The vital concept most presenters don’t know. Content versus Process is the key to engage the audience Have you ever drifted off to sleep in the middle of a presentation? I know I have. But as a presenter, I know that when I get boring, people start to nod off! Whenever that happens I have to look inside me as to WHY! Many prospective presenter students have quizzed me on the concept of content. “Isn’t it important to have lots of good information?” they’ll ask. My answer is always the same. It’s not the content that’s going to keep people awake...it’s your PROCESS - how you do what you do and how many ARROWS in your quiver you have. Let me explain that. When you present, anything from a technical presentation to a poignant story, what sort of things do you think made an impact? Is it the words? Or is it the actions? The answer is - it’s your actions. For example, the position you were in when you gave a certain idea. The stretch of your voice at a special moment. The mood you were in at a certain point. These things have nothing to do with the actual words. This is why it’s very difficult for you to connect with and build rapport with your audience when your speech is read from notes. What did I mean by “ARROWS”? Just like an archer has a bow, an archer has a quiver full of arrows. Each arrow for us represents an idea or part of a process we can draw on.  It might be a tilt of the head, a certain gesture with your hands. A tone of voice - sanguine or happy or even angry. Change places on the stage in front of you (see Spatial Anchoring). These are the things many presenters don’t yet know. A Self-Evaluation Here’s an opportunity to take a step back and look at what you did from an objective point of view. In answering these questions, you can write a YES or NO or score yourself, zero to 5 or 10. The evaluation is divided into two separate parts: Process and Content. Process is what people ‘see’, hear and respond to - your nonverbal cues, body language, gestures, posture, position on stage, voice. Content is all about the words and structure of the presentation.

The vital concept most presenters don’t know.

Content versus Process is the key to engage the audience

Have you ever drifted off to sleep in the middle of a presentation?

I know I have.

But as a presenter, I know that when I get boring, people start to nod off! Whenever that happens I have to look inside me as to WHY!

Many prospective presenter students have quizzed me on the concept of content. “Isn’t it important to have lots of good information?” they’ll ask.

My answer is always the same.

It’s not the content that’s going to keep people awake...it’s your PROCESS - how you do what you do and how many ARROWS in your quiver you have.

Let me explain that.

When you present, anything from a technical presentation to a poignant story, what sort of things do you think made an impact?

Is it the words?

Or is it the actions?

The answer is - it’s your actions. For example, the position you were in when you gave a certain idea. The stretch of your voice at a special moment. The mood you were in at a certain point. These things have nothing to do with the actual words. This is why it’s very difficult for you to connect with and build rapport with your audience when your speech is read from notes.

What did I mean by “ARROWS”?

Just like an archer has a bow, an archer has a quiver full of arrows. Each arrow for us represents an idea or part of a process we can draw on.
It might be a tilt of the head, a certain gesture with your hands. A tone of voice - sanguine or happy or even angry. Change places on the stage in front of you (see Spatial Anchoring). These are the things many presenters don’t yet know.

A Self-Evaluation

Here’s an opportunity to take a step back and look at what you did from an objective point of view. In answering these questions, you can write a YES or NO or score yourself, zero to 5 or 10.

The evaluation is divided into two separate parts: Process and Content.

Process is what people ‘see’, hear and respond to - your nonverbal cues, body language, gestures, posture, position on stage, voice. Content is all about the words and structure of the presentation.

HOME ABOUT ARTICLES MY LINKS CONTACT

The Vital Concept

Process

How did my body language appear?

Was I poised?

Did I ‘play’ with space on stage?

Did I smile?

How much ‘range’ did I apply?

Were my gestures congruent or repetitive?

What mannerisms am I working towards minimising?

Did my appearance match my message?

Did I exercise all the parameters of my voice? Pitch, tone, tempo, pause.

Mood swings?

Content

How was my language?

Was there a clearly defined structure: Opening, body, conclusion?

Use of repetition (if you think it’s necessary).

Was it loud or soft enough?

Was the language appropriate?