ar-2015

1. HOW TO
CONVINCE
JURORS
A R . M . T A R I Q
L E C T U R E R C E C O S
A R - 2 0 1 5 B A T C H L E C T U R E

2. • No matter how many times you’ve done it, presenting in front of peers, clients,
colleagues, or strangers is challenging, nerve-wracking, and stressful.
• As someone who has delivered a number of conference talks, calls and webinars over
the past few years, I know how impossible it can feel to put together a presentation
that clearly conveys your content while also being persuasive and engaging.

3. 1. MAKE THE FIRST 30
SECONDS OF YOUR
PERSUASIVE PRESENTATION
COUNT• The first 30 seconds of any presentation are far and away the most important of your
entire presentation.
• In those first 30 seconds, listeners are open to the ideas you’re going to present to
them. They might even be enthusiastic and excited to hear what you have to say.
• Inexperienced presenters often waste these first 30 seconds with things like
introductions and agendas that will soon be forgotten.

5. • Like Steve Jobs did in 2007 with the iPhone (with “iPhone: Apple reinvents the
phone”), try to state one big “headline” message within the first 30 seconds. A big
idea for listeners to absorb and internalize.
• You can then turn it into the hook of your presentation. Use an opening story,
surprising fact, joke, or personal anecdote to pique your listeners’ interest and lead into
your big idea.

6. 2. COMPARE AND CONTRAST
YOUR SOLUTION WITH THE
STATUS QUO
• By presenting the drawbacks of the status quo before suggesting your solution, you’ll
help your audience understand the scope of the problem while building a case for your
big idea.

7. 3. GET YOUR JURORS
INVOLVED TO BUILD TRUST
AND RAPPORT
• And most listeners will be more engaged and receptive to your ideas if they’re
engaged in a dialogue instead of passively absorbing what you’re saying.

8. 4.ELIMINATE EXTRANEOUS
DETAIL TO FOCUS ON CORE
CONCEPTS
• Take a second to think about the last presentation you sat through that didn’t hit the
mark. What was it that made you lose interest.
• Was there too much text on the slides? Was it bland, with not enough visuals? Was it
disorganized, with no clear takeaways?