Examples of powerful introduction to presentations are all around us.
One I just saw today was actually on the back of Sport Utility Vehicle ( And no it nothing to do with a spoken presentation -- but it was a presentation of sorts.) which I found particularly captivating.
It was presented in white paint or plastic on the rear window and read: "A Mudder Like No Other" At first I thought it said: "A Murder Like No Other!" and really drew me in.
Of course it went on to a brief description of this person's skills as drywall mudder ( or plasterer) and taper.
A very powerful introduction the presentation of his skills and services. A good example of the power of an effective presentation.
He can use that, and probably does, on stationery, his e-mails and blogs and possibly sales presentations in person.
You can find such examples of very effective introductions to presentations all around us.
When you see something like this you don't necessarily ( Although you can just making a change in word here and there.) want to copy it closely. But you can use in a cluster or mind map to explore similar ideas for some of your speech introductions. It's up to you.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The Power of Story
We've all heard the value of selling your ideas through story or anecdotes, a very powerful way to attract the attention of your audience as well as drive your points home.
This was value dramatically illustrated through a recent Zip Lock bag commercial which includes humorous episodes of a housewife trying to break up pieces of frozen meat to make a meal for her family.
The ad takes us through various phases of her fight from using a chain saw to cut it up to answering the door to a construction man with a huge crane mounted building demolition ball she had ordered to help her break up the meat.
She doesn't have to use this because she has just discovered Zip Lock bags which enables her to freeze her meat in small individual portions.
It is a very humorous story (remember the power of humor too) which helps us to remember the final solutions to such kitchen problems -- Zip Lock bags.
We can use such effective story telling our our presentations and speeches as well -- just plan your humorr and and relevant stories carefully
This was value dramatically illustrated through a recent Zip Lock bag commercial which includes humorous episodes of a housewife trying to break up pieces of frozen meat to make a meal for her family.
The ad takes us through various phases of her fight from using a chain saw to cut it up to answering the door to a construction man with a huge crane mounted building demolition ball she had ordered to help her break up the meat.
She doesn't have to use this because she has just discovered Zip Lock bags which enables her to freeze her meat in small individual portions.
It is a very humorous story (remember the power of humor too) which helps us to remember the final solutions to such kitchen problems -- Zip Lock bags.
We can use such effective story telling our our presentations and speeches as well -- just plan your humorr and and relevant stories carefully
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The Illustration of the Butterfly
There is a wealth of possible illustrations in the world around us. Take the case of the caterpillar I encountered the other day.
While doing some security work I saw a rugged looking construction worker carrying a caterpillar on a small piece of cardboard across the site from the highway to the nearby bush area.
He explained the it was heading for certain trouble almost near the highway when he found it and decided to help it out by carrying it back to the nearby wooded area.
It seemed like a lot of trouble by a person you wouldn't think would go to such lengths to help a little caterpillar, but a few days later standing near the spot where the worker had put the caterpillar down and it crawled into the bush I beautiful butterfly suddenly flew off a nearby branch. I have never seen such a beautiful butterfly, happily flying from one flower to another.
And it suddenly dawned on me that this worker going to such lengths going to such lengths was indeed worthwhile -- for it gave this little creature a chance to morph into a beautiful, useful insect helping to pollinate plants
It also dawned on me that the incident with the construction worker and the caterpillar was loaded with possible illustrations for use in a speech or some other presentations.
It could be used, for instance, to illustrate how we should never judge a person by first appearances. Who would have thought that such a rough looking person would have such compassion for other living creatures.
It could also be used to illustrate how such compassion for and willingness to help -- both people and other life around us -- can help them to blossom out and fulfill their role in life.
While doing some security work I saw a rugged looking construction worker carrying a caterpillar on a small piece of cardboard across the site from the highway to the nearby bush area.
He explained the it was heading for certain trouble almost near the highway when he found it and decided to help it out by carrying it back to the nearby wooded area.
It seemed like a lot of trouble by a person you wouldn't think would go to such lengths to help a little caterpillar, but a few days later standing near the spot where the worker had put the caterpillar down and it crawled into the bush I beautiful butterfly suddenly flew off a nearby branch. I have never seen such a beautiful butterfly, happily flying from one flower to another.
And it suddenly dawned on me that this worker going to such lengths going to such lengths was indeed worthwhile -- for it gave this little creature a chance to morph into a beautiful, useful insect helping to pollinate plants
It also dawned on me that the incident with the construction worker and the caterpillar was loaded with possible illustrations for use in a speech or some other presentations.
It could be used, for instance, to illustrate how we should never judge a person by first appearances. Who would have thought that such a rough looking person would have such compassion for other living creatures.
It could also be used to illustrate how such compassion for and willingness to help -- both people and other life around us -- can help them to blossom out and fulfill their role in life.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Remember Faces
Remember faces and names is an essential skill for any communicator. So here's a little exercise to help you to recreate the faces of persons you meet.
You can practice at any time when walking through a mall or just down the street. When someone passes you on the street try to recreate that person's face in your mind after they have passed.
This will help to quickly take in the features of persons you are speaking with. Now all you have to is attach a name to that face and the next time you meet them you'll have less trouble remembering who you are greeting any talking to.
You can practice at any time when walking through a mall or just down the street. When someone passes you on the street try to recreate that person's face in your mind after they have passed.
This will help to quickly take in the features of persons you are speaking with. Now all you have to is attach a name to that face and the next time you meet them you'll have less trouble remembering who you are greeting any talking to.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Do A Brain Dump!
Having trouble getting started with the writing of your presentation?
Then try doing a brain dump centered around the main point of your speech or presentation.
This can be done in a wide variety of ways from freewriting -- just grabbing a pen (or keyboard) and letting your mind go writing down as quickly as you can whatever you can think about the topic or particular point in your material. Don't stop to edit at this point.
Another way to do this is to do a cluster -- point the main point in the center of a large piece of paper and then in words, or brief phrases clustering whatever you can think about the topic. These are literally clustered in circles around that main idea you just wrote down and circled in the center of the page.
Like freewriting, don't stop to think edit the ideas pouring out. Related ideas are strung out in a series of circles branching out from that main idea like the fruit on an apple tree or grape fine.
The idea is to keep related ideas together on a single line brnching out from the nucleus point. Then just just start a new line of clusters for each completely new idea that you think of.
Eventually, using either freewritng or clustering technique -- usually sooner than later -- you'll think of exactly what it is that you want to say and your on your way.
Remember, don't stop to edit at this point. That comes later after you have completed your first draft.
(For more information on this idea of clustering click on Writing the Natural Way.
Then try doing a brain dump centered around the main point of your speech or presentation.
This can be done in a wide variety of ways from freewriting -- just grabbing a pen (or keyboard) and letting your mind go writing down as quickly as you can whatever you can think about the topic or particular point in your material. Don't stop to edit at this point.
Another way to do this is to do a cluster -- point the main point in the center of a large piece of paper and then in words, or brief phrases clustering whatever you can think about the topic. These are literally clustered in circles around that main idea you just wrote down and circled in the center of the page.
Like freewriting, don't stop to think edit the ideas pouring out. Related ideas are strung out in a series of circles branching out from that main idea like the fruit on an apple tree or grape fine.
The idea is to keep related ideas together on a single line brnching out from the nucleus point. Then just just start a new line of clusters for each completely new idea that you think of.
Eventually, using either freewritng or clustering technique -- usually sooner than later -- you'll think of exactly what it is that you want to say and your on your way.
Remember, don't stop to edit at this point. That comes later after you have completed your first draft.
(For more information on this idea of clustering click on Writing the Natural Way.
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