Where do you get your inspiration for your presentations? It's a common dilemma for many business presenters who struggle to find the right content that will interest their audience and keep their attention. Whether you are putting together a sales presentation for a customer, an internal meeting or any important business event, here are three tips for where to look for material that is relevant, compelling and interesting.
Tip 1: Current News. One of the very best sources for presentation ideas comes from the daily news. Is there a news event that you can use to jump start your presentation? Look for a story that would be relevant for your listeners and one that has been on the front pages for a few days. The key is to find a similarity in the news story that you can apply to your current speaking situation.
For example, is there an economic event, like the stock market dramatically up or down? This could be the perfect analogy for a sales presentation. Or a new space shuttle or satellite just sent into space? A great comparison for the challenges and triumphs of your team or organization.
Tip 2: A Personal Story. Some presenters look to events in their family life to help start a presentation.
- Can you use a family vacation as the basis for a story to show how all family members got together to work as a team to make a camping trip a great experience? This could be the foundation for talking about challenges and how teamwork makes the difference.
- Did you recently fix something in your house, perhaps renovate or rehab or paint or construct something? Another great source of material for challenges and determination. With the right tools and process, you were able to finish your project: the same could apply to your business project or initiative.
- A large family purchase. Did you recently purchase a house or a car or a major appliance? Most people go through a lot of research, comparing products and warranties. This is a perfect analogy for what your customers do when they evaluate your product or service vs. your competitors.
When they win a game this can be great material for business presentations. Each athlete faces struggles, they train and practice, get the right tools or gear in place, they study their competition and they drive themselves until they come out on top. Isn't this what your team or organization or company does? Keep in mind, it can be a team, not just an individual. Look to your local sports teams in your city for possible inspiration.
No matter what your business presentation is about, you can always find inspiration, stories and analogies in the common places, people and events around you.