How to Prepare for a Live Presentation

Because, your instincts tell you ' and they are correct ' that a live presentation is your best opportunity to forge a connection, build a relationship, get new business or expand an existing portfolio. The reality is that delivering a live presentation with impact demands a particular type of preparation, whether you are addressing a room of hundreds or a client's small executive team. This preparation must include content, structure, slides (if used) and delivery. The payoff will be grabbing the audience's attention, appreciation, and, frequently, new business.

The best presenters are natural and engaging. They have taken the time to frame the information so it is accessible to the ear. They have distilled what is complex and made it simple. They have identified compelling anecdotes to bring to life abstract concepts. They have produced PowerPoint slides that are visually interesting and simple ' that enhance but do not overtake the spoken word. The word-heavy detailed slides they generated early on have become the notes to the slides that can be handed out after the talk. (If your audience has detailed handouts while you are talking they'll be inclined to read them instead of listening to you; this, once again, begs the question: 'why did you both show up for the live encounter?' If conference organizers insist on upfront handouts, all the more demand on you to grab the audience's attention with your first words and keep that attention all the way through.) Finally, the best presenters have practiced their speech many times so they can make strong eye contact and pace their remarks with well-chosen pauses and points of emphasis. These are the ingredients that result in connecting to the audience ' which is why you showed up in the first place.

How to Rejuvenate Your Presentation

As a law firm partner turned presentation coach, I have seen many an attorney rejuvenate when adopting an approach to crafting a presentation that is mindful of the opportunity that live communication provides. These lawyers are quick converts to the reality that a particular type of preparation is worthwhile because they have experienced their audience's receptivity to a presentation crafted with them in mind. And, they have experienced for themselves the joy of delivering a well-crafted and interesting presentation.

Instead of starting his remarks at an industry conference with a conventional word-heavy slide that detailed the background of a federal policy matter, one lawyer-presenter instead chose a photo from a horror film that depicted a victim on the verge of death. He used this photo to frame his entire speech around the idea that the constituency he was addressing should have been planning for the fully anticipated practical challenges posed by new federal policy, but, that, like every victim in a horror film, no one moved until the ax was coming through the door. Another lawyer took into account the diverse makeup of her audience on a new level. She assured that, at some point in her remarks, she conveyed an anecdote that would resonate with each interest group to ensure that they would have a personal association with something she said. Both of these lawyers were energized by these presentations, having experienced first hand the benefits of preparation targeted at engaging their audiences.

So, don't be complacent. Challenge yourself to look anew at your live presentation opportunities. Craft and deliver something that's memorable and truly sets you apart.

Sally Rosenberg Romansky, HLS '86, left her practice at a large corporate law firm to pursue other interests. As a coach, she works with attorneys and executives across all industries, honing their presentation skills and work shopping specific presentations for a broad spectrum of audiences.

Whether giving a speech at a conference, pitching a client, or making an internal presentation at a firm or corporate retreat, time and again lawyers are waiting until the last minute to prepare. Work and other life demands often result in punting preparation. Besides, we typically are well informed about the topic and we are born communicators, aren't we? Or, we are duped into believing that we have prepared because conference organizers request our slides in advance. So, we write our speech out and pepper the slides with the full details. We then rest assured that we are prepared and feel pleased that the detailed slides will serve the dual purpose of being a great takeaway handout for our audience.

What's the Problem?

The fundamental problem with these approaches is they totally ignore the unique opportunity that live presentation provides. Appearing live is all about impact and impression. It's about being memorable in an impressive way. If you are taking the time to appear live and in person anywhere ' and your audience is as well ' then why wouldn't you prepare for the event fully honoring that live communication is all about connection and energy? Narrating word-heavy slides misses the opportunity entirely. In fact, if what you plan to do essentially is read your slides to the audience, why devote the many hours it will take to travel to the event and deliver the address? Why not just e-mail the slides and let people know they can contact you with questions?

Because, your instincts tell you ' and they are correct ' that a live presentation is your best opportunity to forge a connection, build a relationship, get new business or expand an existing portfolio. The reality is that delivering a live presentation with impact demands a particular type of preparation, whether you are addressing a room of hundreds or a client's small executive team. This preparation must include content, structure, slides (if used) and delivery. The payoff will be grabbing the audience's attention, appreciation, and, frequently, new business.

The best presenters are natural and engaging. They have taken the time to frame the information so it is accessible to the ear. They have distilled what is complex and made it simple. They have identified compelling anecdotes to bring to life abstract concepts. They have produced PowerPoint slides that are visually interesting and simple ' that enhance but do not overtake the spoken word. The word-heavy detailed slides they generated early on have become the notes to the slides that can be handed out after the talk. (If your audience has detailed handouts while you are talking they'll be inclined to read them instead of listening to you; this, once again, begs the question: 'why did you both show up for the live encounter?' If conference organizers insist on upfront handouts, all the more demand on you to grab the audience's attention with your first words and keep that attention all the way through.) Finally, the best presenters have practiced their speech many times so they can make strong eye contact and pace their remarks with well-chosen pauses and points of emphasis. These are the ingredients that result in connecting to the audience ' which is why you showed up in the first place.

How to Rejuvenate Your Presentation

As a law firm partner turned presentation coach, I have seen many an attorney rejuvenate when adopting an approach to crafting a presentation that is mindful of the opportunity that live communication provides. These lawyers are quick converts to the reality that a particular type of preparation is worthwhile because they have experienced their audience's receptivity to a presentation crafted with them in mind. And, they have experienced for themselves the joy of delivering a well-crafted and interesting presentation.

Instead of starting his remarks at an industry conference with a conventional word-heavy slide that detailed the background of a federal policy matter, one lawyer-presenter instead chose a photo from a horror film that depicted a victim on the verge of death. He used this photo to frame his entire speech around the idea that the constituency he was addressing should have been planning for the fully anticipated practical challenges posed by new federal policy, but, that, like every victim in a horror film, no one moved until the ax was coming through the door. Another lawyer took into account the diverse makeup of her audience on a new level. She assured that, at some point in her remarks, she conveyed an anecdote that would resonate with each interest group to ensure that they would have a personal association with something she said. Both of these lawyers were energized by these presentations, having experienced first hand the benefits of preparation targeted at engaging their audiences.

So, don't be complacent. Challenge yourself to look anew at your live presentation opportunities. Craft and deliver something that's memorable and truly sets you apart.

Sally Rosenberg Romansky, HLS '86, left her practice at a large corporate law firm to pursue other interests. As a coach, she works with attorneys and executives across all industries, honing their presentation skills and work shopping specific presentations for a broad spectrum of audiences.