From Folk Tales to Presentations
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Transcript of From Folk Tales to Presentations
Modern presentationsoriginated from stories
told thousands of years ago.
Introduction
Presentations replacedstorytelling ceremonies
as society developed.
Introduction
They both follow the same rules,yet have different results.
Introduction
So why do we stillremember folk fairy tales …
Introduction
… yet we forget presentationsin just a few minutes ?
Introduction
There are 7 key elementsthat ensured the survival of folk tales.
Introduction
The exact same elementsshould become the foundation
of any presentation.
Introduction
One
Both folk tales and presentationsare delivered orally.
Oral Delivery
Storytellers told storiesin tribes, groups and communities …
Oral Delivery
Oral Delivery
… while speakers givepresentations in front of
small or large groups.
In the past stories were usedto explain, warn, set examplesor communicate knowledge.
Oral Delivery
Today we‘re using presentationsin a similar manner.
Oral Delivery
The Problem
So where did we go wrong?
Speakers rely too much on slideswhile storytellers never needed
notes to tell their stories.
The Problem
Folk tales survived becausedifferent narrators wouldretell them over and over.
The Problem
Write less, speak more.Use slides to support yourmessage only if necessary.
The Solution
Before adding a new slide ask yourself:Do I really need it?
Is oral delivery enough?
Advice
Two
Folk tales were notintended for children…
Relevance
… as they were based onconflicts that humans experienced:death, abandonment, hurting, etc.
Relevance
Telling effective and relevant storieswas vital if one wanted to becomea leader, priest, king or minister.
Relevance
Today, giving relevant presentationsis essential for anyone who wants to
become a thought leader, CEO or politician.
Relevance
Not all tales survived the test of timeas some became irrelevant…
Relevance
… but the relevant ones wereimitated, reproduced and transmitted.
Relevance
In Charles Perrault's versionof Little Red Riding Hood,
Red takes her clothes off and …
Relevance
… gets into bed with the wolfright before he eats her.
This is how it ends.
Relevance
The moral is that girlsshould not trust all sorts of people.
Relevance
The story of Little Red Riding Hoodsurvived because the dangers of trusting
a stranger is still relevant to this day.
Relevance
So where did we go wrong?The Problem
Nowadays speakers createtheir presentations based on their needs
without focusing on the audience.
The Problem
What they choose to presentmay not be relevant to their audience.
The Problem
Choose a relevant topicfor your next presentation.
If you can’t choose it, make it relevant.
The Solution
Learn about your audience’s needs,interests and the conflicts
they experience.
Advice
Ask yourself:Why should they care?
How does it relate to them?
Advice
Three
In an era of illiteracywith no access to books …
Simplicity
… storytellers managed to persuadeand educate their audience.
Simplicity
Folk tales provided knowledgein a simple and memorable way.
Simplicity
The topics were structuredin short tales so that anyone
could understand them.
Simplicity
A complex notion such asbullying would become a simple
and beloved fairy tale called Cinderella.
Simplicity
So where did we go wrong?The Problem
Today speakers fail to persuadeand deliver memorable presentations
despite the resources they have.
The Problem
Their presentations are long,and complex, accompanied by
slides packed with lots of content.
The Problem
The audience no longerrelate to the message and
have a hard time understanding it.
The Problem
Simplify the information withoutdumbing it down while using
analogies and examples.
The Solution
When describing the iPod,Steve Jobs compared it with
an entire music library in a pocket.
The Solution
Don’t be afraid to cut contentfrom your presentation.
Less is indeed more.
Advice
Always ask yourself:Is this related to the core message?Will they understand the concept?
Advice
Four
Folk Tales never hada fixed form as they
were altered by the tellers.
Flexibility
They dropped and addedelements to make the story
more meaningful to the listeners.
Flexibility
Various versions ofthe same story can be found
in different parts of the world.
Flexibility
It’s because storytellersunderstood the importance of
adapting the stories to different groups.
Flexibility
So where did we go wrong?The Problem
Today people use the samecontent for multiple purposes.
The Problem
It’s easier to reuse the same slidesthan adapting and changing the message.
The Problem
Stop recycling your slides andstart adapting your speech to whatyour audience actually need to hear.
The Solution
Make time to work on your speechand don’t rush the process.
Advice
Five
Storytelling was neverabout the story or the teller.
Connection
It was about the listeners.Connection
During storytelling the audiencehad access to imaginary worlds
where each of them could be the hero.
Connection
The tellers would observetheir listeners and would adapt
the stories based on their reactions.
Connection
A connection would establishbetween storytellers and
their audience.
Connection
So where did we go wrong?The Problem
Today it’s all about the speakers.The Problem
Their slides are in fact projectednotes packed with bullet points.
The Problem
They are too busyreading their notes to
look the audience in the eyes.
The Problem
The audience is just thereto sit through dull and
emotionless presentations.
The Problem
Acknowledge and look for signsfrom your audience.
The Solution
Find common ground with themby showing that you understand
their problems.
The Solution
Always remember thatthey are the heroes, not you.
The Solution
Spend enough time practisingyour presentation so you
won’t need any notes.
Advice
Six
In the past people lookedfor different ways to tell stories.
Visuals
So they experienced withdifferent visual techniques
that made folk tales come to life.
Visuals
However, visual communicationwas not just based on
illustrations and drawings.
Visuals
The stories themselveswere visual as well.
Visuals
For instance the hero's inner turmoilis always described as a dark forest.
Visuals
Little Red Riding Hood,Hansel and Gretel or Snow White …
Visuals
… they all go througha dark forest at some point.
Visuals
We can easily imaginethe dark forest without seeinga visual representation of it.
Visuals
By putting ourselves in the hero's shoes,we can visualize and understand
how it feels to be in such place.
Visuals
Simple yet meaningful wordscan trigger visuals and emotions
in the listeners’ minds.
Visuals
So where did we go wrong?The Problem
Today we have maintainedthe visual concept and presentations
are accompanied by slides.
The Problem
But speakers use mostly wordsand very complex illustrations …
The Problem
… while the content is too technicalto allow the audience to visualise it.
The Problem
Make your speech more accessibleby using metaphors, analogies and
words that can trigger mental images.
The Solution
Use photos, videos andcharts to support your ideas.
The Solution
Keep in mind that it’s easierfor us to remember images
than projected words.
Advice
Seven
Folk tales have always beenabout finding solutions to common issues.
Problem Solving
The solution wouldenable the heroes to
transform themselves …
Problem Solving
… and the environmentin a positive manner.
Problem Solving
So where did we go wrong?The Problem
Most presentations todayprovide general information …
The Problem
… without focusing on howit could benefit the audience (heroes).
The Problem
End your presentations withsolutions or lessons …
The Solution
… that will enable the audienceto transform themselves
in a positive manner.
The Solution
Make sure you providea solution for each problem
you identify.
Advice
All these 7 elementshave made it possible for folk tales
to survive thousands of years.
Final Words
Use these tips next time youwork on your presentation …
Final Words
… as they will help youcommunicate effectively and
deliver memorable presentations.
Final Words
Remember:Write less, speak more.
Final Words
Remember:Think about your audience’s needs.
Final Words
Remember:Keep it simple.
Final Words
Remember:Stop reusing, start customizing.
Final Words
Remember:Your audience are the heroes.
Final Words
Remember:Use visuals.
Final Words
Remember:Solve a problem.
Final Words
Feel free to contact meshould you need help
with your presentations.
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