If we could only give you one tip we’d tell you about the most important presentation technique out there. We’ll get right to it:
The most important presentation technique is to remember to repeat your messages:
Brain Rule #6: Remember to repeat.
John Medina’s Brain Rule #5 says we need to repeat to remember. And #6 says we need to remember to repeat. Remembering to Repeat means that the brain will be more able to commit information to long term memory. “Repeated exposure is the most powerful way to fix memory into the brain”.
So it’s not just repeating key info within your presentation that’s important. It’s also vital to follow up and communicate your key messages to your audience again (ideally later in the day). That reminder is vital if you want long term memory to come into play. If you don’t… well then maybe you’re happy with being forgotten?
How you reconnect and remind your audience is a different issue. Hopefully you can email them all, but don’t just send them a copy of your slides. Write something to highlight your call to action or to remind them of your key message.
The most important presentation technique – repeat later
According to Medina: In an ideal school environment, repeating what was learned would occur 90-120 minutes after the initial learning.
Don’t waste an opportunity
The opportunity to present to an audience is an amazing one to have! The communication and learning potential is huge and so it’s important that we make the most of these occasions. Whilst presentation design may impress (especially if great presentation designers like Presented help you, nudge nudge), it’s more important that your information is clear and understandable. Some tips for clarity include: good layout, simplified content, a strong structure, a repeated structure.
We believe these days that many good presenters keep content light and avoid text heavy slides. But we also believe that most presenters neglect to remind their audience later of their key messages. This really is the most important presentation technique. It’s so powerful to follow up with an audience to reaffirm messages and key content.
So, let’s make it happen: Start to use this presentation technique. Remember to repeat! Provide a simple synopsis later in the day or later in the week to help your audience remember you.
Will you do it?
