Several people in very different settings have asked for presentation tips on making last-minute speeches or moderating panel discussions at events.
My presentation tips in both situations was pretty comparable (although for panel discussions, I could actually point to a Brainzooming article specifically on the topic).
Presentation Tips - 4 Ideas for Successful, Last-Minute Speeches
If you have just a few moments to set the stage, get your point across, and get off stage, all with high impact, here are four ideas on how to make that happen:
1. If the speech topic feels off, redirect it to something that works better for you.
You want to be up on stage talking about something that you can relate to well, even if it isn’t exactly what the organizers planned. Look for how you can twist the topic more toward your strengths. If you deliver a great message, no one is going to remember you twisted the topic around a bit.
2. Start your speech with a personal story, and weave the story into a reinforcing pattern.
It’s clear we all love stories. But use a personal story at the start of your talk to its best advantage. Tie the opening story to your bigger message, but consider creating some suspense by not finishing the story. That creates the opportunity to finish or call back to the story at the end of your talk. That’s always a nice touch.
3. In between stories, make a couple of related, memorable points.
When you have only a few minutes to present or set the context for a panel, confine yourself to only a couple of points. Succinctly convey those points, ideally in a way that relates to the story you told to start the presentation.
4. Have a couple of go-to questions at the ready.
If there might be an opportunity for questions after your brief remarks, have a couple of questions that you either plant with audience members or ask and answer yourself. And a few conversation-rich questions are always helpful for a panel moderator.
If you’re a frequent speaker, what presentation tips would you offer for making short, last-minute speeches?
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