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.
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Dog & Pony Show Best Practices
My rant last month generated some lively and interesting comments. Always a good thing. Some readers asked for immediate help, which I provided privately. Others were content to wait until this month for part II – ‘Dog & Pony Show Best Practices’ … or ‘How to Avoid a Team-Delivered Presentation (TDP) from Hell!’
Beware of Dog & Pony Show Pitches from Hell!
Team-Delivered Sales Pitches (TDSPs) are still common in the marketplace today – some are effective, efficient and engaging sales messages. But, unfortunately, too many become ‘Dog & Pony Show Pitches from Hell‘. What pushes them over the edge is poor planning and preparation, just as with other types of workplace presentations.
Do Your Emails Suck?
Your routine workplace emails might suck if you ignore the reality that every note you send a customer, colleague or manager can project your image of professionalism, competency and courtesy – or detract from it.
Does Your Message Still Suck?
Last month’s feature on ‘Message in the Middle’ was a real hit, based on reader comments and questions. As promised, here are some message-related Best Practices to help you make sure your message still doesn’t suck:
Become a ‘Platinum Rule’ Workplace Communicator!
Many business professionals diligently attempt to practice the ‘Golden Rule’ at work that we all learned as youngsters. A workplace communication version of that philosophy would be ‘Communicate with other people the way you want them to communicate with you.’ While a nice warm and fuzzy concept, a quick reality check indicates two serious flaws in the logic: the ‘Golden Rule’ assumes ‘everyone is the same and that ‘everyone is the same as you.’
WordPower – Does Good Writing Really Matter?
This edition of ‘WordPower’ deals with the impact of poor workplace writing skills. Here’s a summary of a conversation I had with a business reporter on this topic.
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.
Painless Sales Pitches
Do you ever experience pain when you pitch business? Do you cause some pain for your prospects as a result of those pitches? If you answered yes to either question, then read these Best Practices for creating Painless Sales Pitches.
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’.