8. Ask Questions
How much time do I have?
What is the purpose of this presentation?
Who is my audience?
What is the one thing I want my audience to
remember?
Practice, Practice, Practice
Pass out print materials after the presentation.
Ideas and concepts were taken from the book Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds. Everett Library has a copy if you’d like to check it out!
The Six Things that Make Messages Stick! Simplicity – If everything is important then NOTHING is important. Keep your message as simple as possible and highlight the MOST important point in your presentation.
Credibility – a little goes a long way. Use a well-placed expert quote or VERY brief but compelling numbers to establish the validity of what you are saying.
Emotions – people are emotional creatures. Make your audience FEEL something about what you are saying either through your words or, better yet, with images. An emotional connection to a fact lasts much longer then an analytical one.
Stories – humans are programmed to tell and comprehend stories about their own lives and the lives of those around them. Stories naturally grab our attention and are MUCH easier to remember than bald facts. Tell a story or a brief anecdote to illustrate your point rather than offer charts of data. Your audience will better grasp your point and remember it for a longer period of time.
If you absolutely HAVE to use bullet points then follow the 1-7-7 Rule: Have only 1 main idea per slide Insert only 7 lines of text maximum on that slide Use only 7 words per line maximum on that slide
If you absolutely HAVE to use bullet points then follow the 1-7-7 Rule: Have only 1 main idea per slide Insert only 7 lines of text maximum on that slide Use only 7 words per line maximum on that slide
