Communication is the greatest single skill that can make the difference in a professional's life.
This article brings together many views from several books and personal experience
The document is titled "MC Final" and contains the date "09 April 2010" and time "09:44:22 AM". It appears to be a document related to a final exam or project for a student named MC that was last modified or submitted on April 9, 2010 at 9:44 in the morning.
Once upon a time stories have the power to capture everyone's attention, no matter their age. These types of stories allow storytellers to bend reality and bring imagination to life. While technology can kill imagination in children, stories nurture creativity and bonding. A grandparent's role of sharing stories with their grandchildren can build strong relationships and help shape the children into valued individuals. Telling your own stories strengthens one's mind and imagination, and creates special moments with children that they will cherish forever. Learning the art of storytelling involves understanding key elements like characters, settings, climaxes and happy endings, as well as practicing delivery. The best way to improve this skill is by sharing stories with others who have a passion
This document discusses creativity in the workplace and society. It tells a story of a man named Fred encountering a green Martian in a small desert town. It references George Orwell's works 1984 and Animal Farm to discuss how rules and regulations can stifle creativity, yet creativity is important for business success. The author advocates thinking like a soldier in a parade - marching on the edge of conformity to make a difference through new ideas.
University of Johannesburg Knowledge PresentationVDS Brink
The document discusses various topics related to knowledge, wisdom, and the new decade including:
- 4 types of people and their relationship to knowledge and thinking
- Scenarios for competitiveness and the market in future years
- The importance of applied knowledge and non-judgmental thinking
- Factors related to wealth accumulation and investment such as humility, openness, and wisdom
- Strategies for being positively different and having success in the future such as working together and caring for the earth.
The document provides tips and advice for effective public speaking. It discusses the importance of being well-prepared, overcoming stage fright, engaging the audience, using humor appropriately, gestures, and concluding powerfully. Specific tips include starting simply, practicing, making eye contact, speaking conversationally, and being confident in delivering one's message.
The document provides tips for concluding speeches effectively. Some key points include: matching the tone of the conclusion to the audience's needs, reinforcing the main theme without repeating points verbatim, issuing a specific call to action if appropriate, and using personal stories or quotes to emotionally connect with the audience. Sample conclusions from past speeches are also presented that demonstrate these techniques.
The document is titled "MC Final" and contains the date "09 April 2010" and time "09:44:22 AM". It appears to be a document related to a final exam or project for a student named MC that was last modified or submitted on April 9, 2010 at 9:44 in the morning.
Once upon a time stories have the power to capture everyone's attention, no matter their age. These types of stories allow storytellers to bend reality and bring imagination to life. While technology can kill imagination in children, stories nurture creativity and bonding. A grandparent's role of sharing stories with their grandchildren can build strong relationships and help shape the children into valued individuals. Telling your own stories strengthens one's mind and imagination, and creates special moments with children that they will cherish forever. Learning the art of storytelling involves understanding key elements like characters, settings, climaxes and happy endings, as well as practicing delivery. The best way to improve this skill is by sharing stories with others who have a passion
This document discusses creativity in the workplace and society. It tells a story of a man named Fred encountering a green Martian in a small desert town. It references George Orwell's works 1984 and Animal Farm to discuss how rules and regulations can stifle creativity, yet creativity is important for business success. The author advocates thinking like a soldier in a parade - marching on the edge of conformity to make a difference through new ideas.
University of Johannesburg Knowledge PresentationVDS Brink
The document discusses various topics related to knowledge, wisdom, and the new decade including:
- 4 types of people and their relationship to knowledge and thinking
- Scenarios for competitiveness and the market in future years
- The importance of applied knowledge and non-judgmental thinking
- Factors related to wealth accumulation and investment such as humility, openness, and wisdom
- Strategies for being positively different and having success in the future such as working together and caring for the earth.
The document provides tips and advice for effective public speaking. It discusses the importance of being well-prepared, overcoming stage fright, engaging the audience, using humor appropriately, gestures, and concluding powerfully. Specific tips include starting simply, practicing, making eye contact, speaking conversationally, and being confident in delivering one's message.
The document provides tips for concluding speeches effectively. Some key points include: matching the tone of the conclusion to the audience's needs, reinforcing the main theme without repeating points verbatim, issuing a specific call to action if appropriate, and using personal stories or quotes to emotionally connect with the audience. Sample conclusions from past speeches are also presented that demonstrate these techniques.
This document provides tips and advice for public speaking from various sources. It includes quotes on public speaking from figures like John F. Kennedy, William Jennings Bryan, and Isak Dinesen. It also discusses identifying one's passion, preparing thoroughly, packaging the presentation effectively, and engaging the audience during the presentation. The document suggests considering the audience's demographics, interests, and needs. Overall, it emphasizes the importance of understanding the audience and communicating a clear message or call to action.
Connect with your audience through effective storytelling techniques. Bring your presentations alive, humanize.
Transmitting and receiving knowledge through storytelling goes back thousands of years, whatever our culture. It is part of our DNA, we are wired for it.
Here a just a few tips.
Want to know more about our English communication workshops? Come see us:http://immersionanglaisbooster.strikingly.com/
One of the greatest fears we all have, is the fear of speaking in public. Some research I read a few years back showed that people feared public speaking even more than they feared death. Wow, that is quite an incredible result. It is crazy to think that someone, would rather die, than stand in front of a group of people and deliver a speech.
This unnecessary fear is an instinctive primeval response, to our inbred fear of standing out from the herd. When we lived in a society, where there was a threat from predators. Anyone, who stood out from the crowd, was at the highest risk of being predated. So yes that fear you feel, when you are expected to deliver a speech in front of a group of people is real. It is primeval deep rooted fear of standing out. My question here is pretty simple. When last did you hear about a sabre toothed tiger eating someone, whilst they were speaking in public?
The document discusses the power and importance of storytelling. It notes that stories have the ability to influence people's thinking and change their behaviors. When we hear impactful stories, our brains can take on the thoughts and ideas presented in the story. Stories are how many historical events and cultural traditions have been passed down. The document also discusses how storytelling can be used as a marketing tool, with examples of how well-crafted stories can dramatically increase sales and engagement. It provides tips on how to craft stories effectively, including defining the core message, deciding on the type of story, establishing a call to action, and knowing the target audience.
Just a sample of how to approach slide design. The real key is to be certain that the speaker and his/her presentation are congruent. At the end of the day, the presentation should never replace the presenter.
How to Deliver a Great Presentation
10 tips aganist stagefright, how to prepare a presentation and how to deliver.
Also see youtube "Ever presentation ever: FAIL"
Dirk Hannemann, Berlin
Trainer Kommunikation
www.hannemann-training.de
This is a new golden age for design. In business, where technology has dominated for decades, the balance of power is shifting. Lessons learned have thrown up new imperatives. The most exciting of these conversations explore new frontiers for business - empathy, design insight, disruptive innovation, big data, lean practice - and all point to the prize: human-centred business transformation. The vision is of a future that will be brilliantly designed rather than just cleverly engineered. Technology alone cannot deliver the experience. Who are the design leaders who will breathe life into this vision? Where will we find them? How will we recognize them? Which skills and qualities will define them? How will we motivate them? How will we partner with other professions? And how do we support them to find, foster and equip a global design elite that will rise up and play their role in changing the world?
The document provides information about public speaking and tips for speakers. It discusses:
- What public speaking is, which is presenting live to an audience to inform, influence, or entertain them.
- Quality speaking depends on the connection between the speaker and audience, and how the speaker uses gestures and word choice to effectively deliver their message.
- Eloquence is persuasive and elegant speaking through striking language that conveys emotion and persuades the audience.
It then provides some public speaking game ideas to help speakers practice, including giving stories that end with provided lines, recounting the history of various topics, beginning stories with prompts, and sharing truths and a lie about themselves for the audience to identify.
Human relations and diversity (1968 olympics)Michael A.
this is a ppt I put together for HRE and Div training. I modified it from the one I use in the military. several videos I put the youtube link, but one video I cannot find. It is really good and the stories are very effective to get the diversity and relationship message across. have fun...
THERE ARE NOTES IN THE PPT FOR THE PRESENTER AS WELL!
The document discusses using positive self-talk and affirmations to improve one's mindset and life. It provides examples of how negative and positive self-talk can influence outcomes. It also outlines techniques for structuring effective affirmations, such as making them present-tense and emotion-filled. The key message is that affirmations, when repeated regularly, can reprogram subconscious thinking and enable personal growth over time.
The document provides 10 tips from an executive communications coach, Nora Vitz Harrison, for totally rocking a presentation. The tips include being succinct, using visuals instead of just PowerPoint, engaging the audience like an actor would, getting their attention in an unexpected way, using specific examples, making it personal, presenting with confidence, continuing to learn from other sources, telling stories, and communicating with passion.
This document discusses the intersection of technology, creativity, and learning through 14 brief articles. It advocates for using technology tools to foster creative self-expression and engagement in storytelling, poetry, comics, music, and more. A range of free online platforms are presented that can help bring students' ideas to life and facilitate collaboration in learning communities. The overall message is that technology has the potential to create friendly, brain-compatible environments when used to develop students' feelings, imagination, senses and spark their inspiration.
Jess Mitchell discusses inclusive design, which considers the full diversity of humanity in design. Inclusive design results in better experiences for everyone. Mitchell acknowledges the traditional lands they are on and reflects on the need to reconcile past injustices. Complex problems require design thinking and inclusive design thinking to create solutions that work for more people and address existing gaps. Inclusive design recognizes diversity, uses an inclusive process, and aims to have broader beneficial impact. It challenges assumptions and designs for the edges to benefit the majority.
This summary provides an overview of the Brillzdom book chapter in 3 sentences:
The chapter explains and provides more context for the first 25 entries of the Brillzdom book, with the goal of enhancing understanding of the wisdom it imparts for living a better life. A variety of topics are discussed, including the power of images, the negative effects of phone usage, challenges faced in Japanese culture, and the importance of self-congratulation. Readers are encouraged to not just understand but also create their own Brillzdom entries.
This document discusses developing speaking skills in teaching English as a foreign language. It outlines some key characteristics of effective speaking, including using gestures, emphasis, and interacting with the audience. It also lists activities that can promote speaking practice, such as discussions, role-plays, storytelling, picture narration, reporting, and picture describing. The document provides suggestions for teachers, such as reducing their own speaking time, providing feedback, and diagnosing issues to give targeted practice.
The document discusses how grieving individuals may avoid reminders of the deceased person in order to escape painful feelings of grief. However, avoiding reminders or getting rid of the deceased person's belongings too quickly can lead to complicated bereavement. The document suggests that while avoidance may provide temporary relief from grief, it is healthier to allow oneself to experience grief and process reminders of the person that was lost over time.
This document discusses developing speaking skills in teaching English as a foreign language. It outlines some key characteristics of effective speaking, including using gestures, emphasis, and interacting with the audience. It also lists activities that can promote speaking practice, such as discussions, role-plays, storytelling, picture narration, and reporting. The document provides suggestions for teachers, such as reducing their own speaking time, providing feedback, and diagnosing issues to give targeted practice.
This 3-sentence summary provides the high-level information from the document:
The document discusses how creativity and innovation are essential for business process management to address today's challenges and create better organizations. It argues that leadership needs to understand and foster innovation by managing it as a process through which individuals and groups can think beyond the obvious to generate value. Several changes in society and business are also outlined that require new approaches like cross-functional collaboration, moving away from territorial thinking, and focusing on value creation through differentiation.
This document contains over 30 quotes on various topics including success, wisdom, forgiveness, love, and life. Some of the key ideas expressed are: Bob Dylan said success means doing what you enjoy; Walt Disney disliked repeating successes and liked new challenges; Muhammad Ali said champions have an inner desire and dream; and Albert Einstein advised trying to become a valuable person rather than just a successful one. Wisdom comes from experience, not just age. Forgiveness benefits the forgiver more than the forgiven. We should try to make peace and spread love rather than hate.
This document provides tips and advice for public speaking from various sources. It includes quotes on public speaking from figures like John F. Kennedy, William Jennings Bryan, and Isak Dinesen. It also discusses identifying one's passion, preparing thoroughly, packaging the presentation effectively, and engaging the audience during the presentation. The document suggests considering the audience's demographics, interests, and needs. Overall, it emphasizes the importance of understanding the audience and communicating a clear message or call to action.
Connect with your audience through effective storytelling techniques. Bring your presentations alive, humanize.
Transmitting and receiving knowledge through storytelling goes back thousands of years, whatever our culture. It is part of our DNA, we are wired for it.
Here a just a few tips.
Want to know more about our English communication workshops? Come see us:http://immersionanglaisbooster.strikingly.com/
One of the greatest fears we all have, is the fear of speaking in public. Some research I read a few years back showed that people feared public speaking even more than they feared death. Wow, that is quite an incredible result. It is crazy to think that someone, would rather die, than stand in front of a group of people and deliver a speech.
This unnecessary fear is an instinctive primeval response, to our inbred fear of standing out from the herd. When we lived in a society, where there was a threat from predators. Anyone, who stood out from the crowd, was at the highest risk of being predated. So yes that fear you feel, when you are expected to deliver a speech in front of a group of people is real. It is primeval deep rooted fear of standing out. My question here is pretty simple. When last did you hear about a sabre toothed tiger eating someone, whilst they were speaking in public?
The document discusses the power and importance of storytelling. It notes that stories have the ability to influence people's thinking and change their behaviors. When we hear impactful stories, our brains can take on the thoughts and ideas presented in the story. Stories are how many historical events and cultural traditions have been passed down. The document also discusses how storytelling can be used as a marketing tool, with examples of how well-crafted stories can dramatically increase sales and engagement. It provides tips on how to craft stories effectively, including defining the core message, deciding on the type of story, establishing a call to action, and knowing the target audience.
Just a sample of how to approach slide design. The real key is to be certain that the speaker and his/her presentation are congruent. At the end of the day, the presentation should never replace the presenter.
How to Deliver a Great Presentation
10 tips aganist stagefright, how to prepare a presentation and how to deliver.
Also see youtube "Ever presentation ever: FAIL"
Dirk Hannemann, Berlin
Trainer Kommunikation
www.hannemann-training.de
This is a new golden age for design. In business, where technology has dominated for decades, the balance of power is shifting. Lessons learned have thrown up new imperatives. The most exciting of these conversations explore new frontiers for business - empathy, design insight, disruptive innovation, big data, lean practice - and all point to the prize: human-centred business transformation. The vision is of a future that will be brilliantly designed rather than just cleverly engineered. Technology alone cannot deliver the experience. Who are the design leaders who will breathe life into this vision? Where will we find them? How will we recognize them? Which skills and qualities will define them? How will we motivate them? How will we partner with other professions? And how do we support them to find, foster and equip a global design elite that will rise up and play their role in changing the world?
The document provides information about public speaking and tips for speakers. It discusses:
- What public speaking is, which is presenting live to an audience to inform, influence, or entertain them.
- Quality speaking depends on the connection between the speaker and audience, and how the speaker uses gestures and word choice to effectively deliver their message.
- Eloquence is persuasive and elegant speaking through striking language that conveys emotion and persuades the audience.
It then provides some public speaking game ideas to help speakers practice, including giving stories that end with provided lines, recounting the history of various topics, beginning stories with prompts, and sharing truths and a lie about themselves for the audience to identify.
Human relations and diversity (1968 olympics)Michael A.
this is a ppt I put together for HRE and Div training. I modified it from the one I use in the military. several videos I put the youtube link, but one video I cannot find. It is really good and the stories are very effective to get the diversity and relationship message across. have fun...
THERE ARE NOTES IN THE PPT FOR THE PRESENTER AS WELL!
The document discusses using positive self-talk and affirmations to improve one's mindset and life. It provides examples of how negative and positive self-talk can influence outcomes. It also outlines techniques for structuring effective affirmations, such as making them present-tense and emotion-filled. The key message is that affirmations, when repeated regularly, can reprogram subconscious thinking and enable personal growth over time.
The document provides 10 tips from an executive communications coach, Nora Vitz Harrison, for totally rocking a presentation. The tips include being succinct, using visuals instead of just PowerPoint, engaging the audience like an actor would, getting their attention in an unexpected way, using specific examples, making it personal, presenting with confidence, continuing to learn from other sources, telling stories, and communicating with passion.
This document discusses the intersection of technology, creativity, and learning through 14 brief articles. It advocates for using technology tools to foster creative self-expression and engagement in storytelling, poetry, comics, music, and more. A range of free online platforms are presented that can help bring students' ideas to life and facilitate collaboration in learning communities. The overall message is that technology has the potential to create friendly, brain-compatible environments when used to develop students' feelings, imagination, senses and spark their inspiration.
Jess Mitchell discusses inclusive design, which considers the full diversity of humanity in design. Inclusive design results in better experiences for everyone. Mitchell acknowledges the traditional lands they are on and reflects on the need to reconcile past injustices. Complex problems require design thinking and inclusive design thinking to create solutions that work for more people and address existing gaps. Inclusive design recognizes diversity, uses an inclusive process, and aims to have broader beneficial impact. It challenges assumptions and designs for the edges to benefit the majority.
This summary provides an overview of the Brillzdom book chapter in 3 sentences:
The chapter explains and provides more context for the first 25 entries of the Brillzdom book, with the goal of enhancing understanding of the wisdom it imparts for living a better life. A variety of topics are discussed, including the power of images, the negative effects of phone usage, challenges faced in Japanese culture, and the importance of self-congratulation. Readers are encouraged to not just understand but also create their own Brillzdom entries.
This document discusses developing speaking skills in teaching English as a foreign language. It outlines some key characteristics of effective speaking, including using gestures, emphasis, and interacting with the audience. It also lists activities that can promote speaking practice, such as discussions, role-plays, storytelling, picture narration, reporting, and picture describing. The document provides suggestions for teachers, such as reducing their own speaking time, providing feedback, and diagnosing issues to give targeted practice.
The document discusses how grieving individuals may avoid reminders of the deceased person in order to escape painful feelings of grief. However, avoiding reminders or getting rid of the deceased person's belongings too quickly can lead to complicated bereavement. The document suggests that while avoidance may provide temporary relief from grief, it is healthier to allow oneself to experience grief and process reminders of the person that was lost over time.
This document discusses developing speaking skills in teaching English as a foreign language. It outlines some key characteristics of effective speaking, including using gestures, emphasis, and interacting with the audience. It also lists activities that can promote speaking practice, such as discussions, role-plays, storytelling, picture narration, and reporting. The document provides suggestions for teachers, such as reducing their own speaking time, providing feedback, and diagnosing issues to give targeted practice.
This 3-sentence summary provides the high-level information from the document:
The document discusses how creativity and innovation are essential for business process management to address today's challenges and create better organizations. It argues that leadership needs to understand and foster innovation by managing it as a process through which individuals and groups can think beyond the obvious to generate value. Several changes in society and business are also outlined that require new approaches like cross-functional collaboration, moving away from territorial thinking, and focusing on value creation through differentiation.
This document contains over 30 quotes on various topics including success, wisdom, forgiveness, love, and life. Some of the key ideas expressed are: Bob Dylan said success means doing what you enjoy; Walt Disney disliked repeating successes and liked new challenges; Muhammad Ali said champions have an inner desire and dream; and Albert Einstein advised trying to become a valuable person rather than just a successful one. Wisdom comes from experience, not just age. Forgiveness benefits the forgiver more than the forgiven. We should try to make peace and spread love rather than hate.
The document discusses the information revolution and how it has impacted our minds. It argues that our minds work best when they can form connections between ideas, like clothes on a washing line, but that we are now bombarded daily with thousands of ads and notifications that scatter our thoughts. To build expertise, our minds need long periods of continuous, distraction-free focus on a single topic, as demonstrated by people like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, but modern technology threatens this by constantly dividing our attention with alerts and updates. We must harness technology's benefits while being aware of how it can degrade our thinking if we do not make time to engage fully with real people and ideas.
This document provides guidance on how to give effective presentations. It discusses opening presentations with questions or anecdotes to engage the audience. Presenters should focus on the needs and interests of the audience rather than themselves. Effective presentations also use storytelling and humor to connect with audiences on an emotional level. Proper use of body language, vocal tone, and visual aids further enhances presentations. Rehearsing thoroughly and tailoring the presentation to different learning styles and preferences helps ensure audiences understand and remember the message.
Background concepts used during the session with the Department of Business Science of the University of Stellenboch on 19 August 2008, Somerbosch Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
This document discusses building an organizational culture that supports continuous improvement and commitment through adapting to change, open communication, and effective leadership across all operations. It examines how new technology and strategies can impact the workforce and stresses the importance of effectively implementing and managing change to achieve expected results. It also emphasizes generating communication from the factory floor to executive level to achieve goals and understanding leadership failures and their impact on execution.
The document discusses leadership styles and best practices for plant operations. It contrasts a traditional "rotten leadership" style characterized by a lack of vision and communication with stakeholders with a new approach focused on customer delight, measurement, networks, and personnel. This new approach emphasizes a collaborative teambuilding environment with shared vision and celebration of successes.
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United States as of 2022. The stylish puppy has ascended the
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In the recent edition, The 10 Most Influential Leaders Guiding Corporate Evolution, 2024, The Silicon Leaders magazine gladly features Dejan Štancer, President of the Global Chamber of Business Leaders (GCBL), along with other leaders.
Building Your Employer Brand with Social MediaLuanWise
Presented at The Global HR Summit, 6th June 2024
In this keynote, Luan Wise will provide invaluable insights to elevate your employer brand on social media platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. You'll learn how compelling content can authentically showcase your company culture, values, and employee experiences to support your talent acquisition and retention objectives. Additionally, you'll understand the power of employee advocacy to amplify reach and engagement – helping to position your organization as an employer of choice in today's competitive talent landscape.
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SATTA MATKA SATTA FAST RESULT KALYAN TOP MATKA RESULT KALYAN SATTA MATKA FAST RESULT MILAN RATAN RAJDHANI MAIN BAZAR MATKA FAST TIPS RESULT MATKA CHART JODI CHART PANEL CHART FREE FIX GAME SATTAMATKA ! MATKA MOBI SATTA 143 spboss.in TOP NO1 RESULT FULL RATE MATKA ONLINE GAME PLAY BY APP SPBOSS
Satta Matka Dpboss Matka Guessing Kalyan Chart Indian Matka Kalyan panel Chart
Greatest Competency
1. The Spoken Word
VDS Brink
We studied hard, we focus on what we do to do it well, and we
compete against our competition and mostly against our colleagues.
Yet…what is that one great thing to do that will set us apart from the
rest of the crowd?
What is responsible for 90% of the misery on this earth? More than all
the wars, disease, poverty and catastrophes we can imagine?
It is the inability to talk and listen so that messages come across
clearly with impact. It is all about our ability to communicate with each
other and to groups.
Everyday we are misunderstood; everyday millions of presentations
simply fall on the floor. The few that do it right stand, out against the
crowd. It is so difficult yet can be done by each of us.
The worst way to do it, is by giving someone an audio recording. A bit
better is to watch and listen to a video, even more better is “show and
tell” where the presenter will talk and use some visual aid. Even better
is “chalk and talk” where the presenter will talk and draw lines and
diagrams. The very best way is experiential learning when the
audience discovers the truth by themselves.
“Show and tell” is good for audiences larger than ten, yet before
switching on the PowerPoint and prepare long lists of bulleted
sentences, just think about how you and I react on it. The average
attention span of a human being is about 6-8 minutes and shorter how
younger we are. After that we lapse into a daydream zone thinking of
other stuff. After about 12 minutes, most of us become brain dead
when we stop thinking at all..
2. Sometime ago I had the painfull experience to be caught in a
graduation ceremony in that beautiful town amongst the vineyards. It
was March and the mercury was hovering close to 40 degrees. The
audience was there for one reason only, to see their beloved on the
stage for 5 seconds. It was gruesomely dismantled when a learned
professor spoke on the National Innovation Framework. She droned on
and on for 45 endless cruel minutes. Who cares after all? Point sadly
missed.
I got myself cloaked up a several times into that same weird crimson
medieval garb they still use at graduations, always given some
important sounding topic like: “An in depth overview of the economic
outlook for the next decade”. Yet responded every time using less than
10 minutes telling them fairy tales, was applauded for it and rewarded
by an appointment at the University’s business school to lecture on
topics I know nothing about!
So let’s start from the beginning: who is the audience? What do they
know, what would they like? Where do we want to take them to and
how will we get there?
Kick off in a great way. A question, a Factoid, an Anecdote or Quote, a
Familiar saying, an Analogy always works better that the table of
contents.
The ultimate is self effacing humor. Steve Jobs stood in a red cloak in
front of hundreds of Stanford students and said: “This is the closet to
graduation I have ever been!” He followed by hitting them in the heart
with: “When I was born, my mother was only 16…”. They were in his
hands and he could take them anywhere.
Taking the audience to the destination can be blow by technical blow,
or highlighted by wonderfull stories. Trevor Manuel delivered the
3. budget for the nation and for 2 hours entertains us with the one great
story after the other with the tax rates popping up here and there.
Mere words have a 10% impact, visuals perhaps 20 if you are lucky,
the tonality of the voice about 30% and body language (hands, feet,
eyes, mouth..) more than 40%. Clutching a lectern or aimlessly
wandering up and down with hands in the pockets while clicking the
mouse eliminates that critical 40%,
Talk load or soft, use many pauses, gesture upwards, downwards and
sideways, smile, look at a group for about 5 seconds, and make them
feel like royalty.
For our visuals; less is more, use colour, blue, green and a splash of
yellow. Never use black letters against a white background and avoid
red. Keep simple, use single words, never sentences as your voice will
do it for you. Be kind to the audience and minimize eye sweeps. Often
press the magical “B” button to black it out and get them to look you
in the eye.
PowerPoint is an aid, a tool and nothing more. Use sparingly and only
when really necessary. Do not let it undermine the group interaction.
For less than 7 people, rather opt for a stack of A2 sheets and
colourfull pens and work with in the middle of us all.
We need to be prepared to work in case of an Eskom intervention
without losing anything. We witnessed at a conference of the SAIIE
that two learned economists stood petrified for minutes not uttering a
single word because this great company pulled the plug on them! If
Mr. Manuel can present the nation’s economy with stories, it can be
done by all. It is sensible to prepare without visual aids and only add it
at the end. After all its is only an aid..
4. The greatest and most difficult aid is humour. Use it liberally especially
against yourself. I often use it to the delight of audiences looking at
this diminutive ugliesh person in front of them: “I wish many times I
could be like a can of Guiness…tall dark and handsome..”
Humour is not a joke, but it is to look at life from a different angle.
Humour is clean, not against people or culture and is even suitable at
a funeral.
The people in our audiences are different; they hear, see, and feel
messages differently. They are analytical, visionary, feelers or
structured. For some reason the norm is to cook up presentations only
for people that visually and analytically inclined. That, even though
they make up a tiny percentage of the population!
It is a theatre, not about information. Judgment is beyond logic and on
emotion, hope, ambition and desire. Focus on the heart then on the
mind.
The preparation is more important than the delivery. For every minute
on stage there is a day backstage to prepare and dry run. Prepare in a
different place. Walk in the park and sense the images and words. Get
the broad strokes right long before the detail. Be crystal clear on what
the main point is. Only ONE main point, repeat and repeat..
The idea is of less importance than the people behind it. It is of less
importance than showing our ability to make it happen. Inspiration, a
person that believes in herself, passion is more important than the
solution. Make simplicity an obsession.
What is that single one slide that is the cornerstone? That single one
that encapsulates it all? The single one that we will leave on the desk
in hard copy A3 and full colour?
5. Summarize at the end only. Do not give an executive summary in the
beginning. Leave them wondering. Work on voice, work hard on
cutting “Uhms” and “Ahs” as it shows insecurity.
Brevity is the key. Great orators that changed history kept to the 5
minute rule. The sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the
peacemakers..”, Lincoln: “Fellow countrymen, four score years ago
we…”, Washington: ”if we leave today then..”, Manuel cutting up his 2
hour budget in discreet events, and the greatest of them all, Churchill:
”And in a thousand years, they will still say: this was our finest hour’’
It was same the old Winston who remarked: “If I have to talk for an
hour, give me a day to prepare, yet if it is 5 minutes, I need a month.”
To end off with the ending. It is the most important part of the
presentation as people remember what was happened last. Leave
them surprised and wondering. End with inspiration, give hope, be
positive.
Switch off all technology, give the final Unique Selling Proposition with
a surprise they have not heard yet.
“This was a great opportunity, our wildest dreams came true……”, use
a final story, draw a pigeon out of the hat
And remember, remember: Emotion more important than facts, you
cannot bore someone to say “yes”
Communication cannot be learned from books, we need to run around
the block and find our own style. It would as futile as to buy expensive
Nikes, read a few books and think we can finish the Comrades. It does
not work. It is about grasping at every moment to shape ourselves.
For that, Toastmasters is by far the best place to do it. Join tomorrow!
6. VDS Brink presented many times to snoozing audiences and found
himself eventually in that great organisation;
Toastmasters International,
became twice their national semi finalist on Humour speaking ,
then took part in this year’s Enbalis Business Plan competition
against 6500 other wannabees. Used “Chalk and Talk”….
and made it….
Insights for this article was found from
Bayley and Mavitiy’s great book “Life is a Pitch and the wonderfull
manuals of Toastmasters
To argue and download more detail or just go to www.corvus.co.za