So my buddy Mark and I were sitting in an airport, awaiting a reassigned flight when he showed me the darndest thing: a video of a guy making a presentation that was so impressive, I just had to adopt it. Geek? Yep.
We all talk about it in the business world: this boring, unimpressive talk-to-the-stupid-bullets method of giving presentations.
So my transformation started with Mark’s poking me, as many Creative Directors do, to first read Jerry Weissman’s “Presenting To Win” which hammers away at the “whats in it for them” ideal. Brilliant – but when you add this strategy to a more engaging style of presentation, you create an immersive, memorable experience.
Check out Garr Reynold’s blog… and then watch Dick Hardt’s video. This use of PowerPoint to only supplement the presentation is the best way to make a first impression, or as we say in the corp comm world, to “change perception.” Credit where credit is due. This type of presentation, I’ve now learned, is credited to the well-known Lawrence Lessig, a frequent writer to Wired and a Stamford professor.
I’ve now created a presentation for my employer – and tested it with a few friends-er-clients. Its turning heads, fast.
“You should simply use PowerPoint as a slide projector rather than an information tool.”
~ Edward Tufte
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