Nicholas Bate

The Audience Is Always On Your Side 7

If:

1. You are clearly prepared.
2. You have worked hard to make it relevant to them specifically.
3. You're enthusiastic and keen. But not full of yourself.
4. You can minimise and manage the questions from those who like the sound of their own voice.
5. You didn't just read PPT slides to them. You had some anecdotes and illustrations.
6. You kept to time and agenda and purpose.
7. You were available for a few 1 to1s at the end.

Presenting Breakthrough 7

It's not just about...

1. your solution, it's a lot about their challenges.

2. fill the time available, it's a lot about giving excellent value.

3. having fun, it's essential there is action.

4. impressing them, it's certainly about making it easy.

5. look-alike clone PPT slides, but relevant visuals which help.

6. blaming the small size of the room, it's a lot about taking ownership as presenter.

7. 'giving a presentation', it's about developing an awesome skill.

The Simple Stuff of Great Presentations 7

1. Start on time. Whatever.
2. Finish on time. Whatever.
3. Be clear on your goal in presenting. And get it, whatever.
4. Make it easy, really easy to understand.
5. Be enthusiastic about the topic.
6. Remove all distractions be it stale sandwiches or bleeping phones. 
7. Thank your audience. 

Bonus: Presenting101

The 7 Potentially Problematic P-factors with PowerPoint

1. PowerPoint Paralysis. The state of deep trance induced by a mind-numbingly unimaginative, script-laden and over-full slide-deck.
2. PowerPoint Pareto Number. The number of slides to which the typical corporate slide-deck should be reduced for normal human consumption. Research suggests 20% of the original.
3. PowerPoint Paradigm. The bizarre fact that the greater the ‘whizziness’ of the presentation model the more the point of the presentation is lost.
4. PowerPoint Pointer. The simple laser device used in hi-tech presentations to replace the old music hall sing-along bouncing ball as everybody reads the script together.
5. PowerPoint Punchline. "...and as with everybody else this morning, I have way too many slides. I am sorry about the fact that many of the colours are a poor choice for this bright sun-light...oh, there we go...not sure why the embedded video is not working..haha..."
6. PowerPoint Panchakarma. The ancient Indian system of Ayurveda detox which is essential if the average PowerPoint user is ever going to be able to learn how to communicate again in the real world.
7. PowerPoint Primate. The monkey who would keep it simple, keep it engaging and undoubtedly get the message across in less time. Because thankfully they haven’t learnt PowerPoint yet. But they know how to have a good time.

We Miss The (Power)Point

You've probably noticed a trend amongst conference organisers to start saying 'no PowerPoint' or 'no more than three PowerPoint slides'.

Poor thinking. When PowerPoint became available, teachers, lecturers and anyone who stood up to talk to an audience was expected to use  the software. Why? because (apparently) it made them professional. That's what we wanted: professional presenting. Then the art of talking to an audience was lost as people become too involved in the technology so that now PowerPoint is synonymous with dull, 'reading off the screen'.. But of course it needn't be.

Refuse to follow any guidelines about PowerPoint. But insist on giving a great, interesting stimulating talk. Which may or may not include PPT slides.

In Case You Have Missed It...

Rowan Manahan has a great new blog on presenting.

RealSmartNow

on Real Leaders Don't Do PowerPoint.

Add Spark To Your Presentation 7

1. Make it more local: totally relevant to your audience.
2. Give it extra pace: keep them engaged.
3. Add some hard, undeniable facts: shock them.
4. Add perspective: why is this vital?
5. Make it clear: articulate well by practising. 
6. Add drama through a story: have them begging for more. 
7. Give a clear call for action so they felt their time was well spent.

Presentations, mistakes and

learning.

The Redux Series (4): Presenting

1. We only present to get action.
2. Seriously. Think about it. That's why you are in the room together: to get ACTION. 
3. So that’s where you start:
4. what action do I want of these people when I have finished?
5. To buy from me? Vote me in as President? Accept the redundancy package? Give me the job?
6. Now become a film director. How do you take them from where they are to taking that action?
7. You need a set of experiences: a powerful set of figures perhaps, a moving  story maybe. An exercise. You decide.
8. A story board will help you: draw a matrix of boxes. One for every 90 seconds. 
9. What will happen in that period of time to hold their interest? Write it in the box.
10. Think about your energy. Your energy level is infectious. High or Low.
11. Help them to understand e.g. stories, analogies, exercises.
12. And worry less about remembering what to say by putting your notes on a slide.
13. Use the space: get closer to your audience.  
14. Use the leadership position of standing more often. 
15. Build in spikes. Rhetorical questions. Louder. Quieter. Quick video. Quick exercise. Build the pace. 
16. You need notes. Write them large for you only. 
17. They need notes. Provide a word executive summary. 
18. You need some visuals. OK possibly some PPT slides. 
19. But don't write everything in PPT and give it out. They will read ahead, get bored, distracted and wonder 
20. Why are you there? See 1.