Crafting Outstanding Presentations - Storytelling Techniques

Storytelling
techniquesfor crafting
Outstanding Presentations
Claudio Perrone

How relevant are presentations to your career?

In late 2007, I was leading a happy life

One day, my phone rang…

I was offered to speak at a BIG conference

On the one hand,it was a fantastic opportunity

On the other hand, public speakingscared me to death

Year: 1997Location: C.E.R.N.

I trained 15 scientists for a week

They skinned me alive

I’ll never forget that experience…

There was no way I was going face another possible humiliation

Besides, I could brain-damage people with PowerPoint

What would you do?

1
Move Beyond
Bullet Points

In Feb 2008, I joined the revolution

“
Simplicity
is the ultimate
sophistication
--- Leonardo Da Vinci

Despite my efforts, my firstdry-run was a disaster

I had strong images, but lack of structure confused the audience

At first, I created a “logical” outline
Main Point: Agility + Communication + Creativity lead to success
1. Supporting detail: Agility
2. Supporting detail: Communication
3. Supporting detail: Creativity
Summary: Agility + Communication + Creativity lead to success

Then, I discovered BBP!

Let’s “script” the first 5 slides
Screenwriting techniques for crafting outstanding presentations
The downturn threatens the future of many individuals and organizations
You are an entrepreneur, meeting an investor for the first time
I suggests…
Move beyond bullet pointsUnleash the Power of StoryTame your story to persuade
You’d love them to invest
in your great idea
Investors can be so
hard to persuade

Let’s see how they “play”
Action!

The downturn threatens the future of many individuals and organizations

You are an entrepreneur, meeting an investor for the first time

Investors can be so HARDto persuade

You’d love them to invest in your great idea

I suggest...
Move beyond bullet pointsUnleash the Power of StoryTame your story to persuade

…And Cut. Well done! (you’ll add the cool pictures another time)

But wait…
What if Spielberg showed up?

Dude,
you are telegraphing.
Your “story” has no drama.

How about this?
telegraphing
vs.
dramatic irony
vs.
dramatic tension

2
Unleash the Power of Story

Enter a new world

Why Story?
People make choices based on emotions
(and use data to justify them)

What’s a good story idea?
Someone
wants something badly
and goes after it
against great odds
[character]
[desire]
[obstacles]

Story revolves around conflict
Antagonist
Nature
Society
Self
Protagonist
vs.

Story has good structure
Outer journey

Often, there is a character inner journey
WA=C
W: Weakness (psychological and moral)
A: Action (and struggle to accomplish it)
C: Changed Person

Let’s see the “highlights” of a past presentation
Action!

Most IT projects fail
Will yours?

Once upon a time I was a successful software developer…

My technical skills made me feel invincible

Until one day…

…I entered a world of deception

It was Hell from day 1

What would you do?

I choked

…but then, I decided to fight back

This is what I tried:
2
Effective
Communication
3
1
Deliberate
Creativity
Agility

1
Agility

…but the project was still at risk

2
Effective Communication

3
Deliberate Creativity

So, what happened to the project?

Amazingly, it succeeded

Lessons learned...
“
We moved from the Flintstones era to the future.
“
--- an end user
I was part of something. I belonged.
--- a developer

…And Cut!

Agile Tales Walk-through (1/3)Setup
Setting
(+Hook)
Character flaw (“naivety”)
Setup
(ordinary world)
Inciting incident

Agile Tales Walk-through (2/3) Development
Enter special world
Dilemma
Complication
Refusal of the call
Action /
Resolution
Turning point
(will he succeed?)
Action /
Resolution
New complication

Agile Tales Walk-through (3/3) Resolution
Dramatic question (restated)
Aftermath
Climax
Theme

How do you craft your own story?

3
Tame
Your Story

I used to rewrite a story ~30 times

Not anymore

I use a 7-steps process

Step 1: Research (Create a Data Dump)

Step 2: Prepare
Subject
POV
Listeners
Action
Benefit

Step 3: Fill and cluster content

Step 4: Identify Story Ideas

E.g. Reverse Benefits
Features
Model
View
Controller
Benefits
Separation of concerns
Easier page lifetime model
Testability
Reversed Benefits
No separation of concerns
Complex lifetime cycle
Hard (or no) testability
E.g.: Candidate Scenario 1
After the latest disastrous crash, team has 3 weeks to “fix” a web application which is almost impossible to test

Step 5: Create a dramatic outline
Complication: Claudio fears public speaking
Development:
1. Claudio moves beyond bullet points
2. Claudio unleashes stories
3. Claudio tames stories
Resolution: Claudio conquers fear

Step 5. Dramatic outline II (saga)
Major Complication: Claudio fears public speaking
Semi-Major Complication: Claudio kills with PowerPoint
Development 1,2,3
Interlinked Complication: Spielberg challenges Claudio
Semi-Major Resolution: Claudio moves Beyond Bullet Points
Semi-Major Complication: Spielberg challenges Claudio
Development 1,2,3
Interlinked Complication: Stories consume Claudio
Semi-Major Resolution: Claudio embraces stories
Semi-Major Complication: Stories consume Claudio
Development 1,2,3
Semi-Major Resolution: Claudio tames stories
Interlinked Complication: Claudio fears public speaking
Semi-Major Complication: Claudio fears public speaking (restated)
Development 1. Claudio pursues emotion
Development 2. Claudio welcomes obstacles (carpe diem)
Development 3. Claudio finds own voice
Major Resolution: Claudio conquers fear

Final Thoughts

“
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
--- Oscar Wilde

Thank you!
Claudio Perrone
claudio@agilesensei.com
www.agilesensei.com
www.twitter.com/agilesensei

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Crafting Outstanding Presentations - Storytelling Techniques

by Claudio Perrone on May 29, 2010

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