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Your
Presentation Success Is Our Passion
Present It Right...The First Time!
Sorry I'm
late this month. I have just returned from Argentina, where I
studied Spanish every day for two hours. I'm about to start teaching
my Winning Presentations Seminar in Spanish. And, of course, I
tangoed!
By the end
of 2006 you will have learned:
- 12 habits
of successful presenters
- 12 keys
to compelling presentation content
- 12 ways
to save hours creating PowerPoint presentations
- 12 products
you need
- 12 case
studies of companies or individuals and how they improved their
presentations
- 12 design
aids
Presenters:
Identify
one controller in your life and decide how to approach him or
her.
Designers: Check
out the PowerPoint slide timers.
TIPS
FOR NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS
Lately I have
been in many settings where English was not the first language.
Some of the people I've been coaching have been working in the
United States for years, but their English is not completely understandable.
I could not critique them very well because I couldn't always
understand them when they spoke. I have also been learning Spanish
and have been in settings where I, speaking in Spanish, was not
always understood. What are some hints for people in these situations?
And how can you coach people who have these issues?
- Obviously
non-native speakers have to speak understandably-not with perfect
pronunciation, but just understandably. They must slow down
and make sure to pronounce each word clearly. In English, for
example, non-native speakers may not pronounce the last letter(s)
of particular words like book, read, and research. They must
learn and practice saying words like book and clearly
communicate the last letter. This practice will also slow them
down.
- There need
to be silences between the sentences. A pause makes it easier
for the audience to think about a word or phrase they didn't
understand. If listeners have time to assimilate the information,
they won't lose interest.
- Sentences
must be short. As non-native speakers get caught up in longer
and longer sentences, the verbs get confusing and pretty soon
both speaker and listener are lost.
These three
simple techniques vastly improve the chances of a non-native speaker
being understood. And of course, an accent-reduction class is
essential for frequent presenters.
PERSUADE
A CONTROLLER
Let's continue
our discussion of The 5 Paths to Persuasion by Robert B.
Miller and Gary A. Williams. Almost all of us have to persuade
others, and this book will help you. The authors surveyed 1,700
executives and describe five decision-making styles:
1. Charismatics
2. Thinkers
3. Skeptics
4. Followers
5. Controllers
This month
I am going to show you several PowerPoint slides created specifically
for controllers.
One out of
ten executives is a Controller. Controllers operate out of fear,
often assuming that you do not have their best interests at heart.
They read into what you are saying and can be persistent in going
over a single point and become aggressive. Stay calm - don't let
them provoke you.
Who gives
the presentation? Controllers only want to hear from an expert
or a trusted advisor. If you are not one of those, then beware.
In fact, if you have to give the presentation, have a trusted
advisor with you. Whenever possible, let someone the controllers
trust discuss the topic.
Presentation
process: Be sure that controllers have all the information
they need…and probably more than you think they need. Do
not push them to make a decision. They'll make it in their own
time, once they are sure they have the information they need.
And they'll only make their decision once they are not afraid
of the consequences.
Interaction:
Don't even think about trying to persuade controllers! They will
persuade themselves at the right moment for them, which won't
be the moment you have in mind. Don't say anything to remind them
that they operate out of fear. Remember, when they are attacking,
that they may be worried about the consequences of certain actions
and are looking for reassurance that their fear will not occur.
How to
succeed with controllers: To persuade controllers, you must:
- Alleviate
their fears.
- Let them
take credit for the end idea and decision.
- Try to
make them see your analysis, rather than discuss their analysis.
Slides
designed for controllers:
- Follow
a logical, systematic thought process in your slides.
- Be sure
a controller cannot take offense at your slide text in any conceivable
way.
- Quote the
experts.
Situation
at a Glance
Give
a quick overview-one that the controller will see as valid. Don't
put any assumptions or your own interpretation on this slide,
or you may not get past it.
Options
Don't
push for one option over the others. Show all the options and
let the controller analyze them and come to a decision. Ask the
advisors what to include as options. Make sure you avoid hot-button
items that will lead you and a controller astray from your topic.
MAKE
MORE THAN ONE SLIDE MASTER
Your company
background look has so much on it that your chart won't fit on
the slide. You spend time trying to adjust the chart - but now
the words are too small. If this is the kind of situation that
happens to you frequently, make a slide master that is totally
white. Then all you have to do is click on:
Design>Design
Templates>Select your white background look
Now you have
the slide you need for large or complex flow charts, research
images, or tables.
TIMER FOR POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS
Do you need
a timer to use during your PowerPoint talk? Click
here for a link to many timers from Microsoft Office. You
can choose from 1 minute to 15-minute timer slides. It's simple
- all you have to do is download the slide and put it in your
presentation.
DON'T
TRY TO SELL THEM WITH THE PIZZAZZ…
Situation:
Marla has a new business and wants to sell people on her product.
She has invited several potential investors to a presentation.
Real problem:
Marla needs to come across to potential investors as confident,
organized, in charge of her sales process, and really on top of
the market potential. But her slides are too busy: too many colors,
too much clip art and text that looks like PowerPoint for a birthday
party.
Real, real
problem: Marla thinks that her PowerPoint slides are excellent.
She is excited about what she did.
Getting
over the first hurdle: Marla had to realize that the presentation
she created didn't fit either her message or a professional presentation
style and would not impress potential investors. She compared
her presentation with several more professional presentations.
Then she evaluated her talk, both organization and slides, against
a checklist. The checklist included questions such as: Do all
your slides have the same look and feel? Will your slides help
you make your points? Do you have too many slides for the time
allotted
Designer
redo: A designer:
* Created a simpler background and unifying color scheme.
* Organized the slides under four key messages.
* Redid the slides with less information per slide and larger,
more legible charts.
Result:
Marla now has a presentation with slides that establish her professionalism
and convey her understanding of her potential market. Her slides
will help her raise the investment capital she needs.
PHOTOS
ON A BUDGET
Are you looking
for professional-quality photos but don't have much money? Take
a look at Geetesh Baja's site called Indezine for very reasonably
priced photographs: http://www.indezine.com/photos/index.html
Winning
Presentations Seminar. Public offering: November 7-8, 2006
Bring a presentation, redo it during class, learn to deliver it
with confidence, and convince your audience that you know the
subject inside out.
Creating
PowerPoint Presentations That Get Your Point Across
One-day seminar in companies.
This seminar is open to those who both create and deliver presentations,
or just to those who create. There is no delivery practice in
this class. Here is what you take away from this one day:
- Leave with
a redone presentation, backgrounds, formats, company template,
and company color scheme.
- Learn how
to create PowerPoint slides that enhance your presentation's
objective.
- Redo the
structure of a presentation using a format.
- Use the
"Total" Visual Checklist and the "Single"
Visual Checklist to improve presentation slides and content.
- Analyze
slide examples and understand the rationale for using and not
using certain PowerPoint features, such as animations and builds.
- Change
the pace of the presentation using images, graphical shapes,
and appropriate animations.
- Learn specific
PowerPoint features that create powerful visuals.
- Redo three
slides following the suggested conventions and standards.
Visual
Makeovers
Do you want your slides to be more professional looking? Do you
want your slides to convey the key messages of your talk? Learn
how to create slides that enhance your ability to present with
confidence and enthusiasm.
Corporate
Consulting: Presentation Performance Process for Your Company
or Division
Save days of time creating a presentation. Guarantee: put my process
in place and save at least 1/3 of the time you used to spend putting
together a talk.
My clients
include: The Gillette Company, Genzyme Corporation, CVS, Harvard
Medical International, State Street Global Advisors, Mercury Computer
Systems, Harvard Medical School, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Avid
Technology.
Presentation
Points may be forwarded via e-mail, printed for circulation,
and quoted free of charge. No permission is required,
but please mention where you got this information. Also,
it's perfectly acceptable to post Presentation Points
on your company's intranet. To subscribe to Presentation Points
or visit my website, go to www.wilderpresentations.com.
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