Alexei Kapterev's "Presentation Secrets": Chapter 8, Focus in Delivery

Part three begins Kapterev's discussion of delivery, and this chapter is devoted to the feedback cited in a study about presentations. When it comes to delivery, audiences mention clarity, pace, voice, engaging with the audience, addressing questions, eye contact, and humor.

Clarity

The key here is simplicity. Avoid the jargon and "smart-sounding" business speak, or "gobbledygook," as Kapterev calls it. When you look at the best presenters, they sound like real people. They don't try to cover up their lack of knowledge by sounding smart. They speak like themselves in short, simple sentences.

Pace

Kapterev spends some time trying to figure out the optimal speed for presentations, and he says that about 150 words per minute (WPM) seems about right. But variability matters, too. Steve Jobs, he claims, speaks between 50 WPM and 200 WPM. Speaking fast actually makes people tend to agree more. But slow down when you make an important point or affirm the obvious.

When it comes to the time limit, try to stay on target. Me, I think of it as blackjack. Get as close as you can without going over. Kapterev says you should stay within the time limit, but he says that you should concentrate on making your presentation good. If you acknowledge you went over, and your presentation is really good, the audience and organizers will forgive your going over the time limit.

Voice

The main point with the person's voice goes back to clarity: the audience needs to hear you to be able to understand you. Nothing else really matters. Make your matter clear, and you will be fine.

Engaging with the audience

Engagement is about the presenter's relationship with the audience, and Kapterev insists that every presenter must be intently focused on the audience's reaction during the presentation. The presenter can only focus on the audience when they don't have to focus so much on the content, though. Therefore, preparation and knowing the presentation is key. It's hard to improvise when you don't know your material that well.

To be able to improvise according to audience reactions, you have to be able to read the audience. Sure, you can learn the skill of reading facial expressions by going through books on the subject. But you can also just be compassionate and put yourself in the other person's shoes.

If you are worried that you've lost your audience, ask them questions. Ask for content responses. Ask them if they're following. If not, you have to change it up. If they seem sluggish, improvise. Tell a story.

Making eye contact

It's hugely important because eye contact is one of the main ways that presenters connect with audiences. Do NOT look at the screen. Kapterev doesn't spend much time talking about this particular problem; instead, he talks about problems with one's field of vision and asking audiences to move closer and together in a large room.

Addressing questions

First of all, repeat the question so that you understand it and so that everyone else hears it. Try to judge whether anyone wants to know the answer. Watch for their feedback when you repeat the question.

Second, thank the person for the question, but only if you really mean it.

Third direct your answer to the entire audience, not just to the person who asked.

Using humor

Kapterev loves humor, but he says that it isn't important. Audiences can follow messages when the presenter is not funny. And sometimes, humor can actually take away from the message.

Whatever you do, do not try to tell jokes. Audiences resist laughing at them, and it makes the presenter feel rejected. Neither outcome is good.

Instead, let humor come naturally, and laugh at yourself and your mistakes and the situation during the presentation. Audiences will respond to that.