Ever feel like you're speaking to a room full of mannequins instead of real, live humans?
You might have solid content, immaculate slides, polished delivery, yet the audience seems unimpressed.
Yes, you might have a tough crowd, it happens. But here's some tough love for you:
Chances are, it's not them...it's you.
The secret sauce you might be missing is human connection.
Humanise your message
Picture this: You're at a conference, sipping your third cup of coffee, trying to stay awake as another speaker drones on. Slides are packed with data, jargon is flying, and you’re wondering what’s for lunch. Now, imagine a different speaker steps up. They share a story, make you laugh, and suddenly, you’re not thinking about lunch anymore. You’re engaged. You’re listening. You’re connecting.
That’s the power of humanising your message.
A personal story
At the end of my recent masterclass, a participant, Zayd, shared an observation with the group. He noted that I weaved in many elements to connect with the audience on a human level. I shared stories, talked about my kids, even showed a cringey childhood photo. I wasn't afraid to talk about my failures and vulnerabilities. I used examples that everyone could relate to, and I made them laugh.
Of course I had done this all intentionally, I do it all the time. Not only does it make me more engaging, it also helps to effectively convey my message. Zayd and his colleagues could attest to this.
And as I've heard many times before, many had never considered how a human touch could bring life to their professional/serious/boring/workplace presentations (pick whichever word applies best!).
Why it matters
We humans are wired for connection. We crave stories, emotions, and authenticity. When you present, you’re not just delivering information; you’re building a bridge to your audience. Here’s how to do it:
Tell stories: Weave personal anecdotes into your presentation. Share moments of failure, triumph, or even moments of vulnerability. Stories make your message relatable and memorable.
Engage with empathy: Acknowledge your audience's challenges and aspirations. Show them that you understand and care about their journey.
Use humour: A well-placed joke or a bit of light-hearted banter can break the ice and make your audience feel at ease.
Be authentic: Drop the corporate jargon and speak like a real person. Your audience will appreciate your honesty and openness.
Add a dash of YOU: Infuse some personality or a personal touch into your talk. It makes you more interesting...and more human.
Impact
When you humanise your message, you transform your presentation from a monologue into a dialogue. Your audience will not only hear you, they'll feel connected to you too.
They’ll remember your message long after the slides have faded from their minds.
Oh, and they're also less likely to fall asleep or zone out on you (aka mannequin mode, above).
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