Rexi Media

by Carmen Taran, Rexi Media

Have you ever heard a speaker deliver a presentation so eloquently that you were completely captivated, curious of what comes next, and did not even consider checking your mobile phone? Complete captivation happens when the advanced presenter makes words flow smoothly and harmoniously, in constant connection with our current state and expectations. One mandatory skill to make this happen is the ability to transition well from one part of the presentation to another.

Transitions are important for a successful speech

Advanced presenters create smooth transitions after the introduction, between each main point, and before the conclusion. Here are three ways in which they make their transitions seamless:

• Previous/next. Presenters often summarize what they have just presented and what they will address next. “You’ve seen what the software can do; now let’s look at some individual features.” This approach is also called a progressive summary. If there are three steps to consider, after discussing step 1, you might say “now that we have looked at step 1, let’s move on to step 2.” After step 2, the summary includes the first steps and the build for step 3. This approach works very well because it helps the audience crystallize the main points in their minds and remember them later.
• Question. Sometimes, presenters pose a rhetorical question that invites participants to ponder what they will cover next. “How do you think this type of software is priced? [Pause and acknowledge responses]. Let’s take a look at the different cost plans.”
• Guided tour. Present a structure, process or theme and reference each part. “Here’s the three-step process for effective recruiting. Let’s take a closer look at each of the steps. In step one…”

Smooth transitions employ specific conjunctive words or phrases, which act like connective tissue between sentences. Advanced presenters use these phrases in different ways depending on the argument they make. Here are three linguistic techniques with associated transitional phrase for different types of rhetoric:

• Elaboration. Use this technique when a sentence describes what you just said. “Our Internet service is fast. In fact, it is the fastest one on the market.” Conjunctive phrases in this category include: in fact, in short, for example, at least, in other words, in particular, in conclusion. Using them frequently through your presentation solidifies the message.
• Extension. Use this technique to extend the meaning of a sentence by adding something new. “Our online service enables you to do data analysis through comprehensible and aesthetically pleasing reports. On the other hand, the traditional software available on the market does not provide such usable reports.” Conjunctive phrases in this category include: also, in addition, on the other hand, instead, or alternatively.
• Enhancement. Use this technique when you wish to further qualify a sentence by adding details about time, place, manner, cause, or condition. Popular conjunctive phrases in this category include: next, at the same time, finally, until then, meanwhile, likewise, as a result, otherwise, yet, still, despite this.

Paying attention to little linguistic details, such as transitional words and rhetoric techniques, is one of the elements that distinguish the advanced presenter from the intermediate presenter.
Repetition also acts as a cohesive tool in your delivery, tying sentences and paragraphs together to make a clear point. You can repeat the same word or phrases that have similar meaning: “This software tool increases your productivity by 40%. When you use this software tool, you…” When you have a word or an idea that you want your audience to remember, repeat it often, almost like a mantra.

Repetition makes your content more memorable

The marketing department at Coca Cola can teach us a good lesson in using repetition as a transition technique and persuasive tool. Not a day goes by that we don’t hear from the folks at Coca Cola. Closely following in persistence are messages from Nike, McDonalds, and Microsoft. These companies know that repetition builds memorable images in viewers’ minds. Even though you don’t have the same resources, know that repetition is key to increasing the retention rate of your message and establishing good transitions. If you found yourself singing jingles or repeating lines from TV ads, you know repetition works.

For more formal presentations that have a title, you can repeat the words used in the title or the theme that you created for the presentation. If you remember president Obama’s inauguration speech, most of the paragraphs went back to the main theme, which he repeated often: “Yes, we can.” When you repeat a word or a phrase, ensure that the audience can see the connection between each paragraph and the main theme or the mantra you selected. In fact, having a mantra you plan to repeat makes it a lot easier to determine what you include in your presentation and what you can leave out.

Transitions do not imply linearity. I am often asked by business presenters: how do I prepare a presentation yet adjust it to participants’ questions on the fly? The answer is: the advanced presenter does very few things “on the fly.” The advanced presenter anticipates participants’ reactions and questions, and is prepared to jump from one part to another in the discourse to address them. A famous Goethe quote reminds us that every word we say will spark in the listener’s mind “an idea of its opposite.” This means that we should already consider what the audience’s concerns may be and be ready to transition to the parts that address them quickly.

When you have only one main idea that you intend to deliver and you prepared thoroughly, you have more chances to jump from one part to another and bring the conversation back to the main path. Preparation enables you to handle non-linearity. Impromptu exercises are also an excellent technique that prepares you to react to those moments we could not possibly anticipate. Mastering smooth transitions allows you to switch between what you prepared, to what the audience asks about, to what unexpected circumstances may offer, and back to the main goal of the presentation.
Studies show that when people read or listen, they form hierarchical frameworks in their minds (or schematas) in order to comprehend the content. They determine what is important and how the different pieces fit together. The more the speaker does to connect pieces to orient the listener, the better and more persuasive the presentation.

Transitions do not always have to be literal. Sometimes, you can simply stop, look around, move to another section of the room, and start another point. The visual transition will work just as well as a verbal one.

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