The best story wins. Don’t call it a presentation. It’s a story. Every story has a beginning, middle and an ending. Actually, it’s a show and YOU are the star.The screen is there to serve you. To reinforce your ideas.It is not the presentation. You are.
(Presenter: say nothing)
Sometimes HOWyou say something is as important than WHATyousay.
Talkto people in the room, not at them.
Injectyourself and how you feel into what you’re saying.Make an emotional connection with the material and a personal connection with each and every person in the room.Be passionate.
Every thing you say should contribute to the overall story.Everything you say should matter deeply to your audience.If it doesn’t, don’t say it.
Who are you talking to? What are they expecting?Think about what preconceived notions do they bring to the discussion.If you know what they care about, you can use what you know in your presentation.
Pretty shocking, right?
You should choose your words wisely…(Presenter: Make eye contact, pause, then click to next slide)
…or not at all.
(Presenter: pause for 5 seconds, then say…)They'll remember the last thing before the silence.
Questions:Remember to ask them.Elicit them.Help foster an atmosphere that encourages engaged discussion.
Emphasis:Decide which points must stand above all others.They can’t all be equal.
Volume & speed variation:DO NOT drone on, but don’t go too fast.Slow down and breath.
Pitch & tone variation:DO NOT drone on
Hand gestures:Use your hands to show passion and enthusiasm.Get into what you’re saying and the client will too.
Movement:DO NOT sit or stand in one place.Own the space...use the space walk the room thoughtfully.Just the right amount of walking around conveys energy and commands attentionToo much and you’ll make them dizzy!
EYE CONTACT:Don’t just scan the room…talk to each person, one at a time.Make eye contact with each person for at least 5 seconds.In our training, we all found out that this is harder than you think. You need to practice it!5 seconds is a REALLY long time.
ACTION.Start the planning process for every presentation with this in mind:This is not in order.Attention, Capsule, Theme, Information, Open to listening, Next steps
AttentionGrab it in the beginning by being provocative and unexpected.Your goal is to get them put the damn Blackberry down.
Capsule(technically it’s “encapsulate” – but we needed a C to spell “action” During planning process, write down the 2-3 sentences that willencapsulate the entire presentation.
Theme Decide what will hold it all together.Itcan be a visual or a thought.
Information Allnecessary stuff.Be brief, to the point, put the details in a leave-behind and give them the headlines.Have a passionate point of view
Open Always watch and listen closely.READ the room. If they are not nodding, make your point another way. Don’t go on to the next point until they have gotten the first one.
Next Steps – START WITH THE ENDRemember why you’re there in the first place. What do you want to achieve? Once you have figured out what it is you’re trying to say, work backwards and put in only those ideas that get you what you want.
Suggested order. Remember this is not the order of the presentation, this is the order for planning your presentation:N – Start with the Next Steps ….What is it that you want to accomplish from the meeting. The team meets to decide what they want to get out of the presentation – define what you want to accomplish. T – Theme…What is the thematic device that holds it all together, discard all content that doesn’t reinforce the themeC – Capsule…Define the 2 or 3 points which encapsulates the presentation) and write it down internallyI – KeyInformation…Include the points that can help support the message you are verbally deliveringA – Attention…Shockthem, put a stake in the ground – keep them INTERESTED and ENGAGEDO– Open tolistening…If know your material VERY WELL and you need to dive deeper into a topic or question, you are able to do so without fumbling. By knowing your content you will be nimble enough to react to what is going on around you. You need to rehearse and rehearse – Rehearsal ultimately leads to spontaneity
Remember:Don’t be the client. They already have that covered!They want and expectus to be their creative agency.Inspire them by telling the story in a different way…and always remember to make the client the hero.
