Crafting your presentation/story

Good evening fellow bloggers and viewers ,

What’s most important when creating and building your message for your presentation? The answer is simple- A core message.  This logical structure containing order is going to be new to most people, and also challenging.    I’m up for this challenge, I have NO choice my grade depends on this! J

For starters a presentation should be thought as a story, making a memorable and natural compelling story. Making a message stick in the audience minds has a lot to do with your story. What principles can help you achieve this? Below presentation Zen brings six principles to help achieves this. With S. U. C. C. E. S it can be done and accomplished.

1.      Simplicity – getting to the core message/ key point on why it does or should matter

2.      Unexpectedness- Surprises gets interest by stimulating the audience curiosity (Journey)

3.      Concreteness –Natural speech, examples with real life stories and scenarios

4.      Credibility- A quote from a client

5.      Emotions – Make the audience feel something, and yes the visuals help

6.      Stories – Through stories whether personal examples, art, music there is something that can be appreciated and learned.

The information must be relevant and memorable this can strengthen your presentation and your core message. Be sure you have a clear beginning, that you engage with the audience, and have a clear conclusion this will benefit you greatly.  Robert Mckee from Harvard business review suggests your goal should be to motivate people, to reach certain goals.  Robert says to aim to unite an idea with an emotion.

Then we move to conflict- because there is and can be a dark side to everything sometimes it makes the story that much better. People like and want to hear about the struggles and trials. Most people only include the positive side and aspect to things, BORING! Contrasts can be exciting and compelling.

With heartfelt stories it triggers human emotions and makes certain points to be remembered. Whether it’s a surprise, sympathetic, or empathetic piece to your presentation it may be that part that brings a visual to you personally.

Many are now exploring new options with modern day presentation using Kamishiba style which is a visual participatory that includes visuals with big, bold and clear designs. These elements that should fit and fill the frame, also remember to trim any background details.

 Next will Move on to the basic elements of a quick presentation first is -

·         Identify the problem

·         Identify the causes of the problem

·         Show how and why you solved the problem

With any presentation it’s imperative that you know your information inside and out. If there comes a moment that a technical issue arises, BE READY! There is nothing worse than stopping in the middle of a presentation because of a technical issue and freezing up. Just flow with it be natural and give it all you got.  Keep the stay awake mindset no matter what transpires throughout your presentation.

Lastly presentation Zenn written by Garr Reynolds has a 5 step approach that is straight to the point- below they are listed.

1.      Brainstorming (getting your ideas on paper)

2.      Grouping and indentifying the core ( a memorable point)

3.      Storyboarding off the computer – organizing your ideas, also sketching your visuals and key points

4.      Sketch your visuals , using post it notes, or other components

5.      Storyboarding on the computer creating bumper slides, etc

Incorporating these messages will bring an all around fantastic presentation or power point or even both!