A good event presentation is about much more than sharing information. As an audience, we want the speaker to surprise us, entertain us, show us himself and make us feel part of his story.

That's quite a lot, especially if you're not a professional speaker. Now no one expects a perfect score, but long-winded, monotonous, or overly nervous speakers can undermine your event.

Unnecessary. Because with the right support, anyone can learn to inspire.

Therefore, here are four tips for giving an inspiring presentation:


Tip 1: Make your idea important to your audience

That you find your own idea interesting is of course a prerequisite, but you also need to make sure that your audience perceives it as important! So tell why your idea is relevant to them and where it touches their world. In her famous TED talk on Super Chicken, Margaret Heffernan starts powerfully by making it immediately clear why these chickens are important to everyone working at a company.

Tip #2: Connect with the people in the room

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel," reads the famous quote by author, singer, dancer, and professor Maya Angelou.

A good speaker knows how to touch his audience on an emotional level. By alternating facts with examples and stories. And by dealing effectively with the nerves and stress that come with the spotlight. So that you feel what you say and dare to make contact with the audience.

Obama shows how to make a strong connection with your audience even in a huge stadium.

Tip 3: Support your story with visuals

Overcrowded slides are really a no go. If you want to show something at all (because: less is more), opt for full-screen images that reinforce your story at the right moment. Remember the famous TED talk in which statistics guru Hans Rosling debunks myths about so-called "developing countries" with the drama and urgency of a sports commentator.

Tip 4: Practice, practice, practice

Make no mistake; a good presentation is sometimes preceded by months of preparation time. First construct a clear and inspiring storyline and then practice thoroughly. So even if you have an overflowing schedule: make time. By the way, many speakers often don't do that preparation alone, but work with a coach or director. Like British photographer and photojournalist Jimmy Nelson, who was coached for TED Global by our own Huib Hudig.

Do you want to make sure the speakers at your event give an unforgettable presentation? So everyone walks out inspired and the event goals are achieved?

We have years of experience in coaching and training speakers for large stages and smaller settings.