How to Deliver a Persuasive presentation
Tamer Rabea
MGMT 3500
Marek LeBlanc
March 15, 2021
Introduction
Persuasive presentation is a unique type of presentation where the speaker has a goal of convincing the audience to accept their point of view. It is organized to cause the audience to accept a part or the entire expressed view.
Although a persuasive presentation aims to convince an audience to agree with a perspective, it is not easy to convince all audiences with a single presentation.
A persuasive presentation is different from a normal presentation. A speaker should incorporate some unique aspects to make a presentation persuasive. Its success is measured by the target audience’s willingness to accept the speaker’s point of view.
Delivering a persuasive presentation
The first step in delivering a persuasive presentation is researching the audience. Conduct a prior investigation concerning what kind of audience will be attending the presentation and their goals. Also, investigate the values that the audience cares about most and their goals.
Develop the content of the presentation based on the audience. Create the presentation in a manner that the audience will feel that you are addressing them personally.
Second, choose the goals that you wish to accomplish during the presentation. The goals should be clear and minimum. Focus on a few and specific ideas because talking about too many things can confuse the audience.
Develop the presentation in a manner that guides the audience through the most important ideas and concepts. The goals and the ideas of the presentation should be suitable for the audience.
Third, develop an attention-grabbing presentation or story. The first words in the presentation must be very convincing to capture the attention of the audience.
Give a short story that illustrates the primary goal of the presentation to capture more attention. Make sure that the story is suitable for the audience and relates to the presentation goals.
The story should be appealing enough to cool down the attendees’ mood. It helps ease the tension of a group that might be opposed to the speaker’s perspective.
Incorporate obstacles when preparing for the presentation. Think about some possible concerns and challenges that might arise and plan how to deal with them.
Fourth, take time to practice adequately for the presentation. Conviction is primary to delivering a successful persuasive presentation. Sufficient practice helps the speaker not to lose focus or waver from their thought during the presentation.
You can practice by presenting to your close friend and asking them to give feedback. Their comments will be useful in making adjustments in the presentation to make it persuasive and perfect.
Memorize the key parts of the presentation. Reading too much during the presentation can distract the audience. Memorize the flow of main ideas and points but not every word in the document.
Fifth, make eye contact with the audience during the presentation. Connecting with the audience is crucial in successful persuasion. Scan through the room and make contact with several individuals for short bursts instead of staring at one person.
Avoid rushing through the presentation. Speak slowly and in an audible voice to ensure everyone understands the points. Explain each point adequately and repeat if you feel the audience did not understand a point.
Lastly, structure a strong closing statement. Give the audience a chance to ask questions. Listen intently to their questions and take time to answer them. Avoid attacking ideas that challenge your point of view or thesis.
Reference
Polin, B. (2019). The Leadership Exploration Project: Development and Analysis of a Leader Definition and Persuasive Presentation. Management Teaching Review, 4(2), 119-137.
