"Hey, Kid. How Good Are You?" Presentations (Fast Five)

Ninety percent of what you see here you'll forget in an hour. Better presentation helps us and our audience. You'll present in high school, college, maybe graduate school, job interviews, and in your career. Work on it. 

Coaches prepare players for sport and for life. People judge us based upon our appearance and presentation skills. 

Grab a few tips toward better presentations, including information from "The Exceptional Presenter" by Tim Koegel

1) Have a presence. A former MVB star told me she would walk into a gym with her head up, chest out, and confident smile. "I let everyone know, the best player just walked into the gym (true or not)." Your nonverbal communication sends strong messages.

2) Know your focus and your purpose. A supervisor told a woman in the CIA that she wasn't forceful enough. "Are you the person in the room who knows the most about the subject? Act like it." Engage your audience with respect and establish rapport. 

3) Use stories as examples. For example, "always be prepared to be called." In 2005, setter Amanda Hallett broke a shoelace during a huge road match at D1 powerhouse Andover. Reserve Taylor Pearson came in cold and MVB won six of seven points...and ultimately the match, 3-2. Andover was runner up to Barnstable in the State Championship that season. Taylor was ready and delivered. 

4) Principles matter over statistics. Identify key points. Tell your audience what you'll say, say it, and highlight what you said. After man, the most dangerous animal on the planet is the mosquito, killing by transmitting malaria. Teams score in volleyball with serves, attacks, and block-kills. 

5) Give audiences a reason to care. Presentation skills launch careers. Clarity and specifics make you a better student, athlete, teacher, manager, and spouse. "Research across business, education, and communication fields shows that people who communicate clearly and persuasively — whether in meetings, pitches, interviews, or leadership settings — often earn more and rise faster in their organizations." This especially matters for client facing roles.

Lagniappe (from ChatGPT): 

Here are five key points from Timothy Koegel’s The Exceptional Presenter:

1. Present yourself before your content: Audiences judge a presenter’s confidence, energy, and presence before they absorb the message. How you stand, move, and make eye contact matters as much as what you say.

2. Be clear, concise, and confident: Great presenters speak with simplicity and purpose, avoiding rambling or overcomplication. Every word should drive the message forward.

3. Think in headlines: Structure your presentation around clear, memorable points — much like news headlines — to keep your audience oriented and engaged.

4. Eliminate verbal clutter: Fillers like “um,” “uh,” and “you know” undermine credibility. Koegel stresses the power of the pause instead of filler sounds.

5. Engage with authenticity: Connection beats performance. Authenticity — being genuinely interested in your audience and message — builds trust and makes your presentation far more compelling.

Lagniappe 2. Train to be great.