The Power Presenter

When you walk into a room as a presenter, it is easy to feel as if you are in a position of power: You are up front, perhaps even elevated on a stage, and people came to hear you speak. In reality, though, you are not the star of the show. The audience is. Why? The people you are addressing will determine whether your idea spreads or dies, simply by embracing or rejecting it. You need them more than they need you. Since they have that control, it is crucial to be humble in your approach. Use their desires and goals as a filter for everything you present Presenters tend to be self-focused. They have a lot to say, they want to say it well, and they have little time to prepare. The pressures make them forget what is important to the audience. A self-focused presenter might just describe a new initiative and explain what needs to be done; outlining how to do it, when to do it, and the budget required. Then maybe, if the audience is lucky, he will have a slide at the very end about "why it matters."