Latest News from Loraine Antrim

Presentations Are Visual Events

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:52:42 EDT

Unlike the pure rhetoric in a speech, today, presentations are visual events. No ifs ands or buts. Audiences expect a performance and props, not just words. Thanks to great showmen like Steve Jobs, the preso bar has been permanently raised.

Of course, presentations need compelling content--a good story. But they need to keep the mind AND eye engaged.

EVERYTHING ABOUT A PRESENTATION IS VISUAL
Engage the eyes and you engage the audience. There are a number of elements that are critical to keeping the audience's eyes and attention.

Let's look at the most important visual presentation element: You!

The first thing an audience sees is you. And most studies tell us the audience will make an impression of you within ten seconds. How can you be a visual presenter the audience will remember? Here are a few tips to keep the visual aspect in high gear:

TIPS TO BE A VISUAL PRESENTER
1. Walk with confidence and credibility. How you initially appear on stage can create the impression of power and authority.
2. Use your hands moderately. Don't over use gestures, but do use them. A good rule of thumb is to occasionally use a gesture to imitate an idea or word (for example, you could talk about growth and use your hand in a slightly upward motion).
3. Don't look back at your slides--always look at the audience. This keeps a visual connection going with your listeners.
4. A presenter is an actor engaging the audience. Actors are not stiff when they interact. Use your natural body gestures the same way you would in a conversation with friends.
5. Your voice can also be a visual tool. If you modulate your voice and use it to emphasize a word, the audience pays attention much more than if you were a monotone. Pumping an idea by projecting your voice keeps the audience engaged.

Remember, presentations should engage both the mind and eye. Relevant content will engage the audience mentally and your presence on stage can engage their eyes!

PRESENTATIONS ARE ...NOT SPEECHES

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:01:30 EST

Speech vs Presentation
There's a big difference between a speech and a presentation. We listen to speeches; we watch a presentation. These days, presentations are visual. A speech tends to be formal and for ears only. If you're giving a speech, you're naked. No PPT, no props. A speech is often just you at a podium with your compelling ideas. Think Martin Luther King Jr; think formal; think words only.

Speaker and Ideas
If you've ever heard a great speech, you know it's going to be good within a minute or so. It grabs you by the power of language and ideas. Steve Jobs broke out of presenter mode and became a master speech giver in his Stanford graduation speech. And Harry Potter's creator, J K Rowling wowed the graduation crowd at Harvard with her commencement address. Both used ideas alone to grab the crowd. It was the power of their words that won hearts and minds.

Speech "Must Haves"
So, what goes into a great speech? If you have to give a speech, think of three critical "must haves":

1. Create a Compelling Story. Speeches are not just informative, they tend to pull the audience in around a story or theme.
2. Touch Audience Emotions. Very often, a speech will charge us up, get us involved, pull at our hearts, make us think.
3. Use Language that Grabs Listeners. A speech tends to use language that is memorable--phrases that jump out and stick in our heads: "Ask not What Your Country Can Do For You.." or "We Have Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself" or "I Have a Dream."
4. Use Imagery. Create mental pictures that pull your listeners in.
5. Focus on One Main Idea. A really good speech zeroes in on one main point. You can explain it with a number of sub-points, but it's not about 3 or 4 ideas.

Next post: How presentations are different from speeches

PRESENTATIONS ARE…LIKE A GREAT WINE

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:02:07 EST

What does a great presentation have in common with a great wine?

When you open a great wine, it impresses you right away. It has structure and body, and a finish that lingers. Most of all, you remember it. The same with a great presentation!

Opening: When you design your next presentation, think of the first thing your audience sees and hears. Is it a lot of chit chat, “thank yous," “glad to be hear” kind of ramblings, and maybe your agenda? Not memorable at all. Grab the audience with a question or statement that makes them think…an intriguing idea, and THEN you can back in with your agenda. Like a good wine, first impressions are critical.

Structure: With wine, structure refers to those components that support the body of the wine, holding it together, giving it lift and intensity. Same with your presentation. The audience will need very easily heard sections that logically flow one to the next and support the main idea of your presentation. Think of it as having chapters in a story: one logically leads to the next.

Body: For wine drinkers, the body of a wine can be light, medium bodied, or full bodied. It doesn’t change as you drink. In your presentation, try to be consistent in your tone and content. It’s OK to have touch of humor, but overall, if your content starts “medium bodied” stay that way throughout.

Finish: The finish of a great wine lingers, you savor it; you don’t want it to end. The same with your presentation. Grab the audience with an image, an idea, a call to action that they will remember. How many presentation endings can you remember right now? My guess is, not many. But if planned right, your ending will linger in the mind long after you stop talking.

So, when designing your next presentation, think about the characteristics of a great Cabernet or Zinfandel for your inspiration. And of course, after presenting, (and this is the best part…) you can reward yourself with a fine glass of vintage vino!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...NOT STATIC

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:41:17 EST

Presentations are not static, lifeless events.

They should be energetic, full of energy and keep the audience engaged at all times! How can you ensure that your next presentation isn't just a bunch of slides that you click through?

1. Clean up your deck. Don't have lots of slides with heavy content. If you give the audience words to read, they will. What's worse is, so will you! Eyes like to read. So every time your eye sees text, you'll be tempted to read it and then you won't be in conversation mode. When in doubt, cut it out! Cut as much off the slide as you can.

2. Cut back on slides. PPT is an addiction. Once you get started, you end up wanting more and more slides. The less slides the better. Clicking thru a bunch of slides hypnotizes the audience. More you, less slides.

3. Don't present: converse! Conversation is king. Talk with the audience, pull them into your story. If you present facts and figures, you're presenting. Talk about the "why" and the "how" and you'll have more of a conversation. Best of all, you'll be more natural and authentic!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...AN OPPORTUNITY TO SELL

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:11:38 EST

PRESENTATIONS ARE...AN OPPORTUNITY TO SELL

When presenting, you're selling.

You're selling your ideas and messages. But we so often forget that, and get wrapped up in "our stuff."

How many times have you sat thru a presenation where the presenter had no idea how to sell his or her story? They just rambled on about stuff.

Stuff like features or functions or data or initiatives, statistics, sales figures. Stuff. And probably stuff you didn't care about.

Good salespeople know you sell on value. What would be of value to your listeners? What would THEY care about? It's not YOUR stuff they care about...it's THEIR stuff.

So next time you're presenting, have a conversation about what's valuable to your audience and sell a story that matters to your listeners.

Presentations Are...Part of Your 2012 Resolutions

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:48:55 EST

What are your 2012 New Year resolutions? Going to hit the gym more often? Eat more fruits and vegetables? Cut back on the wine? (Oh, no...let's get that one off the list!)

How about resolving to do five things better as you present in the year 2012? Nothing grand or undo-able. Just five simple changes that can reap big rewards. This year, resolve to:

1. Tell a STORY and not just present data.
2. Come in UNDER your allotted time, not go over!
3. Cut back on slide junk and make slides that are clean and UNCLUTTERED.
4. Remember, it's all about the AUDIENCE! And,
5. OPEN STRONG and CLOSE STRONG.

Presentations are a wonderful way to get your brand out there and engage with colleagues. Have a great new year presenting your knowledge and passion!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...CONNECTIONS

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:00:12 EST

Great presenters connect with their audience.

They establish that connection early and continue it throughout their speaking. Notice, I didn't say throughout their "presentation." If you are really connecting, you are having a conversation within your presentation. That's what makes for a great connection.

How do you connect?

By telling stories, using examples that resonate, by asking questions, by involving your audience in your story.

How do you disconnect?

By flipping thru slides; by data dumping; by "telling and yelling"; by ignoring the clues your audience is sending you.

How would you connect with someone at a party or event? You'd ask them questions, you'd listen, you'd talk about something they were concerned about, you'd be a human being who showed respect, and you'd try to be interesting! Same rules apply when speaking to a large or small group.

Next time you prepare for a speaking event, keep the idea of connections as a thread you weave throughout your talk. You and your audience will be better off connected than disconnected!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...LIKE MOVIES

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:05:40 EDT

The best presentations are like great movies.

They have a logical beginning that draws you in, a plot that keeps you engaged, actors and actions, and some drama.

When you structure any talk or presentation, think like Steven Spielberg.

Even if you are presenting a business update or technical presentation you can still create some drama or tension. The economy or a competitor or the deadline your team faces can be the source of drama; they can even be the bad guys or villains.

Set up a problem you need to solve and you have instant tension. And the team that meets this challenge are instant heroes.

Presentations are great opportunities to let your creative juices flow. Tap into your inner Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese and engage your listeners. Your audiences will thank you!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...A WAY TO DIFFERENTIATE

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:44:38 EDT

We all speak with a unique voice.

That's an important point to remember when we create a presentation. Often, we are tempted to look to others for inspiration. We want to emulate colleagues who have aced presentation after presentation.

Or, we'll read the latest and greatest presentation book and pick up tips from the JFKs or Winston Churchills or Steve Jobs of the presentation world. There is nothing wrong with looking to others for inspiration.

But face it, you are not Steve Jobs and never will be! You have your own unique style and vocabulary and way of interacting with an audience.

Yes, look for inspiration, but never forget that what will make you a great presenter is being natural and authentic. Be your own person and find your own voice.

It IS a journey. And part of that journey is looking to others for guidance. But never copy or imitate others 100%. Taking a pointer from a great speaker means making it your own and having it blend into your own personality and style. Be your own person: differentiate; be authentic; and practice, practice, practice!

You CAN be a phenomenal speaker! Just believe in yourself and watch how great you can be!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...A BLAST!

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 08:10:16 EDT

If you're not having fun when presenting, why bother?

How many presentations have you sat through that have bored you to death? Chances are, many. My guess is the presenter was bored as well.

One of the keys to a successful presentation is to honestly enjoy what you are talking about.

Your presentation does not have to be a light topic. It can be technical, informative, serious or intellectually heady, it doesn't matter. If you are really turned on by your own material, it will show.

Next time you gather your thoughts for a presentation, choose a topic or a perspective that grabs you...excites you...gets you jazzed about the chance to share your passion with an audience.

If you're not going to have fun when presenting, then why not just type up a word doc and mail it to your listeners?

Have a blast when you speak, and watch how your audience catches your fire!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...TIMELY

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:35:25 EDT

When you speak in public, your words and ideas should grab an audience.

One way to do that is to make your talk relevant and timely. If you are lucky, your topic will be of interest because it IS up-to-the-minute and highly relevant.

But many of us have topics that are not tied to a current event or recent happening. What if you are speaking on a technical topic? Then what?

Examples will save the day!

Use a number of examples that are in the here-and-now.

Describe how a person or group can be affected today by your technology.
Show your technology working in the current economic situation
Tie your technology to a current event in the news

The key is to show your presentation through a current lens, and examples sprinkled throughout your talk will do that easily!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...MULTISENSORY

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:18:24 EDT

We have more than one sense. So why do presenters only tap into one?

Most speakers rely almost exclusively on the sense of hearing. If you are using slides, you are adding a visual element. But think about novel ways to expand how your audience's other senses can work for you.

How about having your audience use their tactile sense? Get them to feel something. It's not impossible.

For example, if you are speaking about innovative technology, audience members could take out their driver's license, hold it, look at it. Now make the point that in a not too distant future, you might never have to use it again. Your driving information might be stored in a very very different way, on a digital device.

Even getting the audience to turn to the person next to them and shake hands is a way to bring the tactile sense into your presentation.

Get creative. Think of novel ways to engage more than the ear. Seeing, hearing, touching are all possibilities. Now the sense of smell and taste, well, that's pushing it a bit!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...FOCUSED

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:24:28 EDT

The best presentations zero in on one main idea. That's it!

One focused, key take-away for the audience. Not three main ideas...not ten...ONE!

How many times have you sat through an hour long presentation and when you left, you scratched your head wondering what point the speaker was trying to make?

Too many speakers stitch together rambling ideas and disconnected thoughts and call it a presentation. They have no clue as to the main point they are trying to make.

Focusing on one idea helps you and it helps your listeners. To support or back up that idea, you must go into details, evidence, elaboration. You should explain the "how" and "why" behind your main idea and give it context, but, ultimately, your presentation should advance one thought.

What is the one thing you want your listeners to remember? That should be the focus of everything say. Elaborate on that one thought and have a strategy for how you will develop it!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...NOT FUNNY

Tue, 31 May 2011 07:09:36 EDT

"Did you hear the one about a doctor, a lawyer and a priest stranded on a raft?"

Sounds like the start of a very bad joke. Yet people will tell a joke like this again and again and get dead silence. Jimmy Fallon or Tina Fey might be able to pull it off, but for most of us, humor and comedy are hard skills to master.

Then why do some people insist on telling presenters to use humor?

Not everyone can be humorous in a social setting with friends, let alone on a stage with an audience.

If you have a natural wit and humor comes easily to you, then you might consider injecting humor into your presentations. If not, don't even try! The worst feeling in the world is trying to be funny and no one laughs.

For your next presentation, do what you do best: tell your story and engage with the audience. Leave the laughs to the pros: Tina and Jimmy and your audience will thank you!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...EXCITING

Thu, 19 May 2011 07:25:06 EDT

Don't you just hate to be around boring people? They're a turn-off. We all prefer to be in the company of exciting, alive individuals who love life and show it.

Presentations are no different. If you can't get excited about your presentation, how can you expect your listeners to get excited about what you are saying?

All presentations are like the common cold: they are contagious.

Your audience can "catch" your emotions. If you are bored with your own material, your audience will be too. If you are passionate about your content, it will translate to your listeners.

You can totally control how your audience reacts to you by controlling how you interact with them. Turn off the dull, boring speaker and turn on your passion. Your audience will thank you for it.

Do You Have the Guts to Fail?

Mon, 16 May 2011 17:07:31 EDT

Most leaders are groomed for success and strive for it. Not necessarily the best move, according to Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington.

Washington spoke to the University of Pennsylvania's graduates today, and his advice on failure is one that CEOs and executives of any level should take to heart.

In his commencement address, Washington told graduates of his failures, but most importantly, he told them what he learned from those failures. He asked the new grads, "Do you have the guts to fail?' Then hit them between the eyes with, "If you don't fail, you're not even trying."

Great advice for newly minted grads, but even better advice for business leaders.

Push yourself to take risks, try innovative technologies, explore new strategies. If you fail--and you will--take what you've learned and make yourself better and stronger.

Too big to fail? Only if your ego gets in the way.

PRESENTATIONS ARE...INTERACTIVE

Tue, 10 May 2011 16:46:54 EDT

No one likes to be lectured to, or "talked at."

But that's how thousands of business people deliver presentations. They are shoveling information at their listeners, not even aware if their audience hears, cares or understands. Data dumps.

If you rely on the "shovel" approach, imagine your self in the front row of your next presentation. Do you really want slide after slide of data, with no interaction; a dull lecture by a boring teacher? That's what you're doing if you don't engage the audience.

The cure? Have a conversation with your audience. Most importantly, gauge their attention. Ask them questions; seek input; get interactive.

Unless you're delivering the State of the Union Address or a eulogy, interacting with your audience is one of the most important steps you can take to up-level your presentations.

Would You Rather Be Feared or Loved?

Tue, 10 May 2011 16:33:54 EDT

"Is it better to be feared or loved?" That is a classic question that Machiavelli asked leaders in his seminal work, The Prince.

COMMAND & CONTROL
Some business leaders lead with a heavy hand: it's all about command and control. What they say, goes. It's the equivalent of being feared.

Think of the former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld or the other famous Donald, Mr. Trump. They don't seem to be the collaborative types. When they make a decision, it's final. As Mr. Trump might say, "You're fired"! No discussion; decisions made behind closed doors in the boardroom.

There are many times when this type of leadership is wanted, even necessary. During political upheaval or in time of war, or when a company is in crisis, command and control might be the most effective form of leading.

AN OPEN, COLLABORATIVE MINDSET
But for the most part, a more collaborative, open style will get more effective results. That does not mean waiting for your team to come into your office. It means getting out and about. Asking questions, listening, actively seeking input. Drawing people in, not driving them away.

Letting a team or whole organization know that you value their opinions can help spur innovation and drive to results. An open, collaborative style earns respect and fosters input.

With all respect to Mr. Machiavelli, it's not a matter of being feared or being loved, it's a matter of being effective, and these days, an open door policy is more effective than a closed door.

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PRESENTATIONS ARE...A REFLECTION OF YOU

Sun, 01 May 2011 18:55:49 EDT

Every time you speak in public, you are putting your personal brand on the line. This is especially true when you deliver a presentation using PowerPoint.

Those slides become a reflection of how you think...how you see the world...how you organize. In essence, they mirror your personality.

So, what message about YOU are your slides giving?

Think about the worst decks you've seen: lots of text, so much blah, blah, blah; or childish clip art lifted from Microsoft; or charts and graphs that need two engineers to explain.

Now think about the best decks ever: very well-thought out messages, easy to read and understand; or slides with minimal clutter, just a word or phrase to concentrate on; or graphics that grab your attention and have a sophistication and aesthetic. If you think about it, there is no contest here.

Next presentation, think about the image you want to project and be sure your slides are helping, not hurting your public speaking brand.

Where Do Leaders Spend Their Time?

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:24:34 EDT

Look at your typical day:

Are you a Blackberry or iPhone addict? Constantly in meetings? Hours of emails and PPTs? Spending too much time on Twitter? Or on the golf course talking to clients?

Bottom line: Where do you spend most of your time?

That question was asked of CEOS in a fascinating study appearing in Harvard’s Working Knowledge. The researchers asked that question of close to 100 CEOs in Italy, and you might be very surprised by some of the results:

Most of the CEOs spent 42% of their time with employees (insiders).
CEOs gave 16% of their time talking in one-on-ones with outsiders.
Internally, the finance department got the most time, (average 8.6 hours per week). HR got the least CEO face time: 5.5 hours per week.
Among outsiders, consultants sucked up a lot of CEO time, on average, 4.7 hours per week.
Suppliers get the least attention, or only 1.3 hours per week.
As CEOs worked more hours, those extra hours went to meetings with employees.

YOUR DESK IS YOUR ENEMY

The big take-away is that for these leaders, almost half of their time is spent interacting with internal folks and that resulted in increased productivity: a 1% increase in hours spent with internal people increased productivity by 2.12%.

So, the bottom line for all business leaders might be this: think of your office and desk as distractors. Put down the ipad, read less spreadsheets, stroll the halls and get out there and spend time with your staff. Ask them questions, find out about their challenges and solutions. Talk more and Twitter less!

You and your company will be better off for it!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...LOGICAL

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:49:44 EDT

Structure is king. That means how you order ideas can make or break your presentation.

In your mind, of course YOU have an order, a logic to how ideas connect. But, not all your listeners think like you do. Some are visual learners, some are analytical, some dig numbers and some get into abstraction.

But listeners of all shapes and sizes share one thing in common: they crave logic and order. Luckily for you, achieving it is pretty easy.

Think of your deck as a story. In the introduction, you set the stage. Present your main point: your big idea. Now build out 3 or 4 chapters or units. Each chapter will build support for your main idea. Listeners will have trouble remembering more than 4.

Think like the audience. What do they need to hear in these 3 chapters to help them "get" your main point? Build out your deck around a single story with logical, linking chapters and your audience will have no trouble following your flow.

Great Leaders are Short

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:13:52 EDT

Really effective leaders "get" the idea of short. No, not the kind of short as in a Napoleon complex.

Rather, effective leaders deeply understand that time is in short supply for everyone.

In an age of Twitter, few people have the time or mindset to read lengthy emails or listen to a voice-mail that is five minutes long, or hear an update that rambles and just goes on and on.

SHORTER IS BETTER

Effective leaders at any level can "up" their executive presence by delivering almost all forms of communication in a shorter manner. Of course, there are always exceptions, but in general, you might consider the following guidelines:

1. Voice-mails. Aim for 30 to 60-seconds. If it takes longer to deliver than one minute, perhaps the message really needs to be delivered in a live call or face-to-face.
2. Emails. One to two brief paragraphs. If you need to go slightly over, then use 3 or 4 bullets. Again, if it takes longer to compose, then perhaps email is not the best vehicle.
3. Presentations. Twenty minutes. Shorter is definitely better when presenting a slide deck. Audience attention and retention drops off after twenty minutes.

A very good brand to cultivate as a leader is someone who is to-the-point, concise and no nonsense.

So, as Napoleon, Toulouse Lautrec, and Danny DeVito all know, sometimes being short has a definite up side!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...NOT MICROSOFT WORD!

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:05:49 EDT

How many times have you sat through a really awful slide presentation that had as many words as the entire Wikipedia?

Sadly, for many of us, far too often.

Slides can be designed a number of ways that range from a single image to a few bullet points to inserted video and to the worst choice: blocks and blocks of text.

Slides clearly should follow your words and complement them, but slides should not be designed around sentences or paragraphs.

The rationale is simple: if you give the eye something to read, it will! And while audience eyes are reading the volumes on your slide, they are not listening to you!

Before you design your next sentence-heavy slide, take the Presenter's Pledge.

Raise your right hand and repeat, "Microsoft PowerPoint is NOT Microsoft Word!"

Your audience will thank you for it.

Leadership Strategy: Touch Hearts and Minds

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 06:54:53 EDT

Leaders who can touch hearts as well as minds have a lasting impact. Better yet, their messages resonate...they're memorable.

Want to see one of the best examples of how you can communicate and make an emotional connection?

Take a look at Apple's new iPad 2 ad. Not only is Apple's mission and DNA addressed, the company executives are communicating a vision and plan that resonates far beyond their product. They're touching our emotional center. Smart!

Whether you are a CEO or a manager of a small team, take a lesson from the leadership at Apple. Extend your leadership brand. How?

Don't just deliver business messages that only resonate in the mind. Talking about your product or service, your quarterly results, your initiatives or your latest update is important. No question.

But...

The next time you address your teams, think about rallying them with a message that has emotional impact as well as business impact. Your leadership brand will thank you!

Inspiring: Best Leadership Trait

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:22:05 EDT

We all want inspiration.

As individuals we look for it in a number of ways, but in business organizations, we look to our leaders for inspiration.

No matter if you are a CEO or a leader of a small team, inspiring your followers is what great leadership is all about.

So how do you light the fire, get people jazzed and inspired?

Passion. Pure and simple.

Passion comes through in your voice, your mannerisms, and your words. If you can't show your teams that you are excited about a project or your vision, how can you expect them to excel and innovate?

So, what three things can you do to turn your passion on, make it more noticeable and get your teams inspired?

1. Inspire with your voice. Whether you're speaking on the phone, to a small group, or in one-on-one conversations, make your voice sound like you're jazzed. That means project a little more, modulate your voice a bit, put some umph behind your words. Get a sense of energy in your voice and watch how contagious that energy can be!

2. Inspire with gestures. Let your teams see that you want to grab the world by the tail and spin it around! Static leaders are not inspiring. Use your natural gestures and mannerisms, get your hands involved as you talk, smile more, and visually connect with your listeners. No one is inspired by cardboard leaders who don't move. Act as if you live life to the fullest, you DO, don't you?

3. Inspire with stories. Great leaders tell stories. Inspire your teams by telling a story of someone overcoming insurmountable odds, or reaching beyond a goal, or surviving a tragedy. The story can be from literature or the movies or a customer or friend. The key is to offer an example that gives your teams a model of inspiration.

Good leadership requires business acumen and financial know-how, but it's the personal traits like being inspiring that takes your leadership from good to great!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...WORDS, NOT SLIDES

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 04:56:43 EDT

Your presentation is not a set of slides.

It's you talking with the audience, not jockeying a bunch of PPTs.

Slides have their place, but the less cluttered they are, the better. The less complex they are, the better. The less distracting they are, the better.

Of course, if you are giving a technical presentation to engineers, your slides should reflect that audience's preferences, but for most presentations, the audience is there to hear someone speak, not see slide after slide after slide.

Brainstorm your story first, get your narrative down pat as a fluid conversation, and then add slides that help augment your conversation, not distract from it.

You presenting with 50 slides could be a boring disaster. You having an engaging conversation using 10 slides is a recipe for success!

Agility: Best Leadership Traits

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 08:11:42 EDT

"He's a great guy, but not a great leader."

How many times have you heard that in your organization? It might be directed to a team leader or, unfortunately at the executive suite.

So how do you go break away from being a "great gal" to a great leader?

In the next few posts, we'll look at some of the "must have" leadership traits that can get you from good to great. First on the list: AGILITY.

THE DNA OF AGILITY

Agility: the ability to move or think quickly and easily. Sounds simple. But in the world of business, obstacles are thrown on your track everyday. How do you stay agile?

1. Push the envelope. Agility happens when people get exited about a new project, not the same old same old.
2. Create fast & collaborative channels of communication. You need to communicate quickly to teams about progress, mandates, updates. Build a communication framework that allows communication at the speed of light, not a meeting next Tuesday at 10.
3. Focus on execution. It's all about performance. Remove slow processes and obstacles to innovation. Drink in Nike's "Just DO it!" mantra and make it your default mindset.
4. Think like a start-up. If your team or organization has processes, departments and mandates like the federal government, you'll never be agile unless you cut the bloat. Start-ups don't have that bloat. Adopt the entrepreneurial mindset and instill it in your staff, and watch how things speed up.
5. Give permission to throw things. Make it clear to your staff that if they have an idea, they have a forum. Throw around ideas in collaborative brainstorming, rather than committee after committee of reviewing results.

To see a real-world example of agile thinking, you just have to look at Dr. David Ferrucci and his team at IBM who built Watson, the computer who won on Jeopardy.

Think like Dr. Ferrucci...stay focused...gut the processes that bog you down, and take off!

Stay tuned for our next leadership trait!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...MINIMAL

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 17:56:10 EDT

In the age of Vaudeville, when a performer went on far too long, management would literally pull them off stage with a long giant hook.

Not a bad idea for today's presenters.

That's a great image to keep in your mind the next time you give a speech or presentation.

No matter if it is internal to a small group of colleagues or external to a huge audience, listeners want quality messages in as succinct a way as possible.

Especially in an age of Twitter and instant gratification, going on and and on is just not going to garner audience approval. Make your point and then move on.

Stay tight. Stay on message, cut the endless details, and make "Less is More" your presentation mantra.

"Nuff said.

THE VISIBLE LEADER

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 17:44:18 EDT

“People want leadership…they’re thirsty for it…”

That line is from Aaron Sorkin’s great 1990’s film, “The American President.” If anyone hasn’t seen it, the film offers some amazing insights into what real leadership is via Michael Douglas’ character of President Andrew Sherherd.

Sorkin’s quote holds true today as well, especially in large business organizations. We WANT a leader to emerge who offers guidance and who communicates a vision and strategy that we can rally around.

But that only happens if you ARE visible and have channels of communication set up to reach your employees.

VISIBILITY

Visibility means not hiding behind your desk and collaborating in secret. It means getting out and asking questions and listening to staff. It means openly soliciting ideas and feedback. Visibility also means having a time and place to communicate: not just for the sake of communicating and taking up valuable time, but when there is a definite reason to speak. Call it Communicating with a Purpose.

It’s more than the annual company meeting or sales event. Real leaders have set channels of communication to make sure they are visible and that their messages get heard.

We’ll continue our next post with a discussion of what those communication channels can be in an age of Twitter and Web 2.0.

In the meantime, rent “The American President” or, if you like, go back and look at episodes of "The West Wing". Sorkin turned his award-winning movie into the Emmy winning West Wing series with Martin Sheen. Either way, take a cue from Douglas and Sheen's highly visible leaders.

Next post: channels of communication

PRESENTATIONS ARE...RELEVANT

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:17:41 EST

If you can't something that matters to your listeners, don't say anything at all.

When you speak in public, the audience wants to hear ideas that will mean something to them, not just to you.

So when brainstorming for ideas, you might consider:

"What's top of mind for my listeners right now"?
"What are their pain points"?
"What is happening lately in their business world"?
"How can I map to their concerns"?

Designing your story and messages around relevant topics for your audience helps create a strong bond between listener and speaker. A sort of emotional glue or connection that binds you to them.

Connecting and creating a real relationship with listeners is what the really great presenters do...not a bad template for all of us!

CHARLIE SHEEN'S LEADERSHIP LESSONS?

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:50:00 EST

Speaking badly in public. It now has a name: “Pulling a Charlie Sheen.”

Charlie Sheen and leadership lessons in the same sentence?

No way, you say.

No matter what you think of the Two and a Half Men actor’s rants, and no matter what the cause for this behavior, there are lessons all leaders can take away from Mr. Sheen’s recent behavior. It's more about looking at Sheen's behavior as a template for what NOT to do.

Whether you are speaking internally or externally, talking to the media or to a group of team members or even customers, there are five speaking behaviors to avoid.

Let’s call them the “Don’t Do What Charlie Did” list:

1. Don’t speak off the cuff. Have a preplanned agenda. It can be as simple as two main points, but stick to your planned ideas. The worst thing you can do is have no thought of what you will be saying next. And reporters or even customers can ask questions that can pull you away from your agenda. Stick to your plan!

2. DON’T RAMBLE. There should be a logic to what you will be talking about. Listeners like a sense of structure, an easily followed “first, second, third” flow of ideas. Try to connect the dots for your audience so they can follow your logic.

3. DON’T ANSWER IMMEDIATELY. When a tough question comes up from a team member or customer, take a few seconds to gather your thoughts. No one is going to time how many seconds you took to respond. Be pensive and think through your response.

4. DON’T LET YOUR EGO SHOW. No one likes someone who is full of himself. Stop talking about how great you and your plans are. What would this audience like or need to hear? Make your statements outward facing, not inward.

5. DON'T TALK UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING OF VALUE TO SAY.

When speaking in public--whether you're a movie star or a manager--you need to have focus,

direction and a message that people can understand!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...MAGICAL

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:52:33 EST

How many times have you sat in a presentation and looked at your watch or played with your Blackberry?

Do you know why?

No magic.

Perhaps you were listening to a nervous presenter going through the paces or an official spokesperson who was forced into presenting.

Presentations should be magical.

They should transform the listeners...take them to a place they've never been...show them ideas that make them go "wow!"...offer them information and entertainment and insights....make them smile.

Add a touch of passion, an authentic style, an on-going connection with your audience, and interesting content, and ZAP!?#!you've got your magic wand!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...PERSONAL

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:33:22 EST

Speaking in public should be a very personal event.

It’s you up there, not an “official company spokesperson” almost reading a script to the audience.

That’s how robots present.

If you deliver a canned presentation in a robot-like style, then why not just give the audience a handout to read and leave the stage? Really great presenters give something of themselves when they speak.

It can be a few personal anecdotes sprinkled throughout the talk; it can be describing a transformational journey; it can be describing how your topic is relevant to the audience and to you. Even IT presentations or quarterly results can have your personal stamp on them.

Think about engaging with the audience the same way you would when talking with colleagues: ask some questions, get interactive.

That’s what real people do…it’s also what great presenters do!

Are You an Oak or Willow Tree?

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:16:07 EST

Imagine a strong wind; a hurricane force gale. Now think of the trees around your house. You watch them sway and rock, hoping one does not fall on your roof.

If one does topple, it will probably be an oak.

Oak is a very rigid tree that is famously strong. But, it's that rigidity that will cause it to go down. The wind comes and the tree has only one option: stand there, rigid and unmoving.

That kind of strength can sometime be suicide.

An Alternative to Oak

In that same storm, the willow will find a way to adapt. It will move in such a way that no matter how forceful the gale, it bends. That's how it survives. It has an adaptive strategy.

OK, you get it. Some leaders are like oak trees. They have a very rigid leadership style. They never adapt...never transform their thinking...never consider alternatives. At times, this might be an effective strategy, but what happens when the winds of change become gale force?

Willow vs. oak? In the hurricane, my money is on the willow!

Five Tips For Speaking About Your Vision

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:13:30 EST

Real leaders talk about their vision. That was the focus of our last post.

Any leader can show vision: leaders of a team or project...leaders of a business unit...or a leader of an organization. It's about letting your team know where you see them in the foreseeable future.

But what makes up a great vision?

Here are five tips for bringing your vision to life. A vision should be:

1. Simple. If your vision is so complex that only an engineer can understand it, then you've lost an opportunity to rally your troops.
2. Memorable. Vision statements that are too long, can't be remembered. If your team can't easily remember your vision, how can they work toward that vision?
3. Actionable. An effective vision is one that we can act upon...that's doable. For example, J. F. Kennedy's vision was to have America put a man on the moon, not the Andromeda galaxy.
4. Conversational. The best visions are ones that are in plain, everyday language, deliver your vision the way you really speak, not in some formal "vision statement." Be yourself!
5. Motivational. Your vision should rally your troops...give them something to dream about...get them charged up.

One final thought about a leader's vision...dream BIG! You have your own moon to reach!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...SURPRISING

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:47:55 EST

If you know what someone is going to say, why bother to listen?

An effective presentation is no different. If your audience pretty much knows what you will be saying, there is no incentive to really listen or be moved to action.

A great presentation is about surprising the audience.

Add commentary, information and ideas that are not initially expected. Even for something as common as a quarterly results presentation, you can still shake it up with insights into how and why the numbers came in as they did. Be different.

Offer your listeners ideas that are new to their ears and you'll be developing not only a great presentation, but a great presentation style!

The Vision Thing

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:23:30 EST

Can you see into the future? Get a glimpse of what your company, organization or business unit will be like in three years? How about five?

It's the vision thing.

Some of the world's greatest leaders know the power of vision. Take Jack Welch. His thoughts on vision are classic:
"Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion."

No matter where you are in your career, in the boardroom or on the way to it, articulating your vision can help your executive brand and spur productivity to advance your product or service.

A VISION GUIDES YOUR TEAM

Painting a picture of where your organization is going is critical to directing your troops. Everyone needs to have a clear view of an end goal. By framing your vision into a clear statement, you help guide your teams to action...give them a focus for their quarterly or yearly activities.

But it's more than just a statement. A vision has certain requirements if it is to be an actionable vision.

In our next few posts, we'll examine what constitutes an effective vision and how you can articulate this vision to your teams. Stay tuned!

Executive Communication Tip

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:40:00 EST

Executive Building Blocks

Many executives have great ideas, but when they speak, those ideas sometimes get buried in too many words.

Whether you're addressing colleagues, speaking in a company meeting, or talking to customers, if you communicate and few listeners "get" what you are talking about, you've wasted an opportunity.

One way to help your listeners is to structure your ideas in logical patterns. Think of ordering your ideas as logical building blocks.

The Power of Three

We tend to remember ideas that have a logical structure.

When speaking (and writing) organize ideas as First, Second, Third.

You don't want every idea to come out in threes, but for critical communication, structure is an easy way to help your listeners.

You can vary your structure a bit by using "time" words instead of numbers: next, after this, following this, work just as well.

The key is to make it easier for your listeners/readers to follow your ideas...now that's executive communication at its best!

PRESENTATIONS ARE...REHEARSED

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:31:16 EST

Few speakers are spontaneously brilliant.

The best of the best presenters rehearse many many times...that's how they got to be the best.

Yes, Steve Jobs rehearses...again and again and again.

If you look at your presentation once or twice on the plane ride to the speaking venue, you are not rehearsing...you're reading content. Not the same thing.

Walk around in a conference room going over your presentation--with slides--from start to finish. How many times?

Ask yourself: during the actual presentation, if all your slides went down, could you comfortably finish the preso without them?

When you say, "yes," then you've rehearsed enough.

PRESENTATIONS ARE...CONVERSATIONS

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:35:52 EST

People talking WITH people.

If you are presenting well, you create a dialogue with your audience.

If it's a monologue, you might want to rethink your strategy. You might not be ready for prime time presenters.

Come back with a collaborative attitude and talk with the audience, not to them. They'll thank you, and you'll have a much better time, maybe even some fun!

Twitter as Your Executive Coach?

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:28:14 EST

Executives might consider Twitter as their new executive communication coach. Don't scoff. It can be a highly effective teacher of powerful communication strategies. And cost-effective!

Best of all, you don't have to actually post on Twitter to become a better communicator. Just reading good tweets can teach business leaders impressive ways to package their communication. Hmmm. Am I putting myself out of a job?

A Time and Place for Twitter-Speak
Twitter's character limit is obviously not the best choice for all types of executive communication. For example, creating your vision or mission statement or designing a new sales strategy dictates more than 140 characters. But in terms of communicating those ideas, well, you can't beat lessons from the world of Twitter.

Here are five best practices Twitter can teach CXOs about communicating verbally as well as when writing.

Communication Lessons from Twitter
1. Net it out. The 140 character-limit forces us to think in terms of a main point. Make it, edit non-essential details, and move on.

2. Offer value-rich content. Have something worthwhile to say. If you're not informing, inspiring or motivating your troops, hold off on communicating.

3. Be conversational. No one likes to read or hear a business leader droning on in corporate speak. Talk like a real human being and have a compelling conversation.

4. Use precise words. Twitter forces us to rethink the power of words and phrases and chose a precise vocabulary. "Align our company strategy to customer priorities." UGH! How about, "Think like the customer."

5. Listen to your audience. It's not always about what you want to say. Think about what your audience needs to hear.

6. Don't tweet people to death! That might mean cutting back on the amount of your corporate communications. Keep the channels of communication open, but don't overload.

Practice Makes Perfect
Learning to communicate in a succinct and powerful way takes practice. Start with your emails, move on to voice mail, then your blog, and once you feel comfortable, roll-out Twitter-speak into your meetings and presentations. Concise CXO-speak makes for happier employees!

P.S. All the sentences in this post are under 140 characters!

CEO or Czar: Which Leader Are You?

Thu, 13 May 2010 04:15:00 EDT

The "C" word is getting a lot of press these days (you WERE thinking CEO, weren't you?). It seems that every time someone gets appointed to a government post, they get the title "czar." There are so many of these little crazy Ivans running around in Washington that Senator McCain said Obama has, "more Czars than the Romanovs."

Leaders Should Just Lead

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 06:00:00 EST

One has to wonder what business leaders are thinking sometimes when they utter things that they have to know are going to send waves throughout the universe. The iconic Warren Buffett opened up his mouth yesterday and turned the financial world on its head. Hopefully his comments do not show executive prescience. They clearly don't highlight executive presence or reflective CXO thinking.

The CIO as Tarzan

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST

In this age of collaborative technologies and social media, is there still a place for in-person meetings and real phone calls? Yes! The idea of "going primitive" can actually give you a strategic advantage in your communications.

The Secrets of Selling IT to CEOs

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:41:30 EDT

Selling IT products or services to CEOs? Not the easiest task, and very different from selling to CIOs, but thinking like a CEO and not an IT salesperson is the key to opening the door to the CEO suite.

Bloggers Affected by FTC Ruling

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:46:14 EDT

The FTC has revised its "Guidelines Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." The new guides will have a profound impact on product reviews and will influence not only bloggers, but manufacturers, advertisers and marketers.

Chicks Rule Social Media!

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:45:46 EDT

Who uses social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn? The guys or the gals? Based on two recent studies tracking social media usage by gender, you might be surprised to find that chicks rule the social media web!

Amelia Earhart: Lessons for Leaders

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:58:17 EDT

How much courage do you have? Enough to lead a global team or complete a difficult IT initiative on time or come in under budget? Child's play.

Don't brag too much. If you can accomplish these, you're simply par for the course.

Want to demonstrate real courage…true accomplishment? Test your mettle and show uncommon leadership? Pull an Amelia.

"PULLING AN AMELIA"

Take fifteen hours out of your life, all alone, no sleeping, sitting in a compartment no bigger than a box, and fly across the Atlantic as you watch ice form on your plane's wings and fire shoot out of your engine's exhaust pipe. That was Earhart's day on May 20, 1932. Raw courage.

Makes meeting your budget seem paltry, doesn't it?

Amelia Earhart lived life with courage and grace and a bit of humility. You could do no better than to look to this uncommon leader for inspiration.

The upcoming movie on Amelia Earhart's life, starring Hillary Swank, got me thinking about this iconic pioneer-hero and what business leaders can learn from her unflinching tenacity and courage.

In rereading her books, 20 Hours, 40 Minutes [the time it took for her first Atlantic crossing] and The Fun of It, I came across a number of quotes that could inspire any business leader:

AMELIA EARHART'S QUOTES FOR LEADERS

Decide whether or not the goal is worth the risks involved. If it is, stop worrying.
Worry retards reaction and makes clear-cut decisions impossible.
The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity.
Fears are paper tigers.
You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure. The process is its own reward.
Preparation, I have often said, is rightly two-thirds of any venture.
Never interrupt someone doing something you said couldn't be done.

The next time you're wavering, faltering or not focusing, take inspiration from my all-time favorite Amelia quote: "The most effective way to do it, is to DO it."

Post-script to Nike: shouldn't you at least footnote Lady Lindy when you use your tag line?

Cracking the IT Da Vinci Code

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:45:00 EDT

When non-IT folks listen to technology staff talk about IT, it's a bit like trying to crack the Da Vinci Code. It sometimes seems like a secret language that confuses and maybe even intimidate business users. But by following a few communication best practices, IT personnel can crack "the code" and have an effective and successful dialogue with their business units.

The Top Ten Executive Mistakes

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:30:00 EDT

Want to feel old? Sixteen years ago, in 1993, The Late Show with David Letterman premiered on CBS. Where has the time gone?

Letterman, for most people, is synonymous with his 'Top Ten List.' It's such a part of our culture that The Top Ten List even has its own Wikipedia entry. Fun trivia, you're thinking, but how does this relate to executives?

Executives and lists have a long history together. Business leaders love to make lists, they hand out lists, they read lists. Lists are popular with everybody. You can't pick up a leading newspaper without finding a list of something. Everybody does lists: Business Week, Newsweek and dozens of other business journals, and Forbes has lists that go far beyond the top ten. They trump everybody with their list of the Top 100.

So, in honor of Letterman's anniversary, here is The CXO Mindset's List of the Top Ten Ways to Get Kicked Out of the C-Suite:

The Top Ten Executive Mistakes

Mistake Number 1: Talk too much and don't actively listen to your team's concerns.

Mistake Number 2: Don't take responsibility when you've messed up.

Mistake Number 3: Have lots of ideas, but don't execute on any of them.

Mistake Number 4: Think you can do it all, and don't delegate power and responsibility.

Mistake Number 5: Give presentations that have no inspiration or vision.

Mistake Number 6: Think that what got you into the C-suite will keep you in the C-suite.

Mistake Number 7: Rely on people you like vs. people with skills.

Mistake Number 8: Don't communicate to your staff on a regular basis.

Mistake Number 9: Stay isolated from the "shop floor."

Mistake Number 10: Do not "give back" to all the people who helped you get into that C-suite office.