A Master Class In Presentation Skills

This is a what a presentation can and should look like.

Over these past few days, I have the pleasure of attending Google Zeitgeist 15. It’s a very exclusive (and invite only) event. I best describe it as Google‘s version of TED. They curate both the content and the audience to ensure that something magical happens… and it always does. I’ve had the please of seeing Bryan Stevenson speak before. He is not talking about business, leadership, marketing or technology, but this will still be one of the most important presentation that you will ever see, if you are someone who has to get up on stage and present. Stevenson is “the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Stevenson is a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated and the condemned. Under his leadership, EJI has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent death row prisoners, confronting abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill and aiding children prosecuted as adults.” Yes, his content is extremely compelling, but watch the way in which he delivers. No slides, no tricks.

Stand. Be present. Know your content. Deliver it. Make it memorable.

It’s not simple to do. Clearly, this is something that Stevenson has been working on, but look at how seamlessly he delivers. Watch his body language, his choice of words and how he structures his presentation to move the audience along. He provides familiarity, empathy and sense of immediacy to his content. It’s stunning.

This is a master…