Six PowerPoint Nightmares (and How to Fix Them)
By Lincoln Spector, PCWorld
You're giving a speech in front of an audience, and suddenly you realize that you're naked.
Even if you've never experienced that particular nightmare, you've probably heard of it. Luckily, it will probably never happen to you in real life (and if it does, you work in a very interesting industry). But if your PowerPoint presentation goes wrong in front of a gathering of your peers--or worse, a gathering of your bosses--you have a real, waking nightmare on your hands.
Here are solutions to six PowerPoint nightmares. The first two deal with problems that may arise when you're designing a presentation. The remaining four focus on avoiding disasters that you might otherwise not see until your audience saw them, too.
These tips will help you save face when using either PowerPoint 2007 or PowerPoint 2010.
1. I Can't Format Text Around an Image
Why doesn't PowerPoint handle pictures and text as well as Microsoft Word does?
Whatever the reason, it doesn't. So if you want to place an image in the middle of a paragraph, you have to work around PowerPoint's limitations. Here are two ways to do that:
If you want to put the image in the middle of an otherwise normal paragraph, you have to create a space for it manually: Place the text box and image on the same slide. Then move the picture into the middle of the text block and resize it to your liking. Right-click the picture and select Send to Back. Now, starting with the first line of text that overlaps the picture, insert spaces or tabs until the text surrounds but doesn’t block the picture.
You've probably already guessed the problem with this solution: Any changes you make after adding all of the spaces will throw things off and require you to redo much of the work.
If instead you want text to curve around an image, you can use WordArt. Select the text box, and click the ribbon's Drawing Tools/Format tab. Click Text Effects (if you don't see the words 'Text Effects', look for the softly glowing blue letter A). In the resulting pull-down menu, select Transform, and then choose the most promising shape. Move, resize, and reshape the circle by dragging it.
2. I Hate That Font
Don't like the font that you (or a coworker) used throughout a lengthy presentation? Want to change it to something else?
In the Home tab's Editing group, pull down the Replace menu and select Replace Fonts. Select the appropriate fonts and click Replace.
3. PowerPoint Won't Open My Presentation
You bring your presentation on a flash drive, plug it into your host's computer (connected to a projector), double-click the file--and get the fateful error message.
You may have checked ahead to confirm that the host computer had PowerPoint loaded on it, but did you ask which version? The file format changed with PowerPoint 2007.
The easiest way to avoid compatibility issues is to use the old file format. Your files will be significantly bigger, but you probably won't run into other problems.
You can make the old format your default in the PowerPoint Options dialog box. To get there in PowerPoint 2007, click the Office orb in the upper-left corner, and then click the PowerPoint Options button. In version 2010, click the Ribbon's File tab, and in the left pane click Options.
Once you're in the dialog box, click Save in the left pane. For the 'Save files in this format' option, select PowerPoint Presentation 97-2003.
The owner of the computer can fix the problem by installing either the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 file formats or the PowerPoint Viewer 2007. Both are free. But that's their decision to make, not yours.
4. The Audience Can't Read the Text
Your slides can be completely legible in the office, but projected on the big screen they may be difficult for your audience to read.
You can't assume that the projector you'll be using during the presentation will exactly replicate the colors on your monitor. Subtle--or not so subtle--differences in shade, brightness, and contrast are common.
The solution is to avoid subtle color differences when choosing your font and background colors. Think in terms of color opposites:
Black and white
Red and cyan
Green and magenta
Blue and yellow
Of these four pairs, yellow text on a blue background is probably the most pleasing to the eye. White text on any truly dark color will also be readable.
If you want to experiment but ensure that your results will be readable, try Dave Paradi's Color Contrast Calculator. For a design tool, this Web page is surprisingly text-heavy and unfriendly, but it can tell you whether your two colors will produce legible results.
The calculator requires you to enter the three numbers that define each color. To obtain these numbers for the background color, right-click a blank spot on the slide and select Format Background. In the Fill section of the resulting dialog box, pull down the Color menu and select More Colors. You'll see Red, Green, and Blue values below the colorful graphic. (If you don't, change the Color model to RGB.)
For the text color, select some text and then click the Ribbon's Home tab. In the Font section, click the pull-down arrow by the color icon (an A with a thick, red underline) and select More Colors. You'll get the same dialog box.
5. That's Not the Font I Picked!
So you replaced an ugly-looking font with an attractive one (see problem #2 above), and then you got the colors right (see problem #4). But when you launched your presentation, the font onscreen wasn't the one you picked.
Unless you're sure that you'll be running your presentation from your own laptop, you should embed your fonts to avoid font overrides from the host machine. You can do the embedding from the PowerPoint Options dialog box.
To get to that box in PowerPoint 2007, click first the Office orb and then the PowerPoint Options button. In 2010, click the Ribbon's File tab and then click Options in the left pane.
Once you're in the dialog box, click Save the in left pane. Then check Embed fonts in the file.
6. Audio Plays Only on My PC
Fonts aren't the only components of your slideshow that may fail to follow your PowerPoint file to another PC. If you've added music or other audio to your presentation, it may play flawlessly on your computer, but elsewhere leave you with the sound of silence.
First question: Does the presentation PC have speakers attached to it, and are they powerful enough to fill the room? If you have sound with your presentation, you need to answer this question in advance.
But what if the setup is capable of blasting Beethoven's Fifth through the audience, and yet the song in your presentation doesn't make a peep? Unless you're sure that you'll never have to run the presentation off anything except your own laptop, you need to set up your slideshow in a way that avoids this particular embarrassment.
There are two ways to add sound to a PowerPoint presentation: You can link the audio, which tells PowerPoint to play a particular audio file, or you can embed the audio information inside the PowerPoint file itself.
You might expect, in view of the advice I gave earlier about fonts, that the better approach is to embed the audio into your PowerPoint file. But that's not the case here because PowerPoint will let you embed audio that it may not be able to play. For instance, if you embed an MP3 file in PowerPoint 2010, you may not be able to play it in PowerPoint 2007.
A better approach is to link to the audio file in a way that eliminates all path issues. Before inserting any sounds into your slideshow, create a separate folder for your presentation. Put the PowerPoint file there, along with any audio files that you'll be using. (If you're playing songs from your audio library, be sure to copy--rather than move--the files. Otherwise, you'll have trouble enjoying them later.)
When it's time to insert audio, be sure to link rather than embed:
In PowerPoint 2007, click first the Office orb in the upper-left corner and then the PowerPoint Options button. Click Advanced in the left pane. Scroll down to the Save section. Make sure that the value of the 'Link sounds with file size greater than' option is smaller than the size of the smallest audio file you'll be using.
There's no such setting in PowerPoint 2010. In the Insert Audio dialog box, select but don't double-click the file; then pull down the Insert menu near lower-right corner, and select Link to File.
Take the folder, rather than the file, with you to your presentation.
After you're done with your technically flawless presentation, you can go home and have a good night's sleep--assuming, of course, that everyone in the audience stayed awake during the presentation.
Articles of Related Interest: For a review of non-PowerPoint presentation-software options available online, see "PowerPoint Alternatives: Presentation-Tool Showdown." For a Mac-centric discussion of how to improve a PowerPoint presentation, see "Five Favorite PowerPoint Tips." And for examples of what not to do under any circumstances, see our slideshow, "The World's Worst PowerPoint Presentations."
Contributing Editor Lincoln Spector writes PC World's Answer Line column and blog, as well as the movie blog Bayflicks.net. Follow Lincoln on Twitter.
MY THOUGHTS
Great tips. I still need to check the color contrast thing but the rest of the tips seem easy to work on.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
How to Answer the Question: "WHAT DO YOU DO?"
How to Answer the Question: “What Do You Do?”
By Penelope Trunk | July 21, 2011
So what do you do?
It’s the question that people are often asked. Some instinctively know how to answer it well. But most don’t. The fact is, the question is so open-ended that it’s almost like a trick question. Any answer is right, technically, but most answers are boring and so therefore, probably detrimental to your career.
The problem for most of us is that our lives are long and complicated, and it’s hard to know what’s most important.
Here are some tips:
1.Talk fast.
When someone says to you, “What do you do?” it’s an invitation to you to give your elevator pitch about you. And elevator pitch, it should be noted, is called that because you should be able to start and finish the answer to the question in the time it takes to ride in an elevator.
Entrepreneurs have to be ready at all times to catch someone in an elevator who can fund their company, and then pitch that person, on the spot, to convince them to hear more about the company later.
So the answer to the question should be only a few sentences. If they are good sentences, the person will ask for more info. If you can’t give a good answer in less than a minute, then you have no idea how to talk about yourself when someone wants to talk longer.
2. Convey self-respect.
It’s hard to cover up self-doubt when you feel it. But talking about yourself in a framework of self-doubt does not make you honest - it makes you boring. Because we all have self-doubt. It’s natural to have self-doubt. It’s an accomplishment to figure out how to work around it and still get things done. What it interesting about each of us is how to get around the self-doubt. Talk about that.
When I was married to my ex-husband, and people would ask me what he does, I’d say, “I don’t know.” I think my answer revealed the inevitable demise of our marriage. Because having an answer to the question is a sign of self-respect - for ones spouse or for oneself.
3. Know your audience.
There is no one, single, right way to describe “what you do.” The key is to tailor your answer to your audience. And the way to know which answer is best for which audience is knowing your list of possibilities. Then, you can choose your one-sentence summary from the list you have in your head. For example, if you paint at home and you are a sales person, your summary of your life includes painting AND sales if you’re interviewing for a sales position at an art company. But if you’re interviewing at a software company? Your summary does not include painting.
4. Leave out boring stuff.
When people ask you what do you do, they are really asking, “what is interesting about you?” So you don’t need to confess that you stay in bed until noon and then watch movies for five hours. Retail may be a great way to support yourself when you are trying to figure out what’s next. And moving back into your parents house is a smart, conservative step in a wacky economy. But you don’t need to tell people this stuff. It’s not going to reveal interesting things about you.
Talk about that one hour, toward the end of the day, when you finally motivate yourself to do something. What if your most interesting work occurs outside of your day job? That’s okay. You should talk about what excites you and what you’re passionate about, even if this is something you don’t get paid for. People are not asking about money when they “what do you do?” they are asking about passion.
5. Show off your expertise.
Trying lots of jobs on for size is a great way to figure out what you want to do next. In fact, dilletantism might be the best career change tool around. But it should be a path to specializing. Because ultimately, specialists are the people who are most successful in the work world.
So you might be tempted to tell people how you do a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Don’t. But instead, force yourself to talk about your career like you’re a specialist.
6. Hire a career coach to help you tell stories.
I think everyone needs a career counselor at some point in their life, and the reason is that they need help shaping their story. We should each make choices that feel right at a given time and not worry about our story, but then we should be great at crafting our story to make sense of our lives after the fact.
Most people have coherent stories, but they don’t see it. Their resumes are a mess and their elevator pitch is a bore. Hire a professional to help you make a story that makes sense for where you want to go.
And, in the end, the only way we get where we want to be is to tell ourselves stories of what we look like on that path. So if you want to chase your dreams, first chase that elusively enchanting elevator pitch.
MY THOUGHTS
That's something that's worth learning-the elevator pitch. What can be more concise than that? Brief. To the point. Hitting the right spot. At the right time. With nothing else but the most crucial of details.
By Penelope Trunk | July 21, 2011
So what do you do?
It’s the question that people are often asked. Some instinctively know how to answer it well. But most don’t. The fact is, the question is so open-ended that it’s almost like a trick question. Any answer is right, technically, but most answers are boring and so therefore, probably detrimental to your career.
The problem for most of us is that our lives are long and complicated, and it’s hard to know what’s most important.
Here are some tips:
1.Talk fast.
When someone says to you, “What do you do?” it’s an invitation to you to give your elevator pitch about you. And elevator pitch, it should be noted, is called that because you should be able to start and finish the answer to the question in the time it takes to ride in an elevator.
Entrepreneurs have to be ready at all times to catch someone in an elevator who can fund their company, and then pitch that person, on the spot, to convince them to hear more about the company later.
So the answer to the question should be only a few sentences. If they are good sentences, the person will ask for more info. If you can’t give a good answer in less than a minute, then you have no idea how to talk about yourself when someone wants to talk longer.
2. Convey self-respect.
It’s hard to cover up self-doubt when you feel it. But talking about yourself in a framework of self-doubt does not make you honest - it makes you boring. Because we all have self-doubt. It’s natural to have self-doubt. It’s an accomplishment to figure out how to work around it and still get things done. What it interesting about each of us is how to get around the self-doubt. Talk about that.
When I was married to my ex-husband, and people would ask me what he does, I’d say, “I don’t know.” I think my answer revealed the inevitable demise of our marriage. Because having an answer to the question is a sign of self-respect - for ones spouse or for oneself.
3. Know your audience.
There is no one, single, right way to describe “what you do.” The key is to tailor your answer to your audience. And the way to know which answer is best for which audience is knowing your list of possibilities. Then, you can choose your one-sentence summary from the list you have in your head. For example, if you paint at home and you are a sales person, your summary of your life includes painting AND sales if you’re interviewing for a sales position at an art company. But if you’re interviewing at a software company? Your summary does not include painting.
4. Leave out boring stuff.
When people ask you what do you do, they are really asking, “what is interesting about you?” So you don’t need to confess that you stay in bed until noon and then watch movies for five hours. Retail may be a great way to support yourself when you are trying to figure out what’s next. And moving back into your parents house is a smart, conservative step in a wacky economy. But you don’t need to tell people this stuff. It’s not going to reveal interesting things about you.
Talk about that one hour, toward the end of the day, when you finally motivate yourself to do something. What if your most interesting work occurs outside of your day job? That’s okay. You should talk about what excites you and what you’re passionate about, even if this is something you don’t get paid for. People are not asking about money when they “what do you do?” they are asking about passion.
5. Show off your expertise.
Trying lots of jobs on for size is a great way to figure out what you want to do next. In fact, dilletantism might be the best career change tool around. But it should be a path to specializing. Because ultimately, specialists are the people who are most successful in the work world.
So you might be tempted to tell people how you do a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Don’t. But instead, force yourself to talk about your career like you’re a specialist.
6. Hire a career coach to help you tell stories.
I think everyone needs a career counselor at some point in their life, and the reason is that they need help shaping their story. We should each make choices that feel right at a given time and not worry about our story, but then we should be great at crafting our story to make sense of our lives after the fact.
Most people have coherent stories, but they don’t see it. Their resumes are a mess and their elevator pitch is a bore. Hire a professional to help you make a story that makes sense for where you want to go.
And, in the end, the only way we get where we want to be is to tell ourselves stories of what we look like on that path. So if you want to chase your dreams, first chase that elusively enchanting elevator pitch.
MY THOUGHTS
That's something that's worth learning-the elevator pitch. What can be more concise than that? Brief. To the point. Hitting the right spot. At the right time. With nothing else but the most crucial of details.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
PowerPoint Presentation Tips for New Grads
Is PowerPoint the Rocket Fuel for a New MBA Grad's Career?
PRWeb
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Kirkland, WA (PRWEB) June 07, 2011
150,000 business school graduates in the U.S. alone will start their new careers this summer. But how does a freshly-minted MBA stand out among peers with 5 or 10 years experience?
The answer may be learning how to wield PowerPoint more effectively.
Despite the criticism aimed at PowerPoint, it might actually be the easiest way for new grads to shine. That's the advice of Bruce Gabrielle, author of Speaking PowerPoint: The New Language of Business and a corporate trainer on presenting to executives.
Most business managers admit the bar is very low on PowerPoint, says Gabrielle. "But it's actually an opportunity! If your PowerPoint slides are clearer and more professional-looking than others', you can stand out even among peers with 5 or 10 years experience."
He may be onto something. Gabrielle recalls one MBA intern who showed Microsoft executives they may be ignoring an important customer segment. His PowerPoint slides included a slick-looking bubble chart, identifying and naming each customer segment. After that presentation, there was heated discussion about which segments Microsoft should target and executives re-used his slides and terminology. "Of course, that intern was offered a full-time job at Microsoft when he graduated."
Gabrielle suggests new grads adopt these five principles for developing PowerPoint slides, which even experienced managers fail to do.
1. Start your presentation by answering the exec's question. Many presenters, even experienced managers, re-enact their analysis for executives and leave their conclusions until the end. Instead, new grads should anticipate the most important question the executive has and answer that question in the first five minutes.
2. Don't lead with anything controversial. Even in the hard-headed show-me-the-numbers business world, brain science proves decisions are primarily emotional, not logical. So don't begin your presentation with something controversial, which invites debate and disagreement. Instead, lead with the most emotionally positive and relevant information, like customer quotes or examples of your competitor's advertising.
3. Write your slide title out as a full sentence. Research by Penn State University found audiences understood and remembered, on average, 15% more of a speaker's talk when the slide title was a full sentence rather than just a 2-4 word phrase. Notes Gabrielle, "How many slides do you see every day that could be improved with that one simple change?"
4. Limit your slide to 3-4 bullet points. Some presentation experts discourage using text on slides, but Gabrielle says that advice is wrong. "That may work in a keynote address or motivational speech. But in business, the audience wants to see your text, not stock photography." Studies by Blokzijl & Andeweg in 2004, and repeated in 2006, prove business audiences learn more from text slides than from picture slides or no slides at all.
5. Use the alignment tools for more professional-looking slides. Says Gabrielle, "alignment is the easiest thing you can do to make your slides look more polished and professional." He includes a how-to video on his website, demonstrating how to use the alignment tools.
Speaking PowerPoint: The New Language of Business is intended for new and experienced business managers who want to use PowerPoint more effectively at work, and especially in executive presentations.
Gabrielle now leads corporate training programs, teaching business managers and consultants the research-based principles he discusses in his book.
"We're still in the dark ages when it comes to PowerPoint," says Gabrielle, "But there is a growing body of research which shows us how to use PowerPoint effectively in business, in sales and in education. It's an important area that business schools need to teach."
Speaking PowerPoint: The New Language of Business (ISBN: 978-0984236046). Author: Bruce R. Gabrielle. Publisher: Insights Publishing. Available from Amazon.com or in bulk from Insights Publishing.
###
For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/6/prweb8532062.htm
MY THOUGHTS
I like these powerpoint presentation tips. Simple, workable and logical.
PRWeb
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Kirkland, WA (PRWEB) June 07, 2011
150,000 business school graduates in the U.S. alone will start their new careers this summer. But how does a freshly-minted MBA stand out among peers with 5 or 10 years experience?
The answer may be learning how to wield PowerPoint more effectively.
Despite the criticism aimed at PowerPoint, it might actually be the easiest way for new grads to shine. That's the advice of Bruce Gabrielle, author of Speaking PowerPoint: The New Language of Business and a corporate trainer on presenting to executives.
Most business managers admit the bar is very low on PowerPoint, says Gabrielle. "But it's actually an opportunity! If your PowerPoint slides are clearer and more professional-looking than others', you can stand out even among peers with 5 or 10 years experience."
He may be onto something. Gabrielle recalls one MBA intern who showed Microsoft executives they may be ignoring an important customer segment. His PowerPoint slides included a slick-looking bubble chart, identifying and naming each customer segment. After that presentation, there was heated discussion about which segments Microsoft should target and executives re-used his slides and terminology. "Of course, that intern was offered a full-time job at Microsoft when he graduated."
Gabrielle suggests new grads adopt these five principles for developing PowerPoint slides, which even experienced managers fail to do.
1. Start your presentation by answering the exec's question. Many presenters, even experienced managers, re-enact their analysis for executives and leave their conclusions until the end. Instead, new grads should anticipate the most important question the executive has and answer that question in the first five minutes.
2. Don't lead with anything controversial. Even in the hard-headed show-me-the-numbers business world, brain science proves decisions are primarily emotional, not logical. So don't begin your presentation with something controversial, which invites debate and disagreement. Instead, lead with the most emotionally positive and relevant information, like customer quotes or examples of your competitor's advertising.
3. Write your slide title out as a full sentence. Research by Penn State University found audiences understood and remembered, on average, 15% more of a speaker's talk when the slide title was a full sentence rather than just a 2-4 word phrase. Notes Gabrielle, "How many slides do you see every day that could be improved with that one simple change?"
4. Limit your slide to 3-4 bullet points. Some presentation experts discourage using text on slides, but Gabrielle says that advice is wrong. "That may work in a keynote address or motivational speech. But in business, the audience wants to see your text, not stock photography." Studies by Blokzijl & Andeweg in 2004, and repeated in 2006, prove business audiences learn more from text slides than from picture slides or no slides at all.
5. Use the alignment tools for more professional-looking slides. Says Gabrielle, "alignment is the easiest thing you can do to make your slides look more polished and professional." He includes a how-to video on his website, demonstrating how to use the alignment tools.
Speaking PowerPoint: The New Language of Business is intended for new and experienced business managers who want to use PowerPoint more effectively at work, and especially in executive presentations.
Gabrielle now leads corporate training programs, teaching business managers and consultants the research-based principles he discusses in his book.
"We're still in the dark ages when it comes to PowerPoint," says Gabrielle, "But there is a growing body of research which shows us how to use PowerPoint effectively in business, in sales and in education. It's an important area that business schools need to teach."
Speaking PowerPoint: The New Language of Business (ISBN: 978-0984236046). Author: Bruce R. Gabrielle. Publisher: Insights Publishing. Available from Amazon.com or in bulk from Insights Publishing.
###
For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/6/prweb8532062.htm
MY THOUGHTS
I like these powerpoint presentation tips. Simple, workable and logical.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
HOW MUCH OF YOUR PRESENTATION SHOULD BE ABOUT YOUR COMPANY
HOW MUCH OF YOUR PRESENTATION SHOULD BE ABOUT YOUR COMPANY
Death by Corporate Overview
by Peter Cohan
Published on April 19, 2005
Tags: Marketing Smarter, PowerPoint, Sales
We are often asked, "How much of our company's corporate overview presentation should we include in a demo meeting?" Good question. The answer: as little as possible!
Many salespeople and technical staff feel comfortable opening a demonstration meeting with a "brief" overview of their company. Most customers refer to this as "Death by PowerPoint."
Why? Because at the beginning of such meetings, customers are not interested in vendor history—they only want to whether a vendor can help address their critical business issues (CBIs) or enable them to achieve their objectives.
Making the customer wait through and watch and listen to three, six or ten or more slides from a standard corporate overview presentation about the vendor is just cruel!
Instead, start the meeting with a "situation slide."
In the case of a technical proof demonstration, this slide simply recalls the information gathered previously from during qualification/discovery discussions. You should list the following:
The customer's name and job title for each major player or department
The CBIs, reasons, and specific capabilities needed for each player or department
The desired change/result ("delta") for each situation (you may want to create a situation slide for each major player or department involved)
A CBI is a problem that the customer sees as important enough to invest resources to address. It is best to use the customer's words, such as "I'm concerned about our ability to achieve our forecasted revenues this year," which might come from a VP of Sales. In your situation slide, you would rephrase this:
VP of Sales, Acme Software
CBI: Concerned about achieving forecast revenues
Read the Full Article
Read more: http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2005/1465/death-by-corporate-overview#ixzz1KJKipRBI
MY THOUGHTS
It'll be good to remind yourself that your presentation is not a company orientation.
Death by Corporate Overview
by Peter Cohan
Published on April 19, 2005
Tags: Marketing Smarter, PowerPoint, Sales
We are often asked, "How much of our company's corporate overview presentation should we include in a demo meeting?" Good question. The answer: as little as possible!
Many salespeople and technical staff feel comfortable opening a demonstration meeting with a "brief" overview of their company. Most customers refer to this as "Death by PowerPoint."
Why? Because at the beginning of such meetings, customers are not interested in vendor history—they only want to whether a vendor can help address their critical business issues (CBIs) or enable them to achieve their objectives.
Making the customer wait through and watch and listen to three, six or ten or more slides from a standard corporate overview presentation about the vendor is just cruel!
Instead, start the meeting with a "situation slide."
In the case of a technical proof demonstration, this slide simply recalls the information gathered previously from during qualification/discovery discussions. You should list the following:
The customer's name and job title for each major player or department
The CBIs, reasons, and specific capabilities needed for each player or department
The desired change/result ("delta") for each situation (you may want to create a situation slide for each major player or department involved)
A CBI is a problem that the customer sees as important enough to invest resources to address. It is best to use the customer's words, such as "I'm concerned about our ability to achieve our forecasted revenues this year," which might come from a VP of Sales. In your situation slide, you would rephrase this:
VP of Sales, Acme Software
CBI: Concerned about achieving forecast revenues
Read the Full Article
Read more: http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2005/1465/death-by-corporate-overview#ixzz1KJKipRBI
MY THOUGHTS
It'll be good to remind yourself that your presentation is not a company orientation.
Monday, March 28, 2011
TELL A STORY WHEN GIVING A PRESENTATION
TELL A STORY WHEN GIVING A PRESENTATION
from the article 'Every Presentation Should Tell a Story'
By Geoffrey James | February 8, 2011
"According to the latest neuroscience, the normal, non-autistic, human brain organizes EVERYTHING into stories, because that’s how we understand the meaning and context of everything around us. Because of this, the best sales presentations ALWAYS tell a story.
But how do you do that? One way is to borrow some story telling from Hollywood and start each story with something interesting, introduce characters with whom the audience can relate, and then make sure you have a satisfying ending.
For sales presentations, that means following these three rules:
1. RULE #1: Starts with an “heart-stopper.” Every movie, TV show, or novel starts with something that captures your attention (i.e. captures your emotions) and holds your interest while you “get into” the story. Without a “heart stopper,” the audience’s mind will wander. Trust me.
2. RULE #2: Talk about the audience… not about you. The story connects emotions to the audience’s current situation so that that a decision becomes inevitable. You (or your firm) can play a “best supporting actor” role, but the main role is always the audience and what happens (or might happen) to them.
3. RULE #3: Ends with a “risk-remover” and a “close.” The risk-remover eliminates any remaining reluctance to make a decision. The “close” pushes the audience over the edge and essentially forces them to make the decision, right now."
"Needless to say, you’ll need to have plenty of data and reality behind the various points in the story. And, for this to work in a sales situation, you’d have to meet one-on-one with many of the participants to get your ducks in a row, as they say.
Even so, this is the kind of presentation that’s going to create emotion and persuade the audience to make a decision. And it’s certainly going to work better than the dull stuff that most people throw up on the screen."
MY THOUGHTS
If you've listened to a really excellent sales presentation then you know what this article is talking about. However, I don't think these presentation tips is for sales alone. It would do us good to follow these presentation tips no matter what kind of presentation we're giving. After all, every presentation is supposed to be selling something. If not an item, then the principles or the ideas and points you want your audience to buy into.
from the article 'Every Presentation Should Tell a Story'
By Geoffrey James | February 8, 2011
"According to the latest neuroscience, the normal, non-autistic, human brain organizes EVERYTHING into stories, because that’s how we understand the meaning and context of everything around us. Because of this, the best sales presentations ALWAYS tell a story.
But how do you do that? One way is to borrow some story telling from Hollywood and start each story with something interesting, introduce characters with whom the audience can relate, and then make sure you have a satisfying ending.
For sales presentations, that means following these three rules:
1. RULE #1: Starts with an “heart-stopper.” Every movie, TV show, or novel starts with something that captures your attention (i.e. captures your emotions) and holds your interest while you “get into” the story. Without a “heart stopper,” the audience’s mind will wander. Trust me.
2. RULE #2: Talk about the audience… not about you. The story connects emotions to the audience’s current situation so that that a decision becomes inevitable. You (or your firm) can play a “best supporting actor” role, but the main role is always the audience and what happens (or might happen) to them.
3. RULE #3: Ends with a “risk-remover” and a “close.” The risk-remover eliminates any remaining reluctance to make a decision. The “close” pushes the audience over the edge and essentially forces them to make the decision, right now."
"Needless to say, you’ll need to have plenty of data and reality behind the various points in the story. And, for this to work in a sales situation, you’d have to meet one-on-one with many of the participants to get your ducks in a row, as they say.
Even so, this is the kind of presentation that’s going to create emotion and persuade the audience to make a decision. And it’s certainly going to work better than the dull stuff that most people throw up on the screen."
MY THOUGHTS
If you've listened to a really excellent sales presentation then you know what this article is talking about. However, I don't think these presentation tips is for sales alone. It would do us good to follow these presentation tips no matter what kind of presentation we're giving. After all, every presentation is supposed to be selling something. If not an item, then the principles or the ideas and points you want your audience to buy into.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
GIVE LIFE TO PRESENTATIONS WITH POWERPOINT 2010
10 Tips to give life to your ideas with Power Point 2010
Published: Thu, 2011-02-17 18:44
Power Point 2010 is the tool of choice for students, teachers, professionals and even children, when creating presentations and the new 2010 version offers more ways than ever to create and share dynamic presentations. New and striking visual and audio capabilities will help you tell a story with almost cinematic quality, so easy to create as attractive to observe. In addition, now PowerPoint 2010 lets you work simultaneously with others or publish the presentation online and access it from virtually anywhere, either through the Web or a smartphone.
1. Increased impact and visual power to your presentations.
Save time and money by applying sophisticated photographic effects without using additional photo editing programs. Transform images by using the new and improved features of image editing. You can adjust the color, brightness, contrast and saturation. There is also an advanced cutting tool. Power Point 2010 also boasts artistic touches such as blur, brush and watercolor filters. Edit your images and make them exactly what you want.
2. Work with other users without having to wait your turn.
PowerPoint 2010 redefines the way you collaborate. Through co-authoring, people in different locations can simultaneously edit the same presentation. In addition, with Office Communicator (now Lync) you can view the availability of other team members who are working on the presentation and easily start a conversation without ever leaving PowerPoint. Ideal for working in a team atmosphere.
3. Add a personalized video experience.
Embed and edit video files directly in PowerPoint 2010. Cut easily to show only the relevant sections or add markers at key points in the video to have quick access to them. You can also trigger an animation that starts automatically the reach these markers, as well as specify when the video appears and disappears, in addition to implementing a variety of styles and video effects (for example, reflections, bevels, 3D rotation). With these new features, you can quickly capture your audience's attention.
4. Imagine a presentation at the right time.
Share your PowerPoint 2010 presentations by sending a URL so that people can see your presentation on the Web. Recipients can view slides in high fidelity, even if they do not have PowerPoint. You can also convert the presentation high quality video with narration.
5. Get access to your presentations from more locations and on more devices.
Publish your presentations online for later view and edit them by web or Windows Phone:
• Microsoft PowerPoint Web App: extends the experience to the Web and enjoy views of high-quality on-screen full, store and edit your work when you're away from your PC.
• Microsoft PowerPoint Mobile 2010: stay updated and performs immediate issues through improved PowerPoint Mobile version specifically adapted for Windows Phones.
6. Create high quality with wonderful graphic presentations.
You don’t need to be an expert in design to create professional-looking graphics. Use dozens of additional SmartArt® designs to create flow charts, lists, diagrams of infinite possibilities and images to illustrate your ideas in the best possible way. Transform words into attractive images that best illustrate your ideas. Create diagrams as easy as writing a bulleted list or text and images becomes a diagram with just a few clicks.
7. Captivate audiences with new transitions and improved animations.
The new slide show transitions are now more dynamic, with new animation effects and transitions that look similar to graphics seen on TV. Get access to preview animations and then apply, customize or replace with ease. You can also use the new features to easily copy an animation from one object to another.
8. Organize and print your slides in a more effective way.
Easily organize slides by sections: divide a presentation into logical groups of slides, rename sections to facilitate the administration of the content (for example: assign slides to a certain author) or print a single section of the presentation easily.
9. More quickly perform tasks.
The new Microsoft Office Backstage ™ view replaces the traditional file menu to allow you to save, share, print and publish presentations with just a few clicks. With the improved Ribbon, you can gain access to your favorite commands faster. Create your own tabs or adapt existing ones to customize them to your working style.
10. Works on several presentations and multiple monitors.
PowerPoint 2010 offers a completely separate window for each presentation that opens. In addition, you can view and edit several presentations independently, in parallel or even independent monitors. So if you are creating the largest presentation of your career, working on a team or against a deadline PowerPoint 2010 gives you the ability to work with more ease and flexibility to meet your goals. Convert dull work into unique presentations to give life to your ideas with the full range of tools of the new Office 2010!
MY THOUGHTS
i tried using this last year. i wasn't that impressed. maybe because i never really explored the new features. maybe i should try it again.
Published: Thu, 2011-02-17 18:44
Power Point 2010 is the tool of choice for students, teachers, professionals and even children, when creating presentations and the new 2010 version offers more ways than ever to create and share dynamic presentations. New and striking visual and audio capabilities will help you tell a story with almost cinematic quality, so easy to create as attractive to observe. In addition, now PowerPoint 2010 lets you work simultaneously with others or publish the presentation online and access it from virtually anywhere, either through the Web or a smartphone.
1. Increased impact and visual power to your presentations.
Save time and money by applying sophisticated photographic effects without using additional photo editing programs. Transform images by using the new and improved features of image editing. You can adjust the color, brightness, contrast and saturation. There is also an advanced cutting tool. Power Point 2010 also boasts artistic touches such as blur, brush and watercolor filters. Edit your images and make them exactly what you want.
2. Work with other users without having to wait your turn.
PowerPoint 2010 redefines the way you collaborate. Through co-authoring, people in different locations can simultaneously edit the same presentation. In addition, with Office Communicator (now Lync) you can view the availability of other team members who are working on the presentation and easily start a conversation without ever leaving PowerPoint. Ideal for working in a team atmosphere.
3. Add a personalized video experience.
Embed and edit video files directly in PowerPoint 2010. Cut easily to show only the relevant sections or add markers at key points in the video to have quick access to them. You can also trigger an animation that starts automatically the reach these markers, as well as specify when the video appears and disappears, in addition to implementing a variety of styles and video effects (for example, reflections, bevels, 3D rotation). With these new features, you can quickly capture your audience's attention.
4. Imagine a presentation at the right time.
Share your PowerPoint 2010 presentations by sending a URL so that people can see your presentation on the Web. Recipients can view slides in high fidelity, even if they do not have PowerPoint. You can also convert the presentation high quality video with narration.
5. Get access to your presentations from more locations and on more devices.
Publish your presentations online for later view and edit them by web or Windows Phone:
• Microsoft PowerPoint Web App: extends the experience to the Web and enjoy views of high-quality on-screen full, store and edit your work when you're away from your PC.
• Microsoft PowerPoint Mobile 2010: stay updated and performs immediate issues through improved PowerPoint Mobile version specifically adapted for Windows Phones.
6. Create high quality with wonderful graphic presentations.
You don’t need to be an expert in design to create professional-looking graphics. Use dozens of additional SmartArt® designs to create flow charts, lists, diagrams of infinite possibilities and images to illustrate your ideas in the best possible way. Transform words into attractive images that best illustrate your ideas. Create diagrams as easy as writing a bulleted list or text and images becomes a diagram with just a few clicks.
7. Captivate audiences with new transitions and improved animations.
The new slide show transitions are now more dynamic, with new animation effects and transitions that look similar to graphics seen on TV. Get access to preview animations and then apply, customize or replace with ease. You can also use the new features to easily copy an animation from one object to another.
8. Organize and print your slides in a more effective way.
Easily organize slides by sections: divide a presentation into logical groups of slides, rename sections to facilitate the administration of the content (for example: assign slides to a certain author) or print a single section of the presentation easily.
9. More quickly perform tasks.
The new Microsoft Office Backstage ™ view replaces the traditional file menu to allow you to save, share, print and publish presentations with just a few clicks. With the improved Ribbon, you can gain access to your favorite commands faster. Create your own tabs or adapt existing ones to customize them to your working style.
10. Works on several presentations and multiple monitors.
PowerPoint 2010 offers a completely separate window for each presentation that opens. In addition, you can view and edit several presentations independently, in parallel or even independent monitors. So if you are creating the largest presentation of your career, working on a team or against a deadline PowerPoint 2010 gives you the ability to work with more ease and flexibility to meet your goals. Convert dull work into unique presentations to give life to your ideas with the full range of tools of the new Office 2010!
MY THOUGHTS
i tried using this last year. i wasn't that impressed. maybe because i never really explored the new features. maybe i should try it again.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
ENCHANTING PRESENTATIONS
Keys to an Enchanting Presentation
Mar. 8 2011 - 3:14 pm | 886 views | 0 recommendations | 0 comments
By CARMINE GALLO
Former Apple evangelist, entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Guy Kawasaki, has published a new book on the art of changing hearts, minds and actions. As I was reading Enchantment I realized that many of Kawasaki’s techniques apply to all manner of public speaking and business communications, especially in the area of presentation skills. Here are several of Kawasaki’s tips that you can use to improve your very next presentation and to change a few more minds.
Kawasaki defines enchantment as the process of delighting people with a product, service, organization, or idea. In order to accomplish that feat, you must be likable. According to Kawasaki, there are four factors that create a likable first impression: your smile, your dress, your handshake, and your vocabulary. On the topic of vocabulary, Kawasaki says “Words are the facial expression of your mind: they communicate your attitude, personality, and perspective.” Kawasaki offers several tips for a persuasive vocabulary:
Use simple words. When you use words people have to look up in a dictionary or search for in Wikipedia, you’ve failed.
1. Use the active voice. Consider the impact of two phrases: “Use the right words” versus “the right words should be used by you.” The passive voice is “wimpy,” says Kawasaki. Enchanters use the active voice.
2. Keep it short. “In ten years of listening to entrepreneurs’ pitches, I’ve never heard one that was too short,” says Kawasaki.
On the topic of PowerPoint slides, Kawasaki has a technique that I think is very effective if only because I see it used so rarely and yet it is very personal and makes an immediate connection with an audience. Kawasaki’s advice: Customize the introduction with pictures. For example, when Kawasaki spoke to HP’s printer division, he showed a picture of HP printers and faxes in his home office. When he speaks in a foreign city, he gets there early and tours the city to expand his horizons, finds out what enchants him about the city, takes photos, and incorporates the pictures into his presentation. Nice touch.
Kawasaki and I both agree that shorter, simpler, and more visual slides are far more enchanting – or delightful—than slides full of text. “Use evocative pictures to make your presentation exciting,” says Kawasaki. “The goal is to provide inspiring information that moves people to action.” Slides full of words and text seldom enchant. The fewer words, the better.
I’ve known Kawasaki for several years and I’m always pleasantly surprised to see that he and I agree on every area of communications. I come from journalism and Kawasaki comes from marketing but we agree on presentation techniques because the same concepts apply to both journalism and business – the person who tells the best story wins.
Carmine Gallo is the communications coach for the world’s most admired brands. He is a popular keynote speaker and author of several books including the bestsellers, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs and The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs. Follow him on Twitter: carminegallo
MY THOUGHTS
well said! go and use these tips. they are very good tips. especially the use of more visuals on your slides. bullets are becoming obsolete.
Mar. 8 2011 - 3:14 pm | 886 views | 0 recommendations | 0 comments
By CARMINE GALLO
Former Apple evangelist, entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Guy Kawasaki, has published a new book on the art of changing hearts, minds and actions. As I was reading Enchantment I realized that many of Kawasaki’s techniques apply to all manner of public speaking and business communications, especially in the area of presentation skills. Here are several of Kawasaki’s tips that you can use to improve your very next presentation and to change a few more minds.
Kawasaki defines enchantment as the process of delighting people with a product, service, organization, or idea. In order to accomplish that feat, you must be likable. According to Kawasaki, there are four factors that create a likable first impression: your smile, your dress, your handshake, and your vocabulary. On the topic of vocabulary, Kawasaki says “Words are the facial expression of your mind: they communicate your attitude, personality, and perspective.” Kawasaki offers several tips for a persuasive vocabulary:
Use simple words. When you use words people have to look up in a dictionary or search for in Wikipedia, you’ve failed.
1. Use the active voice. Consider the impact of two phrases: “Use the right words” versus “the right words should be used by you.” The passive voice is “wimpy,” says Kawasaki. Enchanters use the active voice.
2. Keep it short. “In ten years of listening to entrepreneurs’ pitches, I’ve never heard one that was too short,” says Kawasaki.
On the topic of PowerPoint slides, Kawasaki has a technique that I think is very effective if only because I see it used so rarely and yet it is very personal and makes an immediate connection with an audience. Kawasaki’s advice: Customize the introduction with pictures. For example, when Kawasaki spoke to HP’s printer division, he showed a picture of HP printers and faxes in his home office. When he speaks in a foreign city, he gets there early and tours the city to expand his horizons, finds out what enchants him about the city, takes photos, and incorporates the pictures into his presentation. Nice touch.
Kawasaki and I both agree that shorter, simpler, and more visual slides are far more enchanting – or delightful—than slides full of text. “Use evocative pictures to make your presentation exciting,” says Kawasaki. “The goal is to provide inspiring information that moves people to action.” Slides full of words and text seldom enchant. The fewer words, the better.
I’ve known Kawasaki for several years and I’m always pleasantly surprised to see that he and I agree on every area of communications. I come from journalism and Kawasaki comes from marketing but we agree on presentation techniques because the same concepts apply to both journalism and business – the person who tells the best story wins.
Carmine Gallo is the communications coach for the world’s most admired brands. He is a popular keynote speaker and author of several books including the bestsellers, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs and The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs. Follow him on Twitter: carminegallo
MY THOUGHTS
well said! go and use these tips. they are very good tips. especially the use of more visuals on your slides. bullets are becoming obsolete.
Monday, March 14, 2011
ENCHANTING PRESENTATIONS
Keys to an Enchanting Presentation
Mar. 8 2011 - 3:14 pm | 886 views | 0 recommendations | 0 comments
By CARMINE GALLO
Former Apple evangelist, entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Guy Kawasaki, has published a new book on the art of changing hearts, minds and actions. As I was reading Enchantment I realized that many of Kawasaki’s techniques apply to all manner of public speaking and business communications, especially in the area of presentation skills. Here are several of Kawasaki’s tips that you can use to improve your very next presentation and to change a few more minds.
Kawasaki defines enchantment as the process of delighting people with a product, service, organization, or idea. In order to accomplish that feat, you must be likable. According to Kawasaki, there are four factors that create a likable first impression: your smile, your dress, your handshake, and your vocabulary. On the topic of vocabulary, Kawasaki says “Words are the facial expression of your mind: they communicate your attitude, personality, and perspective.” Kawasaki offers several tips for a persuasive vocabulary:
Use simple words. When you use words people have to look up in a dictionary or search for in Wikipedia, you’ve failed.
1. Use the active voice. Consider the impact of two phrases: “Use the right words” versus “the right words should be used by you.” The passive voice is “wimpy,” says Kawasaki. Enchanters use the active voice.
2. Keep it short. “In ten years of listening to entrepreneurs’ pitches, I’ve never heard one that was too short,” says Kawasaki.
On the topic of PowerPoint slides, Kawasaki has a technique that I think is very effective if only because I see it used so rarely and yet it is very personal and makes an immediate connection with an audience. Kawasaki’s advice: Customize the introduction with pictures. For example, when Kawasaki spoke to HP’s printer division, he showed a picture of HP printers and faxes in his home office. When he speaks in a foreign city, he gets there early and tours the city to expand his horizons, finds out what enchants him about the city, takes photos, and incorporates the pictures into his presentation. Nice touch.
Kawasaki and I both agree that shorter, simpler, and more visual slides are far more enchanting – or delightful—than slides full of text. “Use evocative pictures to make your presentation exciting,” says Kawasaki. “The goal is to provide inspiring information that moves people to action.” Slides full of words and text seldom enchant. The fewer words, the better.
I’ve known Kawasaki for several years and I’m always pleasantly surprised to see that he and I agree on every area of communications. I come from journalism and Kawasaki comes from marketing but we agree on presentation techniques because the same concepts apply to both journalism and business – the person who tells the best story wins.
Carmine Gallo is the communications coach for the world’s most admired brands. He is a popular keynote speaker and author of several books including the bestsellers, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs and The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs. Follow him on Twitter: carminegallo
MY THOUGHTS
well said! go and use these tips. they are very good tips. especially the use of more visuals on your slides. bullets are becoming obsolete.
Mar. 8 2011 - 3:14 pm | 886 views | 0 recommendations | 0 comments
By CARMINE GALLO
Former Apple evangelist, entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Guy Kawasaki, has published a new book on the art of changing hearts, minds and actions. As I was reading Enchantment I realized that many of Kawasaki’s techniques apply to all manner of public speaking and business communications, especially in the area of presentation skills. Here are several of Kawasaki’s tips that you can use to improve your very next presentation and to change a few more minds.
Kawasaki defines enchantment as the process of delighting people with a product, service, organization, or idea. In order to accomplish that feat, you must be likable. According to Kawasaki, there are four factors that create a likable first impression: your smile, your dress, your handshake, and your vocabulary. On the topic of vocabulary, Kawasaki says “Words are the facial expression of your mind: they communicate your attitude, personality, and perspective.” Kawasaki offers several tips for a persuasive vocabulary:
Use simple words. When you use words people have to look up in a dictionary or search for in Wikipedia, you’ve failed.
1. Use the active voice. Consider the impact of two phrases: “Use the right words” versus “the right words should be used by you.” The passive voice is “wimpy,” says Kawasaki. Enchanters use the active voice.
2. Keep it short. “In ten years of listening to entrepreneurs’ pitches, I’ve never heard one that was too short,” says Kawasaki.
On the topic of PowerPoint slides, Kawasaki has a technique that I think is very effective if only because I see it used so rarely and yet it is very personal and makes an immediate connection with an audience. Kawasaki’s advice: Customize the introduction with pictures. For example, when Kawasaki spoke to HP’s printer division, he showed a picture of HP printers and faxes in his home office. When he speaks in a foreign city, he gets there early and tours the city to expand his horizons, finds out what enchants him about the city, takes photos, and incorporates the pictures into his presentation. Nice touch.
Kawasaki and I both agree that shorter, simpler, and more visual slides are far more enchanting – or delightful—than slides full of text. “Use evocative pictures to make your presentation exciting,” says Kawasaki. “The goal is to provide inspiring information that moves people to action.” Slides full of words and text seldom enchant. The fewer words, the better.
I’ve known Kawasaki for several years and I’m always pleasantly surprised to see that he and I agree on every area of communications. I come from journalism and Kawasaki comes from marketing but we agree on presentation techniques because the same concepts apply to both journalism and business – the person who tells the best story wins.
Carmine Gallo is the communications coach for the world’s most admired brands. He is a popular keynote speaker and author of several books including the bestsellers, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs and The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs. Follow him on Twitter: carminegallo
MY THOUGHTS
well said! go and use these tips. they are very good tips. especially the use of more visuals on your slides. bullets are becoming obsolete.
Monday, March 7, 2011
PAINLESS PUBLIC SPEAKING?
Painless Public Speaking: Low Stress Ways to Improve
By Jessica Stillman | January 28, 2011
Failure, as author Bob Sutton put it, “sucks but instructs,” and this is as true of public speaking as it is for any other area. But while we can all acknowledge that the school of hard knocks is one of the best, if least pleasant, teachers, we can also agree that minimizing failing in front of others makes life a lot less stressful. So how can you improve your public speaking skills without making a fool of yourself in front of actual members of the public?
Gen Y blogger Jenny Blake tackles this question in a recent post offering those relatively new to delivering presentations and speeches some tips on how you can tune up your public speaking skills. While you’ll never improve without actually practicing under pressure, her methods can minimize your embarrassment as you learn:
* Download a free recording app on your phone. Practice saying something at your normal pace, then practice slower, then EVEN slower. Playback so you can hear for yourself what the three sound like, and even ask a friend which is most clear.
* Take three ujayii breaths before starting. For non-yogis: this means taking a slow, steady, even inhale through the nose, then exhaling slowly and evenly through the nose. (More on how to do this here). These breaths are always incredibly calming for me and help clear any nervousness in my system.
* Make it a challenge for yourself to bring more awareness to your speech in every day interactions. Sometimes even when I’m talking with friends I will practice not saying “um” and other speech quirks that come across as unprofessional. Even though these are low-stakes situations, it helps me change my default speech to something that works in any setting.
* Give yourself a rating on scale of 1-5 after every class you teach (or training, or meeting you present at). How’d you do? This will bring awareness to the area/s you are hoping to improve and help you track progress over time.
* Pretend you are speaking to a non-native English speaker or a five year old. Does your pacing change? Another trick I use: pretend you are on The Today show, or speaking for the president. How would you talk? How do you want to sound or come across?
* Channel/observe a speaker or teacher you really respect. What do they do well? Ask if you can observe them at future events/meetings (if they live locally) –- or look for more examples and videos on YouTube or TED.
* ASK FOR FEEDBACK – often! Make sure you have people who are willing to be honest with you. Ask them one thing you did well, and one area you can improve (if you just say, “what’s your feedback?” they’ll be hesitant to share development areas). You might also have people track when you speed up (certain segments?) and when you slow down, so you get more granular data about where to focus.
* Clench and release a muscle several times before going up to speak. Try making your fists into tight balls (or any other muscle — ahem, butt cheeks work too), then release and repeat. This will give your adrenaline something to do, and often helps stop shaking (which makes you appear more nervous than you really are).
* BONUS: Join Toastmasters. Toastmasters is a great way to get practice and feedback in a safe environment, and learn from watching others.
MY THOUGHTS
Painless? I doubt it. Not in my book. Speaking in public will always give me the jitters. Without fail. Especially when you're speaking to a hostile audience. Nevertheless, one can always do better. And the tips outlined in this article are perfect.
I remember being invited to speak about leadership. Fow a whole week, I listened (almost non-stop) to leaderhip dvds. Not to get the content as my material has been prepared. But more to get the speaking style. Have you ever noticed how, if you keep on watching a tv show you end up talking like the characters in that show? That's exactly my point.
By Jessica Stillman | January 28, 2011
Failure, as author Bob Sutton put it, “sucks but instructs,” and this is as true of public speaking as it is for any other area. But while we can all acknowledge that the school of hard knocks is one of the best, if least pleasant, teachers, we can also agree that minimizing failing in front of others makes life a lot less stressful. So how can you improve your public speaking skills without making a fool of yourself in front of actual members of the public?
Gen Y blogger Jenny Blake tackles this question in a recent post offering those relatively new to delivering presentations and speeches some tips on how you can tune up your public speaking skills. While you’ll never improve without actually practicing under pressure, her methods can minimize your embarrassment as you learn:
* Download a free recording app on your phone. Practice saying something at your normal pace, then practice slower, then EVEN slower. Playback so you can hear for yourself what the three sound like, and even ask a friend which is most clear.
* Take three ujayii breaths before starting. For non-yogis: this means taking a slow, steady, even inhale through the nose, then exhaling slowly and evenly through the nose. (More on how to do this here). These breaths are always incredibly calming for me and help clear any nervousness in my system.
* Make it a challenge for yourself to bring more awareness to your speech in every day interactions. Sometimes even when I’m talking with friends I will practice not saying “um” and other speech quirks that come across as unprofessional. Even though these are low-stakes situations, it helps me change my default speech to something that works in any setting.
* Give yourself a rating on scale of 1-5 after every class you teach (or training, or meeting you present at). How’d you do? This will bring awareness to the area/s you are hoping to improve and help you track progress over time.
* Pretend you are speaking to a non-native English speaker or a five year old. Does your pacing change? Another trick I use: pretend you are on The Today show, or speaking for the president. How would you talk? How do you want to sound or come across?
* Channel/observe a speaker or teacher you really respect. What do they do well? Ask if you can observe them at future events/meetings (if they live locally) –- or look for more examples and videos on YouTube or TED.
* ASK FOR FEEDBACK – often! Make sure you have people who are willing to be honest with you. Ask them one thing you did well, and one area you can improve (if you just say, “what’s your feedback?” they’ll be hesitant to share development areas). You might also have people track when you speed up (certain segments?) and when you slow down, so you get more granular data about where to focus.
* Clench and release a muscle several times before going up to speak. Try making your fists into tight balls (or any other muscle — ahem, butt cheeks work too), then release and repeat. This will give your adrenaline something to do, and often helps stop shaking (which makes you appear more nervous than you really are).
* BONUS: Join Toastmasters. Toastmasters is a great way to get practice and feedback in a safe environment, and learn from watching others.
MY THOUGHTS
Painless? I doubt it. Not in my book. Speaking in public will always give me the jitters. Without fail. Especially when you're speaking to a hostile audience. Nevertheless, one can always do better. And the tips outlined in this article are perfect.
I remember being invited to speak about leadership. Fow a whole week, I listened (almost non-stop) to leaderhip dvds. Not to get the content as my material has been prepared. But more to get the speaking style. Have you ever noticed how, if you keep on watching a tv show you end up talking like the characters in that show? That's exactly my point.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
DECIDE HOW YOUR AUDIENCE WILL DECIDE
DECIDE HOW YOUR AUDIENCE WILL DECIDE
from the article 'Create a Dynamite Presentation in 6 Easy Steps'
By Geoffrey James | April 19, 2010
Understand How an Audience Decides
A decision is always the result of change in the decision-maker’s emotional state.
Prior to making the decision, the audience does not feel that a decision is necessary. Not yet. Then something happens, in the audience’s emotional state, that brings the matter to a head. The audience now feels that a decision MUST be made.
At that point the audience (i.e. the decision-makers in the audience) decides.
A persuasive presentation therefore changes the emotional state of the audience so that they believe and feel that a decision must be made… right now.
In business there are six emotional keys that unlock that all-important decision-making process. They are:
* Key #1: Greed. “If we make a decision now, we’ll get a big reward.”
* Key #2: Fear. “If we don’t make a decision now, we’re basically toast.”
* Key #3: Altruism. “If we make a decision now, we’re good people.”
* Key #4: Envy. “If we don’t make a decision now, the other guys will win.”
* Key #5: Pride. “If we make a decision now, they’ll know we’re smart.”
* Key #6: Shame: “If we don’t make a decision now, they’ll know we’re dumb.”
Truly persuasive presentations contain all six of those emotional keys, because it is only under the pressure of these emotion that any decision will be made.
The underlying drivers behind these emotions are, of course, pain and pleasure. Truly persuasive presentations play upon the six key emotions to:
* RAISE the likelihood of pain and LOWER the likelihood of pleasure if a decision IS NOT made.
* RAISE the likelihood of pleasure and LOWER the likelihood of pain if a decision IS made.
When these expectations are set, a decision is INEVITABLE.
I realize that this all seems a bit theoretical. But if you don’t understand this basic stuff, the rest of this post won’t make sense. So bear with me because we’re about to get to the meaty parts…
MY THOUGHTS
Nice! It's like emotional blackmail but it's not. You are not just making a presentation. You are making a presentation for transformation. And since you are presenting to people- who have emotions - then that is certainly a good point of attack.
from the article 'Create a Dynamite Presentation in 6 Easy Steps'
By Geoffrey James | April 19, 2010
Understand How an Audience Decides
A decision is always the result of change in the decision-maker’s emotional state.
Prior to making the decision, the audience does not feel that a decision is necessary. Not yet. Then something happens, in the audience’s emotional state, that brings the matter to a head. The audience now feels that a decision MUST be made.
At that point the audience (i.e. the decision-makers in the audience) decides.
A persuasive presentation therefore changes the emotional state of the audience so that they believe and feel that a decision must be made… right now.
In business there are six emotional keys that unlock that all-important decision-making process. They are:
* Key #1: Greed. “If we make a decision now, we’ll get a big reward.”
* Key #2: Fear. “If we don’t make a decision now, we’re basically toast.”
* Key #3: Altruism. “If we make a decision now, we’re good people.”
* Key #4: Envy. “If we don’t make a decision now, the other guys will win.”
* Key #5: Pride. “If we make a decision now, they’ll know we’re smart.”
* Key #6: Shame: “If we don’t make a decision now, they’ll know we’re dumb.”
Truly persuasive presentations contain all six of those emotional keys, because it is only under the pressure of these emotion that any decision will be made.
The underlying drivers behind these emotions are, of course, pain and pleasure. Truly persuasive presentations play upon the six key emotions to:
* RAISE the likelihood of pain and LOWER the likelihood of pleasure if a decision IS NOT made.
* RAISE the likelihood of pleasure and LOWER the likelihood of pain if a decision IS made.
When these expectations are set, a decision is INEVITABLE.
I realize that this all seems a bit theoretical. But if you don’t understand this basic stuff, the rest of this post won’t make sense. So bear with me because we’re about to get to the meaty parts…
MY THOUGHTS
Nice! It's like emotional blackmail but it's not. You are not just making a presentation. You are making a presentation for transformation. And since you are presenting to people- who have emotions - then that is certainly a good point of attack.
Friday, March 4, 2011
THINK IMPACT WHEN GIVING A PRESENTATION
THINK IMPACT WHEN GIVING A PRESENTATION
from the article 'Create a Dynamite Presentation in 6 Easy Steps'
By Geoffrey James | April 19, 2010
Decide on the Impact
When most people start out to create a presentation, they start with the question: “what do I want to say to these people?”
That’s the exact wrong question to ask because it’s all about you and not about the audience.
The correct question to ask is: “what decision does these people really need to make?”
The greatest enemy facing EVERY business — bar none — is inertia. People avoid making key decisions out of fear, stupidity, lethargy, tradition, etc.
So start from the point of wanting to be of service, and that means creating an presentation that persuades your audience to make a decision.
If you don’t know what decision you want the audience to make, don’t bother giving a presentation, because you’re just wasting everyone’s time.
Now, before going any further. Ask yourself, in all honesty:
* Do I know EXACTLY what decision I want my audience to make?
If you DON’T then please don’t bother to craft a presentation, because you’ll just be wasting everyone’s time.
However, if you DO know what impact you want to have — i.e. what decision you want your audience to make — read on…
MY THOUGHTS
of course! the best way for people to appreciate what you're telling them is to get something out of your presentation. there must be some need that your presentation can meet. your audience should want to do something different - or new- after listening to you.
i think you've made impact when your audience becomes uncomfortable. by uncomfortable, i mean not being happy with the way things are. suddenly, they question the status quo. presentations are too short to really make people change. but to get them to think (seriously) of altering some things - that, to me, is impact.
from the article 'Create a Dynamite Presentation in 6 Easy Steps'
By Geoffrey James | April 19, 2010
Decide on the Impact
When most people start out to create a presentation, they start with the question: “what do I want to say to these people?”
That’s the exact wrong question to ask because it’s all about you and not about the audience.
The correct question to ask is: “what decision does these people really need to make?”
The greatest enemy facing EVERY business — bar none — is inertia. People avoid making key decisions out of fear, stupidity, lethargy, tradition, etc.
So start from the point of wanting to be of service, and that means creating an presentation that persuades your audience to make a decision.
If you don’t know what decision you want the audience to make, don’t bother giving a presentation, because you’re just wasting everyone’s time.
Now, before going any further. Ask yourself, in all honesty:
* Do I know EXACTLY what decision I want my audience to make?
If you DON’T then please don’t bother to craft a presentation, because you’ll just be wasting everyone’s time.
However, if you DO know what impact you want to have — i.e. what decision you want your audience to make — read on…
MY THOUGHTS
of course! the best way for people to appreciate what you're telling them is to get something out of your presentation. there must be some need that your presentation can meet. your audience should want to do something different - or new- after listening to you.
i think you've made impact when your audience becomes uncomfortable. by uncomfortable, i mean not being happy with the way things are. suddenly, they question the status quo. presentations are too short to really make people change. but to get them to think (seriously) of altering some things - that, to me, is impact.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
EASY STEPS TO DYNAMITE PRESENTATIONS
EASY STEPS TO DYNAMITE PRESENTATIONS
from the article Create a Dynamite Presentation in 6 Easy Steps
By Geoffrey James | April 19, 2010
This post describes a foolproof and easy way to craft a presentation that causes an audience to ACTUALLY AND TRULY MAKE A DECISION.
I’m not talking about those stupid bullet point lectures that put people to sleep.
I’m talking the real deal here. The kind of show-stopper presentation that makes things happen. Like closing a big sale.
Interested? If so, let’s get started…
Note: Except where otherwise noted, this post is loosely based on an interview with G. Richard Shell and Mario Moussa, authors of “The Art of Woo.”
STEP #1: Decide on the Impact
STEP #2: Understand How an Audience Decides
STEP #3: Research the Audience
STEP #4: Craft The Story
STEP #5: Compose Your Slides
STEP #6: Rehearse, then Go For It
MY THOUGHTS
looks easy? it will be if you read the coming posts on each step
from the article Create a Dynamite Presentation in 6 Easy Steps
By Geoffrey James | April 19, 2010
This post describes a foolproof and easy way to craft a presentation that causes an audience to ACTUALLY AND TRULY MAKE A DECISION.
I’m not talking about those stupid bullet point lectures that put people to sleep.
I’m talking the real deal here. The kind of show-stopper presentation that makes things happen. Like closing a big sale.
Interested? If so, let’s get started…
Note: Except where otherwise noted, this post is loosely based on an interview with G. Richard Shell and Mario Moussa, authors of “The Art of Woo.”
STEP #1: Decide on the Impact
STEP #2: Understand How an Audience Decides
STEP #3: Research the Audience
STEP #4: Craft The Story
STEP #5: Compose Your Slides
STEP #6: Rehearse, then Go For It
MY THOUGHTS
looks easy? it will be if you read the coming posts on each step
Monday, February 21, 2011
DO AWAY WITH THE PODIUM
Break Away From the Podium to Connect with Your Audience
By Sean Silverthorne | March 25, 2010
Like many top teaching institutions, Harvard Business School invests heavily in training faculty to become dynamic classroom presenters. Observing the best of them at work is like watching a master actor take command of the theater.
HBS professors rarely stand still, often sprinting from student to student to tease out insights on a case study. Their hands fly over a half-dozen blackboards that raise and lower for emphasis. There may be a podium in the room, but the teacher is not behind it for long.
Leaving the podium lectern behind, getting physically nearer your audience, is one key to making sure you’re being listened to. In particular, you want to get within 12 feet of at least some of your audience, and the closer, the better.
Why 12 feet? It’s biology. If someone is a dozen or more feet away from us, our automatic personal security system regards them as non threatening — another way of saying they’re far enough away not to be of interest, reports speechmeister Nick Morgan:
“Standing behind a podium means that you’re almost guaranteed to be more than twelve feet from everyone. That means that no one is very interested in you, at the unconscious level,” Morgan writes on HBR.org. “So one of the easiest ways to up the ante on your performance is to warm up the connections between you and your audience by leaving the podium and entering into carefully chosen audience member’s personal space.” Personal space is defined as between four and 12 feet.
One simple technique: When making an important point, move toward your audience or particular audience members. Move away to signal a change in subject.
“This choreography is a simple, easy way to enormously improve the connection you make with your audience, without even raising your voice.”
MY THOUGHTS
i hate podiums. and microphones. unless they are wireless and will allow me to move around. podiums seem to create a wall between the speaker and the audience. i don't want that. i want my audience to feel like we are in an informal environment having informal conversations.
By Sean Silverthorne | March 25, 2010
Like many top teaching institutions, Harvard Business School invests heavily in training faculty to become dynamic classroom presenters. Observing the best of them at work is like watching a master actor take command of the theater.
HBS professors rarely stand still, often sprinting from student to student to tease out insights on a case study. Their hands fly over a half-dozen blackboards that raise and lower for emphasis. There may be a podium in the room, but the teacher is not behind it for long.
Leaving the podium lectern behind, getting physically nearer your audience, is one key to making sure you’re being listened to. In particular, you want to get within 12 feet of at least some of your audience, and the closer, the better.
Why 12 feet? It’s biology. If someone is a dozen or more feet away from us, our automatic personal security system regards them as non threatening — another way of saying they’re far enough away not to be of interest, reports speechmeister Nick Morgan:
“Standing behind a podium means that you’re almost guaranteed to be more than twelve feet from everyone. That means that no one is very interested in you, at the unconscious level,” Morgan writes on HBR.org. “So one of the easiest ways to up the ante on your performance is to warm up the connections between you and your audience by leaving the podium and entering into carefully chosen audience member’s personal space.” Personal space is defined as between four and 12 feet.
One simple technique: When making an important point, move toward your audience or particular audience members. Move away to signal a change in subject.
“This choreography is a simple, easy way to enormously improve the connection you make with your audience, without even raising your voice.”
MY THOUGHTS
i hate podiums. and microphones. unless they are wireless and will allow me to move around. podiums seem to create a wall between the speaker and the audience. i don't want that. i want my audience to feel like we are in an informal environment having informal conversations.
BEGIN YOUR SPEECH IN THE MIDDLE
Begin Your Speech in the Middle
By Sean Silverthorne | February 8, 2011
How many times have you sat down anxiously to hear a talk, only to be stultified with blah-blah-blah. “Thanks for coming. I’m honored to be here today. Thanks specifically to Dennis and his team for bringing me to Acme Anvil to talk about developing marketing strategies in a global world. First, let me tell you a little bit about myself.”
The audience is already reaching for its collective Blackberries.
That’s why speech expert Nick Morgan advises executives to begin their speech in the middle. Here’s a great opener.
“Many people watching tonight can probably remember a time when finding a good job meant showing up at a nearby factory or a business downtown … That world has changed … The rules have changed. In a single generation, revolutions in technology have transformed the way we live, work and do business. Steel mills that once needed 1,000 workers can now do the same work with 100. Today, just about any company can set up shop, hire workers, and sell their products wherever there’s an Internet connection.”
Unfortunately for President Obama, who delivered those words at the State of the Union last month, they didn’t open the speech. They came after minutes of greetings to people in the audience and platitudes about democracy and jobs. He should have started his speech in the middle.
How can you tell what needs to be cut? Morgan advises:
“You can tell when rhetoric is empty — and therefore should be cut — because it would never be possible to say the alternative. Could a president begin by insulting the Speaker, ‘dissing’ a tragically ailing representative, trashing the democratic process, or coming out against jobs? Of course not. Therefore, nothing is being said. Speeches are much more interesting for the audience when they dispense with the polite nothings and get right to the meat.”
For more valuable advice, read his HBR.org blog post, How CEOs Can Improve Speeches.
I agree completely with Nick. If you want to capture the audience from the starting line, don’t begin with the obvious, the expected, the empty words. My BNET colleague Geoffrey James, who writes the terrific Sales Machine blog, takes up this theme as well. He says sales presentations should start with a “heart stopper,” such as telling a company they’ve just lost $100 million, and here is what can be done about it.
How do you begin your speeches? Do you futz around or get down to business?
MY THOUGHTS
the message is clear - if you're going to deliver a presentation or a speech, strive to be unique. start with a bang that makes your audience sitting on the edge of their seats. and wanting to hear more. tall order but possible. do away with the welcome remarks. jump right in to what people came for.
By Sean Silverthorne | February 8, 2011
How many times have you sat down anxiously to hear a talk, only to be stultified with blah-blah-blah. “Thanks for coming. I’m honored to be here today. Thanks specifically to Dennis and his team for bringing me to Acme Anvil to talk about developing marketing strategies in a global world. First, let me tell you a little bit about myself.”
The audience is already reaching for its collective Blackberries.
That’s why speech expert Nick Morgan advises executives to begin their speech in the middle. Here’s a great opener.
“Many people watching tonight can probably remember a time when finding a good job meant showing up at a nearby factory or a business downtown … That world has changed … The rules have changed. In a single generation, revolutions in technology have transformed the way we live, work and do business. Steel mills that once needed 1,000 workers can now do the same work with 100. Today, just about any company can set up shop, hire workers, and sell their products wherever there’s an Internet connection.”
Unfortunately for President Obama, who delivered those words at the State of the Union last month, they didn’t open the speech. They came after minutes of greetings to people in the audience and platitudes about democracy and jobs. He should have started his speech in the middle.
How can you tell what needs to be cut? Morgan advises:
“You can tell when rhetoric is empty — and therefore should be cut — because it would never be possible to say the alternative. Could a president begin by insulting the Speaker, ‘dissing’ a tragically ailing representative, trashing the democratic process, or coming out against jobs? Of course not. Therefore, nothing is being said. Speeches are much more interesting for the audience when they dispense with the polite nothings and get right to the meat.”
For more valuable advice, read his HBR.org blog post, How CEOs Can Improve Speeches.
I agree completely with Nick. If you want to capture the audience from the starting line, don’t begin with the obvious, the expected, the empty words. My BNET colleague Geoffrey James, who writes the terrific Sales Machine blog, takes up this theme as well. He says sales presentations should start with a “heart stopper,” such as telling a company they’ve just lost $100 million, and here is what can be done about it.
How do you begin your speeches? Do you futz around or get down to business?
MY THOUGHTS
the message is clear - if you're going to deliver a presentation or a speech, strive to be unique. start with a bang that makes your audience sitting on the edge of their seats. and wanting to hear more. tall order but possible. do away with the welcome remarks. jump right in to what people came for.
Friday, February 11, 2011
HOW TO FIX LONG PRESENTATIONS
HOW TO FIX TOO LONG PRESENTATIONS
from the articleTop 20 Reasons Presentations Suck and How To Fix Them
By Geoffrey James
www.bnet.com
Most business presentations suck. They're boring. They're confusing. They're out of touch. This gallery explains exactly why most presentations are so dreadful, and what to do make your own presentations better.
Too Freakin' Long
* Diagnosis: It presents way more than anybody wants to know.
* Why It Happens: The speaker is “spraying and praying” in hope that something works.
* What Results: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
* How to Fix It: Always make your presentation less than half as long as you think it should be.
MY THOUGHTS
in other words, don't get carried away.know how much time you have for the presentation. if the presentation is short simply tell the audience the "must-know". if you have more time, include the "should-know". if there are no other speakers and you have all the time, then you can share the "nice-to-know". whatever you've prepared,long or short, be very sensitive to your audience. when you see them getting restless or already snoring,it's time to change gears or put a break.
from the articleTop 20 Reasons Presentations Suck and How To Fix Them
By Geoffrey James
www.bnet.com
Most business presentations suck. They're boring. They're confusing. They're out of touch. This gallery explains exactly why most presentations are so dreadful, and what to do make your own presentations better.
Too Freakin' Long
* Diagnosis: It presents way more than anybody wants to know.
* Why It Happens: The speaker is “spraying and praying” in hope that something works.
* What Results: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
* How to Fix It: Always make your presentation less than half as long as you think it should be.
MY THOUGHTS
in other words, don't get carried away.know how much time you have for the presentation. if the presentation is short simply tell the audience the "must-know". if you have more time, include the "should-know". if there are no other speakers and you have all the time, then you can share the "nice-to-know". whatever you've prepared,long or short, be very sensitive to your audience. when you see them getting restless or already snoring,it's time to change gears or put a break.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
CONQUER YOUR FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
Conquering Your Fear of Public Speaking
By Steve Tobak | January 26, 2009
http://www.bnet.com/blog/ceo/conquering-your-fear-of-public-speaking/1690
People fear public speaking more than anything else. You probably knew that, but did you know that a significant percentage of accomplished professionals, managers, and executives suffer from this debilitating fear? That’s right, people just like you.
Apparently, career-minded, achievement-oriented people are more likely to worry about performance and appearances - the source of most speaking fear - than others are.
To make matters worse, sufferers are typically embarrassed and reluctant to admit they have a problem. They hide a deep concern about the phobia’s affect on their careers in an industry that values presentation skills so highly.
One particular experience at an executive conference sticks with me. While a senior Microsoft executive and I sat in the audience, sharing techniques for calming our own nerves, we watched the president of a large Japanese company present. His hands were trembling and his voice was shaky. He had a rough time, but he got through it.
My heart went out to him, not just because I was scheduled to present the following day and shared his fear, but because he had the courage to confront it.
What’s the cause?
In short, it’s part of the fight or flight response that generates adrenaline, an ancient survival mechanism that lives within each of us. That’s what accounts for the nerves, anxiety, and panic. The underlying cause may be a single unpleasant event or something deeper. In any case, it’s a learned response, and as such, it can be unlearned.
How do you conquer it?
The worst thing you can do is ignore it or avoid public speaking. This is no different from any other challenge you’ve addressed in the past. Deal with it logically and methodically and improvement will follow.
Here are five steps to Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking:
1. Face your fear. Admit that you have a problem, seek to understand it, and have faith that you will eventually conquer it. You’re far from alone and in very good company. Isolation is a big part of this fear. Talk about it with friends and family. Get it out. Then be brave and determined. You can conquer this and you will.
2. Know your material cold. When you do present, put your best foot forward by knowing your material backwards and forwards. Don’t memorize, just be clear on the key points you want to get across and be prepared to converse intelligently on the subject. Ability to think on your feet is really about confidence, knowledge, and preparation.
3. It’s not all about you. You worry that all eyes are on you and everyone can see how nervous you are. Well, guess what? They may be looking at you, but they’re either thinking about themselves or the content. And if you consider that half your audience has the same fear you have, they’re likely to be empathetic.
4. Interact with the audience. Relieve the feeling of isolation by interacting with the audience. Draw them into your presentation by asking leading questions and encouraging interaction. You’ll instantly feel more comfortable, and so will your audience. Side benefit: you’ll be a more dynamic and engaging speaker.
5. What’s the worst that can happen? That question can diffuse most life problems and it certainly applies here. What if your hands shake, you screw up, or you panic? First, that’s not likely to happen; it’s all in your head. Second, so what if it does? You pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again. Failing is part of life and business; this is no different.
Also, check out How to Give a Killer Presentation; it’ll help build your confidence and reduce your fear.
If you have a fear of public speaking, have addressed your fear in the past, or have coached others, please share your feelings and experiences. It’s anonymous, a good way to start, and will help thousands of others.
MY THOUGHTS
i avoided speaking in public for years. then i ended up in training. i used to think numbers cause my nerves to get all tangled up. not so. it's who. not how many. i can get away with 500 employees in the audience. but 10 board members make me want to call in sick.
i don't think i've really conquered my fear. i just learned how to live with it. yes, preparation is the key. prayer can get you through it. and so what if i foul up? that won't make me a lesser person.
By Steve Tobak | January 26, 2009
http://www.bnet.com/blog/ceo/conquering-your-fear-of-public-speaking/1690
People fear public speaking more than anything else. You probably knew that, but did you know that a significant percentage of accomplished professionals, managers, and executives suffer from this debilitating fear? That’s right, people just like you.
Apparently, career-minded, achievement-oriented people are more likely to worry about performance and appearances - the source of most speaking fear - than others are.
To make matters worse, sufferers are typically embarrassed and reluctant to admit they have a problem. They hide a deep concern about the phobia’s affect on their careers in an industry that values presentation skills so highly.
One particular experience at an executive conference sticks with me. While a senior Microsoft executive and I sat in the audience, sharing techniques for calming our own nerves, we watched the president of a large Japanese company present. His hands were trembling and his voice was shaky. He had a rough time, but he got through it.
My heart went out to him, not just because I was scheduled to present the following day and shared his fear, but because he had the courage to confront it.
What’s the cause?
In short, it’s part of the fight or flight response that generates adrenaline, an ancient survival mechanism that lives within each of us. That’s what accounts for the nerves, anxiety, and panic. The underlying cause may be a single unpleasant event or something deeper. In any case, it’s a learned response, and as such, it can be unlearned.
How do you conquer it?
The worst thing you can do is ignore it or avoid public speaking. This is no different from any other challenge you’ve addressed in the past. Deal with it logically and methodically and improvement will follow.
Here are five steps to Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking:
1. Face your fear. Admit that you have a problem, seek to understand it, and have faith that you will eventually conquer it. You’re far from alone and in very good company. Isolation is a big part of this fear. Talk about it with friends and family. Get it out. Then be brave and determined. You can conquer this and you will.
2. Know your material cold. When you do present, put your best foot forward by knowing your material backwards and forwards. Don’t memorize, just be clear on the key points you want to get across and be prepared to converse intelligently on the subject. Ability to think on your feet is really about confidence, knowledge, and preparation.
3. It’s not all about you. You worry that all eyes are on you and everyone can see how nervous you are. Well, guess what? They may be looking at you, but they’re either thinking about themselves or the content. And if you consider that half your audience has the same fear you have, they’re likely to be empathetic.
4. Interact with the audience. Relieve the feeling of isolation by interacting with the audience. Draw them into your presentation by asking leading questions and encouraging interaction. You’ll instantly feel more comfortable, and so will your audience. Side benefit: you’ll be a more dynamic and engaging speaker.
5. What’s the worst that can happen? That question can diffuse most life problems and it certainly applies here. What if your hands shake, you screw up, or you panic? First, that’s not likely to happen; it’s all in your head. Second, so what if it does? You pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again. Failing is part of life and business; this is no different.
Also, check out How to Give a Killer Presentation; it’ll help build your confidence and reduce your fear.
If you have a fear of public speaking, have addressed your fear in the past, or have coached others, please share your feelings and experiences. It’s anonymous, a good way to start, and will help thousands of others.
MY THOUGHTS
i avoided speaking in public for years. then i ended up in training. i used to think numbers cause my nerves to get all tangled up. not so. it's who. not how many. i can get away with 500 employees in the audience. but 10 board members make me want to call in sick.
i don't think i've really conquered my fear. i just learned how to live with it. yes, preparation is the key. prayer can get you through it. and so what if i foul up? that won't make me a lesser person.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
HOW TO BE A GREAT STORYTELLER - PART 4
How to Be a Great Storyteller and Win Over Any Audience - Part 4
By Steve Tobak | January 12, 2011
Part IV: The Close
The close is the easiest part to get right and the easiest part to screw up. I know that sounds contradictory, but it’s not. Here’s why. It’s the easiest to screw up because, all-too-often, folks forget to do it. They get so wound up in telling the story that they simply blow it.
It’s also the easiest to get right because the close is either telling them what you told them, as succinctly as possible, and/or driving home the one key point, the single message you want them to take away from your story or pitch. Simple. Just don’t forget to do it.
And yes, I have forgotten to close. I gave a speech at Beijing University where the audience was so engaged and the response was so overwhelming that I got caught up in the moment and forgot. I had a speech coach at the time. When she and I watched the tape together, at the end, she looked at me and said, “What the hell was that? You go all the way to China, give an incredible speech, and forget to close?!” I never forgot again.
Finally, remember this. Some people are more naturally adept at this than others are. You weren’t born with the ability to stand up in front of an audience and tell a story. It takes practice.
Videotape yourself presenting to an empty conference room or get someone with experience to watch you and provide feedback. If your company hires a speech coach for executives and up-and-comers, get in on it.
Most importantly, be patient with yourself. Finding your own style where you feel comfortable comes with experience. It may take a few years, but it’s worth it. Nothing can boost your career - or be more fulfilling - than being adept at telling a story and truly connecting with your audience. Nothing.
MY THOUGHTS
maybe i should get a speech coach. how many times have i forgotten to drive that one most important point in my closing. talk of getting carried away!
By Steve Tobak | January 12, 2011
Part IV: The Close
The close is the easiest part to get right and the easiest part to screw up. I know that sounds contradictory, but it’s not. Here’s why. It’s the easiest to screw up because, all-too-often, folks forget to do it. They get so wound up in telling the story that they simply blow it.
It’s also the easiest to get right because the close is either telling them what you told them, as succinctly as possible, and/or driving home the one key point, the single message you want them to take away from your story or pitch. Simple. Just don’t forget to do it.
And yes, I have forgotten to close. I gave a speech at Beijing University where the audience was so engaged and the response was so overwhelming that I got caught up in the moment and forgot. I had a speech coach at the time. When she and I watched the tape together, at the end, she looked at me and said, “What the hell was that? You go all the way to China, give an incredible speech, and forget to close?!” I never forgot again.
Finally, remember this. Some people are more naturally adept at this than others are. You weren’t born with the ability to stand up in front of an audience and tell a story. It takes practice.
Videotape yourself presenting to an empty conference room or get someone with experience to watch you and provide feedback. If your company hires a speech coach for executives and up-and-comers, get in on it.
Most importantly, be patient with yourself. Finding your own style where you feel comfortable comes with experience. It may take a few years, but it’s worth it. Nothing can boost your career - or be more fulfilling - than being adept at telling a story and truly connecting with your audience. Nothing.
MY THOUGHTS
maybe i should get a speech coach. how many times have i forgotten to drive that one most important point in my closing. talk of getting carried away!
PART 3 - HOW TO BE A GREAT STORYTELLER
How to Be a Great Storyteller and Win Over Any Audience - Part 3
By Steve Tobak | January 12, 2011
Part III: The Delivery
While research and content are key, so is delivery. If you really want to engage your audience in an experience they’ll remember - which means they’ll remember your story - here are eight tips to follow:
1. Don’t read what’s on the slide. If you’re pitching from a slide presentation, don’t read words off a slide. Instead, know the pitch cold (without having to look except for a brief cue) and speak in your own words.
2. Don’t block the audience’s view. Don’t step in front of the screen or block it from view, except for the occasional walk-across. Gesture with your hand, but don’t touch the screen. Don’t use a pointer unless you must.
3. Engage the audience by asking questions. If they don’t respond, try offering an answer and asking for a show of hands or ask easier questions. Make the audience part of the experience.
4. Be accessible. Don’t stand behind a podium. Use a wireless mic if needed. Get close to the audience and move from place to place while maintaining eye contact, but only from time to time. Do not bounce around like a ping-pong ball.
5. Pause for effect and emphasis. Practice being comfortable with silence for two or three seconds. It’s the most dramatic way to make a point. Avoid ahs, uhs, and other fillers of uncomfortable silence; they’re annoying and detract from your presence.
6. Make eye contact. But only for a few seconds per person. Too short and you’ll fail to engage; too long and it becomes uncomfortable. Don’t bounce your eyes around constantly.
7. Use hand gestures. They’re engaging and interesting. But when you’re not, keep your hands at your sides. Don’t fidget, hold onto things, or put your hands in front of you, behind you, or in your pockets. Avoid nervous habits.
8. Don’t overuse props. Frankly, the most important thing for engaging an audience and telling a memorable story is you, the story-teller. So don’t do too much to distract the audience from you. I know it’s a little scary at first, but you’ll improve with practice and experience.
Part IV: The Close (wait for the last blogon this topic)
MY THOUGHTS
deliver it from the heart. that's all i can say. preparation is key. but presenting what you have prepared from the heart have been known to touch and impact even an unfriendly audience.
By Steve Tobak | January 12, 2011
Part III: The Delivery
While research and content are key, so is delivery. If you really want to engage your audience in an experience they’ll remember - which means they’ll remember your story - here are eight tips to follow:
1. Don’t read what’s on the slide. If you’re pitching from a slide presentation, don’t read words off a slide. Instead, know the pitch cold (without having to look except for a brief cue) and speak in your own words.
2. Don’t block the audience’s view. Don’t step in front of the screen or block it from view, except for the occasional walk-across. Gesture with your hand, but don’t touch the screen. Don’t use a pointer unless you must.
3. Engage the audience by asking questions. If they don’t respond, try offering an answer and asking for a show of hands or ask easier questions. Make the audience part of the experience.
4. Be accessible. Don’t stand behind a podium. Use a wireless mic if needed. Get close to the audience and move from place to place while maintaining eye contact, but only from time to time. Do not bounce around like a ping-pong ball.
5. Pause for effect and emphasis. Practice being comfortable with silence for two or three seconds. It’s the most dramatic way to make a point. Avoid ahs, uhs, and other fillers of uncomfortable silence; they’re annoying and detract from your presence.
6. Make eye contact. But only for a few seconds per person. Too short and you’ll fail to engage; too long and it becomes uncomfortable. Don’t bounce your eyes around constantly.
7. Use hand gestures. They’re engaging and interesting. But when you’re not, keep your hands at your sides. Don’t fidget, hold onto things, or put your hands in front of you, behind you, or in your pockets. Avoid nervous habits.
8. Don’t overuse props. Frankly, the most important thing for engaging an audience and telling a memorable story is you, the story-teller. So don’t do too much to distract the audience from you. I know it’s a little scary at first, but you’ll improve with practice and experience.
Part IV: The Close (wait for the last blogon this topic)
MY THOUGHTS
deliver it from the heart. that's all i can say. preparation is key. but presenting what you have prepared from the heart have been known to touch and impact even an unfriendly audience.
Friday, January 28, 2011
PART 2 - HOW TO BE A GREAT STORYTELLER
How to Be a Great Storyteller and Win Over Any Audience PART 2
By Steve Tobak | January 12, 2011
Here is Part 2 of How to be a great Storyteller
Part II: The Story
All effective, memorable stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Make sure yours does too. Depending on the situation, you can relate that to the old axiom: First tell the audience what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you told them. Sometimes that’s included in the story. Either way is fine.
As an option, you can start with an icebreaker to break the tension (yours and theirs). It can be as simple as a welcome gesture or as involved as a brief and engaging or humorous anecdote. Above all, keep it brief, relevant and appropriate. Don’t tell a joke.
After your optional icebreaker, tell your audience why they’re there and what they can expect. This will relieve any tension or anxiety on their part because they’re not sure what to expect. That, in turn, will allow them to focus completely on your story. If you’re absolutely sure they already know why they’re there, i.e. somebody else provided a solid introduction, then it’s okay to dive right into the story.
Now it’s story time. For the story to be memorable, to resonate with your audience, you have to make sure it delivers on what they came for, as we already discussed at length. That’s critical so it’s worth repeating. Given that, it needs to be dramatic in some way that evokes an emotional response. It helps a lot if the speaker feels it because it comes from his or her direct experience, from the heart, so to speak.
Here are some examples:
* If you’re an entrepreneur pitching investors, your story could relate to the genesis of the idea - if it’s an interesting or amusing story - and how it will change the world, so to speak. If you can somehow relate it directly to investors as individuals, i.e. involving family, technology they might use, etc., that’s good but not necessary. Just make sure that, somewhere along the line, you answer all the requisite questions investors want answered before they’ll, at some point, write a check.
* If you’re pitching potential customers, you can tell the story of how your product or service did something amazing for another customer and how that customer benefitted in terms of gaining market share, for example. Again, something dramatic that will resonate with the audience and answer the questions we discussed in the setup.
* If it’s an elevator pitch about your company, don’t do the usual boring … we’re based in Toronto, Canada, we have 6,000 employees, and our revenue last year was $1.4B. Instead, give a quick one paragraph explanation of what your company does better than any other company and then launch right into your biggest success story that you know will resonate with your audience. Something like that.
* If it’s an interview and you’re asked to tell them about yourself, don’t just rattle off the companies you’ve worked for and your accomplishments. If you truly know your audience, you can tell them a story from your experience that encapsulates the skills and traits they’re mostly looking for.
And so on. Get the idea?
Part III: The Delivery (watch out for next post)
MY THOUGHTS
it's hard to get started. how do you start with a bang so that people would say "this sounds interesting, i'd better find a comfortable seat"? harder still is keeping them interested. you start with a bang, you'll have to find ways to not lose your audience's desire to want more. if you were successful at keeping them at the edge of their seat during the intro and the body of your talk, your ending should make them want to do something. you start with a bang, you should end up with a bang with spurts of spurts of fireworks in between.
By Steve Tobak | January 12, 2011
Here is Part 2 of How to be a great Storyteller
Part II: The Story
All effective, memorable stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Make sure yours does too. Depending on the situation, you can relate that to the old axiom: First tell the audience what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you told them. Sometimes that’s included in the story. Either way is fine.
As an option, you can start with an icebreaker to break the tension (yours and theirs). It can be as simple as a welcome gesture or as involved as a brief and engaging or humorous anecdote. Above all, keep it brief, relevant and appropriate. Don’t tell a joke.
After your optional icebreaker, tell your audience why they’re there and what they can expect. This will relieve any tension or anxiety on their part because they’re not sure what to expect. That, in turn, will allow them to focus completely on your story. If you’re absolutely sure they already know why they’re there, i.e. somebody else provided a solid introduction, then it’s okay to dive right into the story.
Now it’s story time. For the story to be memorable, to resonate with your audience, you have to make sure it delivers on what they came for, as we already discussed at length. That’s critical so it’s worth repeating. Given that, it needs to be dramatic in some way that evokes an emotional response. It helps a lot if the speaker feels it because it comes from his or her direct experience, from the heart, so to speak.
Here are some examples:
* If you’re an entrepreneur pitching investors, your story could relate to the genesis of the idea - if it’s an interesting or amusing story - and how it will change the world, so to speak. If you can somehow relate it directly to investors as individuals, i.e. involving family, technology they might use, etc., that’s good but not necessary. Just make sure that, somewhere along the line, you answer all the requisite questions investors want answered before they’ll, at some point, write a check.
* If you’re pitching potential customers, you can tell the story of how your product or service did something amazing for another customer and how that customer benefitted in terms of gaining market share, for example. Again, something dramatic that will resonate with the audience and answer the questions we discussed in the setup.
* If it’s an elevator pitch about your company, don’t do the usual boring … we’re based in Toronto, Canada, we have 6,000 employees, and our revenue last year was $1.4B. Instead, give a quick one paragraph explanation of what your company does better than any other company and then launch right into your biggest success story that you know will resonate with your audience. Something like that.
* If it’s an interview and you’re asked to tell them about yourself, don’t just rattle off the companies you’ve worked for and your accomplishments. If you truly know your audience, you can tell them a story from your experience that encapsulates the skills and traits they’re mostly looking for.
And so on. Get the idea?
Part III: The Delivery (watch out for next post)
MY THOUGHTS
it's hard to get started. how do you start with a bang so that people would say "this sounds interesting, i'd better find a comfortable seat"? harder still is keeping them interested. you start with a bang, you'll have to find ways to not lose your audience's desire to want more. if you were successful at keeping them at the edge of their seat during the intro and the body of your talk, your ending should make them want to do something. you start with a bang, you should end up with a bang with spurts of spurts of fireworks in between.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
HOW TO BE A GREAT STORYTELLER
How to Be a Great Storyteller and Win Over Any Audience
By Steve Tobak | January 12, 2011
It’s hard to imagine your career going anywhere if you can’t tell a story. Whether it’s an investor pitch to a VC, an “about us” to a potential customer, justifying your group’s existence to management, or an “about me” in an interview, your success in business is all about effective storytelling.
If you don’t think some of that stuff is storytelling, then you’re really in for a shock. Because if it isn’t, then you probably won’t get your funding, win the business, or get the job. Why is that? Simple. Media overload, communications overload, gadget overload.
These days, we’re all overdosed with rhetoric.
A thousand TV channels and movie choices, countless blogs and commentators, countless email blasts, and millions of websites - each one jockeying for a position in our lives, a share of our minds, just 30 seconds of our eyeballs.
Now, more than ever, if you can’t tell a story in a way that grabs people’s attention, gets across your position, and sticks with them, you may as well just hang it up. It’s as simple as that. Of course, a more positive way to look at it is that nothing can boost your career more - or be more fulfilling - than being adept at telling a story and truly connecting with your audience. Nothing.
The good news is that long ago, I was professionally trained as a speaker, I’ve given thousands of speeches and presentations, and I’ve been helping executives and companies position themselves, market their ideas, and tell stories for decades. I’ve also had the privilege of working for more than a decade with one of the great high-tech PR experts in Silicon Valley, Lou Hoffman of The Hoffman Agency. Lou writes a great blog called Ishmael’s Corner: Storytelling Through a Business Prism.
Here’s Lou’s take on one storytelling exec:
Look at Reed Hastings over at Netflix. I worked with him way back at Pure Atria. He was fantastic to work with: conversational, knew how to turn a phrase, knew how to tell a story. Fast-forward to today. Netflix is a well-known, publicly traded company and Hastings is still conversational, can still turn a phrase, tell a story.
That’s why you won’t read about this stuff in a book, learn it in Harvard Business School, or hear it from some self-proclaimed guru or expert. Because these are lessons I learned from real experts in the real world:
How to Tell a Story and Win Over Any Audience
Part I: The Setup
You were probably taught to use your own point of view (POV) as a starting point. Wrong! Dead wrong! Do you think companies are successful making products they want to make, or making products their customers want to buy? Do you think entrepreneurs get investment capital because they have a great idea or because it meets the criteria of the VCs? Do you think this blog is successful because the content is what I want to write about or what resonates with you, the audience?
Here’s how to do it right:
1. First, determine who your audience is. And don’t even think of saying, “it’s for everyone.” That simply won’t fly. If you can’t specifically define your audience, you’re sunk. If it’s for multiple audiences, it’s different for each one. I know it’s a lot of work but that’s the way it works. If you dilute the message for multiple audiences, it won’t hit any of them hard and you’ll fail to resonate across the board.
2. Second, put yourself in your audience’s shoes and ask three questions: 1) What’s in it for them, 2) why should they care, and 3) what criteria do they use to determine if whatever it is you’re pitching is a good idea or not. If you’re selling something, for example, customers have very specific criteria they’re looking to meet. Likewise, VCs have specific criteria to determine if they should invest or not. This may take some research but trust me; it’s worth it.
3. Third, develop your story by satisfying those three questions. Of course the story’s all about whatever it is you’re pitching, but if you don’t put it in perspective for your audience and answer the questions in their minds, you’ll never resonate with them. Also, make sure to consider the mechanics of the situation, i.e. how much time you’re expecting to have, what’s the venue, etc.
MY THOUGHTS
one weekend i went home and found everyone crocheting - my mom, my sister-in-law, her ten-year old and their maid. all of a sudden, a big question popped from me. "what am i gonna do when i'm really old and there's nothing else to do?". i can't crochet. i can't knit. i can't cross stitch. i can't even go fishing. my friend said i'm too noisy for the fish.
my sister-in-law looked up from her half-done doily and said "you're going to tell stories". i like that. i like that very much. i cannot picture myself sitting in a rocking chair. but i can picture myself weaving words and phrases together, watching my listeners, listening to their reactions, making changes along the way.
i think a good storyteller is one who's a good listener,too. otherwise, what stories can you tell?
By Steve Tobak | January 12, 2011
It’s hard to imagine your career going anywhere if you can’t tell a story. Whether it’s an investor pitch to a VC, an “about us” to a potential customer, justifying your group’s existence to management, or an “about me” in an interview, your success in business is all about effective storytelling.
If you don’t think some of that stuff is storytelling, then you’re really in for a shock. Because if it isn’t, then you probably won’t get your funding, win the business, or get the job. Why is that? Simple. Media overload, communications overload, gadget overload.
These days, we’re all overdosed with rhetoric.
A thousand TV channels and movie choices, countless blogs and commentators, countless email blasts, and millions of websites - each one jockeying for a position in our lives, a share of our minds, just 30 seconds of our eyeballs.
Now, more than ever, if you can’t tell a story in a way that grabs people’s attention, gets across your position, and sticks with them, you may as well just hang it up. It’s as simple as that. Of course, a more positive way to look at it is that nothing can boost your career more - or be more fulfilling - than being adept at telling a story and truly connecting with your audience. Nothing.
The good news is that long ago, I was professionally trained as a speaker, I’ve given thousands of speeches and presentations, and I’ve been helping executives and companies position themselves, market their ideas, and tell stories for decades. I’ve also had the privilege of working for more than a decade with one of the great high-tech PR experts in Silicon Valley, Lou Hoffman of The Hoffman Agency. Lou writes a great blog called Ishmael’s Corner: Storytelling Through a Business Prism.
Here’s Lou’s take on one storytelling exec:
Look at Reed Hastings over at Netflix. I worked with him way back at Pure Atria. He was fantastic to work with: conversational, knew how to turn a phrase, knew how to tell a story. Fast-forward to today. Netflix is a well-known, publicly traded company and Hastings is still conversational, can still turn a phrase, tell a story.
That’s why you won’t read about this stuff in a book, learn it in Harvard Business School, or hear it from some self-proclaimed guru or expert. Because these are lessons I learned from real experts in the real world:
How to Tell a Story and Win Over Any Audience
Part I: The Setup
You were probably taught to use your own point of view (POV) as a starting point. Wrong! Dead wrong! Do you think companies are successful making products they want to make, or making products their customers want to buy? Do you think entrepreneurs get investment capital because they have a great idea or because it meets the criteria of the VCs? Do you think this blog is successful because the content is what I want to write about or what resonates with you, the audience?
Here’s how to do it right:
1. First, determine who your audience is. And don’t even think of saying, “it’s for everyone.” That simply won’t fly. If you can’t specifically define your audience, you’re sunk. If it’s for multiple audiences, it’s different for each one. I know it’s a lot of work but that’s the way it works. If you dilute the message for multiple audiences, it won’t hit any of them hard and you’ll fail to resonate across the board.
2. Second, put yourself in your audience’s shoes and ask three questions: 1) What’s in it for them, 2) why should they care, and 3) what criteria do they use to determine if whatever it is you’re pitching is a good idea or not. If you’re selling something, for example, customers have very specific criteria they’re looking to meet. Likewise, VCs have specific criteria to determine if they should invest or not. This may take some research but trust me; it’s worth it.
3. Third, develop your story by satisfying those three questions. Of course the story’s all about whatever it is you’re pitching, but if you don’t put it in perspective for your audience and answer the questions in their minds, you’ll never resonate with them. Also, make sure to consider the mechanics of the situation, i.e. how much time you’re expecting to have, what’s the venue, etc.
MY THOUGHTS
one weekend i went home and found everyone crocheting - my mom, my sister-in-law, her ten-year old and their maid. all of a sudden, a big question popped from me. "what am i gonna do when i'm really old and there's nothing else to do?". i can't crochet. i can't knit. i can't cross stitch. i can't even go fishing. my friend said i'm too noisy for the fish.
my sister-in-law looked up from her half-done doily and said "you're going to tell stories". i like that. i like that very much. i cannot picture myself sitting in a rocking chair. but i can picture myself weaving words and phrases together, watching my listeners, listening to their reactions, making changes along the way.
i think a good storyteller is one who's a good listener,too. otherwise, what stories can you tell?
Saturday, January 22, 2011
SLIDE PRESENTATION AND DELIVERY TIPS
Top Ten Slide Preparation and Tips Delivery Tips
PowerPoint uses slides with a horizontal or "Landscape" orientation. The software was designed as a convenient way to display graphical information that would support the speaker and supplement the presentation. The slides themselves were never meant to be the "star of the show" (the star, of course, is your audience). People came to hear you and be moved or informed (or both) by you and your message. Don't let your message and your ability to tell a story get derailed by slides that are unnecessarily complicated, busy, or full of what Edward Tufte calls "chart junk." Nothing in your slide should be superfluous, ever.
Your slides should have plenty of "white space" or "negative space." Do not feel compelled to fill empty areas on your slide with your logo or other unnecessary graphics or text boxes that do not contribute to better understanding. The less clutter you have on your slide, the more powerful your visual message will become.
Your presentation is for the benefit of the audience. But boring an audience with bullet point after bullet point is of little benefit to them. Which brings us to the issue of text. The best slides may have no text at all. This may sound insane given the dependency of text slides today, but the best PowerPoint slides will be virtually meaningless with out the narration (that is you). Remember, the slides are meant to support the narration of the speaker, not make the speaker superfluous.
Many people often say something like this: "Sorry I missed your presentation. I hear it was great. Can you just send me your PowerPoint slides?" But if they are good slides, they will be of little use without you. Instead of a copy of your PowerPoint slides, it is far better to prepare a written document which highlights your content from the presentation and expands on that content. Audiences are much better served receiving a detailed, written handout as a takeaway from the presentation, rather than a mere copy of your PowerPoint slides. If you have a detailed handout or publication for the audience to be passed out after your talk, you need not feel compelled to fill your PowerPoint slides with a great deal of text.
We’ll talk more about this in the delivery section below, but as long as we are talking about text, please remember to never, ever turn your back on the audience and read text from the slide word for word.
Top Ten Slide Tips Preparation Tips Delivery Tips
PowerPoint uses slides with a horizontal or "Landscape" orientation. The software was designed as a convenient way to display graphical information that would support the speaker and supplement the presentation. The slides themselves were never meant to be the "star of the show" (the star, of course, is your audience). People came to hear you and be moved or informed (or both) by you and your message. Don't let your message and your ability to tell a story get derailed by slides that are unnecessarily complicated, busy, or full of what Edward Tufte calls "chart junk." Nothing in your slide should be superfluous, ever.
Your slides should have plenty of "white space" or "negative space." Do not feel compelled to fill empty areas on your slide with your logo or other unnecessary graphics or text boxes that do not contribute to better understanding. The less clutter you have on your slide, the more powerful your visual message will become.
Your presentation is for the benefit of the audience. But boring an audience with bullet point after bullet point is of little benefit to them. Which brings us to the issue of text. The best slides may have no text at all. This may sound insane given the dependency of text slides today, but the best PowerPoint slides will be virtually meaningless with out the narration (that is you). Remember, the slides are meant to support the narration of the speaker, not make the speaker superfluous.
Many people often say something like this: "Sorry I missed your presentation. I hear it was great. Can you just send me your PowerPoint slides?" But if they are good slides, they will be of little use without you. Instead of a copy of your PowerPoint slides, it is far better to prepare a written document which highlights your content from the presentation and expands on that content. Audiences are much better served receiving a detailed, written handout as a takeaway from the presentation, rather than a mere copy of your PowerPoint slides. If you have a detailed handout or publication for the audience to be passed out after your talk, you need not feel compelled to fill your PowerPoint slides with a great deal of text.
We’ll talk more about this in the delivery section below, but as long as we are talking about text, please remember to never, ever turn your back on the audience and read text from the slide word for word.
Use object builds and slide transitions judiciously. Object builds (also called animations), such as bullet points, should not be animated on every slide. Some animation is a good thing, but stick to the most subtle and professional (similar to what you might see on the evening TV news broadcast). A simple "Wipe Left-to-Right" (from the "Animations" menu) is good for a bullet point, but a "Move" or "Fly" for example is too tedious and slow (and yet, is used in many presentations today). Listeners will get bored very quickly if they are asked to endure slide after slide of animation. For transitions between slides, use no more than two-three different types of transition effects and do not place transition effects between all slides.
Use high-quality graphics including photographs. You can take your own high-quality photographs with your digital camera, purchase professional stock photography, or use the plethora of high-quality images available on line (be cautious of copyright issues, however). Never simply stretch a small, low-resolution photo to make it fit your layout - doing so will degrade the resolution even further.
Avoid using PowerPoint Clip Art or other cartoonish line art. Again, if it is included in the software, your audience has seen it a million times before. It may have been interesting in 1993, but today the inclusion of such clip art often undermines the professionalism of the presenter. There are exceptions, of course, and not all PowerPoint art is dreadful, but use carefully and judiciously.
MY THOUGHTS
speakers use bullet points because they use the powerpoint presentation as a crutch. if you're a good presenter, you'll use your slides as an aid. i love pictures. and a story line. my own story. so, my slides won't be any use for others. unless they're interested in the photos. i love cartoonish images though. but not when the presentation are for board members.
PowerPoint uses slides with a horizontal or "Landscape" orientation. The software was designed as a convenient way to display graphical information that would support the speaker and supplement the presentation. The slides themselves were never meant to be the "star of the show" (the star, of course, is your audience). People came to hear you and be moved or informed (or both) by you and your message. Don't let your message and your ability to tell a story get derailed by slides that are unnecessarily complicated, busy, or full of what Edward Tufte calls "chart junk." Nothing in your slide should be superfluous, ever.
Your slides should have plenty of "white space" or "negative space." Do not feel compelled to fill empty areas on your slide with your logo or other unnecessary graphics or text boxes that do not contribute to better understanding. The less clutter you have on your slide, the more powerful your visual message will become.
Your presentation is for the benefit of the audience. But boring an audience with bullet point after bullet point is of little benefit to them. Which brings us to the issue of text. The best slides may have no text at all. This may sound insane given the dependency of text slides today, but the best PowerPoint slides will be virtually meaningless with out the narration (that is you). Remember, the slides are meant to support the narration of the speaker, not make the speaker superfluous.
Many people often say something like this: "Sorry I missed your presentation. I hear it was great. Can you just send me your PowerPoint slides?" But if they are good slides, they will be of little use without you. Instead of a copy of your PowerPoint slides, it is far better to prepare a written document which highlights your content from the presentation and expands on that content. Audiences are much better served receiving a detailed, written handout as a takeaway from the presentation, rather than a mere copy of your PowerPoint slides. If you have a detailed handout or publication for the audience to be passed out after your talk, you need not feel compelled to fill your PowerPoint slides with a great deal of text.
We’ll talk more about this in the delivery section below, but as long as we are talking about text, please remember to never, ever turn your back on the audience and read text from the slide word for word.
Top Ten Slide Tips Preparation Tips Delivery Tips
PowerPoint uses slides with a horizontal or "Landscape" orientation. The software was designed as a convenient way to display graphical information that would support the speaker and supplement the presentation. The slides themselves were never meant to be the "star of the show" (the star, of course, is your audience). People came to hear you and be moved or informed (or both) by you and your message. Don't let your message and your ability to tell a story get derailed by slides that are unnecessarily complicated, busy, or full of what Edward Tufte calls "chart junk." Nothing in your slide should be superfluous, ever.
Your slides should have plenty of "white space" or "negative space." Do not feel compelled to fill empty areas on your slide with your logo or other unnecessary graphics or text boxes that do not contribute to better understanding. The less clutter you have on your slide, the more powerful your visual message will become.
Your presentation is for the benefit of the audience. But boring an audience with bullet point after bullet point is of little benefit to them. Which brings us to the issue of text. The best slides may have no text at all. This may sound insane given the dependency of text slides today, but the best PowerPoint slides will be virtually meaningless with out the narration (that is you). Remember, the slides are meant to support the narration of the speaker, not make the speaker superfluous.
Many people often say something like this: "Sorry I missed your presentation. I hear it was great. Can you just send me your PowerPoint slides?" But if they are good slides, they will be of little use without you. Instead of a copy of your PowerPoint slides, it is far better to prepare a written document which highlights your content from the presentation and expands on that content. Audiences are much better served receiving a detailed, written handout as a takeaway from the presentation, rather than a mere copy of your PowerPoint slides. If you have a detailed handout or publication for the audience to be passed out after your talk, you need not feel compelled to fill your PowerPoint slides with a great deal of text.
We’ll talk more about this in the delivery section below, but as long as we are talking about text, please remember to never, ever turn your back on the audience and read text from the slide word for word.
Use object builds and slide transitions judiciously. Object builds (also called animations), such as bullet points, should not be animated on every slide. Some animation is a good thing, but stick to the most subtle and professional (similar to what you might see on the evening TV news broadcast). A simple "Wipe Left-to-Right" (from the "Animations" menu) is good for a bullet point, but a "Move" or "Fly" for example is too tedious and slow (and yet, is used in many presentations today). Listeners will get bored very quickly if they are asked to endure slide after slide of animation. For transitions between slides, use no more than two-three different types of transition effects and do not place transition effects between all slides.
Use high-quality graphics including photographs. You can take your own high-quality photographs with your digital camera, purchase professional stock photography, or use the plethora of high-quality images available on line (be cautious of copyright issues, however). Never simply stretch a small, low-resolution photo to make it fit your layout - doing so will degrade the resolution even further.
Avoid using PowerPoint Clip Art or other cartoonish line art. Again, if it is included in the software, your audience has seen it a million times before. It may have been interesting in 1993, but today the inclusion of such clip art often undermines the professionalism of the presenter. There are exceptions, of course, and not all PowerPoint art is dreadful, but use carefully and judiciously.
MY THOUGHTS
speakers use bullet points because they use the powerpoint presentation as a crutch. if you're a good presenter, you'll use your slides as an aid. i love pictures. and a story line. my own story. so, my slides won't be any use for others. unless they're interested in the photos. i love cartoonish images though. but not when the presentation are for board members.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Presentation Remote for Keynote, PowerPoint
Kensington Debuts Presentation Remote for Keynote, PowerPoint
* By Dan Thompson
* 01/10/11
Kensington has unveiled a new wireless presentation remote that controls both PowerPoint and Keynote presentations from distances up to 150 feet. In addition to the remote, Kensington has also rolled out multiple iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch accessories, including a 20-hour battery pack.
The presentation remote, dubbed the Presenter Pro Remote, controls presentations via a wireless link to a USB drive. With the USB drive plugged into a laptop, the remote has the ability TO move the presentation slides forward and backward or turn the screen blank.
The USB plug includes a 2 GB Micro SD card and supports a maximum memory capacity of 32 GB. When not plugged into a laptop, the USB drive can be stored in the handle of the remote.
Other features include a green laser pointer that is up to 10 times brighter than a traditional red laser pointer and an ergonomic design.
The iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch accessories include the PowerLift back-up battery and dock, the BlackBelt protection band, the Virtuoso touch screen stylus and pen, and a dual USB wall charger.
The dual USB wall charger can charge up to two devices. It features detachable USB cables that offer the ability to connect an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a computer.
With the help of a 12 mAh battery, the Power Lift back-up battery and dock charges the iPhone in hand or hands-free. The device adds power for up to 20 hours of music or five hours of video and offers an LED that indicates battery strength.
The BlackBelt protection band is a rubberized band the raps around the iPod and leaves access to all ports, while the Virtuoso touch screen stylus and pen is a combination stylus and pen that was designed to be used with applications similar to iAnnotate and SketchBook. The Virtuoso ships in black or gunmetal.
Expected to ship March 1, The Presenter Pro Remote will be available for $99.99. Kensington will cover the device with a limited five-year warranty.
The BlackBelt, PowerLift, Virtuoso, and dual USB wall charger are currently available for pre-order from Kensington. They will ship for $39.99, $49.99, $24.99, and $34.99, respectively.
MY THOUGHTS
this is good news to anyone who delivers presentation. i, for one, prefer to have the freedom to move around during a session. instead of getting fixed somewhere near the laptop to navigate the slides. i've seen some people having assistants to do that for them. but i'm more comfortable controlling the slides myself. timing is important. and no matter how you practice for a presentation, you decide on timing during the presentation itself. i love fluid presentations. and being able to control my slides from anywhere up to 150 feet is certainly a welcome improvement.
* By Dan Thompson
* 01/10/11
Kensington has unveiled a new wireless presentation remote that controls both PowerPoint and Keynote presentations from distances up to 150 feet. In addition to the remote, Kensington has also rolled out multiple iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch accessories, including a 20-hour battery pack.
The presentation remote, dubbed the Presenter Pro Remote, controls presentations via a wireless link to a USB drive. With the USB drive plugged into a laptop, the remote has the ability TO move the presentation slides forward and backward or turn the screen blank.
The USB plug includes a 2 GB Micro SD card and supports a maximum memory capacity of 32 GB. When not plugged into a laptop, the USB drive can be stored in the handle of the remote.
Other features include a green laser pointer that is up to 10 times brighter than a traditional red laser pointer and an ergonomic design.
The iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch accessories include the PowerLift back-up battery and dock, the BlackBelt protection band, the Virtuoso touch screen stylus and pen, and a dual USB wall charger.
The dual USB wall charger can charge up to two devices. It features detachable USB cables that offer the ability to connect an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a computer.
With the help of a 12 mAh battery, the Power Lift back-up battery and dock charges the iPhone in hand or hands-free. The device adds power for up to 20 hours of music or five hours of video and offers an LED that indicates battery strength.
The BlackBelt protection band is a rubberized band the raps around the iPod and leaves access to all ports, while the Virtuoso touch screen stylus and pen is a combination stylus and pen that was designed to be used with applications similar to iAnnotate and SketchBook. The Virtuoso ships in black or gunmetal.
Expected to ship March 1, The Presenter Pro Remote will be available for $99.99. Kensington will cover the device with a limited five-year warranty.
The BlackBelt, PowerLift, Virtuoso, and dual USB wall charger are currently available for pre-order from Kensington. They will ship for $39.99, $49.99, $24.99, and $34.99, respectively.
MY THOUGHTS
this is good news to anyone who delivers presentation. i, for one, prefer to have the freedom to move around during a session. instead of getting fixed somewhere near the laptop to navigate the slides. i've seen some people having assistants to do that for them. but i'm more comfortable controlling the slides myself. timing is important. and no matter how you practice for a presentation, you decide on timing during the presentation itself. i love fluid presentations. and being able to control my slides from anywhere up to 150 feet is certainly a welcome improvement.
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