Like with most businesses, ADMIN Partners is invited to speak at an array of events within the retirement planning industry. Whether it be to educate financial advisors on regulatory updates or talking to Plan Sponsors about how to more effectively manage their retirement plans, ADMIN’s team is well versed in hosting presentations. The thing about presentations is that they can often be mundane and it is very easy for an audience to lose interest. With this in mind, ADMIN has crafted an independent take on presentations that not only engages our audience, but also allows them to become part of discussion.
Ever hear the phrase it’s not what you say it’s how you say it? ADMIN applies this same concept to our presentation methods. We understand that doing a presentation requires a speaker to provide the audience with education and we are not discouraging the presenter from taking the floor. However, we do encourage those presenting to focus on the delivery of the information that is being provided. It is how you distribute that education that really matters.
Here are the top tips from ADMIN’s team on how to turn a presentation into a conversation:
CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE
When it comes to the creating the content for a presentation, consider the audience you will be speaking to. Are you speaking to a group who is well versed in the topic you are discussing or is your audience less educated on the material? Recognize this when attempting to use jargon or industry terms that may or may not be understood.
BE RELATABLE
People buy from people they trust, right? Well, people also engage with people they relate to. Once you understand the audience in front of you, it is important to ensure the material you present is something that the audience can relate to – something that resonates with them. Tell a story, display photos/video, and never read from a slide or script word-for-word. Straying from formality will give the presentation that personal touch and make things more conversational.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Nothing loses an audience like an overwhelming amount of information being presented at once. While it may be tempting to pack a presentation with educational material, you a better off concentrating on the core purpose of your message in a brief and concise manner. If needed, you can provide additional materials as a take-away to elaborate on the topics you have discussed.
ASK QUESTIONS
Getting an audience to engage with you while presenting can be challenging. To get people talking, make sure that throughout the presentation, you are asking questions. Whether it be asking for someone’s personal experience as it relates to the topic of discussion, or simply seeing how the audience feels about the material being presented, asking questions provides you – the presenter – with insight.
LISTEN EFFECTIVELY
As important as it is to ask questions, it’s even more crucial to listen to the feedback that is given. Listening is where the real magic happens, especially if your audience has the potential to expand your business opportunities. Not only does listening allow you to connect more with your audience, but it also builds a better understanding on how to develop your presentations in the future.
We want to know: what are some of your tips to turn a presentation into a conversation?