Improv theater provides lots of useful tricks for how to be a more effective presenter, whether conducting training, running design sessions or delivering a business presentation.

1. What
IMPROV taught me
about giving effective training
PRESENTATIONS

2. • Be present
Be present

3. Get out of your own head.
Focus on your space and your audience,
not on yourself and your nerves.

4. Make
eye contact

5. Don’t be a slave to your slides or your notes.
Your audience came to see you – look at them!

6. listen
Lean in
and listen

7. It’s not about how much you know;
It’s about what your audience is trying to learn.
So listen to their questions…. and answer them,
Even if you don’t get to follow your exact script!

8. “ Yes, and …”

9. Most of the time people ask questions to learn.
Sometimes it’s to challenge your credibility.
Don’t get defensive – use challenges as a base!
Build on comments and questions to make your points!

10. Practice mirroring

11. Pay attention and show empathy.
Subtly mirroring someone’s movements helps
to create connection.

12. Dress the part

13. Dress for credibility and comfort.
Think about the message your clothes send.
And Wear clothes that fit –
tugging, pulling and squirming are distracting!

14. Take a few risks

15. Be willing to try new things.
It helps keep your material – and you – fresh!

16. Make movement
deliberate
• Make movement deliberate

17. Avoid fidgeting and mindless shuffling.
If your feet need to move, walk with purpose.
If your hands need to move, make your
gestures meaningful.

18. Show, don’t tell

19. Demonstrating is more powerful than describing.
Tell a story, show a video, use props or visual aids!

20. Stay humble

21. Remain open to learning new things.
Your peers, your mentors and your audience can all
teach you something!

22. Rehearse

23. It may be counterintuitive, but rehearsing makes
improvising easier when you need to do it!

24. Breathe
• Breathe

25. When in doubt, just breathe.
Good breathing quiets your mind,
calms your nerves, helps project your voice and
keeps you from passing out !

26. Thank you
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