Presentation Styles.

Presenting to people with differing learning and communication styles.

Presentations often are very Auditory, strongly Visual or a combination of the two. Although the latter is better than the first presentation style – a number of people will not participate fully, nor will they be inspired and involved.

An Auditory presenter/ facilitator will often use wordy presentations, or flip chart statements to make their point. 

You will know that they are strong auditory communicators by the cleverness of their words, their stories and examples and the fact that they flip over the pages of their presentations/ flip chart pages once they have spoken of them.

They may be asked to “go back” to previous pages/ slides by visual learners.

They also love to teach by repeating their messages and live by the motto:- “Tell them once, and then tell them again and again.”

Their presentations sound brilliant to strong auditory learners, but can:-

a)    Bore visual learners with long-winded explanations. 
b)   Isolate Kinesthetic (experiential) learners by not physically involving them.
 

A Visual presenter will use visuals as much as they can. Some will be very detailed and intricate. They will normally display each visual/ flip chart on the walls, as they finish with it. This ensures that there is a long term reference for audience members. Their explanations are often brief and to the point, and they expect people to understand – from the graphic nature of presentation.

Their presentations are visual delights to strong Visual learners but can:-

a)    Isolate auditory learners with their focus on picture lessons and the limited focus on “talking it through.” 
b)   Isolate Kinesthetic (experiential) learners by not physically involving them.
 

Kinesthetic presenters will often get an example/ sample of the item under discussion, into the hands of the audience members. This ensures that they can touch, feel and experience it. Their words will have to do with the feel and experience. 

Their presentations feel good to strong Visual learners but can:-

a)    Isolate auditory learners with their focus on picture lessons and the limited focus on “talking it through.” 
b)   Isolate Visual Learners by not visually involving them.
 

The most important part of a strong presentation is to make sure that there is a “mixed grill” in terms of presentation styles.

12 steps to great presentations.

Presentations are verbal, sensory, visual and experiential. We must ensure that delegates have the opportunity to feel, hear, discuss, think, see, experience and intellectualise the lessons and information in the presentations.

1)   Our (not excessively long) speaking portion, must:-

2)   Have visual descriptions using colour words and audio pictures of place and things .

3)   Have heart and sensory words.

4)   Have power words, stories, sayings and examples.

5)   Ask feeling, seeing and hearing questions. How do you feel? Can you see what I am showing you? Do you hear/ understand the process thus far?

6)   Stories, sayings and examples

7)   Use numbered tips, such as: – “7 steps to having a great life.”

8)   And numbered steps to using a product, with step-by-step outcomes.

9)   These must be allied to visual media, graphics and pictures.

10) Actual examples, samples and working models should be distributed around the room, so that those who like to experiment can do so.

11)Copies of the slide show should either be handed out, or displayed on the walls. Anything written, or drawn on a flipchart page should be stuck around the room, on the walls – in order of presentation.

12)Time should be taken for interaction, discussions and for prodding, touching and experimenting with models, samples and examples. This will allow for an active question and answer session.

And a bonus:-

13)There should always be an element of fun in any presentation. 

In this way, everybody is involved. They will all feel as if you are presenting directly to them.

Enjoy. Touch some lives!

Brian Moore

22 July 2011

Celebrating Humanity International Communication, Learning, Diversity, Team Building and Team Conflict Resolution Specialists 

info@africa-dreams.com 

+27 79 643 4457