Building Better Presentations by Putting Your Audience First
Drawing on more than 30 years of experience presenting, teaching, and leading camp, Stuart shares how he has developed his approach to engaging audiences across camp conferences, staff orientations, university classrooms, and even the United Nations. The conversation challenges the idea that being knowledgeable automatically makes someone a good teacher and explores why great presenters must shift their focus away from themselves and toward their audience. Stuart breaks down his practical framework for building presentations around connection and engagement, including how to welcome participants, structure interactive activities, reach different types of learners, and turn new information into meaningful action. Whether you are leading a conference session, training summer staff, or simply trying to communicate more effectively, this episode offers a practical blueprint for making your message stick.
Key Takeaways:
Being Knowledgeable and Being a Good Teacher Are Two Different Skills. Knowing how to do something does not automatically mean you know how to teach it. Great presenters must learn to break information into manageable steps, check for understanding, and create an experience that helps others succeed. These are learned skills, not natural talents that some people simply have and others do not.
Stop Making Your Presentation About Yourself. Instead of worrying about whether your slides are perfect, whether the audience likes you, or whether you sound like an expert, focus on one question: Am I helping? When presenters shift their attention toward the audience's experience, they become more effective at building relationships, recognizing when people are engaged, and adjusting their approach to meet the needs of the room.
Design for All Three Types of Audience Members. Stuart's rule of thirds suggests that one third of an audience is highly engaged, one third is politely listening, and one third is wondering when the session will end. Rather than focusing exclusively on the people who are already excited to be there, presenters should build activities and opportunities that engage all three groups.
Sponsors:
Camptivities
Thanks to our friends at Camptivities for sponsoring the first season of Stickier. The most intentional camp programs are the stickiest. Campers remember them, and families return. Camptivities’ algorithm builds schedules around your camp’s rules, so every camper gets the program you designed. Visit https://www.camptivities.com/ for 15% off fall implementations and to see how we can help make your program a little, Stickier.
Host Links:
Ryan Rosen, Owner/Director Camp Kinneret & CEO of Camptivities, LLC. ryan@campkinneret.com
Dr. Kelly Jones, Owner/Director of Outpost Summer Camps. kelly@outpostsummercamps.com
Stuart Jones, President of Outpost Summer Camps. Stuart@outpostsummercamps.com
