Presentation Lessons from a Cooking Demonstration

What do a cooking demonstration and a business presentation have in common? More than you might think.

In my volunteer role at the U.S. Botanic Garden I occasionally assist at cooking demonstrations which we put on to showcase herbs or edible plants from a particular region. These events are always extremely popular with our visitors and I can see why.

Here are some ingredients we business presenters can adapt from a good cooking demonstration:

• Prepare Your Space Before the Presentation :: Well before visitors entered the room, the cooking demo host set out all her pans, foodstuffs and utensils. She pre-planned the flow of traffic [visitors were going to stations around the room to mix their own spices] and organized her handouts.

Too often in business presentations we rush into the presentation space at the last minute and then fiddle with AV equipment and handouts while the audience is in the room. Not only is this a waste of the audience's time [they sit around waiting for you to get ready] but it makes you look disorganized and perhaps suggests to your audience that you had more important things to do than be ready to speak to them.

• Know Your Subject Matter So Well That You Can Focus on the Audience :: The cooking demo host was so familiar with her material and her cooking techniques that she didn't have to put a lot of focus on what she was doing but instead could be totally present with the audience -- anticipating and answering their questions, realizing when she needed to re-explain information and frequently asking for their opinions and experiences.

Although business presenters are often subject matter experts, they still hide behind their material, reading from a script or PowerPoint slides, perhaps due to nervousness or lack of preparation. This greatly minimizes the opportunity for audience interaction: the presenter doesn't fully connect with the audience; the presentation is more of a data dump than a conversation; and the audience shuts down rather than getting engaged.

• Give Samples :: Of course the cooking demo lends itself to handing out samples of the food that's being prepared. But the skilled host went beyond just passing food around while she moved on to the next thing. She highlighted the learning point in that sample, related to the overall theme of the demonstration ["see how good this tastes even though I didn't use any oil in cooking it?"].

You may think that, as business presenters, we don't usually have cool samples to give out. And while you may not have a delightfully herby pesto to offer, your sample is the prop that lets your audience experience your message. Be creative -- perhaps it's a chart or a graph or perhaps it's something tactile that helps illustrate your point. Recognize the power of giving your audience something that heightens their involvement.

So, all you foodies out there, what other ingredients can we borrow from a cooking demonstration presenter to enhance our business presentations?

Photo Credit:
flickr/2008 Metropolitan Cooking Festival, Washington DC  C.C. 2.0

 

 

Comments

[Jo.]

a useful tool for powerpoint presentations: http://www.msmarteam.eu/Excel-Powerpoint-en/Powerpoint.html

[Kathy Reiffenstein]

Hi Kristin,

Thanks for your comments.

If only we could encourage more business presenters to adopt the SHOW and tell approach rather than just the tell approach!

For sure we would have happier audiences!!

Best,
Kathy

[Kathy Reiffenstein]

Hi Fallon,

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I'm glad you're finding some value in the blog. I noticed the other day that I do have a lot of archives!! So that will keep you busy for a little while!!

Best,
Kathy

[Kristin Arnold]

Kathy - I agree wholeheartedly that food demonstrations (I watch the Food Network all the time!) are great springboards to adding a demonstration to your presentation. People love the "follow me" approach - whether it's in your mind or you can actually physically follow along. Watch how they get the audience to comment and get involved with the process!

[ITMillennial]

Great post and very good advice. Especially knowing your subject matter so that you can focus on the audience. Nothing seems to convey a lack of confidence more than being glued to the slides (or worse: reading the slides!).

I'm a new follower of your blog and am enjoying browsing the archives. Great guidance throughout. Thanks!

- Fallon
http://ITMillennial.com

[Kathy Reiffenstein]

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for your comment and the link to the Vitamix guy. Loved your post.

You're so right! Food demo school as a prerequisite to presentation skills training!

Best,
Kathy

[Lisa Braithwaite]

Great examples, Kathy. Reminds me of the Vitamix guy!

http://coachlisab.blogspot.com/2011/03/5-public-speaking-lessons-from-vitamix.html

I'm starting to think that all speakers should go to food demo school!