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I had to endure some awfully boring presentations in my life.
Also, some terrible lectures at university.
I had this one architectural design professor who would sit and read aloud from a document for two hours continuously...
Never occurred to him that architecture is a visual form of art!!!
Maybe that's where my addiction to double espresso came from...
Do you want to avoid sending people to sleep during your presentations?
Then use the simple structure John Medina shares in his Brain Rules book:
1 + 9 + switch (& repeat)
1. Divide your content into key concepts you want to convey. You will present them in roughly 10-minute chunks - so for instance, if you have a 30-minute presentation to deliver, limit your key concept to three - or fewer if you want to take questions.
2. Start by introducing your first concept for about one minute.
Just the very general gist of why you want people's attention.
At the very start of the presentation, it's even better if you do the intro as a short story (perhaps telling a fact that will amuse people, or stimulate their interest - just read the beginning of this paragraph to see what I mean!)
3. Now go into just enough details to explain the general concept for nine minutes.
Remember to use visuals and data as well as a narrative to make it compelling.
Do not overcomplicate it and consider what your audience is actually able to understand.
4. Close this concept by sharing a story or example of the application of what you just described. This can be elegantly humorous, interesting or inspiring, but it's meant to resonate emotionally with your audience: this will help them remember what you just explained.
It will also give a break to your audience's brain and allow them to absorb the content you just shared.
5. Repeat as many times as your presentation needs to last.
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