Back in January, I began a year-long series discussing the broad question, ‘Does your presentation suck’. Rather than make a statement like ‘Your presentations suck’, I opted to ask lots of diagnostic question instead so you could decide for yourself if your presentations suck and, if so, how much.
Do Your Presentations Suck?
Maximizing Your Q&A!
Last month, we asked if your Q&A sucks and described two strategies for handling audience questions – holding them until the end and handling them anytime. Both approaches work but each has some disadvantages.
The piece ended with an intriguing offer of two hybrid strategies that involve the best features of both approaches. So, here are two solution to the Q&A dilemma.
Does Your Q&A Suck?
As we continue examining your workplace presentations to see if they suck or not, let’s turn to an often-under prepared part of your total message – handling audience questions.
Does Your Message Suck?
The last two months we’ve discussed powerful audience-centric presentation Introductions and Summaries, as if the two book ends holding your presentation together. So, now let’s focus on what’s left – your powerful Message in the Middle.
Does Your Ending Suck?
(Continuing our popular series, ‘Do Your Presentations Suck?, take a closer look at your ending.)
Your Ending might suck if you don’t End Strong – if you just stop talking. Introductions are critically important because you’re ‘Telling ‘em what you’re gonna tell ‘em.’ Now, we focus on the equally important summary or conclusion, where you’re ‘Telling ‘em what you told ‘em’. While the audience may be influenced most by what they hear first, they remember most what they hear last. So, a powerful ending can ‘close the sale’.