Is a business presentation like a performance? I believe we often take the comparison too far. Garr Reynolds has often noted that the similarities between the presenting and performing and in a post on Benjamin Zander, comments:
We often talk about presentations being conversations, which is what I believe they are. But they almost always have an element of performance to them as well.
I agree that for professional and highly-experienced speakers – performance is an element. But I don’t think it’s a useful concept for most business presentations.
Two reasons why thinking of a presentation as a performance is not useful
1. It puts pressure on the presenter
Many people are nervous about presenting. Thinking of the presentation as a performance puts more pressure on you and makes you more nervous. Thinking of the presentation as a conversation lessens that pressure. See yourself connecting to the individual people in the room, not delivering a performance to an audience. You’ll feel less nervous and as a result you’ll be more effective and enjoy the presentation more.
2. It makes the presenter less conversational
Many people change the way they normally talk when they get up to present – they go into “presentation mode” – and they lose the connection with their audience. They’re thinking of the presentation as a performance and they can’t retain the conversational element. For most people being conversational and delivering a performance at the same time is quite tricky. It requires a lot of practice and coaching to be able to combine the two elements successfully. Focus first on being conversational and connecting with people in the audience. As you get more experienced and comfortable in front of an audience – you can start playing with adding performance to the mix. It will then be an addition to your conversational style – rather than supplanting it.
Two ways in which a presentation is like a performance
But there are ways in which a presentation is like a performance:
1. Presentations do require preparation and rehearsal
Thinking of your presentation as a conversation is not an excuse to wing it. A presentation does require preparation and rehearsal. If you think you can get away with winging it read this illuminating post on rehearsal from Nick Morgan.
The alternative, winging it, is never as good as you think it is. And your audience won’t tell you the truth.
Unfortunately, what happens is that the speaker who wings it gets pumped full of adrenaline, comes charging off the stage and asks the first person he sees, ‘how was it,’ with a big smile on his face. Only a churl would reply with, ‘well, it was disorganized, there were lots of minor screw-ups, and you kept making the same points over and over again’. Most people say, ‘it was great!’ and the speaker think to himself, ‘That’s all right then; next time I’ll do it the same way. Obviously I’m too cool to rehearse’.
2. Show your best front to the world
When something goes wrong in your presentation, don’t spend time catastrophising. Move on. My business partner and life partner, Tony, does some amateur acting. When he fluffs a line he knows he can’t afford the luxury of beating himself up – or he’ll fluff the next line as well. Sames goes with presenting.
So there are some ways in which a presentation is like a performance, but for most people, focus on being conversational first. You’ll feel less nervous and connect more with your audience.
See also my post on Conversational Presenting and Unlearning Presenting.
Olivia, I totally agree with you that a presentation, at best, is conversational and that the thought of “performing” strikes fear into speakers’ hearts.
That being said, I think performance and connection are possible at the same time, and I addressed the issue in a blog post last year that you might find interesting:
http://coachlisab.blogspot.com/2007/09/public-speaking-performance-vs.html
Hi Lisa, I enjoyed your post on this issue – and I agree that both performance and connection are possible at the same time – and should be our aim as professional speakers.
For training people who are inexperienced presenters (which I spend most of my time doing) I believe that focusing on the conversation first is the most useful.
Olivia
Olivia, I almost didn’t read this article because there was no pretty picture to lure me in.
I huffed for a few minutes, but then I got over my resentment and read it, anyway.
During my last talk I totally focused on connecting with individuals and I didn’t worry at all about presenting with any dramatic flair, hand gestures, eyebrow tricks, etc.
I felt totally relaxed and it was my most natural and enjoyable presentation.
Great article, Olivia. But we demand pictures next time.
Kevin “Obviously I’m too cool to rehearse” Kane
Thanks, it was interesting. I like to watch business presentations to absorb new knowledge. At one of these presentations, I discovered the importance of call center outsourcing It would seem a trifle at first glance, but it is the round-the-clock customer support that gives the fastest growth in product recognition and business development, especially at the initial stage. I recommend that you take note of this information.
Thanks to E-mail:dr.mac@yahoo. com…for helping me get my wife back…………………