It seems easy enough to be a weatherman. You simply stand in front of a green screen and read from a script, right? Wrong! The truth is it takes exceptional presentation skills to be a successful meteorologist. It is one thing to be able to refer to fancy maps and graphs, but it takes a strong professional presence, good articulation, and plenty of charisma to actually present the weather on camera. Here are three presentation skills used by your local weatherman that can be helpful for presenting in the workplace.
It’s Important to Show and Tell
The audience does not always grasp the spoken word. That’s why it is important to include visual aids in your presentation. A visual aid supplements words with pictures, charts, or graphs. If your weatherman simply sat at a desk and talked about the weather, there is a good chance you would not retain much of what he said. However, when they utilize maps, charts, and 7-day forecast models to provide the same information, it makes more sense and becomes more memorable. The same is true in a business presentation. Don’t just talk to your audience, but engage them by incorporating dynamic visuals into the presentation.
Add a Little Personality
People tend to lean more towards one weatherman than another. They might both be delivering the exact same information, but we connect with people based on personality.  This is one of the fundamental skills required to be a successful weatherman. You have to showcase some on-screen charisma. An audience would get bored and change the channel if the weatherman does not seem excited about what they are doing. With anything you are presenting, it is important to include a little well-timed and tasteful humor, personal stories, and positive energy in order to captivate your audience.
Good Use of Body Language
Much of your impact as a speaker depends on your body language. You probably demonstrate control over the words you speak, but do you have control over your body language? If a weatherman was making awkward gestures with their hands, pacing back and forth on screen, or looking down at the floor you would probably doubt his credibility. More importantly, it would feel uncomfortable to watch and you would probably change the channel. Body language is incredibly important when all eyes of an audience are upon you. When you possess strong, positive body language it builds your credibility and allows you to connect with your listeners. A good weatherman knows how and when to use his hands, maintains good eye contact, and demonstrates good posture while on camera. These same techniques are fundamental when giving a business presentation.
The next time you tune in to your local weather, you might take a few minutes to pay close attention to the way your weatherman presents the information. They utilize many techniques that can be helpful when preparing for your next professional presentation.