Focus on Success Not Perfection
I believe that the perfect presentation doesn't exist.
Don't chase perfection in your speaking. Instead, seek to be successful every time you speak.
Perfection is unattainable and chasing it will slap you with a constant stream of frustration. A successful presentation is attainable and far more rewarding.
Start by defining your vision of success before every presentation. That definition of success can easily change depending on your growth as a speaker and the audience.
For a novice speaker, success might mean surviving the presentation without fainting. Everyone's got to start somewhere.
When you have passed that stage, define success in terms of "moving people". Define a successful by answering this question. What do you want people to think, feel or do when you are done?
If you want a single action (buy your product, hire you, approve your idea) then success will be easy to measure.
If you are speaking to a group where each listener will make and act on individual decisions then recognize that success might not be defined as 100%. This might be the case if you are instructing a class, speaking at a conference or managing staff.
When speaking to a group you might define success as moving 60% of the audience. Don't be upset by the 40% who didn't move. You still achieved success.
Don't beat yourself up over the flaws, mistakes or omissions in delivery if you attained your goal of moving people.
Yes, you probably want to improve your presentation skills. Keep doing that. But it's results that you want. That's the reason to speak.
If you want to be more successful in your presentations, then focus on success. Define the success of your presentation clearly and don't be distracted by the stumbles, tangents and turbulence along the way.
Forward this tip to your colleagues who want to be more effective presenters.
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