Has this ever happened to you? Emma arrived at work early, got a cup of coffee and settled into tackling her highest priority task of the day. When, out of nowhere, her boss Bob approached her cubicle and asked the question that strikes fear in the hearts most employees, ‘Hi Emma … you busy?’
Presentations
Start Strong with a Power Intro
We all learned about the three parts of a speech in high school: the Introduction, Body and Conclusion. You remember … ‘Tell ‘em what you’re gonna say, say it and tell ‘em what you said.’ Nothing new here.
Just Say ‘No’ to Note Cards
Given my commitment to Life Long Learning, I regularly review presentation skill-oriented books to keep what I share with my clients current and relevant. I recently encountered two different authors who recommended using 3×5 inch note cards for preparing speaker notes. Whoa! Couldn’t disagree more. So, please allow me to respectfully disagree and rerun one of my favorite rants.
Presentation Anxiety Revisited
My colleague Steve Petti runs New Image Media here in Cleveland, specializing in effective video for the web. As part of his content marketing strategy, he’s inviting local experts to create two-minute video bites on interesting and useful business-related content to post on his website under ‘Grow Your Business/Cleveland’.
Get My Point?
A reader just asked me what I thought of using a laser pointer with his slides. I started the conversation with ‘Don’t let the technology tail wag the presenter dog’. The rest of my comments:
One major downside of using this tool is the need to look at the screen when using it. I’ve already ranted about avoiding turning your back on the audience to read a slide to them. Using the laser pointer has the same effect – loss of eye contact and connection.
Handouts vs. Slides
A client recently asked for some advice about a common practice with handouts. He noted that presenters often give audience members hard copies of their slides so they can take notes or use as a handout. My comments:
What Are Your Strengths?
A reader involved in a job search just asked how to best answer the typical interview question ‘What are your strengths?’ This is a critical question because it usually comes early in the interview process, helps project focus and value and sets the tone of rest of the interview.
Activate Active Voice!
Based on some calls and notes from readers, some of you are seriously challenging your word use habits in routine workplace communication. Great – I was hoping that would happen. Effective word use is the same, whether the medium you use to communicate those words is an email, a phone call, a face-to-face conversation or a more formal presentation.
Harness the Power of the Platform
Whether you’re marketing your employer’s products or services, your own business or just enhancing your image in the marketplace, the “Power of the Platform” can be a simple, quick and no-cost strategy. Delivering workshops and presentations can help you accomplish several important self-marketing goals:
The Great Toastmaster on Presenting
Ralph C. Smedley, 20th century educator, was the founder of ‘Toastmasters International’, a speaking organization with more than 313,000 members in 126 countries and more than 14,650 individual clubs. Even back in 1919, he had a profound understanding of what it takes to be an effective presenter.