FREE! E-Newsletter
Presentations Points is a free short monthly bulletin sent out by Claudyne Wilder. Every bulletin discusses two ideas for presenters and one for designers. There's also a monthly challenge for presenters and designers. Subscribe Now

March 2002

In this month's free e-news from Wilder Presentations, I'd like to discuss two ideas for presenters and one for designers. Don't forget the monthly challenge at the end!

Rate your presentation abilities on my Web site:

www.wilderpresentations.com>10 Steps to Success>Rate Yourself

POINT, CLICK & WOW IS IN THE BOOKSTORES

I am so excited. The revised and updated edition of my book Point, Click & Wow! A Quick Guide to Brilliant Laptop Presentations is now on the market. This version includes a CD-ROM of all the book's graphic images as well as some demos from CrystalGraphics. You can read about it on my Web site. If you order Point, Click & Wow! from me in March, I'll send you a Free Ten Steps and Formats card from my other book, The Presentations Kit: 10 Steps for Selling Your Ideas.

FOR PRESENTERS: STEP 6: MORE INFO ON VISUAL, AUDITORY, AND KINESTHETIC MODALITIES

I recently went to a speech by Bob LaBrie, slabrie-nip@maine.rr.com, who talked about maximizing your performance and rapport-building power using neuro-linguistic programming. My last four bulletins (October-January) all talk about how to establish rapport with each of these modalities. Bob had some more interesting ideas to help you sell your ideas, services, or products.

For Visual Types: They are results-oriented; don't humor them. They respond best when you get to your point quickly, or they may interrupt you and demand you get to the point. They like concise, good-looking presentations. Don't interrupt them. Once they see that you have the right suggestion, they quickly make a decision. They like things neat, so be neat and orderly around them.

For Auditory Types: Be sure there is no background noise, or choose something soothing. Extraneous noise may make it difficult for them to pay attention. They like to discuss ideas and can sometimes over-explain. Use clear, descriptive words. But don't use a lot of charts and graphs-they want to talk, not spend time attempting to figure out a complicated chart. They need someone to talk things over with, so they may bring another person with them.

For Kinesthetic Types: They have an innate ability to read through manipulative presentations. They can be patient when you talk. Frame your request in terms of feelings. They are emotional buyers, influenced by metaphors, who need to feel good about your answers. If they don't leave feeling good and positive, they may change their mind. They have an incredible sense of feeling and will often be one step ahead of you in negotiations.

FOR PRESENTERS:

MORE IDEAS ON CONFERENCING AMONG PEOPLE

Many presenters are now doing teleconferences, which are ideal for training, educational, or selling purposes. Here are some ideas for you to apply when involved in a conference call:

Choose the best way to give feedback. The presenter should consider all the different times in the talk where the listeners can give feedback. Tell people when and how to give the feedback. There are at least four options:

1. Giving verbal feedback on the phone at the moment.
2. Sending an e-mail at the moment.
3. Sending an e-mail after the call.
4. Calling certain people after the teleconference.

Why do verbal or e-mail feedback at the moment? You are more likely to get people to respond. Once people hang up, they get distracted.

Don't read your slides. If your listeners are following a presentation on their monitor, don't read every word or phrase on a slide. That is beyond boring. If the words are self-evident, make a comment about the point of the slide and go on. For example, skip all the percentages, names of formulas, and product names on a slide. You can expand on some of the points, but don't just read the text-while worrying that time is running out. (Time is probably short because the presenter is reading the slides as if the participants can't see them.) To guide listeners through the presentation, don't repeat "next slide" over and over. Instead, introduce the next slide with a transition sentence.

Talk to your listeners. Say, "As you can see on this slide…" Ask them questions: "Who has a better idea about how to approach this situation?" Wait for someone to respond while counting to ten.

Introduce studio people. If there are several people listening in the studio, they should introduce themselves. Some participants will be reticent to offer suggestions in a company teleconference if they don't know who is listening.

Change your voice tone. You cannot speak in a monotone voice on a conference call-you'll put your listeners to sleep. Emphasize certain words. Let people know what is important in your message by slowing down and making the key points loudly, clearly, and concisely.

See your audience: When speaking imagine your audience out there. If you know any of them, visualize their faces. Pretend they are there in front of you, listening to you.

FOR DESIGNERS:

THE FOUR-POINT SLIDE CHECKLIST

You've finished a slide. You wonder if it is effective. Use these four questions to determine if you can now go on to creating the next slide.

1. Does the slide emotionally engage the audience? Colors should be easy to look at and, if possible, draw the listener into the point of the slide.

2. Is it understandable? The audience must be able to understand the slide in terms of its readability and its major point.

3. Is it aesthetically pleasing? Two pieces of clip art and red lines running through a slide will not encourage someone to pay attention, nor will five product pictures too small to really see.

4. Does it set up a story waiting to be told? Every presentation is a story. When a slide is done well, it's easy for the presenter to tell the story.

MONTHLY CHALLENGE:

PRESENTERS

Pick someone you need to influence. Figure out what modality she or he is, and then speak in a way that establishes rapport.

DESIGNERS

Use the four-point slide checklist to gauge how much impact your slides will have on the audience.

COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS:

Craig Joyce explains how stories can make all the difference in a presentation:

When I was a young whipper-snapper in the early 80's, my company attended a conference in New Orleans. My personal goal was to attend as many presentations as possible. Always wanting to be a professional presenter, it seemed like a smart thing to do. Of course, the content was of interest to me; however, the real purpose was to critique presentation styles. I had a chance to talk with one of the presenters after the seminar and asked him about his story telling. His answer was exactly this, "the difference between an amateur and a professional is that the professional uses stories to make his point." I took that to heart. Now, in a ten-hour class, it is not unusual for me to tell ten or more stories. When I run into people years later, the stories are what they remember.

Craig Joyce is a trainer, speaker, mentor and entrepreneur helping individuals and corporations realize their potential in the fast-paced, ever changing data communications market. His class, attended by over 3,500 installers, has set the standard for data communications training.

CLOTHES TIPS:

HOW TO LOOK GREAT ALL THE TIME AND SAVE MONEY

Ginger Burr of Total Image Consulting gave me some easy tips on looking great for all your talks and saving money at the same time.

Almost all of us never really take the time or energy to manage our wardrobes. No matter the price you pay for your clothes, you can still look professional and fantastic every day.  Just like you are what you eat, you are what you wear! Here are eight steps you can use to create a great wardrobe that will make you feel fantastic and save you hours attempting to figure out what to wear.

1. Get your colors done. Unless you are a color expert, chances are you have too many things in your closet that don't go together, take up space, and look awful on you. Once you buy and wear only the colors in your color palette, you will notice that your clothing will begin to go together. It is about a $100 to $200 investment to get a color palette just for you.

2. Know your style and shop accordingly. In the book What's My Style? by Alyce Parsons, she lists style types such as creative, alluring, and sporty. Know what you look good in and feel wonderful in, and buy only those styles. Why? You want pieces that match, but when you buy an alluring blouse, a sporty skirt, and creative shoes, you end up with a closet full of clothes that don't go together.

3. Make a list of your wardrobe life demands. For example, you may need these types of clothes: working wardrobe, workout clothes, clothes for social obligations. Do you spend 50 percent of your time working? If so, your wardrobe should be about 50 percent work clothes.

4. Treat your closet like a working space! Include in it only what you are currently wearing. Make sure all of the clothing in your closet is clean, in good repair, and fits you. Try to have a closet where you can easily see all your clothes.

5. Review and adjust your clothes seasonally (fall and spring). Try on the clothing to make sure the items still fit and are in good repair. Review shoes and accessories to ensure you have complete outfits. Make a list of items that need replacement or that you would like to add.

6. Shop with a list. Make a commitment to shop after your seasonal closet reviews. First, begin by purchasing the items on your list. Then, with any money or time left, add any clothing items that you feel fantastic in when you try them on.

7. Make sure you have something to go with each purchase. Ensure your selections will either go with three things you already have or that you are purchasing a complete outfit. Don't buy stray items-they will probably just sit in your closet year after year.

8. Watch out for impulse "let me buy this to feel better" buying. Some of us just enjoy going out and shopping, meeting a friend, and checking out a great sale. Enjoy yourself! You may even come home with a great addition to your wardrobe, but chances are your purchases will be of a different nature. They are junk food for your closet. Everybody needs a little junk food now and again, but, as with anything else, moderation is the key!

For more information:
Internet: www.totalimageconsultants.com
Book: Fashion Secrets Mother Never Taught You by Ginger Burr

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. It's also perfectly acceptable to post Presentation Points on your company's intranet.

To subscribe to Presentation Points or visit my home page, go to www.wilderpresentations.com.

Copyright 2002, Claudyne Wilder. All rights reserved.