Below are some effective strategies to use to deliver engaging talks.
Keep in mind whom you are going to be addressing when you craft your presentation. For the CityU Unconference you will be addressing mainly other CityU students in the field of counselling along with advisors and faculty, CityU admin and alumni, friends and family, and some interested community members. What do they want and need to hear? Knowing whom you are speaking to will help you tailor the talk and will help keep the audience engaged.
Your audience may be familiar with counselling however they likely won’t be as familiar with your topic as you are. It can be helpful to gear the level of your presentation to a broader audience, trying to define terms or use language that is understandable and straightforward. You want your audience to understand your points. It is meaningful to meet the audience where they are at so they understand your points and feel more informed. You also want to leave them wanting to learn more, so being straightforward can set the stage to peak the audiences’ interest and encourage their own learning on the topic. Remember to avoid the curse of knowledge: “The more you know the more you think other people know”. This can leave you forgetting what it was like when you were just starting out with your topic.
The best speakers engage listeners, so build your speech from an emotional place rather than from the content. Simply listing facts and figures and talking at the audience isn't effective if they aren't interested in what you are saying. Have a clear sense of what you want the audience to take away from your talk. Your passion for a topic can draw people in; talking without any enthusiasm for the topic can deplete energy in the room and eclipse your message. Consider talking to convince others and not just to inform.
Just be yourself and talk to your audience like you are talking with them. Authenticity—sounding like yourself and using everyday language—is key to getting your message across to an audience.
People don't learn just by listening. Consider embedding visual tools such as slides or a video, when discussing your research. Story telling is also a powerful way to engage your audience. Anecdotes can be a particularly effective way to connect with an audience. Don't let the technology take away from your message. Powerpoint is great but it is just a tool and should not be seen as the focus of the talk.
Another reason to use different media in your talk is to make it more dynamic and compelling. Think about ways to use slides, video, audio, to engage your audience.
Before you talk, determine your main points, and outline them. You can refer to notes while talking or use PowerPoint or Keynote slides as prompts. Be sure to avoid simply putting the text of your speech in slides. Your slides should be used for emphasis.
Do a few run throughs. Present to colleagues, friends, family and get feedback. Be as comfortable as you before the final presentation.
Punctuate your talk with a strong ending. You can connect back to your theme or take aways or leave the audience with something to consider or reflect.
Adapted from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/02/tips-speaking