Being from Chicago, I was blessed by having the Bears’ games announced by Pat Summerall and John Madden (I won’t even mention Harry Cary since this blog is football-themed).  I learned from these greats and others that presenting is an art form and every presentation matters.  What can you learn from these professionals?

1. Know when to stop talking.  Some call it diarrhea-of-the-mouth, but the fact is, what you say may not be as important as you think. If someone asks a question they usually just want an answer, they don’t need the entire history of how you came to your conclusion.

2. Know your audience. The Super Bowl announcers do a great job of getting their message out to a mass audience. This game draws a wide demographic, not just the religious watchers, to what will be an epic clash. When you present, keep in mind that not everyone is an expert in your field; talk to them in a way they can relate and become engaged and excited.

3. Sense of Humor. If the announcers only focused on the technical aspects of the game, you would shut off the sound and listen to music. John Madden was an entertainer and sometimes taking a break is just what you need to do. See this example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=facVh75-vW4

4. Mistakes.  The announcers, refs and coaching staff make mistakes when under this type of pressure, so will you. Don’t announce them, dwell on them or debate them to a point of ad nauseam.

5. Mix it up. To keep things current, the Super Bowl has added interactive graphics, female announcers and more. Mix up your presentations, listening to one person talk is simply boring.

We have seen great presentations at meetings, interviews and events. Consider, “what would Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth do?” and you will have a touchdown of a presentation, and remember, don’t use lame puns.

~ Paul Wember, Owner’s Representative