I remember being invited to present an end-of-the-year campaign for Autism Speaks on behalf of its Dallas chapter in late 2009. The goal was to train current staff and volunteers on how to effectively increase volunteer hours and donations.

And so, I developed the idea, wrote a script, designed a slide presentation and rehearsed.

I put together an excellent presentation that showcased a need and a call to action, and forwarded it to the client. The director at the Autism Speaks’ Dallas office loved it and told me that it was one of the most appealing presentations she had ever seen and she looked forward to me presenting it to her staff.

But, I felt like it was still missing something.

Was I telling a compelling story? Was my message visually appealing? Would I come across as someone who is meaningful, inspiring and memorable?

As a public speaking instructor, I always remind my students to develop their speeches and presentations more into a story-telling session using personal examples. So, it was high time I practiced what I preach.

I realized that getting better at something is always about continuing education. So, I took a long hard look at my presentation again to figure out how to make it more personal and ensure that my message resonated with the audience.

It didn’t take me long.

All I had to do was look at my own son who is on the autism spectrum, and try to explain a day in his life to the trainees. I rewrote my script, this time with a third-person narrative, and injected slides comprising some pictures and a video of my son. No text was needed.

Needless to say, my presentation struck a chord with almost everyone in the room that day.

I succeeded. My presentation made an impact. Not just because I spoke about my son but because I understood how speaking about him would help me achieve my goal and in turn, help the trainees achieve theirs.

Getting better at something has a lot to do with self-evaluation – what works and what doesn’t.

A good trainer knows this.

Additionally, one can’t simply hope to accomplish the goal of delivering an effective presentation without adequate preparation.

Be Compelling

No amount of visual tools can help trainers with their presentation if they don’t have a compelling story to tell and they aren’t delivering a message that resonates with the people they are training.

Successful trainers focus on explaining why people need to listen to them or care about learning from them. They know that if their trainees don’t care about a topic, they will not put any effort into learning it. Trainers who dive right into a topic without making their team feel excited about it, risk losing them as soon as the topic progresses.

That’s because training is subjective.

A good trainer understands an audience’s needs and then explains what should be done to fill the gap.  By knowing what is needed, a trainer can focus on addressing weaknesses and making a training course more efficient.

I’ve learned that from reading about President Abraham Lincoln. He was a masterful storyteller who had the capacity to raise his audience’s emotions via use of humor, imagery and colloquial expressions in all his stories. He also understood the importance of always being audience-centered, while realizing that listeners need to be constantly engaged and compelled to take action.

Remember, people are emotional first and rational second. So, as a trainer, it is your job to emotionally engage your audience in order for your message to reach its full potential.

Be Visual

Trainers these days have the resources to be extremely effective.

Presentation software such as PowerPoint and Keynote have certainly helped pave the way in making messages more meaningful. However, effective trainers know the difference between taking advantage of these tools and misusing them.

Remember, effective communication relies on the transfer of emotion. And, some of the best presentations actually have little to no text on slides. This is because the audience doesn’t need to be distracted by reading what’s on the screen. They are there to learn from the trainer and not a PowerPoint, remember? Plus, strong visuals have a bigger impact than data.

Think about it. Is it easier to recall an image or data?

There is no doubt that displaying data is often a necessity during a training process. But, a good trainer knows the difference between simply listing data and using it in the right context. A general rule of thumb is to use no more than two to three points per slide so that the audience has a chance to retain the information.

Effective trainers who present are always short on words and big on visual graphics.

Be Meaningful

Sure, you have to discuss figures with those you are training. How else can you be specific and expect them to learn?

But, if all you’re going to do is report facts and figures, then just email them a report and save them the time to come listen to you speak. Numbers don’t mean much unless they are placed in context.

Remember that as an effective trainer, your numbers need to be meaningful.

For instance, if you generate $1 million annually, put that number into perspective by telling your audience that it is more than $2,739 a day. Also, explain what the number means to your overall business, since this helps your audience gain a better perspective and understanding of what’s in it for them. You should be selling your audience the benefits and not the features.

Public speaking pro Seth Godin says that if you believe in your idea, sell it. Make your point as hard as you can and get what you came for.

I agree.

There’s nothing better than being thanked by your audience because deep down, as Godin puts it, we all want to be sold.

Be Inspiring

Effective trainers look for avenues that have proven to be successful with a mass audience and not just a concentrated one.

While many presenters focus on conveying information, someone like former Apple CEO Steve Jobs inspired his audience. I always enjoyed Jobs’ keynotes because he succeeded in persuading his audience on what they needed even before they knew of its existence.

Take the iPad, for example.

No one really thought Jobs’ “revolutionary” device would one day helps save lives, did they? Yet, days after its release, a healthcare district in California made the news when word got out that its doctors were using iPads to access X-rays, test results and patient monitoring programs. Additionally, the tablet has been noted as a successful learning tool for helping children with special needs. I could never have imagined my two-year-old autistic son proficiently using it as a communication device.

That’s what made Jobs great. He wasn’t just good at selling you the steak, but also the sizzle, as one of his audience members put it.

Be Memorable

You’ve done all the legwork (developed an idea, prepared and rehearsed), and are finally ready to deliver your message. But, remember that all is lost if your presentation fails to relay that message.

Your presentation must evoke an emotional reaction from your audience in order to be successful. Your presentation slides must draw their attention to you and what you’re going to say next. Remember, they are called visual aids for a reason. You as a trainer bring credibility to the presentation and not the other way around.

Do you feel that is significantly different from what most people at your organization are expecting in a training course?

Sure.

But, isn’t that what being an effective trainer is all about? Championing a point of view that is different from others?