How It All Starts Have you ever paid more than you expected because the price quoted didn’t include VAT? I get infuriated when I decide to pay for something only to discover that the company actually wants a little bit more of my money. They didn’t tell me the correct price because, well, it’s just not what […]
Show Me Some Respect Read More »
“How can I improve my Powerpoint?” “How can I make my boring subject interesting?” “How do I engage the audience?” These are the sort of questions I get asked a lot. The answer to all of them is simple, really: deliver it to someone who’s outside your industry – I’m ideal for this, by the way* – and ask
Powerpoint Doesn’t Kill Presentations – People Do Read More »
Look at all that great stuff you’ve written – well done, it’s a good, solid document/presentation/email. Now, what’s the really important stuff? The key point(s) that you really need the other person to understand? Got them? Good. Now, throw away what’s left: all the pleasantries, associated information and other thoughts – the gumph. Keep control of the piece;
Distillation Technique Read More »
Antagonist My favourite movies always have a good villain. It’s well known that Hollywood loves an English actor for this role, whether it’s Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘Star Trek: Into Darkness’, Donald Pleasance as Blofeld, Peter Cushing in ‘Star Wars’, Alan Rrrickman in ‘Die Hard’, or Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. They provide a sinister, intellectual character.
License to Kill (When Speaking) Read More »
The Bad Presentation Starts Badly You amble in front of the audience and spend the first thirty seconds focusing on the computer screen, while also turning to look at the projector screen and fumbling with the clicker. By the time you finally look at the audience, they’ve already made up their minds about how the next twenty minutes will go.
Nail the Presentation – Start Well Read More »
