NORTHERN PLANNER

I'm convinced that the secret to great presentations, and meetings too, is two fold. 

But mostly it's about love. 

1. Hard work and preparation.

If you know you're stuff inside out, if you have rehearsed, if the slides are engaging and more of a support to you than 'the show',if you've prepared for any difficult questions, you'll be fine.

People will see the hard work, appreciate it and immediately warm to you. Even the most shy person can perform if they've done the work.

2. But the real secret is being able to connect to people. 

I don't think that has to be finding a link to what your audience deeply cares about, although that helps. I think it's more about getting folks to identify with YOU.

Which means linking your presentation, or your part of the meeting to something you deeply care about. Link a personal story or passion to the theme of your stuff and you won't go wrong. 

Firstly because when people see you the human, rather than the professional, they'll connect to you more. If they can see your enthusiasm, if they can see what brings you joy, pain or whatever, the mirror neurons will fire and they'll feel it too. 

Secondly, by channeling what matters to you, you'll care more, so you'll perform better. Not least because, again, if people see your enthusiasm, if they know you care and they'll care too. 

The best feedback I ever got from a client, apart from how I made things simple and clear, was how they loved I was enthusiastic about their brands. 

Which is why nearly every presentation I do nearly always has a Star Wars slide (in fact, clients that know me well are usually wondering when the slide with a crow-barred Star Wars bit will arrive), a slide with the kids in, with guest appearances from swimming and cycling.

In other words, like the key to advertising communication itself, rather than talking about yourself, talk about what you love – and make people feel something. 

Seriously, naked emotion and humanity trumps slickness and 'performance' any day.