11 DEADLY PRESENTATION SINS !

A Path to Redemption for Public Speakers, PowerPoint Users and Everyday Presenters

Rob Biesenbach

Stuck in PowerPoint Hell?

Suffering from Listless Delivery?

And Lackluster Content?

Here’s Your Path to Redemption

Sin #1: A Flat

Opening

… make it all about YOU

DON’T

I. Blah

II. Blah blah

III. Blah blah blah

IV. Blah blah blah blah

V. Blah blah blah blah blah

… walk through your agenda

DON’T

I. Blah

II. Blah blah

III. Blah blah blah

IV. Blah blah blah blah

V. Blah blah blah blah blah

… walk through your agenda

DON’T

(Tell us the “why” before the “what”)

… sell right out of the box

DON’T

Tell a story instead

Tell a story instead

Just make it original. AND relevant!

Hook our interest

Bold claim

Surprising statistic

Provocative question

More help here

Or try one of these

“How often have you experienced...” “It was the scariest moment of my life...” “Like you, I was brought up to believe...” — Patricia Fripp’s Opening Options (she has 27 of them!)

Sin #2: Lack of Focus

Determine your goal

PointsBoil it down

PointsBoil it down

If you try to say everything, you end up communicating nothing

Know? Feel? Do?

What do you want them to …

Know? Feel? Do?

What do you want them to …

If it’s just “know,” send a memo instead

Sin #3: Bad (Or No) Storytelling

Stories rule

They humanize us

They put a face on issues

They raise the stakes

Character Goal Challenge

Structure is critical

Character Goal Challenge

Structure is critical

(A ton of info here)

Sin #4: No Emotional Pull

Facts are called cold and hard for a reason.

Facts are called cold and hard for a reason.

They don’t warm hearts

or change minds.

So tap into emotion

And make it personal

The market is not seduced by logic. People are moved by stories and drama and hints and clues and discovery. Logic is a battering ram.” — Seth Godin, Seth’s Blog

This guy knows

Sin #5: Dull, Ugly Visuals

2007

2009

0 17.5 35 52.5 70

Moo

Recall

Images trump words *

* Picture Superiority Effect

Wrong

Right

Wrong

Right

Slides are not script

The best presentations are the ones where the slides are completely meaningless unless you have seen the speaker present them. Ensure that your slides act as a visual enhancement to everything that you’re saying. — Mitch Joel, Twist Image

Sin #6: Misunderstanding

Body Language

8%92%

92% of communication is non-verbal, right?

WRONGContent Matters!

You should never cross your arms,

right?

WRONGIt’s intention that counts

Decide that you’re thrilled to present to this great group of people. Think about the purpose of the interaction, what you want to get out of it, and your attitude. Focus your emotions, and your gestures will take care of themselves. — Nick Morgan, Public Words

So be natural

Sin #7: Inadequate Rehearsal

Practice, practice, practice

Out loud!

Don’t memorize—internalize

Arrive early and prepare

We don’t go on the air because we’re ready; we go on because it’s 11:30. — Lorne Michaels, SNL Producer

And stop futzing!

The Path to Redemption

For your next presentation …

… the choice is yours

You can do the usual …

Or set yourself apart

So be bold, take risks

Connect

The Rest of the Deadly Sins

1. A Flat Opening 2. Lack of Focus 3. Bad Storytelling 4. No Emotional Pull 5. Dull, Ugly Visuals 6. Misunderstanding Body Language 7. Inadequate Rehearsal 8. Failure to Understand Your Audience 9. Low-Energy Delivery 10. No Audience Interaction 11. A Weak Finish

11DeadlyPresentationSins.com

More in the book“We’ve all committed the 11 deadly presentation sins on the way up in our careers. This insightful book will help make sure that your way up doesn’t become the way down!” Dr. Nick Morgan Author, Give Your Speech, Change the World

RobBiesenbach.com

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