The Sixty Second Critic

We are exposed to lots of presentations--at work, on TV, and in our private lives as well. I encourage you to become a “Sixty Second Critic.”

• Which speakers keep you paying attention from beginning to end?

• What bores you? How long does it take before you check the time?

• What makes you want to leave the room?

When I asked a class of MBA students at IMD what they liked in a speaker, they spontaneously responded:

• Life examples

• Confident

• Prepared

• Passionate

• Authentic

• Makes the complex simple

• Easy to understand

What’s on your list? Listen up. How does the speaker best support the message—with statistics or true life examples? What if the speaker articulates or mumbles? Do pacing and pauses make a difference?

Watch carefully. Notice nervous gestures and movement. What makes a speaker appear comfortable and in control?

What about the slides? Too many, too detailed, easy to read?

Once you get your critical observation powers in gear, you can learn a lot from other speakers. Then contact me for assitance in preparing, practicing and delivering the best presentation of your career!