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November 2001

In this month's free e-news from Wilder Presentations, I'd like to discuss two ideas for presenters and one for designers. Use the monthly challenge to test out your new skills.

FOR PRESENTERS:

Step 6: USING THE AUDITORY MODALITY

People receive and process information differently. Visual types need to see the information; auditory types need to hear it and say it themselves; and kinesthetic types have to do something in order to really grasp the concept.

Last month we talked about visual types. This month let's hear about auditory types. When operating from an auditory modality, you hear words, tones, and sounds. If a presenter does not have an agreeable voice tone to you, you have an almost impossible time listening to the content. Some auditory people process life out loud. When you ask them a question, they don't just say the answer. They tell you everything "out loud" that led up to their answer. This can sometimes take a long time. Everyone knows people like this:

"He chewed my ear off."

"She talked until she was blue in the face."

So how can you include the auditory modality in your presentation? First, your voice has to be agreeable. That means it cannot be monotone-you need a varied and well-modulated voice. Second, you need to give auditory people time to talk out loud. Some auditory people really only learn when they say the words out loud. No matter how many times you repeat the information, they won't retain it until they say it themselves.

Here are some strategies for auditory types:

· Have people talk to one another about the information so they can hear themselves speaking.

· Elicit questions so people can say the answers.

Many auditory people really retain what's been said. Statistics and facts spoken out loud are enough for them remember the numbers-they don't need to see a trend line on the screen. Nor do they like a lot of clip art, unless it's appropriate. They will remember spoken detailed descriptions. A visual person really does need to see a map, whereas you don't have to draw your auditory listeners a map. Just tell them. To gain the attention of auditory types, give an organized talk that follows the agenda.

Improvisational CD: For you auditory types, I suggest listening to this CD called Improvisation in everyday life by Daena Giardella. This is a wonderful discussion about the elements of improvisation and their application to personal and workplace situations. If you've wanted to be able to more quickly think on your feet, answer questions more easily and just feel and act more flexible, listen to the tape. Topics she covers are: Saying "Yes" to the Unexpected, Relationships and Events, The Inner Critic, Skills for A Changing World, Paradoxes of Improvisation and Creativity. To order a CD go to www.daenagiardella.com The CD is $24 which includes shipping or email her directly at daena@daenagiardella.com I've taken many improvisation workshops with Daena and she is wonderful. She does ongoing courses as well as one day or weekend workshop. If you just want to feel more comfortable and at ease in front of people, I suggest you take one of her workshops.

FOR PRESENTERS:

MORE ON TRIAL LAWYERS

The National Law Journal (www.NLJ.com) issued a special section on trial lawyers. Last month I gave you a few ideas from NLJ that will be useful to you as presenters. Here are a few more:

· Keep videotaped excerpts short. This goes for video clips in presentations.

· Establish a theme. There has to be a theme in the trial. Test the theme with colleagues and focus groups. Begin a highly technical case by establishing a simple theme in the opening statement. Then include evidence and questions that prove that theme to be true. As presenters, you should follow this strategy of establishing a theme. Keep your presentation's theme in mind throughout the whole talk. You may or may not state the theme to your audience.

· Use extensive demonstratives. People are more persuaded by exhibits than by an esoteric concept. Show whatever props you have or can create.

· Concentrate on what the case looks like for trial. Streamline and hone the focus for presentation to the jury. "People who have lived with litigation for months or years, often overtry the case, spending hours examining key witnesses on the stand, for instance, when minutes may suffice." As a presenter, remember that, when you know so much about the subject, you may talk too much and provide so much detail that your point gets lost.

FOR PRESENTERS:

"OOPS, I GOOFED"-DON'T SAY THAT!

Every once in a while you will say something or do something that is obviously wrong or inappropriate. Don't say, "Oh no, I goofed," in a flustered voice. Everyone makes  mistakes. BUT, in front of an audience, don't make a big deal about it. Just go on. One mistake is enough-don't amplify it by you acting uneasy and apologizing over and over. Here are some phrases to use instead:

· "Let me say that differently."

· "I want to rephrase my response to you."

· "Here's another way to talk about this issue."

FOR DESIGNERS:

USING A SLIDE FROM ANOTHER PRESENTATION

People ask, "How can I use a slide from another presentation and not have it take on the background of the file I am putting it in?" Here's a way to do this in PowerPoint '97.

Open the first file with the slide you want.

Put that file in Slide Sorter view.

Copy the slide you want.

Open the file in which you want to put the slide.

Insert a blank slide and view it in Slide Show view.

Then paste the slide you copied from the first file on the blank slide.

Because you are pasting it onto an existing slide, the slide you are pasting becomes a picture that will not change. You will not be able to animate any of the text or boxes.

Size it to cover the whole slide.

Some examples from our recent CD-Rom, Slides That Win! are featured on InfoComm's Web site. Here's the URL:

MONTHLY CHALLENGE:

Presenters

Find time to let the auditory types talk.

Designers

Send me a slide you think my readers would like to see. I'll post it on my Web site as long as it follows effective slide guidelines. Only send me one please.

COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS:

Silence in my classroom

Craig Joyce writes:

Your comment on silence was well put and important. My Hartford class was our largest and best to date. I introduced many very effective periods of silence. This is how I did it. Installers like to touch products. Typically, we have them out in the open on a table. For this class we put them behind the screen and every time we wanted to introduce silence I would go behind the screen to bring out a prop. We were able to combine silence with "what will he come out with next." It was very effective.

Another idea. Here's how we use a white board. We write the answers to the question, "What do you hope to get out of the next 10 hours?" on the board. As we cover the topics, we erase them on the board, showing them we cover everything they ask of us. The problem was one of the two markers was permanent and would not erase. We got a bottle of Windex to solve the problem. The point of the day is, always check your equipment-not just the ones that plug in to a wall!

NEW ON MY WEB SITE

My Web site is now set up to accept credit cards and process orders from any country. Also, you can now easily buy several products at one time.

Presentation Points, written by Claudyne Wilder, usually comes out the first business week of each month. For more information, call 617-524-7172, e-mail claudyne@quik.com or visit my Web site, www.wilderpresentations.com.

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Enjoy!

Copyright 2001, Claudyne Wilder. All rights reserved.