Nicholas Bate

Just Imagine...

 

Reducing Nerves Before A Presentation

is less a presenting issue and more a time management challenge. The more times you can rehearse the fewer the nerves. Practise enough and you can get those nerves to the perfect point: enough to keep you agile and quick thinking but not so much as  to cause you to be distracted and forget points. How many times is enough? Only you can decide but certainly with new materials schedule three run-throughs and notice how significantly better you feel on 'take 3'. Never present live without rehearsal, however brilliant your notes.

If You Consider Yourself a Professional

when it comes to presenting...you need this blog. A nice angle on a well-addressed topic.

The Audience Is Always On Your Side 7

If:

1. You are clearly prepared.
2. You have worked hard to make it relevant to them specifically.
3. You're enthusiastic and keen. But not full of yourself.
4. You can minimise and manage the questions from those who like the sound of their own voice.
5. You didn't just read PPT slides to them. You had some anecdotes and illustrations.
6. You kept to time and agenda and purpose.
7. You were available for a few 1 to1s at the end.

Presenting Breakthrough 7

It's not just about...

1. your solution, it's a lot about their challenges.

2. fill the time available, it's a lot about giving excellent value.

3. having fun, it's essential there is action.

4. impressing them, it's certainly about making it easy.

5. look-alike clone PPT slides, but relevant visuals which help.

6. blaming the small size of the room, it's a lot about taking ownership as presenter.

7. 'giving a presentation', it's about developing an awesome skill.

The Simple Stuff of Great Presentations 7

1. Start on time. Whatever.
2. Finish on time. Whatever.
3. Be clear on your goal in presenting. And get it, whatever.
4. Make it easy, really easy to understand.
5. Be enthusiastic about the topic.
6. Remove all distractions be it stale sandwiches or bleeping phones. 
7. Thank your audience. 

Bonus: Presenting101

The 7 Potentially Problematic P-factors with PowerPoint

1. PowerPoint Paralysis. The state of deep trance induced by a mind-numbingly unimaginative, script-laden and over-full slide-deck.
2. PowerPoint Pareto Number. The number of slides to which the typical corporate slide-deck should be reduced for normal human consumption. Research suggests 20% of the original.
3. PowerPoint Paradigm. The bizarre fact that the greater the ‘whizziness’ of the presentation model the more the point of the presentation is lost.
4. PowerPoint Pointer. The simple laser device used in hi-tech presentations to replace the old music hall sing-along bouncing ball as everybody reads the script together.
5. PowerPoint Punchline. "...and as with everybody else this morning, I have way too many slides. I am sorry about the fact that many of the colours are a poor choice for this bright sun-light...oh, there we go...not sure why the embedded video is not working..haha..."
6. PowerPoint Panchakarma. The ancient Indian system of Ayurveda detox which is essential if the average PowerPoint user is ever going to be able to learn how to communicate again in the real world.
7. PowerPoint Primate. The monkey who would keep it simple, keep it engaging and undoubtedly get the message across in less time. Because thankfully they haven’t learnt PowerPoint yet. But they know how to have a good time.

We Miss The (Power)Point

You've probably noticed a trend amongst conference organisers to start saying 'no PowerPoint' or 'no more than three PowerPoint slides'.

Poor thinking. When PowerPoint became available, teachers, lecturers and anyone who stood up to talk to an audience was expected to use  the software. Why? because (apparently) it made them professional. That's what we wanted: professional presenting. Then the art of talking to an audience was lost as people become too involved in the technology so that now PowerPoint is synonymous with dull, 'reading off the screen'.. But of course it needn't be.

Refuse to follow any guidelines about PowerPoint. But insist on giving a great, interesting stimulating talk. Which may or may not include PPT slides.

In Case You Have Missed It...

Rowan Manahan has a great new blog on presenting.

RealSmartNow

on Real Leaders Don't Do PowerPoint.