Recently I was working with an executive in a large organization to prepare for an upcoming presentation. This leader is highly competent, extremely bright, motivated to learn, and easy to like.

It turns out that when she stands in front of a group, her nervousness leaks out in the form of "um´s" and "ah´s" and she has a tendency to get somewhat stone faced. She finds comfort in discussing data, so she spends a lot of her presentation reviewing the details, with little or no time spent setting a compelling context for the data.

My time with her reminded me that many leaders are lacking the understanding of what makes for an effective presentation, and that you too, might appreciate a refresher.

Here are my top ten tips for successful presenting:

1. Ask the Audience. Find out in advance what your audience wants and needs to know about your subject. Identify a sampling of people with whom you can communicate to ask their attitudes about the subject you´ll be discussing, their current knowledge levels on that subject, and what they would most like to hear from you. This simple step goes a long way in ensuring you are listener-focused and relevant with what you say.
2. Follow a Simple Format that Works. I recommend a powerful opening and closing and the middle section built around 3 main points of interest. That way, you can stay organized with your thoughts and your listeners can follow along easily.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice. I once worked with a CEO of a Fortune 1000 company who told me that he never rehearsed his presentations - and it showed! It´s not enough to practice what you´ll say; you need to do it standing up in a large room, with your visuals. Simulate the real environment as much as you can and have some people there to give you feedback. It pays big time to rehearse.
4. Tell a Story or Use a Metaphor. Presentations work when presenters connect emotionally with their listeners. One of the most powerful ways to do that is to tell a personal story. If no story fits, try finding a metaphor to illustrate your key idea(s). It is what your listeners will remember.
5. Watch Yourself. Get videotaped as much as you can and watch the tapes. See how you come across and identify the 1 or 2 things that you´d like to change. Then, get disciplined about change by modifying your behaviors in low stress situations like social gatherings, family functions, etc.
6. Be of Service. Presenters often focus too much on themselves and they become highly self-conscious. Instead, take the attitude that you have a chance to be of service to your audience by delivering information they want and need to know. Focus on them and how best to communicate what´s important in ways they will find interesting and memorable.
7. Go Easy on the Visuals. In my opinion, PowerPoint slides have taken over far too many presentations. The presenter often becomes a slide changer and reader. Don´t waste your presentation opportunity by letting your visuals take over. Instead, be choosy about your visuals and keep them simple. Sentences don´t belong on slides. Images do, as long as they are relevant and easy to see.
8. Interact. Invite others to comment and ask questions. Tell them how you´d like to receive input or suggestions on your ideas - now or later. Don´t make your audience sit passively through your presentation without a clear understanding of how they can respond and/or get involved. Check in with people to see if you´re on track, loud enough, making sense, etc.
9. Ask for What You Want. Tell your listeners in your opening what you want them to do during your presentation. It might be that you want them to consider how they could support your new idea, or that you want them to identify the places where they need more information so that you can follow up. Spell it out for them. In your closing, tell them what you want them to do now that your presentation is over. It might be to fund your project, or to change their behavior, or to give you feedback on your idea.
10. Tell Them What´s In It For Them. It´s not enough to ask your listeners to take action. You need to spell out for them the benefits to THEM of doing so. Note these are not the benefits to you, or even to your organization. The more personal and direct the benefits, the stronger the appeal to your listeners.

We´re all good presenters when we´re sitting around the dinner table telling stories to family and friends. It´s when we get dressed up, and stand up in front of our colleagues in a business environment that we tend to get stiff and nervous and lose our natural animation. We end up saying a lot of "blah, blah" in a very uninspiring way. Don´t waste this medium to communicate.  When done well, presentations are compelling ways to communicate ideas and inspire others to take action. If you´re feeling less than confident, try incorporating these ten tips and get others to help you.