More survey results from Distinction Communication’s 2009 Annual Presentation Impact Survey…
Q6. What do you find the most challenging part of creating and delivering a presentation?
35.7% Putting together a good message
8.9% Creating good quality presentation slides
13.8% Delivering the presentation with confident skills
41.6% All of the above!
With a new version of PowerPoint popping out every few years and with all the industry resources and experts helping us- you’d think we’d find presenting just a little easier today than 20 years ago. But alas, over 40% of respondents said the whole cotton pickin’ process drove them nuts! So what does this say about us and a worldwide effort to make presenting easier and less stressful? Here’s an idea… (your thoughts?)
What this means to you…
First and foremost, the art of presenting is a relational skill, not a technical one. We can buy a tiny projector with a really bright image, but still turn and read bullet points off a screen for 30-minutes. Or the new remote pointing device we just got at Best Buy promises new freedom, but a plodding and mechanical delivery style still leaves your audience bored to tears. Or maybe you’re one of those who jumped ship and went to Apple’s Keynote software for a better presentation. Unfortunately, if your underlying message is self-serving and presenter-focused, it will only create distance between you and those you wanted to influence.
Maybe you find this horribly demoralizing but there’s actually some good news here for presenters. There are many who do present very well and have discovered their own secret sauce. Buy them coffee and steal some of their best ideas. Make notes the next time you watch a truly great presenter… what did they do that made them so good? Did they tell good stories? Hone the art of storytelling. Did they exude more confidence by moving more confidently on stage. Try to integrate a little more relaxed movement into your next presentation.
The lesson of the ages… the things that make the biggest and most meaningful difference are not the things calling your name from a shelf at your local electronics store!
To receive a copy of the entire survey, visit our website and sign up for our Mark of Distinction eNewsletter. All the results from the December 2009 Presentation Impact Survey will be in the March 2010 issue. Don’t miss it!
