Leave a Mark

Newsletter

Facebook Linkedin
Magazine header 001-02
Facebook Linkedin

The Presentation Survival Guide

  • From Leave a Mark
  • 09/19/2023
How to Navigate Different Audience Types in Your Presentation.
Ah, presentations. The art of standing in front of a group of people, trying to convey information, while battling the ever-present fear of being judged. But let's be honest, not all audience members are created equal. Some are attentive and engaged, while others… well, let's just say they have their own unique ways of "participating." Here's a humorous take on the most common types of audience members and how to deal with them:
The Bored One

Description: This person appears deep in thought, as if unlocking the secrets of the cosmos. But chances are, they're just daydreaming about their next meal.

How to Tackle: Engage them with a surprise element. Throw in a joke, a fun fact, or even a short video clip. Anything to jolt them out of their daydream about tacos.

The Phone Fanatic

Description: This person is fixated on their smartphone's screen. They might be live-tweeting your presentation…or they might be on level 3000 of Candy Crush.

How to Tackle: Use interactive elements in your presentation. Polls, quizzes, or even asking direct questions can force them to look up. Or, if all else fails, a gentle reminder about phone etiquette can do the trick.

The Too-Nice One

Description: They nod. They smile. They laugh at your jokes—even the bad ones. They're either genuinely interested or they deserve an Oscar for their performance.

How to Tackle: Embrace them! They're your anchor. Make eye contact, direct some of your talk towards them, and feed off their positive energy. But also, ensure you're engaging the entire room and not just your number one fan.

The Know-It-All (or as we say in Hebrew, "Yodea Kol")

Description: This person believes they were born with all the knowledge in the world. They have a comment, a correction, or an "interesting addition" after every slide.

How to Tackle: Acknowledge their input but keep control of your presentation. A simple, "That's an interesting point, let's discuss it after the presentation," can keep things moving smoothly. Remember, it's your stage!

The Latecomer

Description: During your presentation, an unexpected interference occurs: The door creaks open mid-sentence, and in walks The Latecomer, trying to be as unnoticeable as possible. But let's face it, everyone noticed.

How to Tackle: Keep your cool and continue with your presentation. If they look lost, consider giving a quick one-liner recap of what they missed. This helps The Latecomer get on track and shows the rest of the audience that that you can keep your cool.

The Big Boss

Description: The one whose presence can be felt even before they enter the room. The Big Boss doesn't just attend a presentation; he graces it with his presence. Every slide you present, every point you make, you can't help but wonder, "Is The Big Boss impressed?"

How to Tackle: First and foremost, stay confident. Remember, you're the expert on the topic you're presenting. Make sure to maintain eye contact with everyone, not just The Big Boss. If he asks questions or provides feedback, acknowledge it professionally and thank him for his insights. It's also a good idea to be prepared with extra data or backup slides, just in case The Big Boss wants to deep dive into any specifics. And always, always, stay calm. The Big Boss is just human, after all!

Planning a business conference? Talk to us:

Sign up for the newsletter

Magazine header 001-02