Comments on: Back To Basics: Presentation Tips 101

By: Marlene Ward

Marlene Ward — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:57:36 +0000

I wathched David win the championship in Dallas and attended his workshop the following year in Canada.
When David walked out onto that stage in Dallas he had won . He looked and clearly felt comfortable. If I remember correctly he said he had practiced that speech about 60 times, and it paid off. Do as he says write it out, and have bullets/headlines in your notes highlighting your main points and stories. As you speak these images flash before you and you are able to stand up, speak like a pro, and “knock their socks off”.

By: Dr. Jim Anderson

Dr. Jim Anderson — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:49:18 +0000

Olivia: Hmm, I’m thinking back over all of the presentations that I’ve sat through and honestly I really can’t remember the slides! The slides that do stand out in my mind are the ones that are shown when Steve Jobs over at Apple does one of his big new product reveal presentations – they are simple and elegant (and about two stories tall!)

Point #6 about writing out your speech is a challenge to me also. I have talked with many presenters who swear by this one. They say that you can’t get better at giving a speech if you haven’t worked it out word by word. I’ve been left with a feeling that this is sorta like Jazz music – you know the music by heart, but each time you present it you get creative in different ways in different parts. I’ve got a keynote coming up in early December and I’m trying it this way. I’ll let you know how it comes out.

By: Dr. Jim Anderson

Dr. Jim Anderson — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:43:43 +0000

Andrew: amen to that. You know, I’ve heard that advice for years and yet I still find it hard to do! The challenge is to make sure that you don’t end up “machine gunning” your audience by rapidly looking at EVERYONE for just a second. Instead, look at someone, make a statement, and then look elsewhere. Sounds easy enough, but it isn’t!

By: Olivia Mitchell

Olivia Mitchell — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:01:17 +0000

Thanks for these reminders from David Brooks. There are two points I see somewhat differently:

1. You mention that no-one will remember PowerPoint slides. That’s true if they’re boring bullet-point slides – but they don’t have to be. A slide can be an arresting and memorable image, or a simple and elegant diagram that visually represents what you’re talking about. Those sorts of slides will be remembered.
2. I’m not sure I agree with point 6 either where you recommend writing your speech word for word, then polishing and then practice, practice, practice. This doesn’t work for everyone. Some people end up with the script in their head. And they end up reading from that script. It can be just as artificial and stilted as if they were reading from a piece of paper.
Olivia

By: greatmanagement

greatmanagement — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:22:09 +0000

I’ve worked with the World Champion of Public Speaking and he once said to me when you present ‘Talk to one, look to all’

i.e. when you are presenting talk like you are speaking to only one of the audience and while you do that, look to all of them.

Andrew