Stepping onto the TED or TEDx stage -- or speaking in front of any group of people, for that matter -- is truly nerve-wracking. Will you remember everything you wanted to say, or get so discombobulated that you skip over major points? Will the audience be receptive to your ideas, or will you notice a guy in row three nodding off to sleep?
I am developing some presentation materials meant to persuade influencers to support initiatives which address cross-community interests in Chicago. Nancy Duarte offers great advice in her book; HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations:
“Your audience will usually include a mix of people – individuals in diverse roles, with various levels of decision-making authority, from different parts of the organization – each needing to hear your message for different reasons. Decide which subgroup is the most important to you, zero in on that subgroup’s needs when you develop your presentation. When you are segmenting your audience, look at:
1) Politics: Power, influence, decision process
2) Demographics: Age, education, ethnicity, gender and geography
3) Psychographics: Personality, values, attitudes, interests, communities and lifestyle
4) Ethnographics: Social and cultural needs ..”
Categories: Professional Development
Tags: Communication, Influence, Presentations, Professional Development, Public Speaking
