What sets executive presentations apart from standard presentations? The answer is executive presence.
Executive presence is a delivery style that displays confidence and authority on the topic being presented. Senior-level presenters typically have extensive experience related to the subject matter they discuss, and their self-assuredness stands out. They capture the audience’s attention and keep them engaged throughout the presentation, and they articulate their ideas in ways that reach their audience.
Presentation skills are critical for all professionals, especially those who regularly lead meetings and training sessions. Executive presence enables leaders to organize and present information logically while conveying thoughts, facts, and instructions in ways that the audience can understand and appreciate.
By developing your executive presence to increase the impact of your presentations, you can achieve:
- Increased awareness: When you know how to communicate with your audience, they develop a deeper understanding of what you have to say. This creates a more prepared and collaborative team that works toward a common goal.
- Improved productivity: Playing an active role in growing the company can boost your motivation and drive, resulting in increased productivity.
- Higher morale: Presenting a clear picture of the goals at hand can make your team feel more secure and self-assured. When they understand how achieving daily goals will benefit them, they put in more effort.
Tips for Enhancing Your Presentations
Developing a masterful set of techniques for delivering executive presentations takes time and practice. As you progress in your professional role, you’ll gradually discover your own unique strategies. However, if you’re looking for a few tips to employ right away, the following may help you enhance your executive presence and deliver more impactful presentations:
- Keep Your Audience in Mind: Just like any business interaction, it’s essential to tailor your words and delivery to your audience. You want to talk to your audience, not at them. Consider their level of experience and familiarity with the topic you’re discussing. For instance, if you’re discussing growth strategies with entry-level employees, it’s best to present them with comprehensive points and actionable instructions, rather than inundating them with statistics and figures.
- Tell a Story: Your audience will likely connect with your ideas more easily if you present them in a relatable and understandable way. Using a story-telling framework during your presentation can help you take your audience on an informational journey with you. You don’t have to make your story juvenile or silly, but presenting a conflict and a solution using this framing can be incredibly effective.
- Employ the Pivot Strategy: Sometimes your presentation might not be suitable for linear delivery. Being able to pivot around your points is an excellent skill to have. Practice your presentation and anticipate when or if questions will arise midway through. Be ready to pivot by skipping ahead, reviewing what you’ve already covered, or explaining various points in greater detail. Adaptability is a crucial aspect of executive- level presentations.
While being knowledgeable in specific subjects is an effective way to establish authority, the ability to translate that knowledge into clear instructions is what makes a senior executive equipped to lead a team. You don’t need to remind your audience that you’re experienced, since you’re leading the presentation, they already know that you have it under control.
If you want to take your skills to the next level and deliver stellar presentations, we invite you to register for “Executive Presentation Skills: Speak with Impact & Authority.” This program will provide you with the guidance and support you need to speak with authority and create a lasting impact.
