Using contrast to enhance your presentation impact

Using NLP to improve public speaking – Top Tips

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Quick notes – Planning your Presentation

Contrast is the state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition or close association. (Thanks to Google for the technical definition there!)

More importantly to us, contrast is a fantastic tool for increasing our public speaking success. When we use contrast in a presentation, our audience cannot help but notice the gap that is created between the two things that we contrasting. It's a surefire way to grab attention.

More than that, contrast is great for holding attention and keeping our audience engaged. As humans, when we notice a gap or a space that doesn't fit the normal 'pattern' that we would expect, we have an innate desire to resolve that gap and bring things back into a nice pattern.

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See some jumbled Scrabble letters on the worktop? The chances are that if you’re left alone with them for too long you’ll start arranging them into familiar words - an example of our natural desire for order in action!

In short, gaps and contrast draw us in. They are a powerful tool for getting (and holding) the attention of an audience.

How can you use contrast to attract attention and keep your audience engaged?

Here's some quick wins...

Contrast in Presentation Content

Highlight differences between ideas, concepts, or situations to make your points clearer. For example, you might contrast the benefits and drawbacks of two different approaches to a problem, or contrast current practices with proposed solutions.

Contrast in Presentation Delivery and Emotion

Varying your delivery style can help create contrast and maintain audience interest. You might switch between speaking loudly and softly, quickly and slowly, or with different levels of emphasis to emphasize key points or create dramatic tension.

Contrast in Language

Use contrasting language to draw attention to key points. Many of the most famous lines from great speeches have used contrast. "I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." "You're either with us, or against us."

Visual contrast

If you're using visual aids or props in your presentation, you can use contrast to make your points more visually striking. This might involve contrasting colors, sizes, or shapes to highlight differences or draw attention to specific elements of your presentation.

Contrast in presentation stories

Use contrasting stories or examples to illustrate your key points. For example, you might contrast a story of someone who succeeded against all odds with a story of someone who failed due to a lack of preparation.

Structural contrast

Structure your presentation with clear, contrasting sections for opposing ideas. This could involve alternating between problem and solution or contrasting different perspectives or viewpoints throughout your presentation.

post it notes, pens and paper scattered across a desk

Want more great public speaking insight, tips and techniques?

This is just a small part of our treasure chest of public speaking tips and advice. You can find more resources and insight like this one on our downloadable public speaking resources page here.

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Rich Watts

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