Jan
17
The Art of the Compelling Software Presentation | Sandhill
ByThe risk for software companies in a highly competitive market is that their marketing presentations must always “hit the mark” in order to inspire the customer. There is no place for losing listeners due to boring and ineffective presentations either in content or delivery. Software executives must start to break the cult of the average presentation habits. It is crucial to understand and put into practice proven communication skills of authentic presence and voice that will maximize results every time.
Good tips on presentation technique in The Art of the Compelling Software Presentation | Sandhill.
This is a great article – I hadn’t seen Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s speech until I saw it referenced in the article, but within seconds you can tell the difference in authenticity between this and the Meryl Streep version.
Where I always get a little frustrated with written public speaking tips is when the author goes on about breathing technique without actually explaining what the technique entails. This article seems to have that issue. Does she mean diaphragmatic breathing? Belly+back? Erect posture and being on the “in breath”? Some specifics would be really helpful.
Steve, you are an experienced (and acclaimed) speaker – do you have a specific breathing technique?
More on breathing during public speaking –
Nick Morgan, a published author and corporate consultant on the topic says “You need to breathe from deep in your belly, take air in, and then tense your diaphragmatic muscles just before you speak. If you keep those muscles tense (as if you were about to be punched in the stomach) that will keep your voice strong. Breathe, expanding the belly, tense the muscles, and then speak, holding the tension in your stomach. ”
I have never been able to get this. Tensing your stomach muscles as you’re speaking seems like the opposite of what you’d want to do. Maybe there’s a trick I’m missing.
I don’t have a breathing technique altho I do tend to get rushed and seem to hyper-ventilate.
All I can say for the “best” technique is to memorize your first few minutes. A story plus a short bio (on why you should listen to me) seems enough to “get” the crowd and put me in a comfortable place.
After that, just be yourself and have something to say that people value.