Sandra Folk, How to Deliver Effective Presentations

Hi there. My name is Avil Beckford, and this is the latest episode of The One Problem podcast. We know that there are tons of problems in the world. We're not going to tackle all of these problems because we don't want to get overwhelmed. We're going to tackle  one problem at a time.

So far since I've been doing this podcast, I have some sort of relationship with my guests. Our special guest today is Sandra Folk. She works with corporate executives to help them to communicate more effectively. And she was introduced to me by someone on LinkedIn. Now over to you, Sandra.

Sandra Folk

Hi Avil, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to be here today and to share my thoughts about a problem that executives face and how I see the problem could be solved.

So I'm an executive business communication coach. And I work with people for whom English is their native tongue. And I worked with people for whom English is not their first language. Arguably, being able to deliver an effective presentation is one of the most highly developed skills that a leader needs.

And that's what I want to talk about. How do you deliver an effective presentation? And this is a skill that my native English speakers always ask me to work on with them. They feel they need to conquer it. And also my non-native English speakers who are highly skilled in their particular field.

However, it's about elevating and, and refining their communication. So the question is now, however, how do I grab people's attention? How do I appeal to the emotions? It's also about the project, the trajectory and the path that you take to make it happen. And let me tell you, there's no magic for me. So what's really important if you want to deliver successful presentations?

Have you read or watched?

1. Dorothy Vernon-Brown, Marketing Automation Strategist
2. Tessa Drayton, The Importance of Having a Crisis Management Plan
3. Safiya Robinson, Writing Coach, Editor, and Author
4. Robin Sacks, Confidence Coach: How to Flip the Switch on Negative Self Talk
5. Diane Darling, Professional Networking Strategist; Speaker, Instructor & Coach
6. Rosie Yeung, Founder and President Changing Lenses
7. Nancy Ynchaustegui, Health and Fitness Coach
8. Carol Walkner, Life Guide, Energy Healer, and Clairvoyant
9. Mariett Ramm, Founder, the Powerful Woman, International Bestselling Author
10. Sarah Elkins, Storytelling and StrengthsFinder Coach
11. Debbie McKiver, Founder of the Strong and Healthy Temple
12. Hedieh Safiyari, Founder, Prompt Health, Healthcare Solutions
13. Benita Lee, Trade Consultant, Founder, Benita Lee Professional Corporation
14. Jenny Siede, Chief Design Thinker, Green Neurons
15. Pamela Jeffery, Founder, The Prosperity Project & Women’s Executive Network
16. Alta Odendaal, Financial Coach and Consultant

And I want you to stop and think about this, what actually makes for an effective presentation. Presentations don't necessarily have to be the big presentations that you have in front of a hundred people. It's also about a conversation you have with someone. It could be one in a small group.

Sandra Folk

Is it a phone conversation? Every meeting that you do face-to-face or via video is a presentation. So, what is the key, of what you need to think about, and put into action to deliver an effective presentation? And here's what I work on with my clients. The first thing I get my clients to think about when delivering a presentation, is to think of yourself as the tour guide. I'm sure you've all gone on a tour.

And when you go on a tour, what do you need to think about? What is it that you want to point out, as you go along. It could be a tour of a city, it could be a tour of a gallery. What is it that you want people to think about? First, what's absolutely critical as a tour guide. You want to stop and think about what it is that you need to deliver to your clients.

You need to stop and think about this. So, once you know what it is you want to deliver, and you have thought about it, then the next step is to go on the tour. Okay. So, the key points of the tour is taking people on a journey and the journey is a great metaphor for thinking about how to deliver an effective presentation.

That's really critical. And that brings me to the next point. When you talk to people, and you want to grab their attention and pull on their heartstrings, you need to have a good story. If you recall, when you were a child, you loved listening to stories. Why were the stories appealing to you as a child?

Sandra Folk

Because you could feel yourself in that story. And that's what you need to do when you're delivering presentations. Think about telling a great story, and you want to share compelling information. Even if it's research data, that could be boring. You want to make it interesting. So how do you do that?

First, you need to consider the outcome. Where do you want to end up? Where do you want to take your audience? And you need to come back to your starting point, which is your goal. So you need to have a plan to get from the goal to the outcome. And once you have that plan in place, then you could start to go forward.

And the next thing is, the third thing is, you need to think about your audience. Who is your audience? What is it that they need from you? What are they looking for? What are they hoping to find out once you've provided them? Then they can take action, then they can understand what they need to do. And then once you know what your audience is looking for and what they need, and you connect with them with that story, you're deliberating.

It's all about the words. The words are critical. For me, words make it happen. If you use the right words that are going to motivate, connect, and link to your audience, then it's going to make a difference. And that's what I say to my clients. You need to think about what it is that they want to hear from you.

Sandra Folk: How to Deliver Effective Presentations

Sandra Folk

How are you going to create that emotion? How are you going to make them take action? How are you going to make them feel? Yes, this is what I want. This is what I'm going to do as a result of it. So in telling your story, you need to think about the words, without those words, that resonate with your audience you've lost them. And without an audience, you have no presentation.

So those are my key points. So what I'd like to do is just summarize. These are the things you need to think about. It is, thinking about yourself as being the tour guide, taking people on a tour, pointing out the important points or the sites you want them to see.

Then you want to think about your outcome. Where do I want to end up, link it back to your goal? So now, you know, here's where I am. Think of it as a journey. I'm here, I want to take them there. And then the next thing you want to think about is your audience. Who are they? What are they looking for from me?

What do they want to know? And remember, this is all part of your story. And then once you know all that's going to resonate for them. It's the words you use to grab their attention, get their emotions going and motivate them. And without the words resonating with them, it won't happen. So make sure you use the words that are going to appeal to your audience and motivate them.

So Avil, that is how I work with my clients to help them to better deliver effective presentations.

Avil Beckford

Thank you so much, Sandra. And while you were talking, you reminded me of a study that was done more than a decade ago. Some very senior level executives said that their ability to communicate effectively and give presentations allowed them to be successful because they were able to sell their ideas.

So thank you so much for being on this podcast.

Sandra Folk

Thank you. I appreciate it.

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