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Death by PowerPoint!
The most critical job of a manager, when you boil it all down, is communication. To be successful, a manager has to be effective in communicating one-on-one, in writing and in groups. While weakness in any of these three disciplines will compromise the ability to lead, the weakness most often seen in managers is in group communication. And it's the most conspicuous. Group communication can be one of a manager's most powerful assets. When presenting to a group, he or she has its full attention - at least at the start. The trick is to keep it. Rather than dreading or being reticent about it, managers should seek out opportunities to present to anyone in the company. The best way to develop any skill is through repetition. This particular skill also helps to increase personal and professional exposure. Unfortunately, corporate presentations and sales presentations are usually either: 1. Mildly competent, or 2. Career killers The advent of new media and technology that facilitate communication and improve our ability to convey our ideas also can have the opposite effect. If a manager has a propensity to dig a hole for him or herself in a presentation, PowerPoint can be an earthmover on steroids that will bury the presenter totally. On the other hand, managers who are adept at presenting and public speaking can communicate even more effectively and convincingly with these tools. A Near Death by PowerPoint Experience: We've all endured them ? PowerPoint presentations that drone on forever. I call this "Death by PowerPoint". One of my near-death by PowerPoint experiences occurred in the northwest corner of Newfoundland, Canada. A company that I used to work for had a small factory there. I had flown there with the company president, a few fellow officers and Bill Drellow, the freelance writer who I tapped to edit my most recent book, "The Lost Art of General Management". After touring the plant with the staff and making the general niceties with the production folks, we settled in the conference room for the homestretch ? the PowerPoint presentation. The projector warmed up, the presenter clicked on his computer, and I saw something that almost killed me on the spot - the little box in the lower left corner of the frame that read, "Slide 1 of 101". That's right, 101 slides! I didn't have the heart to pull the plug on their presentation and ask them to get to the point in 20 slides or less. The team had worked very hard to improve that factory, and they deserved the chance to relate the pride of their accomplishments on their own terms. So there I sat, contemplating forms of suicide (remember Airplane, the Movie?) to end the pain of nonstop listening. The moral of this story is that all we walked away from this presentation with was the impression that they worked hard and that they presented 101 slides! Beyond that, I couldn't have recalled three things they had tried to communicate to us 15 minutes later. The Ten Elements of a Great Presentation 1. Before you do anything else, identify a maximum of three key points you want the audience to remember. 2. Determine why your audience should remember these points, so you can communicate that, too. 3. Open your presentation with the "why" in such a way that it takes no more than one minute to explain. If you can't explain to the audience why your presentation is important to them within one minute, you've lost them. 4. Never forget that the audience cares less about what you have to say than you do. 5. Remember what you learned in fourth grade: Speak at an appropriate rate. Not too slow or too fast. And project your voice. 6. Communicate broadly through body language as well as spoken language. 7. Don't use the podium unless you're stuck reading a speech and it's the only source of light. It's easy to create the impression you're holding on to it for dear life. Speakers who walk around a podium instead of rigidly standing behind it show more confidence, differentiate themselves from other presenters, and are more interesting to watch. Walking, talking and gesturing at the same time also is a great way to hide the yips because all the adrenaline doesn't go to the throat. 8. Be so well-rehearsed that it doesn't sound rehearsed. There's no substitute for preparation. 9. Review your presentation with a trusted colleague or two to ensure it says what you think it says and is easily understood. 10. When using slides - § Organize your presentation so the titles of the slides alone tell the story. Any other text should simply support the title. § Don't overuse distracting gimmicks like animation. § Never read the slides word for word. Their only purpose is to reinforce what the audience is learning. § Never spend more than two minutes on a slide. § Finally, and most importantly, prepare your presentation so that you don't actually need any slides. If you can be effective without slides, you're a great presenter. If you can do that, you can use slides to enhance your presentation, rather than leaning on them like a crutch. My editor goes even further than I do when it comes to relying on slides. An experienced speechwriter, he feels that slides should only be used when they contain the faces of alleged perps and the audience is morning roll call in the squad room! The Three Types of Presentations There are three basic types of internal presentations that managers should be adept at delivering. There are numerous hybrids, but the three basic internal presentations are: 1. The Vision, Mission, Goal Presentation 2. The Results Presentation 3. The Change-Initiative Presentation The general theme that can always be used and tailored to suit any of these types of presentations follows this pattern: "Who we are, where we are going and how we are going to get there." There also are three general types of external presentations: 1. Customer Presentations 2. Supplier Presentations 3. Investor/Banker Presentations The purpose of external presentations usually is to influence the outcome of a negotiation. Thematic elements include "What's in it for you" and "How we can do this together." Again, presentations should always start with "Why this is important to you (the audience)". I can't emphasize enough that if you want to succeed as a leader, you must master the art of group presentation. If you just aren't comfortable with it, there is only one way to cure your discomfort? do as many presentations as possible! Comfort and an air of controlled self-confidence will only come from experience. The more you avoid developing your presentation skills, the heavier this anchor will become on your career. Take a course, join Toastmasters, or buy a video/CD on the subject. Start with easy small group presentations and continue to work your way up until you are comfortable regardless of how many people are in the room. I have made it a requirement that each of my direct reports take a course in public speaking. The ones who jumped to the task without delay have shown amazing progress? not just in their speaking skills, but in their leadership. Why? Because the skills I have outlined become part of their general way of thinking, talking one-on-one and writing. Soon, they all become significantly stronger communicators who incorporate "why this is important to you" into their communications. Free PowerPoint First Aid Kit This First Aid kit is a voiced over PowerPoint presentation that walks a presenter through the creation of their presentation and offers a templated structure for creating the presentation. To receive your free PowerPoint First Aid Kit, just send an email to rob@robwaite.com and list "PowerPoint First Aid Kit" in the title of the email. Your email address will only be used to email you the First Aid Kit and will then be deleted from our system. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose whatsoever. Rob Waite is a senior executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in domestic and international business. His successful track record includes start-ups, turnarounds, multinational strategic partnerships and global business expansions with Fortune 500 companies. Rob is also a successful author, dynamic speaker and a business strategist. His most recent book is The Lost Art of General Management, was dubbed "a must read for anyone who wants to be unstoppable in business" by one well-known CEO. Rob also developed and produced a one-of-kind interactive virtual seminar The Six Figure Job Search that guides executive level job seekers through the entire job search process. Also, joining such luminaries as Bill Gates, Donald Trump and Suze Orman, Rob is a contributing author to the Walking With the Wise series from Mentors magazine. Rob has been a senior executive with both Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies. You can learn more about Rob, his books and programs at www.robwaite.com">http://www.robwaite.com and at www.sixfigurejobsearch.com">http://www.sixfigurejobsearch.com
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Guidelines for Rehearsal Criticism It is both good planning and considerate to provide auditors with a guide for their criticism. It would be quite difficult for them to note everything which needs attention without some reminder of what to look for. Top Ten Rules for Effective Presentations I am of the belief that the majority of people can improve their presentations dramatically by focusing on eliminating bad habits and presentation skills more than seeking to add anything on. How often have you come out of a seminar and overheard someone say, "Wow, she was great! Did you see how effectively she used her hand gestures?"That said, here are some ideas to help you become a better speaker. Group Meetings: Being Prepared Makes a Difference MANAGING MEETINGS--BEING PREPARED MAKES A DIFFERENCE: You can schedule all the meetings you want to, and if you are not prepared to take charge then you're wasting your time. The time you invest planning a meeting is time well spent. Choosing the Right Work Shirts for Your Small Business Company attire says a lot about your business philosophy to your customer. Company shirts project professionalism and advertising. Writing The Query Letter The query letter is simply a business letter that serves a dual purpose. It is an introduction of you to an agent, and an inquiry as to whether the agent would be interested in seeing a particular piece of your work. Steps to a Successful Audience/Trainer Relationship A major cause of trainers being unreceptive to their audience is stage fright. Being so self-involved the trainer has very little energy to devote to making personal contact. The Ten Essential Tips On Writing A Powerful And Persuasive Presentation Have you ever had to give a speech?Do you remember that feeling? A knot in the stomach, sweaty palms and a panic attack!Not a very pleasant experience. And yet, I'm sure your speech was a success because 90 % of a typical audience want the speaker to succeed. Media Training Tips: Maximising Your Media Moment Media training is a 'must do' professional development program for any serious leader or manager.Media interview training provides you with the skills to effectively deal with the media. Projector Hire - Choosing the Right One for Your Presentation Calling a projector hire company will often get you confused as they ask: What lumens do you need? (Lumens is the brightness of the projector) What resolution do you need? (Resolution is the number of pixels at which the display device does not have to expand or compress the input signal) What type: install, desktop or portable? (Install projectors tend to be larger and heavier, desktop ones are small and light and portable are somewhere in between!) What you should ask yourself are the following simple questions: How many people will need to see the projected image?A 1000 lumens projector will usually be sufficient for a smaller meeting - up to 20 people. 2000 lumens is better. Present Your Message with Power and Pizzazz If you're ready to kick your career or business up to the next level, then make it a goal to become a powerful presenter. People view savvy communicators as being more capable, intelligent, and knowledgeable than those individuals who have difficulty in communicating their ideas. Top 6 Reasons Why You Need a Remote for PowerPoint Presentations A top complaint from audience members is that many presenters put too much emphasis on PowerPoint and technology while neglecting the message and interaction with participants. One way to deliver more effective presentations that improve your connection to your audience is to add a remote control to your presentation tools. Powerful Presentations: How to Write and Deliver a Presentation to Remember If the mere thought of standing up in front of an audience makes your knees quiver, you should know that you're not alone. Public speaking is one of the top fears listed by Americans and for good reason- most of us don't do it very often. Tips for Thinking on Your Feet If you really aware and alert, your audience's behavior - faces, bodies, and their hands, will literally transmit scores of "messages." It is possible to judge how well you're being received, how much attention your audience is paying to you, and often how close your objective is to accomplishment. Transitions: Building Bridges to Your Points Presenters often tell me that they fear losing their train of thought. When listening to their talks I realized that for many people, the problem is not forgetting the words or main points. Nonverbal Communication in Business There are five key elements that can make or break your attempt at successful nonverbal communication in business: Eye contact Gestures Movement Posture, and Written communication Let's examine each nonverbal element in turn to see how we can maximise your potential to communicate effectively.. Move Key Audiences to Actions You Want How?Try a blueprint like this: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is accomplished. Can Stage Presence be Learned? What is stage presence? Can it be learned?There are, undoubtedly, some 'naturals' in this field. The fine Welsh actor Richard Burton, for example, on his debut performance at 16, playing an extra scrubbing steps, was said to distract the audience from the Shakespearean play! Many actors commented on Burton's extraordinary stage presence, in particular his stillness - the audience were drawn to him even when he was apparently doing nothing. Secrets of Successful Presentations Does the thought of speaking in front of others send you running in the opposite direction? Youâ??re not alone. Many people avoid public speaking at all costs â?" and there is a cost. Trade Show Victory! So you're going to have a booth at a trade show. How exciting - or how terrifying - depending on your state of mind!First of all - remain calm - you're not the first person to do this. Presentation Power Does Not Come From PowerPoint You speak before a group. You present your message.
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