PPT - Powerful Presentation Techniques

How Twitter is Being Used at Conferences

09_edumedia

Presentation Skills - avoiding talkaholicism

Related to this video are two recent postings on the Examiner.com by Lenn Milbower "True confessions of a talkaholic, part one" and "True confessions of a talkaholic, part two" that define the problem and offer suggestions for the various symptoms associated with talkaholicism.

PPT - Powerful Presentation Techniques Resource Guide Rev 10 Released

I've updated the PPT - Powerful Presentation Techniques Resource Guide listing to include several new books, blogs, web sites and article links that I've come across or that have been submitted to me.  The Resource Guide is now in its 10th version.  You can download and share the Guide -  Download PPT-PowerfulPresentationTechniquesResourceGuideRev10

If you have additions or changes that should be made to the listing, please send me an e-mail.  

If I can be of any help in assessing your team's current level of presentation or PowerPoint skills or assist you with your training needs, please let me know.

Paul J Gibler. MBA
the Web Chef
ConnectingDots
pgibler@connectingdots.com
(608) 255 4092

Presentation Preparation

ComputerWorld Editor Maryfran Johnson has an interesting article about the importance of preparation when developing a presentation.  For some speakers she found that practicing out loud in advance of their presentation was in part the key to their success as presenters.  Other speakers she found liked developing and practicing their big themes then going for a more extemporaneous approach to their presentations.  Regardless of approach the key was to take the time to be prepared.  

Stand-up and Be Heard - Using the Techniques of the Stand-up Comic

This is a great SlideShare presentation on using the techniques of the stand-up comic and improv expert to make your point as a presenter.

Hat Tip to the slide author and blogger at Brand Autopsy
Stand-Up Presentations

View more OpenOffice presentations from John Moore.

On the Air - "In Business With Jody & Joan", 12.8.08, 6 - 7:00 PM

I've been invited for my fifth interview by Jody Glynn Patrick and Joan Gillman for their show "In Business with Jody and Joan" on Madison, WI-based radio station WTDY 1670 AM from 6:00 - 7:00 pm.  The show will provide an informal look at some of the evolving changes being created by the Internet. You can listen to the show on the radio or hear the podcast of the show here after the 8th of December.

Paul Gibler
the Web Chef

So what's the dress code?

Holly Buchanan at Marketing to Women Online has an interesting posting about "underdressing" for public speaking events.   In the post, she discusses Guy Kawasaki's premise that you should overdress, i.e. never dress beneath the level of the audience that you're presenting too.  The discussion centers around the "why" this is important and the different perspective she has vs that presented by Guy.

Personally, I think the key is to dress comfortably and appropriately for the audience that you're communicating too.  This could mean a parity dress code with those in attendance or it could mean a higher level of dress or "overdressing" using Holly and Guy's terminology.  I would agree that "underdressing" isn't appropriate, because it does make you look less than professional, but think that there is room for a parity dress code that still makes you look professional and appropriate for the audience. 

As the Web Chef, I've gone out to speak to audiences wearing a chef's toque and a traditional chef's jacket.  This is part of my brand and "shtick" as a presenter.  On other occasions, I've worn a tie with cooking instruments, food or chef's toques to reinforce my brand. 

Some other dressing tips
Laura Bergells another presentation expert, pointed out the importance for women of avoiding the jangly bracelets or earrings when giving an online presentation, since the noise can be picked up and distract in the presentation. 

A presenter I heard at a National Speaker's Association meeting a few years ago suggested that you not carry coins in your pocket and that you always have some safety pins available when traveling for that potential wardrobe malfunction.  Unfortunately I can't remember his name. 

Any comments on what is an appropriate dress code and as Holly asks, does this vary by whether you are a male or a female presenter?

New Article "Avoiding Death by PowerPoint"

Shalu Wasu at Tickled by Life gives you "12 outrageous ideas to make your presentations absorbing" in his posting "Avoiding Death by PowerPoint".   I liked his listing from his first two point - there are no rules and have your own flexible guidelines to the 12 he elaborates on.  Here is the summary list:

1. don't use too many words
2. get personal
3. don't use templates, consider PPT a canvas
4. strip down the fluff to the essential message
5. provoke the audience
6. encourage co-creation
7. don't hide nervousness
8. don't over-prepare
9. you are the presentation
10. communication is the sharing of emotion
11. never give out handouts before, give them later
12. don't stick with your story, make the story sticky

For other tips on PowerPoint see my PowerPoint and Presentation Skills resource listing.

Presentation Nibblets - PowerPoint and Audience Interaction

In a recent Business Week article "How Your Audience's Brain Works", Carmine Gallo, author of Fire them Up, provides some tips for presenters generated from his discussion with John Medina, a molecular biologist and author of Brain Rules.  In the article he covers three tips:

• the 10 minute zone out when audiences stop listening
• the boredom factor
• the importance of visuals

Meanwhile over at Fast Company, Nov 2008. Dan Heath and Chip Heath cover "How to Avoid Making a Bad Presentation".  Among the tips about presentation killers that they reference are the following:

• While "show don't tell" is important don't go overboard with the clip art or stock photography just for "decoration not communication"
• "Presenters needs to be comprehensive" can lead to too much information or TMI or as the authors say "great presentations are mysteries, not encyclopedia entries"

Just Released! Updated PPT - Powerful Presentation Techniques Resource Listing (REV 9)

I've updated the PPT - Powerful Presentation Techniques Resource Listing to include several new books, web sites and article links that I've come across or have been submitted to me.  I went through and re-verified all of the links, eliminating those that were no longer active, appropriate or relevant to the guide.  The Resource Listing is now in its ninth revision.  Download PPT-PowerfulPresentationTechniquesResourceGuideRev9

If you have additions or changes that should be made to the listing, please send me an e-mail. 

If I can be of any help in assessing your team's current level of presentation or PowerPoint skills or assist you with your training needs, please let me know.

Paul Gibler
(608) 255 4092