With the Summer Olympics just around the corner, the world is gearing up to witness exceptional feats of athleticism, determination and plenty of gold medal performances. PR professionals can strive for gold in their own arena—further establishing themselves as subject matter experts within the field.
As a former TV anchor turned PR pro with more than 20 years of storytelling experience, I often present to groups of all sizes to share my expertise in media relations, crisis communications and more. I've also had the privilege of training some of the country's top executives to help them refine their presentation skills and delivery.
Below are my top five gold medal tips to elevate your presentation game and make you a top PR presenter.
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Craft Concise Slides:
Just like a finely-tuned athlete, presentation slides should be lean, mean and ready to win. Keep slides concise, focusing on key points rather than overwhelming your audience with information overload. Each slide should serve a purpose and complement verbal delivery rather than compete with it.
A good guidepost to follow is the trusty 5/5/5 rule: five words per line of text, five lines of text per slide and no more than five text-heavy slides in a row. Make sure to include visuals, data, inspirational quotes and more to create a flow of content. Remember, a presentation is nothing more than a good opportunity for meaningful storytelling.
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Engage Your Audience:
Much like a cheering crowd fuels an athlete's performance, audience engagement is the lifeblood of any successful presentation. Encourage interaction through questions, polls, video examples and interactive exercises. Get creative and think outside the box to keep your audience actively involved and invested in your message.
I often pull from past journalism experiences when delivering presentations, giving real-world examples of stories and interviews I conducted that can serve as valuable teaching tools.
Or put participants in the hot seat with group exercises and mock interviews to help them practice media skills and implement what they have learned. When an audience feels like active participants rather than passive observers, a presentation becomes a memorable experience, rather than just another slideshow.
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Deliver Authentically:
Authenticity is the hallmark of a true champion. Don't try to be someone you're not. Embrace your unique personality, quirks and all. Speak from the heart and let passion shine through.
Look at U.S. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles as an example. In Fall 2023, Biles shared with NBC's "Today" how she was attending therapy sessions and being intentional about her training, focusing on her physical and mental well-being after having difficulties at the Tokyo Olympics.
Authenticity breeds trust and connection—two essential ingredients for effective communication. Be confident that you bring value to the conversation and be honest about challenges and successes experienced. An audience will appreciate a genuine approach and be more receptive to the messaging.
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Pepper in Personal Anecdotes:
Just as Olympic athletes have stories of triumph, perseverance and overcoming obstacles, the same should be true for a presentation. Be sure to infuse personal anecdotes and experiences within the remarks. It will not only help to avoid reading the slides verbatim, it also enhances professional credibility. Share relevant anecdotes that illustrate the points and make the message relatable. Personal stories have a way of capturing hearts and minds, making a presentation memorable long after completion.
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Practice, Practice, Practice:
Gold medals aren't won overnight and neither are stellar presentations. Practice until the delivery is smooth as silk and confidence shines through. Rehearse in front of a mirror, record yourself or enlist the help of a trusted colleague for feedback. The more practice, the more natural and effortless the presentation will feel when it’s go time.
Becoming a top PR presenter is a journey, not a destination. By incorporating these gold medal tips into the presentation, you'll be on your way to capturing the audience with every pitch, speech or press conference. Go forth and may your presentations shine as brightly as Olympic gold!
Katie Lundy is VP at Inspire PR Group.