We’ve all had to sit through long lectures that were … well, extremely boring! Successful educational leaders should always avoid that public speaking trap. Whether it’s a faculty meeting, a school board meeting, or a presentation to a local stakeholder group, principals must always be able to grab and hold their audience’s attention.

Nationally-recognized speaking coach, Gary Genard, outlines two main strategies for effective presentations: providing a clear road map of your presentation’s content, and addressing the group’s “What’s in it for me?” mindset early on. As the author points out, “”Why would anyone be engaged or excited about your presentation if the two main elements of it have nothing to do with that listener personally?”

(NOTE: This link obviously promotes certain products and services. However, I’m sharing it anyway because the concepts presented in this article are very valid without any need to go further.)