Presentation Structure: Three Buckets for Your Key Points

In my recent post about presentation structure, I highlighted the importance of the ‘rule of three’. In speaking, writing and all forms of communication the ‘rule of three’ states that concepts presented in three’s provide much needed clarity and are more memorable.

Three’s are pervasive in everyday life:

1) Children’s stories: the three bears, three little pigs, the Three Musketeers

2) Sporting three’s: three strikes in baseball, three Olympic medals, three hockey innings

3) Chronological three’s: before, during, after; past, … Read More

Presentation Structure: The Rule of Three

Do you struggle with how to organize all the details and points of your presentation? If so, you’ll feel overwhelmed and confused when you deliver your presentation. And if you come across as confused, don’t expect your audience to make a decision and act based on your presentation..

If you want to be clear, concise and compelling, start with presentation structure. Knowing how to organize your information in the … Read More

Presentation Structure: Have Your Presentations Wandered Off Track?

Presentation structure is fundamental for delivering effective presentations. In our UPFRONT Persuasion workshops a key focus for our course content is how to effectively structure a persuasive presentation. Our Presentation Planner which follows the UPFRONT structure can be used as a template for all presentations. Like an accordion, it can expand and contract depending on the length of your presentation.

One thing is true. All presentations must have a strong, well built structure like the foundation of a house. There is little point in adding … Read More

Presentation Coaching: Tips for Self Coaching

When I train and coach presenters, I often observe an automatic self-talk after the presentation has been delivered. I hear, “That was awful, I screwed up…I should have done….” The focus of attention is immediately on mistakes and what didn’t work from their perspective. It’s next to impossible to build confidence from this mental position. Harsh, self judgement sets us up for more of the same in the future.

One of my objectives in coaching presenters is to help them break this pattern of ‘beating ones … Read More

Presentation Nerves: Avoid The Apology Mistake

In a recent UPFRONT Persuasion workshop, we were exploring how to overcome presentation nerves. One of the participants mentioned that her worst fear was going blank. It’s not fun when you’re staring out at your audience for what feels like an eternity and you have no idea where you are in your presentation or what you’re supposed to say next.

A fellow participant had been a competitive singer in her younger days and she commented on how points were lost when … Read More

Performance Anxiety is Nasty

Do you get the shakes and quakes, stomach flips and painful mental images of crashing and burning during your business presentations? If so, you’re in good company. Performance anxiety and stage fright are as common for actors, musicians, athletes and comedians as it is for business professionals.

In an UPFRONT Persuasion Through Presentation skills workshop this week, a senior executive confided that he never knew when stage fright would rear its ugly head. He even named this pesky intruder his “gremlin.”

Performance anxiety … Read More

Presentation Nerves? Whisper Sweet Nothings To Yourself

If you’re not mentally or emotionally ready to present, it’s impossible to show up with confidence and be persuasive. That can result in many undesired consequences.

Presentation nerves show up in different ways. Some are obvious. A shaky voice and trembling hands are clear indicators that the presenter is nervous. Nerves also show up in more subtle ways with distracting behaviours such as:

Racing through your content Using filler words like ‘ums’ Skittish eye contact Swaying hips Dancing feet Playing with a marker or … Read More

Truly Persuasive Presentations: Don’t Goof Up Like the Olympic Officials

I was glued to the Olympics this past month. The athletes were spectacular but the presenters at the ceremonies, not so much. Wouldn’t you think with four years to prepare they would have had truly persuasive presentations, speaking from their hearts rather than reading from a script?

I guess four years or four days isn’t going to make a difference if you’re not following truly persuasive presentation guidelines. If they had followed these three simple tips, … Read More