I’ve written about the show before, but yet again NBC’s workplace satire The Office has picked up on a real-world issue: How to give a great speech at a sales conference. In last week’s episode, Dwight (the office heel) ends up winning, to everyone’s chagrin, the regional salesperson-of-the-year award. But when he finds out that he must give a speech at the local sales conference, his fear of public speaking makes him panic (he recounts a tale in which he misspelled the world “failure” at a school spelling bee) and he turns to his boss and coworkers for help.
Surprisingly, Dwight ends up wowing the crowd—by cribbing a Benito Mussolini speech and changing all references to global war to the “war at work” and replacing soldiers with “salesmen—and women.” He does this with much of his own flair, pounding on the podium with a crazy look in his eyes.
Yes, this scenario is implausible. But Dwight actually does a few things right that can help out those faced with real-world presentation fears:
1) He models his speech on that of a proven public speaker. Though you always want to inject your own style and experiences into a speech, it’s okay for newbies to look to the veterans for help. Did they use a lot of anecdotes? Did they present their ideas in a clear outline form? Don’t be afraid to use what’s already worked as a starting point for your own preparation. (One disclaimer: You probably shouldn’t turn to fascist dictators for speech ideas.)
2) He injects relevance. By pointing out how big-picture notions apply to his fellow salespeople representing northeastern Pennsylvania, he keeps the audience engaged in his message: How salespeople must continue to fight the good fight.
3) He makes good eye contact. It’s apparent that Dwight actually did a lot of preparation beforehand. He takes cards with him onstage, but focuses more on the audience (even if it is with manic facial expressions). It’s clear he has practiced, proving the best presenters don’t rely on PowerPoint or other presentation materials because they know their subject matter.
What presenting tips help keep panic at bay for you? Here are some pointers from S&MM on how to avoid being a dull presenter.
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