A good presentation of any kind; speech, seminar or workshop; is part content and part style/involvement tactics. Some people refer to these elements as the steak and the sizzle.

Sue Gaulke, the author of 101 Ways To Captivate A Business Audience suggests (strongly) that even the most technical of presentations should contain at least one “sizzle” element every six minutes. Sizzle elements include, humor, an anecdote, a demonstration, audience participation, or using a prop. Oh sure, your audience does not want you to waste their time, they want the facts, data and bottom line information. They want you to inform them, but they also want you to do it with style.

Here is a test to see how high your “Involvement Quotient” is when you attempt to communicate with an audience:

1. Do you do your homework about your audience before you speak? Do you try to find out what “current events” have been an issue with this group?

    

2. Do you start your presentation by plunging right in with an anecdote, a startling fact or by asking the audience questions, instead of beginning with a lot of “verbal throat clearing” like “thank you for having me here,” or it’s an honor to speak to you today?”

    

3. Do you remember to tune your message to your audience’s WIIFM radio station (What’s In It For Me)? Do you apply or slant your content to their own self interest? Do you show them how your information can solve problems for them, make their jobs easier, save them time and effort, increase their bottom line?

    

4. Do you come prepared with more anecdotes, stories or case histories than you expect to use? Are you prepared to introduce one of these illustrations (even if you hadn’t originally planned to use it) when you sense your audience getting restless of inattentive?

    

5. Do you single out individuals to ask questions or drop their names to use as examples? Do you ask for volunteers to demonstrate something?

    

6. Do you plan for audience activities like brainstorming, small group discussions, inviting audience questions at the beginning or middle of your talk (instead of the usual finale) games, contests, problem solving exercises, involve the audience to build the agenda, or use of learning journals?

    

7. Do you incorporate humor? Do you use funny props, tell embarrassing stories about yourself, read funny (but applicable) quotes, fun activities, keep a humor file from news clippings or joke books?

    

8. Do you move around with energy? Do you modulate your voice with more energy? Do you walk around the podium or even out into the audience?

How did you do? If you answered “Yes” to all eight questions, give yourself a rousing round of applause and yell, “encore.”

If you answered “Yes” to six or more, give yourself three stars and a candy bar.

If you answered “Yes” to four or more of these questions, pat yourself on the back, but look for ways to improve your presentations.

If you answered “Yes” to three or less, you need work, but don’t get discouraged. All of these sizzle elements are easily learned and adapted to any kind of presentation. It is also possible that you are under the mistaken belief that your topic is too serious to incorporate such sizzle elements. But even speaking at someone’s funeral can involve humorous stories of the departed to help the mourners remember the good times they had with that person.

We’ve all endured speakers who were experts in their fields. Speakers who gave dense, information-filled presentations (or at least the parts we paid attention to were full of information), but who did not convey that information effectively. These speakers were ineffective because they had no idea how to include the sizzle necessary for good communication.

Sizzle elements not only keep the people you speak to involved, they are far more likely to remember your information and take action afterwards. Learn to add sizzle to your steak and you will be in great demand as a speaker.