Tag: presentation expert

Presenting to Millennials: What Not to Do In Front of Gen Y

Generation Y

Millenials

presentation expert

presentation tips

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Nov 30, 2015

With their generation being one of the largest in history, millennials are bound to be future game changers of the global economy. Despite the negative image given by mainstream media, presenting to millennials is easier than it seems. It isn’t that hard to appeal to their ideals.

However, there are some red flags to watch out for when appealing to this demographic. Taking time to look up their culture as a generation would tell you what to avoid during a presentation. If you don’t have the time to browse through all of them, we compiled three of millennials’ biggest pet peeves.

Stereotypes and Insensitivity

This goes on top of the list. Also known as Generation Y, there are plenty of stereotypes perpetuated about millennials. While not all of them are bad, Generation Y has probably heard most, if not all, of them. Don’t fall into the trap of using any of these to try and relate to your audience. This will more likely than not annoy them.

Antagonizing their generation isn’t going to get you any positive feedback either. Generation Y culture is known to be passion-driven and creative, so using conservative ideas may not sit well with them. Instead of banking on common stereotypes, do thorough research on your audience’s preferences and incorporate these into your content.

Your target market will be happy you made the effort.

Lack of Relatability

Millennials value memorable and authentic experiences over anything. This has led some to label them a self-absorbed and superficial generation. But they’re actually more up to date than anyone else. With their proficiency with social media, they’re sufficiently well-informed about current events apart from their friends’ lives.

Millennials are also one of the most educated generations. A Chris Altcheck and Pew Research Center showed that 54% hold college degrees. It’s not that Generation Y doesn’t care for hard facts, it’s that they prefer palatable visuals and content.

Presenting clear and readable visuals can actually make more of an impact than a slide saturated with too many numbers and data. Use graphic design to present data in a visually appealing way. If you’re having trouble deciding how to use visuals to your advantage in the face of a millennial audience, consult with a presentation expert.

Once you master the general Generation Y visual language, you’ll get better responses.

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Non-Interactive

The average human attention span has evolved to be less than a goldfish’s. You can’t expect millennials to sit through an entire two-hour lecture without fidgeting towards the first half hour. To get attention, you don’t have to be too flashy. Keep your performance simple and forward.

This allows listeners to digest the information quicker and more efficiently. But it doesn’t have to be extremely brief or boring, either. Aside from a well-designed PowerPoint and a strategic speech, you have to make sure to involve people.

The AMA Playbook compiled eight tips from public speaking coach and Well Said founder, Darlene Price, on engaging and interesting an audience. Keep people attentive by prompting them with questions and asking them to participate. This strengthens your connection with them, making sure they invest in your presentation.

Conclusion

Millennials are a very diverse generation. Being grouped together doesn’t necessarily mean that their preferences are all identical. However, you can learn to appeal to them by incorporating a few techniques in your presentation.

You can also avoid the ire of your young audience by avoiding things that they commonly dislike. Using stereotypes inconsiderately, being unable to explain yourself, and being downright stiff may bore Generation Y. Always consider the audience in planning your presentation.

Making that effort can ensure a positive response from people.

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References

Almond, Meredith and Mandi Cox. “Five Major Millennial Misconceptions Marketers Miss.” Sparkloft. Accessed October 11, 2015. www.sparkloftmedia.com/blog/thoughts/millennials
“Millennials Infographic.” Goldman Sachs. Accessed January 5, 2016. www.goldmansachs.com/our-thinking/pages/millennials
“Presentation Tips: 8 Ways to Captivate and Engage Your Audience .” AMA Playbook. June 1, 2014. Accessed October 11, 2015. www.playbook.amanet.org/presentation-tips-8-ways-to-engage-your-audience
Watson, Leon. “Humans Have Shorter Attention Span than Goldfish, Thanks to Smartphones.” The Telegraph. Accessed October 11, 2015. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11607315/Humans-have-shorter-attention-span-than-goldfish-thanks-to-smartphones.html

Featured Image: “Young man and woman taking pictures of each other” by ralphbijker on flickr.com

3 Reasons Why Introverts Can Become Presentation Experts

powerpoint designs

powerpoint expert

powerpoint template

presentation designer

presentation expert

presentation templates

presentation tips

slide genius

SlideGenius

Aug 24, 2015

Presentations aren’t only for extroverts who relish in collaboration and social encounters with the outside world. According to CRM specialist Russel Cooke, introverts are just as suitable for delivering a winning pitch. They have more processing time before they act, which can make for powerful presentations.

If you think you possess these traits, nourish them so that your business pitches produce positive results.

1. They Have Quiet Time

Introverts possess a different level of personal energy. Contrary to popular belief, they aren’t all antisocial hermits. Being an introvert simply means that you prefer to withdraw and recharge after a long day of interacting with others. This healthy amount of quiet time lets them reflect on events and opportunities, so they can more confidently execute tasks.

Challenge yourself to find alone time, like introverts do. Enjoy a little peace and quiet so you are in the right space to carefully plan your business pitch. This helps you prepare how to best convey your presentation idea to your intended audience.
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2. They Challenge Themselves

Since introverts are contemplative, they often recognize and accept their own weaknesses and limitations. They’re more likely to work on self-improvement because of their insightful nature. Follow the introvert way and achieve your biggest breakthroughs by challenging yourself to overcome adversity.

A speaker who faces challenges and improves his presentation skills has a big advantage over those who don’t. Presentation experts didn’t reach their full potential overnight. It requires great effort and deliberate practice. The good news is that anybody can do it, with enough determination.

3. They Listen Closely

This inherent trait is closely connected with having quiet time and challenging themselves. Introverts have a calm and meditative attitude, making them good listeners. They keep the balance of quiet time and self-improvement through attentive listening.

While quiet time works well when listening to an audience’s response, the desire for growth also happens after receiving clever insights or negative feedback that drive you to push your limits.

Conclusion

Just because extroverts are more outgoing and comfortable in a group doesn’t mean they’re superior presenters. Introverts are able to focus more because they’re comfortable with planning in silence. They’re also more introspective, ready to admit areas they can improve in, and willing to challenge themselves into becoming better people.

Finally, they can more fully engage audiences because, being naturally quieter, they’re able to attentively listen to what the crowd has to say. People with introverted traits can also make a name in the presentation industry.

Got a presentation requirement you need to work on? SlideGenius will be pleased to help you. Email us at info@slidegenius.com and we’ll contact you ASAP.

 
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References

Cooke, Russel. “Quiet Confidence: Why Introverts Make Great Leaders.” Small Business Heroes, October 13, 2014. Accessed August 24, 2015.
“No ‘I’ in Team: 5 Tips for Successful Team Presentations.” SlideGenius, Inc. August 24, 2014. Accessed August 24, 2015.

A Presentation Expert’s Guide to Great PowerPoint Ideas

business presentation

PowerPoint Design

powerpoint expert

powerpoint presentation

powerpoint presentation design

presentation expert

presentation tips

SlideGenius

Jul 15, 2015

A professional presentation takes time, not just in making the actual pitch deck, but in planning how to make it.

Presentation experts (even the ones behind Apple’s and TED Talks’ presentations) recommend spending the majority of your time planning for how to make and deliver the sales pitch. According to brand communication expert, Carmine Gallo, this takes at least 90 hours, with only a third of that time used for building the actual deck.
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The rest of the time needs to be spent on knowing your client’s expectations. Qualtrics’ Scott Smith presents seven customer expectations to watch out for, so make sure to dedicate your time to researching the topic, and developing an effective method of delivery.

Ask yourself:

  • What problem am I trying to solve?
  • Is there an applicable solution that I can use?
  • How will I solve the problem then?
  • What advantage can I offer that the competition can’t?

A secret to getting effective PowerPoint ideas is planning ahead of time.

Let’s go into detail about how to plan your business presentation.

Step 1: Write Everything You Want to Say

Make a list, sit down with your colleagues, consult your company’s production/research teams, draw quick sketches and draft a script. Just get something, anything on paper when you start.

This way, you’ll have an easier time sorting through PowerPoint ideas that work from those that don’t.

Both professional presenters and advertising experts talk about similar methods. Whether it’s planning on paper or, as ad veteran Luke Sullivan suggests, sticking drawings of your best ideas on the wall, the best way to get your sales pitch idea is to dump everything into an empty space and sort them out.

Step 2: Be Your Own Coldest Critic

Once you have everything you can think of in one place, be it an empty Microsoft PowerPoint file or on blank sheets of paper, start judging. Using the questions listed above can work as your guide.

Everything you place in your PowerPoint deck stems from two sources: the client’s problem and the product or service you’ll use to solve it. The strategy is up to you. Consider the following questions:

  • Do you want to bank on your company’s reputation for being the best in the business?
  • Do you want to highlight one advantage you have over the competition?
  • Do you want to introduce a game-changing solution to an old problem?

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Your ideas must fit whatever strategy you choose.

If you want to pitch for a car-rental service provider, or sell your electronics to a local distributor, ask yourself about the workability of your idea (for example, displaying consistent sales numbers or user testimonies). If you think it’s doable, keep it.

Step 3: Once You Have the “Eureka” Moment, Stay on It

One benefit of dumping your ideas and being your harshest critic is that you arrive at your winning sales pitch idea faster.

Everything you say and write will flow by themselves if your idea and strategy are sound enough. The best thing to do is stay with it.

Write down your script and slide content while your thoughts are still fresh in your mind. Delaying it will interrupt your train of thought, wasting time better spent on finalizing your PowerPoint deck.

The Lesson to Learn

Don’t be afraid to critique your own ideas. A sales presentation is all about testing ideas against the client’s problems and coming up with your best solution.

If it works, come up with an appropriate strategy to sell your proposal better than the competition does. Keep at it until you find your selling idea.

To help you come up with it even faster, spend time with a PowerPoint presentation expert. It’s worth the investment. (All it takes is fifteen minutes.)

 

References

Gallo, Carmine. The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience. New York. McGraw-Hill, 2010
“Plan Ahead to Avoid PowerPointless Presentations.” SlideGenius, Inc. May 27, 2015. Accessed July 15, 2015.
Smith, Scott, “Customer Expectations: 7 Types all Exceptional Researchers Must Understand.” Qualtrics. Accessed July 15, 2015.
Sullivan, Luke. Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This! A Guide to Creating Great Ads. Hoboken, NJ – J. Wiley & Sons, 2008

 

Featured Image: “Spiral Notebook Notepad Block Pen.” from pixabay

Improve Your Presentations with the Power of the Metaphor

metaphors for presentations

Nancy Duarte

presentation expert

presentation tips

Nov 18, 2014

Metaphors are a powerful tool for simplifying complex ideas and making abstract concepts more relatable. By comparing unfamiliar concepts to something your audience already understands, you can make your message clearer, more engaging, and easier to remember.

Here’s how you can harness the power of the metaphor to improve your presentations:

1. Clarify Complex Concepts

When you’re dealing with difficult or abstract ideas, a well-chosen metaphor can help your audience grasp the concept more quickly. Metaphors act as mental shortcuts, making complex information easier to understand.

Why It’s Important:

  • Simplifies Information: Metaphors break down complex ideas into more familiar terms, helping your audience grasp them faster.
  • Engages the Audience: Metaphors make your presentation more engaging by using vivid, relatable imagery.

How to Do It:

  • Use a metaphor to compare your concept to something familiar. For example, explaining a company’s growth strategy by comparing it to a tree’s growth, with roots representing foundations and branches representing expansion.

2. Make Your Presentation More Memorable

Metaphors help create vivid mental images that your audience is more likely to remember. These mental connections make your message stick long after the presentation is over.

Why It’s Important:

  • Increases Retention: Metaphors can make your key points more memorable by tying them to familiar or striking images.
  • Strengthens Engagement: People are more likely to stay engaged with a presentation that uses creative, relatable language.

How to Do It:

  • Use metaphorical language to paint a picture for your audience. For example, “Our company’s strategy is a chess game—every move is calculated to get us closer to checkmate.”

3. Appeal to Emotions

Metaphors can evoke emotions, which in turn help reinforce your message. When your audience connects emotionally with your content, they are more likely to be persuaded or moved to action.

Why It’s Important:

  • Builds Emotional Connections: A well-crafted metaphor can resonate emotionally with your audience, helping them connect with your message on a deeper level.
  • Inspires Action: Emotionally charged metaphors can inspire your audience to take action or think differently about your topic.

How to Do It:

  • Use metaphors that evoke positive emotions and relate to your audience’s experiences. For example, “Launching this product is like setting sail on a new adventure—we’re ready to weather the storms and reach our destination.”

4. Avoid Overcomplicating Metaphors

While metaphors can be powerful, they should not be overly complicated or obscure. The goal is to simplify the concept, not confuse your audience with an abstract or far-fetched comparison.

Why It’s Important:

  • Prevents Confusion: A complex metaphor can confuse your audience rather than clarify your point.
  • Maintains Focus: Simple, direct metaphors help keep the focus on your main message.

How to Do It:

  • Choose metaphors that are simple and easy to understand. For example, “Think of our supply chain like a relay race—each department hands off the baton to the next, ensuring smooth operations.”

Final Thoughts

Metaphors are a powerful communication tool that can clarify complex ideas, make your message more memorable, and build an emotional connection with your audience. By incorporating metaphors into your presentations, you can engage your audience more effectively and help them understand your key points in a more relatable way. Keep your metaphors simple and relevant to ensure they enhance, rather than complicate, your message.

How to Create a STAR Moment for Your Presentations

Nancy Duarte

presentation delivery

presentation expert

presentation tips

star moment

Sep 26, 2014

A STAR Moment (Something They’ll Always Remember) is a memorable point or experience in your presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your audience. Designed by communications expert Nancy Duarte, a STAR Moment captures attention and makes your message resonate long after the presentation is over. Here’s how to create a STAR Moment for your presentation:

1. Identify the Key Message

  • Why it matters: The STAR Moment should amplify your core message. It’s the idea or point you want your audience to walk away remembering. Having a clear, central theme helps ensure that the STAR Moment reinforces the overall goal of your presentation.
  • How to apply: Before planning your STAR Moment, ask yourself: What is the one takeaway I want the audience to remember? For example, if you’re presenting a business proposal, your STAR Moment should highlight the most compelling benefit or insight.

2. Use Strong Visuals or Demonstrations

  • Why it matters: Visuals are powerful tools for creating memorable moments. A surprising or stunning visual can leave a lasting impact.
  • How to apply: Use a compelling image, infographic, or video that reinforces your message. You can also consider live demonstrations. For example, Steve Jobs was known for incorporating STAR Moments in Apple presentations by unveiling new products in dramatic and unexpected ways.

3. Tell a Powerful Story

  • Why it matters: People connect with stories on an emotional level. A well-told story can make complex ideas relatable and memorable.
  • How to apply: Share a real-life anecdote or a personal story that supports your key message. Ensure it’s emotionally engaging and relevant to your audience. For example, a speaker introducing a new healthcare solution might tell a moving story about how it transformed a patient’s life.

4. Create a Dramatic Moment or Big Reveal

  • Why it matters: Surprises grab attention and make information stick. A big reveal or unexpected twist can make your STAR Moment unforgettable.
  • How to apply: Plan a moment where you introduce a surprising statistic, stunning fact, or reveal an innovative product that catches the audience off guard. This could involve unveiling new information or a solution in a way that the audience doesn’t expect.

5. Incorporate a Call to Action or Challenge

  • Why it matters: A powerful call to action can inspire the audience to take the next step and keeps your presentation in their minds.
  • How to apply: End your presentation with a bold challenge or call to action that motivates the audience to act. For example, if you’re presenting on sustainability, ask the audience to commit to making a specific change in their lifestyle or business operations.

6. Use Silence or Pause for Emphasis

  • Why it matters: Pausing at the right moment can build tension and anticipation, making your point more impactful.
  • How to apply: After delivering a significant statistic or major point, use a strategic pause. This allows the audience to absorb the information and adds weight to your message.

By focusing on these elements, you can craft a STAR Moment that leaves a lasting impression, helping your presentation stand out and making your message “Something They’ll Always Remember.”

Sources:

  • Nancy Duarte’s STAR Moment Concept in her book Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences.

Presentation Expert Tip: The 10-Minute Rule

10-minute rule

Carmine Gallo

presentation expert

presentation tips

Aug 08, 2014

The 10-Minute Rule is based on the idea that audience attention tends to wane after approximately 10 minutes. To keep engagement levels high, presenters should aim to change the pace, introduce new content, or shift focus every 10 minutes.

Here’s how to apply the 10-Minute Rule to your presentations:

1. Break Up Your Presentation

Instead of delivering one long, uninterrupted presentation, break it up into smaller, manageable segments. Each section should focus on a different key point or topic to keep the audience engaged.

Why It’s Important:

  • Maintains Engagement: Regularly introducing new content prevents the audience from becoming disengaged.
  • Increases Retention: By breaking the presentation into smaller chunks, you make it easier for the audience to absorb and retain information.

How to Apply It:

  • Divide your presentation into sections and ensure that each segment lasts no longer than 10 minutes.
  • Use transitions to clearly signal the end of one section and the start of the next.

Example: In a 30-minute presentation, divide your content into three 10-minute segments, each with its own focus, such as “Introduction to the Topic,” “Current Challenges,” and “Proposed Solutions.”

2. Introduce a Change Every 10 Minutes

To re-engage the audience every 10 minutes, introduce a change in format or content. This could be a visual change, a different type of media, or an interactive element.

Why It’s Important:

  • Reinvigorates Focus: Introducing a new element helps to refocus the audience’s attention.
  • Prevents Monotony: Changing the pace or format every 10 minutes ensures that the presentation doesn’t become repetitive.

How to Apply It:

  • Alternate between speaking, showing a video, using a demo, or engaging the audience with a poll or Q&A session.
  • Use slides with different types of media—images, videos, or infographics—to create variety.

Example: After 10 minutes of talking, pause to show a relevant video or ask the audience to participate in a quick poll.

3. Encourage Audience Interaction

The 10-minute mark is an ideal time to shift focus from presenting to interacting with your audience. Whether through a short Q&A session or an audience poll, interaction keeps people engaged and gives them a chance to participate.

Why It’s Important:

  • Increases Engagement: Audience interaction helps prevent passive listening and keeps people involved in the presentation.
  • Makes the Presentation More Dynamic: Introducing questions or activities breaks up the flow and adds variety to the presentation.

How to Apply It:

  • Every 10 minutes, ask the audience a question or invite feedback to encourage participation.
  • Use interactive tools like audience polls or quizzes to make the session more engaging.

Example: In a presentation on customer service, ask the audience, “What’s the biggest challenge your company faces with customer engagement?” and allow a few people to share their thoughts.

Final Thoughts

The 10-Minute Rule is a powerful strategy to maintain audience attention and engagement. By breaking your presentation into segments, introducing changes every 10 minutes, and encouraging audience interaction, you can keep your audience focused and ensure they remain actively engaged throughout your talk.