Presentation Best Practices March 2011
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Transcript of Presentation Best Practices March 2011
Presentation Best PracticesMark Yolton | Senior Vice PresidentSAP Community NetworkMarch 2011
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Agenda
The Reality … Common Pitfalls Modeling the Pro’s Speaker Practices
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The Reality of Presentations… For the Presenter … and the Audience
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Common Presentation Pitfalls
5 Key Barriers to Effective Presentations
1) Agonizingly Long Watch Your Timing 2) What’s the Point? Identify Objectives 3) Visually Boring Images & Graphics 4) Fumbling Presenter Rehearse 5) Pontificating Sage on Stage Engage
Sources: Various Experts…
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Model the Pro’sFind Someone to Emulate & Do What They Do, How They Do It
Ignite Your Enthusiasm¹ Engage your listeners’ passion by tapping into your own
What Not to DoStrike: “Maybe” “I think” “Kinda” “Sorta”
Navigate the WayPresent your theme as a mantra so listeners remember it
Nitty GrittyOutline your presentation
Sell the BenefitExplain the real-world problem, then your solution
Hot TipEncourage others to reach their potential
Paint a PictureUse a storyline & stories to structure your presentation
Big IdeaRe-enforce an optimistic outlook ¹ Carmine Gallo @ Bnet.com, “How to Present Like Steve Jobs” (June2008).
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Speaker Practices - SnapshotBefore | During | After
PRE- EVENT Understand your audience Begin with objectives in mind Research your subject matter Make the presentation relevant Create Storyline Relevant, clear, concise visual aids Put essential things first Anticipate Q’s & prepare A’s Time mgt. – respect the audience Practice, Practice, Practice
DURING PRESENTATION Dress professionally Exude confidence & authority Present with enthusiasm Engage the audience Ask questions Vary presentation modes Remember to pause Don’t lecture: teach / converse Challenge the audience Be yourself … w/ personality Re-cap audience benefits End with actions
POST-EVENT Stay to engage in the back of the room Collect audience feedback Follow-up on Action Items Address all requests Make presentation materials available Open access to contact and follow-ups
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Speaker PracticesPre-event
• Research Organization(Google), Contacts
(LinkedIn/Twitter), show interest in them (as individuals, their companies)
Determine scope of topic, angle
• Attend pre-event networking/social time
Face-to-face banter to attendees Introductions to individuals – gauge who
the leaders are, learn pain points/challenges
How they/their business relate to the event/topic
Gauge expectations/goals of attendees
• Understand structure and storyline (focus on top points)
•PRACTICE Special focus on beginning (capture
audience attention) and ending (leave a favorable impression)
• Understand Audience • External vs internal, tailor
messages (use something from their website, news/industry)
• Create Storyline Within your own remarks,
personalize, customize and thread insight about overall picture, set expectations for talk
• Highlight 3 Key Elements Grounding the audience =make
sure everyone is on the same page
Capture top 3-5 topics only: focus on what matters and defer the rest
Drive discussion – leave with Call to Action
• Audience wants you to be successful, interesting, and to deliver value
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Speaker PracticesDuring Presentation
• Look professional – dress for the role: expert, peer, authority, etc.
• Be optimistic, upbeat and honest (but positive) – your energy matters; if you’re interested, they will be, too
• Be crisp, funny and high energy – humor is an icebreaker and infuses good energy
• Be conversational as much as possible, make it interactive - ask questions to engage audience
• Express a strong point-of-view…not “maybe”, “sorta” or “kinda” – even controversial is good. It’s OK to be memorable, to disagree (respectfully)
• Address a problem or opportunity -> approach/options -> outcome/benefits
• Use lots of anecdotes, stories – from your personal experience when possible
• Tell a story, paint a picture, show a vision
• Read the audience for queues – do they get it, go slower/faster, confusion, what to reiterate (if needed)
• Engage audience in discussion/questions –invite participation and feedback
• 3 presentation key elements: content, visual and delivery (most important of 3)
• Consider the different uses of flipcharts or whiteboards
• Note Location of Account Exec/Contact/Host in audience for time/stage queues
•Engage with movement, move around, pick focus point(s) in each quadrant in seating layout to direct your attention
• Use graphics to tell a story or evoke emotion
• Be personable, conscious of body language (be open in gestures)
• Recap key points / give reasoning – repeat, summarize and recap
• Leave contact information at end of presentation for follow-up
• End preso with “what if…” thoughts to plant a seed
• Show your personality! Be yourself, be authentic… you’re unique and interesting!
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Speaker PracticesPost-event
• Post-event networking – remain available for questions, comments, more offline conversations, biz card exchange
• Follow-up for feedback with Acct Exec./Contact/Host
• Send final slide deck to event organizer/contact
• Update contact list from business cards
• Gather feedback from external audience
• Review surveys or feedback from team and audience
• Adapt “lessons-learned” into next presentation
• Follow up with PPT to offline conversations
• Find something to follow-up on, to extend the connection
• Send “thank-you” notes and invite follow-up
• Follow-through on all commitments made in offline discussion
Good Luck …
… Have Fun!
Thank You!
Contact information:
Mark Yolton | Senior Vice PresidentSAP Community [email protected]
With full credit to my colleagues for their valued contributions to this compilation: Chip Rodgers, Marco ten Vaanholt, Dan Maloney, Jonathan Becher, Kaj van de Loo, Peter Graf, Denis Browne.