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PUBLIC
SEMINAR ANNOUNCEMENT: THE WINNING PRESENTATIONS SEMINAR
Learn how to develop, design, and deliver a persuasive,
results-oriented presentation in this two-day workshop. Leave
the workshop with a part of a presentation redone as well as a
video tape of at least seven mini-presentations.
PRESENTATIONS
IN A HURRY: 26 FORMATS THAT PERSUADE
Our latest product is done! Presentations
in a Hurry gives you a series of professionally designed
PowerPoint "shells" covering 26 of the most common presentation
scenarios, from problem analysis to fund raising. Each shell lets
you quickly organize your ideas and insert appropriate content
for your specific topic. See the Strategy Recommendation format
on my web site at http://www.wilderpresentations.com/products/piah.html
Here's
what people have to say about Presentations in a Hurry:
"Even staff
who were uncomfortable with PowerPoint were able to create effective,
interesting presentations...[that are] better able to communicate
The Nature Conservancy's Message."
Matt Miller
The
Nature Conservancy
With Presentations
in a Hurry, "I am able to prepare my presentations in half the
time."
Robert Reilly
Manager, Gillette
WHEN
THE SLIDES DON'T WORK
You work for someone who wants all the points on
the slide. In fact he or she wants sentences. Or perhaps you are
like this and believe your slides should be packed full of sentences
and complicated diagrams. What makes this a poor strategy for
engaging your audience?
You
audience is sitting there because they were told to come to a
presentation. They came expecting to listen to you and perhaps
see some visuals that make the message clearer. Here they are,
looking at sentence after sentence projected on the screen. They
don't know what to do. Should they read the sentences? Should
they listen to you? If you are actually reading the sentences
line by line yourself, they are bored. They no doubt read at a
different speed than you speak.
BUT,
it does not matter what you say. Your manager wants all the information
on the slides. Here are some ideas on how to make that information
clearer.
Include a table of contents of the slide information. Use slide
numbers, for quick and easy retrieval of information.
Put
headlines on charts and diagrams to remind the reader what is
important about the graphic. For example, have the title on the
slide and under the title a sub-heading stating the key point
about the chart.
Ask
your audience these questions to find out what they want in the
presentation:
- Based
on what you see on these slides, will you use them to
find information after this talk?
- If
you want to use the slides, how easy do you think it will
be to find the information you need?
- What
would make it easier for you to find information?
-
Is there another way you would like the slides organized
for easy reference after the talk?
- Looking
at slides 11, 14, and 20, what advice would you have on
organizing and presenting the points covered? (Here you
pick certain slides you want evaluated by your audience)
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Until
you ask these questions, you will never know if a presentation
that took hours of preparation time is even useful to your
audience.
I
would love to know who has asked their audience for an evaluation.
What were the results? If you want to do a survey and need
some ideas, feel free to e-mail me.
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CLOTHES
IDEAS FOR WOMEN
Here are some tips for dressing, mostly
for women, from Organization by Design:
1. Start with at least one good suit in a dark neutral.
Pantsuits are the most practical choice for those working in a
business casual environment. A suit in black, navy, brown, or
gray that includes a jacket, skirt, pant, and dress is a versatile
investment. Much of the modern suiting available today has a percentage
of Lycra or spandex added to the fabric that makes clothing more
comfortable.
2.
Stock up on different tops to give your suits, pants, and skirts
more versatility. Crisp cotton shirts in white, weaves like
chambray, and modern colors such as chartreuse and hot pink instantly
dress down traditional suits. Cardigan twin sets with a variety
of office-appropriate necklines are an easy way to present a softer
look while still setting a business tone. Silk blouses are the
most formal choice.
3.
The easiest shoe color to incorporate into a professional wardrobe
is black. A dress pump and a loafer in this hue are good starters.
If your company's dress policy allows them, dress sandals are
a good choice in the summertime. For obvious reasons, long skirts
and pants are the best styles to wear with sandals and bare legs.
4.
Remember the rule of three. Accessorizing in three places
with the same color, fabric, or accessory size and shape instantly
ties a look together. For example, if your blouse has pearl buttons,
wear pearl earrings and a pearl necklace.
5.
A trench coat and a well-maintained tote are essential finishing
pieces for most business outfits. Select a good quality trench
coat with a zip-out lining so you can wear it year-round.
Organization
By Design, Inc., can be reached at 781-444-0140 (in Massachusetts),
1-800-578-3770 (outside Massachusetts), by writing to P.O. Box
920885, Needham, MA 02492, or visiting their web site at http://www.dressingwell.com/subscribe/.
See Mary Lou Andre's new book: Ready to Wear: An Expert's Guide
to Choosing and Using Your Wardrobe.
Copyright
2004 by Organization By Design, Inc. When you forward our Dressing
Well "Tip of the Week!" to your friends and colleagues, please
keep the copyright and contact information intact.
USING COLOR
Here are five slides from our CD Slides That Win: Your Roadmap
to Success. This CD has over 200 examples of effective and ineffective
PowerPoint slides. These slides give you ideas on using color
and applying the slide color scheme.
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Once
you have your slide color scheme, use lighter or darker
variations of those colors to still keep within the same
color look.
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Make
sure objects in complementary color objects are not all
the same size. If they are, the slide will look jarring
to the eyes. You want the colors to blend, so have one color
stand out and the other colors serve as complements. When
creating your custom colors, look at the color wheel for
ideas.
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The
corporate template look: This
is Robert Oxley's new corporate presentation template. The
picture is of Robert Oxley working with his people to help
redesign a client's kitchen. The turtle in the lower right
is his company's logo. The color swatches and the counter
top chip reflect the company's home design business. Background
design by Creative Minds Inc. copyright© 2001 Creative
Minds., Inc., all rights reserved.
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WHAT'S
TOO MUCH
Ask
someone else to look at your slides. When the person looks at
each slide, ask these questions:
- Where
does your eye go on the slide?
- What
is the main point you think this slide is making?
- Knowing
you don't know the content, please present the slide to
me. (Hear what the person says and how they go through
your points). Let me know the results of your inquiries.
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CAFFEINE
AND CARBOHYDRATES: USEFUL INFORMATION
James W. Zeluff,
M.D., sent me some information in response to my comments last
month on how some speakers feel goofy after coffee or carbohydrates:
The
medical reason is that both caffeine and carbohydrates
initiate an insulin response. People respond differently
to insulin releases, but it sounds like the person who
gets jittery after caffeine is experiencing more of a
hypoglycemic situation, and the drowsiness after pasta
is another version of the same thing, coupled with blood
flow being directed to the GI tract and away from the
brain. Normal responses in both situations, but not desirable
for speaking.
As
far as what to recommend, I know some authorities recommend
this or that, but each individual has to try different
things to see what works best for them. Some do better
with carbohydrates, some with fats, some with protein,
and most by avoiding two of the previously-mentioned three!
I generally see how I feel after a meal. If I feel energized
(not intoxicated), that type of meal will probably work
OK for me in the future. It also depends on when you are
speaking. For me, I generally avoid a meal just before
a lecture, such as lunch before the first talk of the
afternoon. I have found I need to keep up with water,
and, after the lecture, I'll grab a bite. For some, if
they are speaking later in the afternoon, it might be
best to go with more protein at lunch (slow release of
insulin). I do try to avoid caffeine for some hours before
speaking. Just get too wired, speak too rapidly.
Under
normal circumstances sweat and the bladder try to take
command of the situation at inopportune times. An interesting
chemical that will really set the bladder off is Nutrasweet.
Maybe I should let you know at this time I am a gynecologist,
and hear about bladder issues every day. Amazing how many
people do better when they eliminate Nutrasweet from their
diets. I'm not trying to beat up on the product, as I
do take in my fair share. Just not before a talk.
Again,
I thank you for the information you provide to speakers.
It has helped me with speech patterns, and, perhaps as
importantly, with slide preparation. I was one of those
who packed too much information onto too few slides in
too small/unrecognizable fonts in bizarre color patterns.
Finding out what the audience was really looking for in
a slide improved the audience critiques of my presentations
dramatically and immediately.
Thanks
for all of your help, and let me know if I can provide
any additional information.
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And thank
you, Dr. Zeluff!
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