Lights, Camera… ACTION! Maximize your presentation with the best reasonable outcome.

Tuesday: Return Driven Strategy FROM THE DESK OF MILES EVERSON: As a speaker, you should not just think about the outcome of your speech or presentation. You should also consider what your audience will get out of what you say, how you say, and why you say it. In other words, there must be a call-to-action that your listeners will be compelled to take part in. This is the “best reasonable outcome,” the thing that will help you make sure your message not only stays in your audience’s minds but is also applied in their everyday lives. Keep reading to know why you should always have a “best reasonable outcome” in your speech or presentation. CEO, MBO Partners Chairman of the Advisory Board, The I Institute

Lights, Camera… ACTION! Maximize your presentation with the best reasonable outcome. In every good presentation, there’s this thing called the “Best Reasonable Outcome.” Plutarch, a Greek philosopher and biographer, once said this about Demosthenes, one of the great Greek speakers in his time: “When Demosthenes was asked what were the three most important aspects of oratory, he answered, ‘Action, Action, Action.’” What is the “best reasonable outcome” in every presentation? ACTION. As a speaker, you ought not just think about the outcome of your presentation. There should also be a movement, an action. During his Speak on the Shoulders of Giants presentation, my friend and colleague, Professor Joel Litman, said: “If you’re going to take the time to get in front of an audience to convey something, it’s because you want them to do something different than they would have otherwise.” Whether you’re speaking in a small meeting or in a large gathering, there’s always something that has to be done after your presentation—a call-to-action that your audience is encouraged to do after hearing you speak. What is it that your audience ought to do differently after hearing your discussion? Build your presentation and plan your communication around the answer to that question. A reasonable action is any positive action or reaction that can improve the lives and outlook of your audience after listening to your presentation. When you deliver a good presentation, it can motivate your audience to take the next step that will lead them closer to their goal. It can also inspire them to make decisions that will help them build happier lives. The “best reasonable action” is usually NOT these two things below: Education and Training If your only goal in delivering your presentation is to give your audience the “education” and “training,” then you’re missing out on a lot of good things in your presentation. Every other lecture, presentation, and seminar aim to educate and train their audiences as well―there’s nothing new about it. As your audience sits through and listens to your presentation, they will want to hear something that will help them change their lives for the better. What good is your presentation if it doesn’t motivate people to do better? How will you measure your presentation’s success without reasonable action from your audience? What is the purpose of education and training if your audience can’t apply what they learned afterwards? No matter how great your presentation is, if it only stays in your audience’s minds without an accompanying change in their lives, it has no use at all.   Meet-and-Greet As a speaker, you’re presenting to impart knowledge and the necessary training that will result in a reasonable action on your audience’s part. You’re not there as a celebrity who’s having a meet-and-greet with his or her fans. You may be a famous speaker, but a presentation is different from a fansigning event. There are other ways, places, and situations to conduct a meet-and-greet. Don’t include it into your presentation schedule. There always has to be a REASONABLE action that you aim for your audience to do after your presentation. An action that goes beyond just a simple workshop or presentation to educate and train. A reasonable action is the APPLICATION of the concepts, ideas, knowledge, and insights that your audience receives from your presentation. More than just writing down notes on a notebook or putting the highest rates on a post-presentation survey, a reasonable action is the step that would enable your audience to reach greater heights… Overcome their fears… Unleash their full potential. As stated by Ben Stein, a writer, comedian, and commentator: “The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.” As a speaker, you have to decide what you want to see at the end of your presentation. Having a firm decision and a clear vision as a first step will make a difference in what you present, how you present, and why you present. So, whatever topic you’re presenting, think about the purpose of your presentation. Think about its best reasonable outcome―action. Don’t just make an impression… make an impact as well! It might be the key that will open doors of opportunities for you and your audience. Hope you found this week’s insights interesting and helpful. Follow us on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for next Tuesday’s Return Driven Strategy! Shakespeare is a 16th century English playwright, poet, dramatist, and actor. Learn more about how you can make an impact through writing on next week’s Return Driven Strategy!