Presentation Skills’ Post

Stop Tormenting Your Executive Team with Dreadful Presentations: Here's How to Captivate and Persuade Let's cut to the chase: Death by PowerPoint is a real phenomenon, and it's wreaking havoc in executive meetings across industries. How often have you sat through a 45-minute presentation where you forgot the point by the fifth slide? It's a common woe, and truthfully, I’ve been guilty of contributing to it. However, a lesson from a mentor turned my perspective around—what if we started with the outcome? **The Transformative Power of Storytelling** The ah-ha moment came when a mentor advised me to reverse my presentation order. Instead of gradually building up to the climax, he advised starting with it. Three months later, the same project that had been previously shot down was approved. What changed? I crafted a compelling narrative that focused on alleviating organizational pain. **Your Presentation Recipe: A Journey from Point A to Point B** If you're aiming to create an impactful presentation, the secret sauce involves a two-pronged strategy: 1. **Know Your Audience:** Understand their pain points, fears, and current mindset. What emotional benefits will they gain by agreeing with you, funding your project, or supporting your cause? 2. **Chart the Path:** Now that you've grasped their psyche, how will you lead them from their current state to the promised land of better outcomes and lesser pain? **Key Questions to Address:** - What is the problem, and how deeply does it hurt? - What's at stake if no action is taken? - What's your solution? - What transformative change awaits them if they buy into your idea? - What do you need from them? - When can they expect to toast to their wise decision? **Mind and Heart: The Twin Engines of Persuasion** Slides crammed with text and bullet points won't do you any favors. Instead, incorporate authentic visuals and diagrams that resonate. A picture is worth a thousand words, and when you combine it with a narrative that speaks to both the intellect and the emotions, your chances of striking gold increase exponentially. **In Conclusion: Your Next Steps** Don't let your next presentation be another forgettable drone of slides and jargon. Ignite the room with a story that centers around solutions, one that demonstrates how you're going to take away the pain. Revise your metrics for success, because when you truly connect, you don't just win approvals; you win advocates. So, what's stopping you from turning your next executive meeting into a compelling story that rallies the troops and conquers the boardroom? Act now, and make your next presentation a narrative masterpiece.

How I make a winning presentation… I visualize the audience's thoughts for each moment of the presentation and jot it down. Using this, I identify the information needed to address their questions. I record multiple audio versions of the story until it's perfect. Each minute of the talk gets a slide, paired with a relevant and riveting photo to keep the focus on the narrative. I refine the story to address audience questions, placing key points upfront and reminders at the end. The aim is to impress with clarity and engagement, positioning myself as a valuable contributor. Presentation Structure: - Bold claim - Vision - Method (story) - Timing - Audience action needed - Team - Close on bold claim Effective presentations: 1. Outline the message 2. Deliver it 3. Recap it Never read slides or talk to slides. Always look at the audience. Hit the button to advance the slide every minute. Pace on the floor and look at various people in their eyes. Use hand gestures as much as possible. Always consider the audience's perspective: What's in it for me? Given they're often fatigued by similar presentations, offer a refreshing, easy-to-understand, and impactful narrative.

Crafting Meaningful Presentations: Today, I want to share some tips on how to deliver a truly meaningful and impactful presentation. Whether you're presenting in school, at work, or in any other setting, these strategies will help you captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression. 👥 1. Know Your Audience: Understanding who you're presenting to is key. Research their interests, background, and needs. Tailor your message to resonate with them, using relatable examples and relevant content. Connect on a personal level to forge a stronger bond and ensure your message hits home. 🧠 2. Start with a Powerful Opening: Grab your audience's attention from the very beginning. Begin with a compelling story, a thought-provoking question, or an intriguing statistic. A strong opening sets the tone and ignites curiosity, making people eager to hear what you have to say. 🌟 3. Stay Focused on Your Main Idea: Every presentation needs a central message. Clearly define your objective and structure your content around it. Avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive information or unnecessary details. Keep it concise, coherent, and memorable. 🎨 4. Engage Visuals and Storytelling: Visuals speak louder than words. Incorporate eye-catching graphics, charts, and relevant images to enhance your message. Additionally, harness the power of storytelling. Weave narratives that captivate emotions and connect with your audience on a deeper level. 🎙️ 5. Practice, Practice, Practice: A meaningful presentation requires preparation. Rehearse your delivery to build confidence and refine your timing. Familiarize yourself with the content to ensure a smooth flow. Practice also allows you to adapt and respond to questions or unexpected situations. 💡 6. Encourage Interaction: Engage your audience by involving them in your presentation. Ask thought-provoking questions, facilitate discussions, or conduct interactive activities. Active participation creates a dynamic environment and makes your presentation memorable. 🎉 7. End with a Call to Action: Conclude your presentation with a clear call to action. Inspire your audience to take the next steps, whether it's implementing your ideas, joining a cause, or pursuing further knowledge. Motivate them to make a positive change based on the knowledge you've shared. 🔁 Remember, a meaningful presentation isn't just about sharing information; it's about inspiring, connecting, and leaving a lasting impact. #PresentationTips #MeaningfulPresentations #InspireAndImpact #PublicSpeaking #ShareYourMessage #leadership

The deadly sins of Presenting: Are you guilty of these common mistakes when delivering a presentation? 1. Slide thinking: 30min = 30 slides. Do you fall into the trap of thinking that a 30-minute presentation should have 30 slides? Remember, this often leads to a mediocre and predictable outcome. 2. Wasting the audience’s time. Short is better - just like TED talks. Respect your audience's time by keeping your presentations concise and impactful. 3. Too complicated. Simplify your message. Complicating things puts unnecessary strain on the audience, who may not engage as deeply as you'd like. 4. Presenting with a logic-centric approach. Remember, audiences need to be taken on a journey that starts with instinctive emotions, leading to logic. Failing to do so can create a disconnection. 5. Lack of a suitable structure. A well-defined structure is key to keeping your audience engaged and helping them follow your presentation seamlessly. 6. Blaming the audience. Assume apathy and make your presentation about them. Engage your audience by showing them why your message matters to them. Talking about engaging an audience, which of these resonates with you the most? As someone who struggled with structuring presentations for years, I know firsthand the importance of avoiding these pitfalls. Let's strive for more engaging and impactful presentations together.

The deadly sins of Presenting: Are you guilty of these common mistakes when delivering a presentation? 1. Slide thinking: 30min = 30 slides. Do you fall into the trap of thinking that a 30-minute presentation should have 30 slides? Remember, this often leads to a mediocre and predictable outcome. 2. Wasting the audience’s time. Short is better - just like TED talks. Respect your audience's time by keeping your presentations concise and impactful. 3. Too complicated. Simplify your message. Complicating things puts unnecessary strain on the audience, who may not engage as deeply as you'd like. 4. Presenting with a logic-centric approach. Remember, audiences need to be taken on a journey that starts with instinctive emotions, leading to logic. Failing to do so can create a disconnection. 5. Lack of a suitable structure. A well-defined structure is key to keeping your audience engaged and helping them follow your presentation seamlessly. 6. Blaming the audience. Assume apathy and make your presentation about them. Engage your audience by showing them why your message matters to them. Talking about engaging an audience, which of these resonates with you the most? As someone who struggled with structuring presentations for years, I know firsthand the importance of avoiding these pitfalls. Let's strive for more engaging and impactful presentations together.

🎤 How To Give An Effective Business Presentation 🎤 Delivering an impactful business presentation can be a game-changer. Whether you’re pitching a new idea, reporting to stakeholders, or leading a team meeting, mastering the art of presentation is crucial. Here are key tips to ensure your next presentation is effective and memorable: 1. Know Your Audience: Tailor your content to the interests and knowledge level of your audience. Understand their needs and expectations to make your presentation relevant and engaging. 2. Start Strong: Begin with a compelling hook—a surprising fact, a question, or a story. This grabs attention and sets the tone for what’s to come. 3. Be Clear and Concise: Keep your message simple and focused. Avoid jargon and unnecessary details. Use bullet points and short sentences to make your key points stand out. **4. Use Visuals Wisely:** Incorporate visuals like charts, graphs, and images to illustrate your points. Ensure your slides are not overcrowded; each visual should complement your message, not distract from it. 5. Practice, Practice, Practice: Rehearse your presentation multiple times. This helps you become familiar with the content, refine your delivery, and manage your time effectively. 6. Engage with Your Audience: Encourage interaction by asking questions and inviting feedback. Use body language and eye contact to connect with your audience and keep them engaged. 7. Handle Questions Confidently: Prepare for potential questions and practice your responses. If you don’t know the answer, acknowledge it honestly and offer to follow up later. 8. Close with Impact: End with a strong conclusion that reinforces your main points and includes a clear call to action. Leave your audience with something memorable. Conclusion: An effective business presentation combines clear messaging, engaging delivery, and strategic use of visuals. By following these tips, you can confidently deliver presentations that inform, inspire, and drive action. 🔗 What strategies have you found most effective for delivering impactful presentations? Share your tips and experiences below! #BusinessPresentation #PublicSpeaking #EffectiveCommunication #Leadership #PresentationSkills #ProfessionalDevelopment #AudienceEngagement #Success

Presenting a winning deck that gives you your desired result takes work.  On top of that, the pressure of presenting it masterfully is real. In reality, the course of many important things could be balancing on the outcomes. It could affect your sales,  It could lose you investors  Or simply, your reputation But whatever you do, don't make these mistakes. You may think these things are too small- But the difference they make could be profound when you do them right (or don't). The best pitch deck requires strategy and precision, so pay attention to organizational structure and flow. Regardless of the number of points you make, have one underlying structure throughout your presentation - and avoid adding too many slides. Excess slides and poor flow cloud your presence. Instead of showcasing your solution and authority, you're busy untangling yourself from the screen and content. To try and avoid this pitfall, many turn even more attention to their slides - background, graphics, text, colors, branding, etc. This is a big no! Instead, lock up the laptop and visually brainstorm. Go analog with paper and pencil, sticky notes, or a graphic organizer. Begin by conceptualizing the best flow, content, and stories to persuade your audience to act in your favor. Take your time with this part (without going into overthinking mode). To escape overthinking, get crystal clear on the result you want to attain. What do you want your audience to do, remember, and feel by the end of your presentation? Do this before your visual brainstorming session. Once you know the answers to these questions, you can start conceptualizing the rest. Avoiding these missteps helps ensure your pitch deck shines with clarity and professionalism and moves you to give a 'resultation,' not simply a presentation. Want to learn more? Join my upcoming masterclass. https://lnkd.in/gm8r6rUt #PresentationParadise #UnleashYourBrilliance #BeBrilliant #InspireAudience #PublicSpeaking #Confidence #PowerOfPresenting #PresentationSkills #PresentationTips #Communication #Influence #ProfessionalDevelopment #SuccessInBusiness #SpeakerLife #StagePresence #PresentationCoach #Resultations #HumanConnection

How much time have you wasted from miscommunication during review cycles? For those that edit videos, images, or pitch decks, and struggle to gather feedback, this one's for you. Gathering feedback can be difficult. It may come from different people and in multiple different channels. And it may not directly address the change that needs to be made. Leading to you asking again and again for clarification. This wasted time so you decided to schedule meetings to get direct feedback, which was helpful, but took up a lot of time. Stop. Here's your solution: ✅ Step 1: Build out your tasks inside ClickUp for everyone that needs to review your image, video, pitch deck, etc. ✅ Step 2: Upload the image to the parent task and ask for feedback. ✅ Step 3: Your team can click on to the image and leave a comment directly on the part that they think needs changing. Plus, all communication and feedback is now standardized and in one place, making your life much easier. 😎 #clickup #productivity #projectmanagement

The short (and simple) answer to how many times you should practice your presentation is 5-10 times beginning to end. The long answer is that you should practice your presentation as many times as you need until it goes from simply being memorized to being internalized. What does that mean? Internalizing your presentation means you’re able to not just say the same words over and over again. Rather, it means that you understand your presentation and the content to the point that you can not only present it, but adjust it to your audience in real-time to make it more meaningful to them. Sometimes, as you're presenting, you’ll notice that you lose your audience’s attention and focus – it happens to everyone and no one is immune to this. When you realize that your audience is no longer engaged, you need to know it well enough to adjust how you’re presenting or even the content to get the audience back on track. If you’ve just memorized the presentation, you will be unsuccessful, but if you’ve internalized it, you’ll be able to adeptly pivot in the moment for maximum overall impact. An additional element to your practice that I strongly recommend is to rehearse in front of a trusted advisor. Ask them to provide you with constructive and positive feedback, so that your presentation is dynamic and engaging. . . . . #presentation #practicepresentation #presentationtips #presentlikeaPRO