Purpose
To introduce participants to the slide-deck skills they’ll need to get their presentation message across to best effect.
Objective
By the end of this training, participants will have a practical knowledge of modern, visual-slide technique.
Overview
MS PowerPoint has been with us for 21 years, Apple Keynote for eight. By now a developed science attaches to the medium. There are correct and distinctly incorrect ways to use it. This training – typically a seminar followed by a 1:1 coaching session for each participant – teaches the correct way.
Presentations tend to break down into i) the stand-up variety in front of an audience and ii) the pitchbook variety delivered sitting down. In each case, with the assistance of a sllde-deck and a detailed handout.
They both require the same things at heart. A clear purpose accentuating the message you want to get across; anticipation of the nature, needs, and motivation of the audience; a logical storyline; powerful visual-slide techniques that make the message stick; a plain-language style. Our content is built around what we call The PPPPPPresentation Cycle:
Plan
Studying your Purpose, Audience and Location
- Knowing the purpose of your Presentation and what you want to achieve
- Understanding you audience and their needs
- Thinking about the logisitics – room size to acoustics to lighting to positioning.
Prepare
Slide-deck Writing – Plain Language
- White space, Headlines, Topic Sentences, Plain Words, Actives, Parallels, Summarising
Devising your Storyline
- The BLOT / Top Down method generally; the BICR method (Background, Issue, Challenge, Response) for introductions; methods of Faster Drafting.
Picture
Getting the Visuals right – the Power of Words and Visuals Combined
- Using the “Better than Bullets” philosophy to present, simplify, clarify and de-clutter those over-busy PowerPoint/Keynote slides
- Using the “Five-slide Trick“ to get your presentation off to a great start
- Using “Slideskins” to get your Pitchbook message across to best possible effect
Practice
- Being “at one” with the presentation so you know it works and are free of nerves
Present
- Making the presentation – standing or sitting (which require different techniques). A short section on these skills.
Ponder
- Reflecting on your Performance and getting Feedback with a view to continual improvement.
