Pow'Rful Presentations is a relatively monthly investigation of ideas, strategies and techniques to assist PowerPoint® Presenters communicate clearly with audiences.

 

In my effort to please the widest range of readers and knowing that adult learners acquire new skills in different ways, you may find typographical or grammatical errors in this newsletter. No need to point these out to me. Some readers learn best by analyzing text for errors. 

 

Also, depending on your background, and my South African origins, you may find some of my spelling and grammar to be, well let us just say "imaginative".

 

I wish all readers a Happy Holiday season. Do your best to enjoy this time. 

 

© Wayne Botha 2008

 

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Working towards this objective, I created the PowerPoint slides and crafted the presentation using the Pow'Rful Process defined in "Dodging the bullet points".

 

Although this process always results in admirable speeches, I took additional steps. I contacted volunteers who have already benefited from the volunteer efforts before the meeting, and asked them to give live testimonials during the presentation.

 

The flow of my presentation was:

 

Firstly, I explained the benefits available to members who belong to the chapter.

Secondly, I listed the benefits of volunteering.

Thirdly, I asked the identified volunteers to share their experiences, how much time volunteering takes and what benefits they have received. The volunteers said that they were able to secure better jobs because of their volunteer work. Finally, I closed the presentation by telling the audience who to see in order to sign up.

 

Needless to say, we had record numbers of volunteers sign up after this presentation.

 

Use these lessons in your next presentation, if you want audiences to sign up for a project. 

1. Define the objective of your presentation clearly.

2. Don't hog the stage. Contact a few audience members before the meeting and ask them to help you with the presentation. This connects with the audience.

3. Get multiple testimonials from people who have benefited from what you are asking your audience to do. Live testimonials are the best way to encourage audience members to understand that they will benefit by volunteering.

4. Tell the audience where to sign up. Make it easy for them to sign up on the spot.

5. Enjoy the accolades as you hear of the record-setting results of your presentation. 

 

 

 

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In these tough economic times you may need to reassess some concepts that you have taken for granted in the past. Many people are looking for ways to earn more money. Have you ever analyzed why you get paid what you get paid now? Do you know how to get paid more?

You get paid for applying your expertise to help other people solve their problems.

This formula has three variables. Changing these variables increases your result.

You have control over these variables.
1. The amount of expertise that you acquire and possess.
2. The way and effectiveness of the application of your knowledge.
3. The number of people that you help with your knowledge.

 

Make this formula work for you ...  

 

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The canned script is written in the passive voice, is extremely wordy and the PowerPoint slides are text-laden. In short, you need to rework these modules if you want your Toastmasters Club audience to stay awake.

How do you do it? (You can use this process to improve any canned presentation outside of Toastmasters as well.)

Here is the process that works for me.
1. Type up the speech, almost directly from the book provided by Toastmasters International, so that you can internalize the material.

2. Print out out your new speech, and read it to identify the main points.

3. Modify your speech around the same main points, but describe them in your own words.
4. Then make slides that support your speech.

5. Begin your rehearsals and scheduled your speech with your Vice Presidnet of Education.

 

Bonus tip - Print it out and keep your speech with you so that you  can present it with minimal notice if you find a last minute speaking slot.

 

 

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On our last trip to Disney World we were at the gates to Animal Kingdom when they opened. We headed directly for the Africa Safari and were stopped by a street show.

 

My wife pointed out the ropes in front of shops and the street was blocked with everyone watching the street show. Getting frustrated, I pushed forward through the crowd and go to the point where one fellow would not budge. I could not get around him and was angrily waiting for Goofy to finish his scripted part in the show so that I could get my family on the African safari.

 

If you have been to Disney World in the crowds, then you know how long the lines get and how every ride becomes a mission to be accomplished. As my blood boiled, my wife caught up with me and informed me that although Animal Kingdom was open, the Safari ride was only going to open in 15 minutes.

 

She asked "What did you think I meant when I showed you the ropes blocking the way?"  It turned out that the street ahead was roped off and the street show was entertainment to delay the crowd.

 

 

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