5 proven ways to make your audience feel like idiots

    1. Start with “terms and definitions”
    There are several variations of this method:

    You can give well-known definitions, hinting that those present are not quite adequate:

    image

    You can give definitions in a language that would immediately show “who is smart here”:

    image

    You can give a lot of definitions in at the very beginning, when the audience has no idea why they need to delve into it. Then the speaker seemed to have the moral right to use all the “introduced” definitions in bulk, emphasizing intellectual superiority:

    image

    2. Read aloud the text on the slides
    Although many do not guess, the slides are by no means intended to duplicate the speech (here is an article about it )

    But if the speaker is poorly prepared for the speech, then he has no choice but to read the slides. On the other hand, one can often see a situation where an almost complete text of speech with “literary” turns is initially taken out on the slides, and, accordingly, the speaker shows the same thing that is said out loud. In any case, this situation evokes associations with childhood memories when mom or dad read books aloud.

    image
    image

    Often a speaker, reading slides, generally stands (or even sits) almost with his back to the audience.

    3. Provide "visual" data
    Showing a slide like this, you need to say "the current situation, you can clearly see everything on this diagram / chart / table." At the same time, each listener tries to inadvertently look at the neighbors in order to understand whether, due to his mediocrity, he alone cannot make out anything. After this phrase you need to quietly flip to the next slide without any explanation.

    image
    image

    4. Use more abbreviations and formulas.
    This helps the speaker to show that he is an expert in the subject. But those present are not. This method works perfectly in combination with method No. 1 - definitions of all abbreviations used can be given on the first slide, but here you can check the memorability and attentiveness of the audience.

    image
    image

    5. Mission. Values. Strategic vision. History.
    Even if the topic of the presentation has nothing to do with any of these things, you can always devote at least a few minutes to the presentation. Let the listeners know that the speaker has these wonderful things and silently hears fundamental truths.

    image
    image

    ***

    There are many other ways to show students their opinions about their intellectual abilities. Ask stupid questions to the audience. Underestimate the last word in a sentence, implying that someone must guess and agree on it. Modestly-modestly describe their own epic feats as if "by the way had." Vigorously joke and the first to laugh at their jokes.

    And what methods of their presentations where you were most remembered by you?

    Also popular now: