This document discusses various topics in a disjointed manner, including death, public speaking, Operation Iraqi Freedom, simplicity, story design, meaning, empathy, and keeping things concise. It provides quotes from George Carlin, Leonardo da Vinci, and Dan Roam on different subjects in short snippets without much context or connection between the sections.
22. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.- George Carlin
Editor's Notes
#2: influentation is a term coined by Lisa Lacombe, to mean Influential Presentation. While the term presentation should assume inherent influence, it most often does not.
#3: Makeshift graveyard in Grande Isle, LA, a tourist town, depicting wildlife lost due to BP Oil spill. A picture truly is worth a thousand words. Photographs can invoke strong emotionswhich is useful for persuasion as well as recall.
#4: Public speaking is the #1 fear. Death is second, followed by spiders. I contend that this huge fear of public speaking is whats partially created the Death by PowerPoint Syndrome. If people can take the focus off themselves and put it on a screen, and thenwell not even have to look at the audience by also looking at the screen (while standing behind the podium), oh, and not have to remember what to say because they read it off the screen, well..its not quite so scary anymore.
#5: Your presentation is a pitch, not a research paper or an appendix. Omit detailed and boring facts from both your slides and your mouth and save them for your reference notes. There are more ways than ever to share factual information. This shouldnt be one of them.
#6: Death by PowerPoint took on a new connotation when it became widespread how often the military relies on PowerPoint as a stand-alone communication tool rather than formal written orders.
#7: Objectives:This is not a prescription or a formula for a good presentation. Its an introduction to an approach to good presentation design and delivery. In this seminar you willLearn some basics of good presentation design and delivery, Learn some specific things you can do right now to enhance your presentation, get a chance to practice transforming a few bad presentations with your classmates.
#8: Simplicity, clarity and brevity are key points to keep in mind throughout the presentation development process.
#9: Preparing a presentation is an extremely creative process involving the whole brain. Transforming logical analysis, calculation and research which used your left brain into presentation form requires strong right brain activity.
#10: If youre not willing to make mistakes, then you cant be truly creative. As a child we were open to exploration, discovery, and experimentation and somewhere along the way we let fear and safety (=boring) creep into our thinking and actions.
#11: Many photos can be found in abundance on the Internet (some requiring permission and some are available free for usage in teaching). Consider a subscription to stock photos if you create many presentations. You can also use cartoons if they emphasize your point. Avoid cheesy clipart.
#12: You can even draw on your slides realtime, and drawing is recommended for storyboarding your presentation to avoid technical barriers. (You dont need to use multiple colors, unless theres a reason to drive home your point through color.)
#13: Dan Roam illustrates some simple diagram types for conveying 6 types of data in his bestselling book The Back of the Napkin. Diagrams are useful for conveying complex data in a simple way (but are never to be used as a stand-alone).
#15: Its easy to make excuses for a poor presentation. Constraints are good because they lead to creativity. And everyone has some innate creativity. (So no excuses!)If you really think that your content can be presented in a creative enthusiastic manner, thendont present.
#16: In A Whole New Mind Daniel Pink claims that were living in an age in which those who think different will be valued even more than ever. The six senses, or right-brain directed aptitudes necessary for professionals to possess are DESIGN, STORY, SYMPHONY, EMPATHY, PLAY, AND MEANING.DESIGN: Starts at the beginning. Slow down to consider objectives, key msg, and audienceSTORY: Many students say the best professors are storytellers. More interesting, memorable, and influentialSYMPHONY: Bringing patterns and relationships as part of the bigger pictureEMPATHY: The ability to know whether the audience is getting it and make adjustments as neededPLAY: Humor can go a long way in making a presentation palatable.MEANING: Most everyone has an innate desire to share with others that which they feel is important
#17: Many learners just want some concrete guidelines, so here are a few that can be explored more utilizing your resources page, or additional training sessions. The first is WIFFM (Whats in it for Me?) If your audience perceives no connection between your message and themselves, youve lost. Tell them why they should care. Tell them with passion and eye contact. By keeping your presentation short and on task, you can allow more time for Q&A and sharing by your audience (remember, people like to talk about themselves!)
#18: Whittle it down. Now whittle it further. The story will have to come from your head and your heart. This means you must PRACTICE.Practice with a timer in front of a mirror, and ideally with a friend or colleague or 2 and ask for feedback.
#19: Relevant cartoons or photos can really pack a punch. Visuals help learners remember what youre talking about. People love famous quotes as well.
#20: Tell your audience upfront that you will provide detailed presentation document/notes/references after the session either online or in paper form.This will help them relax on focus on your story.Dont give out presentation notes. Your presentation shouldnt make sense alone. Provide backup facts, stats, data and references for further study.
#21: Keep it Short. (Stupid.)(and Simple & Sweet.)And even when its simple simplesimple, your audience needs you to tell them what youre going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you told them in order to process your message.Not only your slides, but your message. Have one main msg and no more than 3 supporting points (cuz they wont remember any more anyway). For example, Pecha-kucha, a new movement to support successful presentations, recommends no more than 20 slides @ 20 seconds/slide. Thats less than a 7 minute presentation!
#22: i.e.,Concentrate your energy and creativity on influencing your audience with your message, not in swirling in your bullet points or figuring out how small your font can actually go to accommodate a dissertation on one slide. In conclusion,Remember to take some time upfront to clarify your message and supporting points and to ensure that you can present with enthusiasm and influence. Keep it short, simple and sweet.And dont forget to play a little bit in the process