Here's an excerpt from this week's TechRepublic with a preview of my new book on presentations, coming out on February 12th. If you're looking for an easy way to get your next presentation to the next level, these are the first five of my ten recommendations for do's and don'ts:
1 - Stop: Being an information resource.
Start: Being the funnel, filter, and guru.
Put away the teleprompter. Presenting is more than giving a speech. You're changing data into information, knowledge, and with a little luck, wisdom.
2 - Stop: The train - there's no track.
Start: With the end in mind.
Invest the amount of preparation time in your presentation that will make it a winning experience for you, like an athlete whose first goal is self-improvement.
3 - Stop: Trusting the human ear.
Start: Polishing your shoes.
Don't keep it simple; make it simple. Transform a complicated thought or process into something that is easy to see and appreciate.
4 - Stop: Explaining your slides.
Start: illustrating your ideas.
The images you use will create lasting impressions if they connect with your words. We're a visual culture and need the combination of content and visual emphasis.
5 - Dont: Focus on everything.
Do: Build around a unique value proposition and an unrefusable offer.
The ability to define your message in terms of a UVP and UO is the central piece of making your presentation remarkable. Keep your other points ancillary to these two.
For a list of all ten breakable habits, see the article in TechRepublic's "10 Things" column here.
You can find more details on the book at www.tenbreakablehabits.com.
