Sir Winston Churchill pithily highlighted the challenges faced when delivering a speech.......
"There are two things that are more difficult than making an after-dinner speech: climbing a wall which is leaning toward you and kissing a girl who is leaning away from you"
Business presentations are made easier when started professionally. I.N.T.R.O. is a way of ensuring that your presentation kicks off in a confident way ensuring your audience are settled and engaged to listen.
√ I nterest
Anything we can say that helps grab audience attention. Ideas include:
- Use of humour
- A relevant anecdote
- Quotations
- Pose a question
- Present some startling facts/statistics of the 'Did you know that.....' variety
- A qwerky title
The key thing is that it's relevant to the content of the presentation.
√ N eed
Why does your audience need to listen? How will they benefit? e.g. cost reductions; better way of working; more sales; faster way of doing things? Let them know to 'hook' them in.
√ T itle
The title of your presentation, normally shown on the opening slide with your name and job title.
√ R elated Information
Other things you may need to tell your audience include:
- Who are you? Give some background to sell your expertise
- Duration of the presentation?
- Any comfort breaks scheduled?
- Health and safety considerations? e.g. fire evacuation proocedures
- When can questions be asked?
- Will a handout be available?
- Any ground rules? e.g. mobiles on silent
√ O verview
Give a brief 'road map' of the areas your presentation will be addressing. Normally accompanied by a contents slide.
So make your audience mentally and physically comfortable, with a thirst for listening, using the I.N.T.R.O.
This content is drawn from our 1 day
Presentation Skills course material.
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