A successful presentation must be convincing from the first to the last minute. It is particularly important to start the presentation successfully. It should arouse the interest of the audience and draw attention to the speaker. But many speakers already make the mistake at the beginning and fail unfortunately already with the correct Introduction.
Captivate your audience from the first minute
The basic requirement for a successful presentation is the undivided attention of the audience. This means that the speaker must captivate his audience from the very beginning. If he does not succeed in this, there is a great danger that the audience will only follow the presentation half-heartedly and inattentively. All the more surprising is the fact that many presenters give little thought to getting started on the right foot. In doing so, you risk losing your audience in the very first minute. If a viewer has switched off inside or is annoyed, it will be hard to win them back. Here are some mistakes you should avoid at all costs.
Mistake number 1: Instead of an introduction – microphone sample
The most unfortunate introduction to her presentation is the technology check. If you step in front of your audience and first focus your beamer , tap against the microphone and try to tune the volume with “one, two, three, test, test, test”, don’t be surprised if your audience thinks you are an amateur. You won’t experience anything like this with a professional. It is questionable whether you will still be accepted as an expert after such an entry.
Mistake number 2. Do not ask to apologize at the very beginning
That sounds unusual at first. It’s polite to apologize, isn’t it? But apologies quickly come across as lacking confidence and are not a good way to start a presentation. Maybe you were late because of a traffic jam, or you forgot an exhibit you wanted to show. You may have a headache or you may be hoarse. Save explanations about this. It sounds harsh, but don’t expect your audience to be forgiving if you don’t give 100 percent. Even if viewers understand through your apology that you are uncomfortable they will take note of it bottom line, if you don’t cut a good figure. Unfortunately, nothing helps at this point; you have to grit your teeth and give it your all.
Mistake number 3: Too long introduction
The introduction is well prepared and timed. Also, get to the point when starting their topic. Sprawling descriptions and countless anecdotes quickly lead to unfocused viewers. Before you really get started, your auditorium’s mind is already elsewhere. Arouse curiosity and succinctly outline all that your audience will learn in the next few minutes.
Mistake number 4: Being overly funny.
If you have the laughs on your side at the beginning of your presentation, you generate positive emotions and a relaxed atmosphere. But you really have to master this, and success also depends on the composition of the audience. For some topics and audiences, the use of humor can be tricky. Think of a company struggling with bankruptcy. A gag must fit in any case, otherwise the mood can quickly tip.
Error number 5: No self-congratulation
What’s the saying? “Self-praise stinks”. Avoid trying to tune your audience in by describing how great your company is, that your products are the best, and that your audience is lucky because your company sent its best employee, you. If you do your job well, by the end of the previous day, viewers may conclude all by themselves that you are an ace .
Take the introduction really seriously, it is an essential part of a successful presentation.
Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Informatiker Matthias Garten as the expert for multimedia presentations and professional PowerPoint presentations knows about the art of professional slide design. He is an entrepreneur, speaker (TOP 100 Speaker), trainer (TOP 100 Excellence Trainer), multiple book author, presentation coach (presentation training), member of the GSA and Club 55, organizer of the Presentation Conference, Presentation Bootcamp and Presentation Rocket Day. In addition to PowerPoint and presentation training, he inspires and advises companies to present themselves even more effectively and thus stand out from competitors. He is the business owner of the presentation and PowerPoint agency smavicon Best Business Presentations and with his team has created over 15,000 professional PowerPoint presentations for over 150 industries since 1993.
