Too many speakers lose energy in the middle of their presentation.
They’ve been going for a while, so their battery is running low.
But there’s still a long way to go, so the ‘closing adrenaline’ hasn’t kicked in yet.
The reduced energy ends up affecting a significant portion of the talk.
Here are two steps to tackle the midpoint problem.
Step one.
Find the approximate midpoint of your presentation.
You’d be surprised by the number of people who can’t answer this question.
They guess and usually get it wrong.
If you do a timed rehearsal, you can get an accurate mid-point.
Or look at your slides and speaker notes to get an approximate one.
Once you know that, you’ll know where the dip is most likely to happen.
Step two.
Plan what you’ll do before, after or around that midpoint to maintain momentum.
Sometimes you will get a winning idea instantly.
Sometimes it takes a little thought.
Add a story.
Ask a question.
Bring in an energising example.
Or simply deliver that section with extra enthusiasm.
What ever you choose, you’ll lift the energy for both you and your audience.
Follow these two steps and you’ll dramatically reduce the risk of losing momentum halfway through your presentation.
Every presentation has a rhythm and the middle is where focus is most at risk.
Anticipate it, plan for it, and you’ll stay in control.
Beat the midpoint problem and your audience will feel your energy right to the end.
For more presentation advice, check out the following article on how to close your presentation…
