Think of it metaphorically: your audience is the hero in your story . Help your viewers, guide them, and they will follow you anywhere. No matter what story you're telling, your goal should be to help the hero(es) – your audience.
The metaphor shows us that listeners want to be involved ; they want to feel like they are part of the story, part of your presentation. The hero of your presentation is never you. If that were the case, your audience would turn away. The hero of your presentation is always the audience.
You can only achieve your goals by involving your audience and putting them and their needs first.
Use storytelling to make your audience the hero of your presentation
Chad Hodge is an American (screen)writer and producer who created the drama series Runaway, The Playboy Club, Wayward Pines, and Good Behavior. He once wrote:
Business speakers should help listeners see themselves as the hero of the story, whether it's about defeating the bad guys or achieving a major business goal.
The goal is to "paint a picture of what success looks like," he added. "That can be anything from personal fulfillment to career advancement to changing the world."
To achieve this, Hodge recommends starting with a "believable character" with whom the audience can identify. "This is someone they can root for and want to succeed with," he said.
Once you have your protagonist, you need to place them in a challenging situation. That's when the audience starts to connect with the story. "The more relatable the challenge, the more engaged the audience will be," he says.
Ultimately, you need to offer a solution that will satisfy your audience. "It should be something they can aspire to," says Hodge. The solution is now your presentation of your product or idea. Present it as the solution to the challenge . Make your product appealing by seamlessly integrating it into your narrative.
By following these steps, you can create a company story that resonates with your audience and helps them see themselves as a hero.
Your audience is on its own journey, and it needs someone to accompany it. They need someone to show them the way. And that's where you come in. Everyone wants to be a star, or at least feel like the story is about them personally.
Tips on how to communicate information better
A key objective of your presentation is to help the hero/heroine, your audience, by providing information or knowledge that will change their life for the better . Skillfully frame your product as a solution to their problem.
The steps to solve this problem are simple:
- Find out who your audience is.
- Make her the hero of your story
- Study them
- Guide them through your story
- Let them know what they can learn from you.
You can do this by sharing a personal experience or by calling on them to take action . Whatever you choose, make sure you connect with your audience on a human level. They will appreciate it and learn from you in return.
Do you have questions about the topic of audiences as heroes or PowerPoint in general? Don't hesitate to contact us by email at becker@presentationload.de . We're happy to help!
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