Teaching or Preaching?

When it is time to present something to an audience, do you find yourself teaching them or preaching to them? It is very hard, sometimes, to draw the distinction, but here is a little unasked for advice.

• If you are talking more than you are asking for input, you are preaching.
• If your audience isn't taking very many notes or aren't even nodding their heads, you are preaching.
• If you are having a hard time getting audience response, you are preaching
• If you rely on a PowerPoint presentation too much, you are preaching.

I have sat through countless presentations where there is no discussion, no interaction, no fun. How can anyone survive in business today without understanding the simple dos and don'ts of a simple presentation? Here are some keys that should be adhered to when doing a presentation

1. Your PowerPoint should be simple and to the point. Too much text that people have to read or too many lines and drawings cause for people to have to think too much about what you are trying to say.
2. Reading the PowerPoint doesn't make a bit of sense. If something is that important, give a handout and have someone from the class read it for you. People don't want to watch you read your words.
3. Make it applicable to the audience. Remember who you are talking to. Don't give technical jargon to people that don't care. Don't make a sales pitch when you are trying to teach a principle.
4. Make it credible. If you use facts, use references. If you quote someone, don't pretend that you came up with the idea. People will respect you more if they know that you researched it and not wondering if you just made it all up.
5. Be enthusiastic. Nobody wants to listen to someone who doesn't appear to care about what he is speaking. If you aren't excited, your audience will know.
6. Above all, get involved with the audience. Engage them in discussion. Ask questions. Invite humor (as long as it is on track with the conversation). Don't get too uptight.

The best teachers in the world are those that help students learn for themselves... they don't give the students all the answers. What do you like and dislike about presentations? How do you make sure that your audience is engaged? -- Corey Smith is the Vice President of Innovation at Fisher's Document Systems where he maintains a blog on business and technology.