3 Presentation Tips You Can Learn From Kids

Last night I was reading bedtime stories to my 6-year-old, or rather he was reading to me, and I learned 3 things you can apply in your adult life to improve communication and show up like an expert. 

1. Every time he came to a word he wasn't sure about, he got really, really quiet, so quiet that I could barely hear him.

He was hedging his bets, not wanting to speak up because he was afraid of making a mistake. It got me thinking about all the places adults do this:

• You trail off mid-sentence when you're unsure about your argument

• You talk really quietly because you don’t want to make a mistake

• You don’t talk at all because you fear being judged 

Is this you?

So much of your ability to persuade other people comes from your confidence. 

And confidence starts with believing you have something valuable to share and that you have the right to be speaking in the first place.

2. Even when my kiddo could sound out a word, he didn’t necessarily know what it meant.

This also happens in conversation.

My husband and I might try explaining a complex topic and think our 6-year old is following along, but if we stop and ask if he knows what a particular word means, he often shakes his head NO. 

The same thing happens when speaking in front of an audience, or at a business meeting. 

How many times have you sat through a professional presentation littered with industry jargon and acronyms you had to look up? 

You could be the premier subject matter expert, but if you don’t speak in terms your audience understands, they might have no idea what you’re talking about and miss your point entirely. 

Assume you know more than your audience and define concepts, terms and acronyms.

Explain things like you’re talking to my 6-year old. 

If you’re worried that you’ll look stupid, it’s quite the opposite. Instead, you’ll be admired for your ability to translate your work to a general audience and make it accessible and relevant.

3. The last thing I noticed is how my kiddo likes to look through all the pictures before he reads the book.

He likes to preview the material and get a sense of what’s coming. 

This is exactly what happens in a good presentation.

Hook your audience at the beginning and then let them know what’s coming.

This lets your audience know they’re in the right place, that it will be a good use of their time, and that your information will be relevant to them. 

Which of these tips can you use right away? Drop me a note and let me know.

If you have kids at home, turn bedtime stories into practice time. 

I love helping clients improve their confidence and build their presence with tools and strategies that make communication more fun.

Here’s what my client Mimi Bishop said:

“Madeline asks the good hard questions that create a presentation that draws people in and engages them so they walk away having learned something from someone they will not forget. With Madeline’s expert help, the quality of my presentation is night and day.”

Do you want to be more clear and concise at work? 

Do you want to improve communication on your team? 

Do you want to turn your idea into a talk?

I can help you speak clearly and concisely in any situation.

Let’s chat.

Hi, I’m Madeline.

I help quiet leaders and organizations communicate their story and invite audiences into their world.

Together we’ll transform how you communicate, at work, at home, in life.

Get in touch at madeline@madelineschwarz.com.