You’ve practiced your presentation and are ready to go. You know what you want to say, but do you know what your audience wants to hear? It turns out you have another job: reading the audience. Reading the room using basic techniques from The Accidental Communicator – ask questions, make eye contact, watch for inattention – can greatly improve how your presentation is received.
Enhance Any Presentation with ‘Clown Presence’
When professional speaker and trainer Don Colliver talks about “clown presence,” he’s not referring to donning a red nose and floppy shoes. Clown presence, he writes, is a way of presenting that incorporates fun in an authentic, mutual, and joyful way. In this Toastmasters International article, Colliver shares three easy techniques for adding some good-natured fun to your presentation. A companion podcast is also available.
TED Offering Public Speaking Course on YouTube
TED’s Official Public Speaking Course consists of a series of 11 videos, 15 minutes or fewer, covering topics such as finding your voice, explaining complex subjects, and how to connect with an audience. Proceeds from the pay-to-watch course support TED-Ed’s nonprofit mission of creating and distributing free, high-quality animations.