| When we think about about a presentation we | | | | 4. Be thorough. There is no need to struggle for |
| typically consider the presentation itself, its | | | | ideas when thinking of a theme for our presentation. |
| preparation, planning and rehearsal. But it's also critical | | | | There are many workable approaches to getting it |
| to consider how we engage our audience -- how we | | | | right. We can talk to the conference organizers. We |
| actively encourage their listening, understanding and | | | | can establish whether the conference itself has a |
| belief in us. Just standing on the podium and speaking | | | | theme. Or we could identify if our particular day has |
| won't do the trick. | | | | a theme to it. In either case we should aim to use |
| Fortunately there are some techniques that we can | | | | this theme -- or tweak it slightly to our own purpose. |
| use. And a major technique is the presentation | | | | Using something that has resonance elsewhere will be |
| theme. There are 5 things to bear in mind, though, | | | | productive. As an alternative we can look at all the |
| when we use a theme in our presentation. | | | | other presentations on the agenda and establish |
| | | | whether there is a theme that runs through all of |
| 1. Make it memorable. Themes help our audience to | | | | them. If there is, then use it. We could also think |
| remember our presentation. And when our audience | | | | about some of the pressing issues that our audience |
| only retains some 10% of our speech that's | | | | will recognize from their work or professional |
| important. Themes are remembered by an audience | | | | interests. Issues such as: competition, globalization, |
| because they can be. They work in much the same | | | | outsourcing, innovation or quality. Such issues might |
| way as logos, slogans or catch phrases. They are | | | | be both relevant and familiar. Therefore, they could |
| typically creative, clever and appropriate for the task. | | | | prove useful in building a theme that is practical, |
| 2. Keep it simple. Our theme should be both simple | | | | consistent and simple. |
| and consistent. The simplicity is critical for memory -- | | | | 5. Consider the objective. As we finalize our theme |
| we don't want our audience struggling with | | | | we should recall the purpose or mission for our |
| complexity at this stage of the event. Consistency is | | | | presentation. We are looking to achieve something |
| all important. We should neither deviate from the | | | | with our audience. Change their ideas. Change their |
| theme during the presentation nor be tempted to | | | | opinions. Or, change something that they do. Our |
| make adjustments as we go along. | | | | theme should help us in this mission. Both our purpose |
| 3. Be practical. Our theme should evoke practicality | | | | and our theme should be aligned. |
| and purpose. If it has these qualities it will be familiar | | | | Our audience will only recall some 10% of our |
| to our audience and prove more meaningful. | | | | presentation. Our task as speakers is to increase that |
| Practicality suggests utility and benefit -- both are of | | | | percentage or, at least, ensure the right 10% is |
| interest to our audience. When our audience can | | | | retained. A practical and memorable theme will boost |
| sense practical benefits attributed to listening and | | | | an audience's memory retention and assist their |
| engaging their engagement increases. | | | | engagement. |