In our Executive Seminars and presentation workshops, we hear some questions rather frequently. Each month this year, we'll provide some answers to those public speaking FAQs.
When speakers attending our programs think about presenting on bigger stages, they very quickly start to ponder the visual aspects. One question we hear: What about videos? Should I add a video?
Helping presenters find the right answer usually involves asking even more questions, such as:
- How might video enhance what you're talking about?
- What benefits will it bring to the audience?
- How well does it fit into your presentation style, your comfort with technology, and your faith that the technology in the location will work?
You know as an audience member that videos can be a powerful addition to messages. And you also know from your experience out there that, sometimes, video is not the awesome element the speaker believes it to be.
When "to show video or not to show video" is the question, here are some guides we use:
Use a video to show something that's hard for you to describe or demonstrate.
Maybe you're trying to teach an auditorium full of people how to draw flipbook animations on a post-it note. (Yes, this is specific because we've done it.) A video projected on a big screen, narrated by you, can be invaluable—because video lets the audience see exactly how to draw on 3 inch by 3 inch squares of paper, something you’' be hard-pressed to demonstrate as well to them from the stage.
Video for instruction can take your audience into the field for a repair, under the sea to discover marine life, or into the operating room (provided their stomachs can take it!).
Use a video clip to transport people to a place or time
Perhaps this is a variation on the idea of showing what's hard to describe: Audiences may appreciate, for example, aerial footage of a building site, video of a manufacturing process in action, or a video tour of a beautiful resort destination, to name a few.
Likewise, historical footage can help you take your audience back to important events or the day-to-day life of another era—whether it's a moment from the world's history or from your organization's.
Add video to bring more faces and voices into your presentation
Have an expert saying something that will carry weight with your audience? Want to showcase the people who've worked on a project? Video can help you do that—and let the audience hear from someone other than you, in the process.
When speakers want to share the spotlight or bring variety to a long presentation, video can help that do that.
But if you’re going to use video, particularly in this case, beware.
Avoid:
Long clips
We've seen many a music video showing a team goofing around. What is charming for a bit becomes tiresome when it goes on for the length of the entire song. Short clips, no matter the subject, tend to play better when used within your presentation.
Playing a video of you talking
You're standing right there in front of the audience, so it's typically better to speak to them—instead of showing a clip of yourself doing the same thing.
Using video that doesn't advance your message
We've seen it happen. Some people we've worked with have a fondness for certain movie scenes, for example. They try to shoe-horn the clip into the presentation, even though it doesn't provide the audience with information relevant to the topic. Just as when they're faced with a too-long story that has no point, audiences being fidgeting and wondering what the heck is going on.
LEARN MORE
These tips for adding stories to presentations might help you think about ways to include videos, too.
Along with videos, speakers often ask about using quotes in speeches. Find our advice on that here.
