Master The Art of Business Presentations

How much would I have to pay you to eat a live cockroach? $1,000? $5,000? $200,000? Come on, you would gobble a big fat brown cockroach for $200,000 with no problem. Right? I would. But I’ll tell you what, I wouldn’t do it for $50.

I’ve asked dozens of audiences what it would take to get them to eat a live cockroach. It’s a neat beginning to a talk and I get all kinds of reactions. But the reactions are all in a similar vein. People are repulsed at the idea of eating a cockroach. It’s a common behavior we’ve developed. Likewise with things we like. Ice cream for example, when I ask for a show of hands of who does NOT like ice cream (you can choose any flavor you want), I rarely get an arm up.

Each of us is unique with traits and foibles that no one else has. Yet, there are also characteristics that just about everybody has — likes and dislikes that are common throughout a culture. All you have to do to be a brilliant speaker is realize what all audiences enjoy (like ice cream) and give it to them. One other thing: You’ll also have to realize what every audiences hates (eating live cockroaches) and do NOT give it to them.

Here’s how I do it (I know this will work for you too). Every time you are going to give a presentation, I don’t care what the topic is, you should be able to answer these eleven questions. If you can’t, you’re not giving your audience everything they want. If you can, you’ll do a wonderful job.

Richard Hawk’s 11 Questions That Will Make You a Brilliant Speaker

1. What will I do to make this audience feel special?
2. How am I going to surprise them?
3. Why will they feel secure and eager to open up?
4. How will I let them know I like them?
5. When will they laugh?
6. What will I do to make the talk memorable?
7. What parts of the session will make them feel productive and useful?
8. What will I do to make them want to find out more about the topic?
9. How will I make them as physically comfortable as possible?
10. Why will their lives improve after they leave?
11. What signals will I send that I will show I am prepared and know what I’m doing?

Of course there’s much, much more to this than just asking and answering the questions. Being the tricky guy that I am however, I’m not going to tell you right now. If you want to know more about how to be a brilliant speaker, you’ll have to sign up for Savvy Stuff.

If you’re savvy it means you understand. You’re self aware. You know what’s going on. And that’s what I’ll help you with; becoming savvy about audiences and communicating with these amazing creatures called humans. I want to help you polish your beautiful work of mental art.

Use the Savvy Stuff form to the left to join me on this amazing, juicy and sensuous journey.