Category: Presentations
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The best-known secret about First Impressions
Quiz question… Imagine I wanted to do a Tuesday Tip about meetings. Should I use this as my opening paragraph? Today’s Tip is about meetings It’s factually accurate. But it’s so boring. It doesn’t make you think “Please show me Paragraph Two”. Instead, I could use an opening paragraph like one of…
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Do NOT build-up to your main point
A lovely Golden Rule: “Best goes earliest” In other words: put your most important points right at the start of your comms. Here’s why… When communicating, people usually build-up to their main point. Which means their main point appears in the final section, the final bullet point, the bottom paragraph, the bottom half of each…
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How to simplify the complex
Here’s how to simplify the complex… Example 1: simplifying presentations With presentations, there are four things you must get right: Content – say things your audience will find valuable Visuals – if using slides, make sure they enhance your message, not dilute it Delivery – deliver with charisma and impact Mindset – build your confidence…
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“If you don’t know where you’re going…”
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else” That’s a book by David Campbell. It’s a great title. You can apply it to lots of things – car journeys, your career, your relationships… … and to communication: In your next meeting – if you don’t know what you want to…
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Get. To. The. Point.
I recently saw a presentation from an accountancy firm. Here are some of the ‘highlights’: It had 24 slides It was titled “Credentials Presentation” Slide #2 listed lots of numbers about the business – date of formation, number of partners, etc Slide #3 was a map of their offices Slide #4 listed all their services…
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Be Curious, not Furious
When things don’t go as we want, it’s easy to be furious. It’s someone else’s fault. The cards were stacked against us. I didn’t get a fair hearing. I messed up. It has been an epic FAIL. But did you know that FAIL stands for First Attempt Is Learning We all…
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Don’t do things people hate
What are your Pet Hates with communication? Mine include: A presenter saying “you won’t be able to read this, but…” Or one who starts running out of time, so races through slides that nobody understands A long, complicated email that should’ve been a phone call A meeting that wasn’t needed … or I wasn’t needed…