If I had only 5 minutes to coach presenters, here’s what tell them:

1. Forget the warm-up drill as an opener. “Good morning. My name is …” does not set you apart in the line-up of presenters or the marketplace. Start with a high-impact opening that immediately engages listeners in your topic.

2. Make your information or facts tell a story. Don’t just dole out data. Turn your ideas into communication. Take a viewpoint, and shape your information persuasively to lead to a specific message. Connect with an audience to push them to action or a decision.

3. Punch key points—do not swallow them. Avoid rambling on with repetitious statements. Say it; then stop.

4. Strive for simplicity. The ability to make a complex subject understandable to the layperson is the mark of an effective communicator.

5. Never use a $100 story in a three-minute time slot to make a nickel point. Stories make your points and information memorable—but they must be shaped, edited, and delivered well. The longer the story, the better the point must be.

6. Add a touch of humor, but make it relevant to the topic and the situation. A humorous anecdote, illustration, or one-liner adds an element of class and distinction. Humor also reduces resistance and opens minds.

7. Make your presentation both a performance and a conversation. Your passion, energy, and topic make the presentation a performance. Your natural speaking style and relaxed but confident body language make it a conversation. Gestures, posture, movement, facial expression—these all either support or sabotage the impact of your content.

If you have other tips, please share it here.