Business presentations require content that is compelling, to the point and moves the audience to action. This presentation lists the mistakes to avoid, proven ways to create an outline,how to gather content that supports your argument, and presentation tips.

1. Presentation Skills Training
Ian Griffin
Executive Communications
March 16, 2014
Ian Griffin
Executive Communications

3. “…speak plain and to the purpose.”
William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
“…speak plain and to the purpose.”
William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

4. Mistakes to Avoid
»Focus on your own or your
company history
»vs. offering solutions to
client problems
»Talking about what you do
»vs. telling stories of
satisfied clients
»Too abstract and technical
»vs. concrete client-centered

5. MESSAGE OUTLINE
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6. The Power of Three
• Left, Right and Center
• The Good, the Bad, and
the Ugly
• Father, Son and Holy
Ghost
• Three Little Pigs

7. What’s your intention?
»What’s the point of origin? The destination?
»Where do you want to take the audience?
»How will they act and feel differently?
»What newspaper headline would you like?

8. Structure of a Persuasive Speech *
»Grab their attention
»State the need or problem you will
solve
»Present the solution
»Share examples of success, help
the audience to visualize
»Close with a call to action
* Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

9. Speech Outline Plan
Putting it all together
»Your intention
»Audience destination
»Message in three main points
»Call to action

10. Delivering a compelling speech
»Show empathy with the audience
»Align your personal interests with theirs
»Eliminate fluff
»Deliver with passion and focus

11. Adult Learning Styles: VAK
»Visual
» Graphs, charts, illustrations
»Auditory
» Interactive dialog
»Kinesthetic
» Concrete examples

12. Your Style
»Urge
»Demand
»Assure
»Persuade
»Recommend
»Illustrate
»Inform

13. CONTENT DETAILS
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14. Power Opening
»Instead of a ‘gentle introduction’
»Grab their attention
»Boldly state your intention
»Credible and relevant, even controversial

15. Evidence
»In support of your argument
»Examples, statistics
»Quotations, facts
»Comparisons, details

16. Case studies
»Deal with a real problem, dilemma
»Outline a challenge
»List the options
»Explain how the decision was made

17. Stories
»Engage and motivate
»Describe a journey
»Overcome an obstacle
»Make a point

18. Analogies & Metaphors
Taken from experiences everyone shares
»Relate one thing to another
»Explain in everyday terms
»Raising kids
»Travel
»Health
»Money, food, sex

19. Statistics
Context relevant to the audience
»Add credibility
»Acknowledge the source
»Context relevant to the
audience

20. Closing
»Include a call to action
»Summarize, recap
»“As I told you”
»Leave with a rhetorical question

21. PRESENTION TIPS
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22. Effective Design
Good BestBetter
»The presentation is NOT the slides
»Aim for clarity in design
»Minimal text
»No clip art

23. Write Slide Titles as Headlines
Use active verbs
»Direct Headlines
»Indirect Headlines
»News Headlines
»Question Headline
»Command Headline
»Reason Why Headline
»Testimonial Headline

24. Presentation Skills
»Pause often
»Memorize opening and closing
»Stance
»Gestures
»Breathing exercises
»Warm-up vocal exercises

25. Vocal Variety
» Power (vary the volume, contrast
loud/soft)
» Pitch (vary the range)
» Pace (vary the cadence and speed)
» Pauses (vary before and after key
points)
» Duration (vary length of sounds)

26. Resources
» Toastmasters
» National Speakers Association
» SpeakerNetNews.com

27. Ian Griffin
http://www.exec-comms.com/blog
510-962-4721
Ian Griffin
510-962-4721
Ian.griffin@exec-comms.com