You’re Half Way Through Your Presentation, And You Realize . . .”This Is Not Working!”

You’re half-way through your presentation, and you realize . . .”This is not working!”

by

Darren LaCroix

You ve prepared your presentation, you know your subject, and you know your audience. You have the presentation internalized. As you progress through it you have this bad feeling that starts to grow. You’re halfway through, and you hear a little voice in your head that says, “This is not working!”

What do you do?

That was the exact question I got this week from one of my corporate coaching clients. His presentation is a “pitch” for a $150,000 per month contract. It’s extremely important to him and his company.

I took a minute to really think about it… and I remembered an amazing transformation that I experienced long ago during a comedy show.

Three of the best headliners were working a show together in Worcester, Massachusetts. There happened to be a function in the main room, so they had to move the comedy show. If you would’ve been there, you would have seen a room full of 115 people in a hotel basement. It was definitely not the best situation — low ceilings, a warm room, a pillar in the middle of the floor that obstructed the view for many of the audience members.

The first comedian was experienced and very talented. He took the stage and only received mild laughs. He continued to follow his routine and didn’t waver. The second comedian took the stage, and had almost exactly the same results. He, too, didn’t waiver from his original “planned” routine. The last comedian, Vinnie Favorito, took the stage, and started with his planned routine. He was about three minutes into it… and he stopped. He put the microphone down, pulled up a stool and said, “Guys, what’s the matter? What’s going on?” Vinnie changed gears, and abandoned the original plan that he always used – the plan that almost always worked for him.

He realized one crucial thing. The original plan will only work when you’re “connected” with the crowd. Sometimes a connection is easy to make. On occasions, like this, it’s not.

I was just amazed at how Vinnie stopped his flow and confidently changed directions. If he had kept going, he would have suffered the same mediocre laughs that the other comedians received.

If you find yourself in the middle of a presentation and it’s not working. Stop. Talk to them. Check-in. It’s perfectly legal to ask the audience where they are, and what’s wrong. It takes a true professional to do that.

By “checking in” I mean – literally – black the projector screen, step forward, and separate yourself emotionally and physically from what you were doing. It gets the audience’s attention and helps engage them right away. They feel the change, and they know it was not planned. You might instantly gain a connection. If you don’t gain that connection right away… I promise, checking in is taking a huge step forward to creating one!

How did it turn out? Amazing! He took a tough audience and completely turned them around. Will it work every time? It depends on many factors. However, if it is not working the way it is going, please change something!

We learn the most from the toughest presentations. Witnessing a master like Vinnie perform under difficult circumstances has taught me a great deal. What will you do the next time you notice it ain t working?

Stage time,

Darren LaCroix, 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking

Copyright 2009 The Humor Institute, Inc.

www.DarrenLaCroix.com

Darren LaCroix The Humor Institute, Inc. 7582 Las Vegas Blvd. S. #144

Las Vegas, NV 89123

In 2001, Darren LaCroix, The World Champion of Public Speaking, outspoke 25,000 contestants from 14 countries to win that title. That was just a benchmark. Since that victory, Darren has traveled the world demystifying the process of creating a powerful speech. He has roused audiences in faraway places like Saudi Arabia, China, Oman, Malaysia, and Taiwan with his inspirational journey from first-rate chump to first-class champ, proving anything is possible if you are willing to work for it.Darren may have been born without a funny bone in my body, but he possessed the desire to learn and the willingness to fail necessary to achieve his dream. The self-proclaimed student of comedy is living proof that humor is a skill that can be learned. As a keynote speaker since 1994, he brings his incredible story to conferences around the world. He is consistently the top rated speaker at conferences. He changes the way people think about, challenges, humor, and presentations forever. His clients include IBM, Fidelity investments, and numerous associations too long to list!He is known as the person who helps speakers launch their careers in professional speaking. His trademarked program Get Paid to Speak by Next Week has helped many speakers launch their very first checks. He also supports speakers doing business coaching through his internet program: Get Paid to Speak TV.Now Darren is in high demand as a speaker coach. The new standard for advanced presentation skills was created when he co-created How Professional Presenters Can Own the Stage. There is no other program on the market that even comes close to this transformational program. Viewers witness exactly how coaches can create lasting significant improvement in just two days.His successful book, Laugh & Get Rich: How to Profit from Humor in Any Business(6th printing), contains interviews with corporate executives who share his philosophy. Now translated into three languages, it is a mainstay on business bookshelves. As co-founder of The Humor Institute and a co-creator of The Humor Boot Camp , Darren directs seminars that help presenters wisely use the power of humor to lighten up their presentations. He is also an award-winning producer, his film Healing, Hope, and Humor. The Humor Institute, Inc. 7582 Las Vegas Blvd. South #144 Las Vegas, NV 89123

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com