10 Tips for Influencing Others

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Loading...

By Claudyne Wilder

Do you want to be more influential in your meetings and presentations? Consider doing these behaviors so that you are on top of the content as well as your presenting style.

Image: Jump Story

1. Get approval of the content

Talk to people who know the audience, and find out the interests of the audience. Talk to at least two people just to be sure you are getting accurate advice.

2. Organize data in a systematic flow

Make your messages and story easy to follow by putting the information in a logical sequence. Be sure to logically organize your thoughts when speaking in a meeting—do not ramble.

3. Cut out unnecessary slide details

Be ruthless and cut out the details this particular audience does not need to know, or have heard so many times that they will be bored to hear about them one more time. Speak 5 minutes less than the time allotted. If you are only asked to speak for 5 minutes, then make it 4.

4. Use an executive summary

Use a slide at your opening that summarizes the major points of the presentation. You can also give an executive summary in a meeting, without a slide, that summarizes the key aspects of a project.

5. Show a summary slide after questions & answers

Use a summary wrap up slide or speak without a slide after answering all questions. Do not answer the last question and then sit down. You want to summarize your presentation’s key message and present a vision going forward.

6. Do a real rehearsal

Rehearse the talk out loud and time it. If possible, rehearse in the room or some room similar to the one you will be presenting in. Rehearse the opening and closing. You may also want to rehearse your short overview you are giving in a meeting. You will sound more in charge when you rehearse even if it is an informal meeting.

7. Use a remote

Do not stand next to the computer and keep looking down to press the key that advances the slides. When you use a remote, you are more professional.

8. Plan your clothes

First, dress for the role. It’s still true, dress for the role you want. Wear the clothes at least once already so you know they stay buttoned, zipped, etc.

9. Practice all the time certain presentation behaviors

Have someone critique several of your talks and specify the types of behaviors you need to enhance. These could include standing still, talking directly to each listener for at least for the count of three, pausing instead of saying “um,” talking not too loud or too soft.

10. Manage your attitude

Get enough sleep and exercise the day before the speaking. Be sure you rehearse so you can feel confident and give yourself positive feedback before, during and after the presentation.

Claudyne Wilder is a guest lecturer at conferences, business shows, and corporate events. She is the creator of three presentation seminars: “The Winning Presentations Seminar,” “The Winning Presentations Sales Seminar;” and “Creating PowerPoint Presentations That Get Your Point Across.” She offers “The Winning Presentations Seminar publicly about six times a year. She also licenses this seminar to companies and consultants to teach.

Do visit Claudyne’s site at Wilder Presentations to learn more.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post or content are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.