I took the stage at 9:30. In front of me were about 75 high school students.
I began my presentation as I usually do by asking questions and trying to get the audience to respond by raising their hands and saying “Yes!”
The response was tepid. The energy in the room was low.
The students’ attitudes seemed to be, “Why are we here?”
I was beginning to feel the same way.
I was asked to do a presentation on creating a speech. It wasn’t resonating. Not everyone in the audience was interested in that topic.
I had to pivot. I started talking more about how the students could use what I was teaching them in their every day lives.
Then I decided to take the audience through my energy and confidence ritual. “Would they step outside their comfort zone and do it?” I wondered.
They did, and the entire energy in the room shifted. The kids were now engaged, laughing, and participating. My presentation went from “ho-hum” to exciting.
I fed off the audiences’ energy and my performance improved.
In the end, I had won the students over. The nicest compliment came during the Q@A section when a young lady asked me if I would return and do a longer presentation.
The truth is, I could have been successful from the beginning if I had done more DEMONSTRATIONs and less “plain” teaching. For example, instead of TELLING the kids I used to be a magician, I could have easily demonstrated that fact.
DEMONSTRATION makes your speech more entertaining, and when you entertain your audience, you will sell more of your products and services.
The next time I go back to the high school, and I have been invited back, I will structure my presentation with much more demonstrations.
How can you add demonstrations to your webinars and speaking gigs?
I give myself 2.5 stars out of 4 stars for today’s gig. Next time, we’ll get it to four stars, fo sho.
Dave “Go To The Principal” Dee
P.S. Want to transform YOUR sales presentations to closing machines? Upgrade your status here: