educational, entertaining, informational and motivational presentations. It is important to know that your presentation can fall into one of these categories or a mix of these categories. Avoid a “one-size-fits-all” trap and deliver content that is customized to your target audience. A great presentation is all about starting with a defined objective.

Click here to access our module on presentation "Destination": https://www.noodlefactory.com.sg/course/core-presentation-skills-1-destination

   Once you have identified how you can help your audience, the next step is to design the presentation. You can then fit the content to suit the conversation. Even if we are subject matter experts with access to a wide range of content, there is a need to consider framing the information and make the material easy to digest. One way to do this is to think of the “power of three”. You might probably have heard of “The Three Musketeers”, “I came, I saw, I conquered” or “Mind, body and spirit”. What do these phrases have in common? It is no coincidence that information presented in groups of three sticks in our heads better than other clusters of items. Thus, think in terms of three when crafting your content to better engage your listeners.

   In addition, aim to keep your content slides simple and clean. Rather than fill them up with chunky text, use visual aids such as bars, pie charts and images to help your audience understand and remember better. Humans are visual creatures and a picture is definitely worth a thousand words in any presentation.

Click here to access our module on presentation "Design": https://www.noodlefactory.com.sg/course/core-presentation-skills-2-design

   Have you ever prepared for a presentation only to feel completely unprepared as soon as all eyes turn to you? What if I choke? What if my audience hates my content? Remember, you are the messenger, not your powerpoint slides. Optimizing your verbal, vocal and visual delivery is key to ensuring that your audience likes you and that you hit the target you are aiming for in your presentation. According to research, 55 percent of communication is visual and that means making the right impression requires being mindful of your body language. Hold your shoulders back, your head upright and your chin level as you walk into the room. A smile or a nod is also a good way to connect with your audience right from the start. Maintain a steady gaze with your audience rather than looking down at your notes all the time. The use of hand gestures appropriately can also bring emphasis to important points in your presentation. Being aware of both our non-verbal and verbal communication cues can make a difference in delivering your presentation with impact.

Click here to access our module on presentation "Delivery": https://www.noodlefactory.com.sg/course/core-presentation-skills-3-delivery

   Above all, there is nothing like practice to get you ready for an important presentation. Whether it is through visualization or practicing with a buddy, you will find that simple steps like these put you at ease and boost your confidence. Before your next presentation, remember that design, delivery and destination will form the best foundation for a stunning performance to win the hearts of your audience.