Physical presence: It is unfair, but 6-foot-2-inches and in shape beats 5 feet and out of shape. If you are short like me, stand tall, and speak distinctly.

Presentation style: Biggest mistake, being too casual with the audience. While the presenter is trying to appear friendly and likeable, it often comes across as disrespecting the audience. Better to be a bit too formal and appear "buttoned up" versus trying to be my new best friend.

Answer the question! Do not dance; it isn't the time or place. "I don't know, but I'll get back to you," stated firmly is fine. It builds credibility. Every other answer does not.

All of the above give the impression of competency and self-confidence. Caution: be self-deprecating enough that your self-confidence cannot be interpreted as arrogance or talking down to your audience.

Drew Staniar

Risk Intelligence and Resiliency Solutions

Be Optimistic

What does optimistic mean? Let's discuss an example. Someone asks you, "What do you think are the chances of getting the project done on time and within budget?"

Your first response might be, "Impossible. We just can't do it." This might be the truth as you see it, but it will certainly annoy people. Try this instead:

"Let's first talk about on time. We may be able to get it done on time with several more resources such as hiring a part-time programmer for five months. The budget would stretch a bit, but we could probably get it in on time."

The first response stops the conversation. The second response gives people options. They can now have a conversation about what they prefer to do. Do they prefer to spend extra money or wait a while longer? By moving the conversation along, you are considered to be someone who really wants to get the project done the way it was first planned and envisioned. 

Every transaction can offer possibility or stop momentum. Everyone, executives included, don't like to feel that they can't keep going in the direction they planned. Consider how you can frame your responses to be seen as positive and on the side of the business.

Phrase That Will Empower You and/or Your Audience

"As you recall..." not "As you must know"

This month I want to show you several chart slides. Our author will remain anonymous. The "before" charts are acceptable in the sense that they are large and the audience can see the numbers.

Before: I'm not a fan of 3D pie charts. You really don't get a good sense of the sizes of the slices. Also, these colors are a bit bright. Because the title doesn't have a separate look, the information all blends together.

After 1: Here the title is in a separate space and the colors are muted. The information is easier to see.

After 2: Here is another way to show the information. Data do not always have to put in chart form.

After: Once more, the title is in a separate block. The labels are next to the lines rather than in a separate key. A shape superimposed over the chart gives the slide a more professional look. This shape is separate and can be put over any chart. It's a good way to save time and give your presentation a unified look: create one shape to use with certain types of slide in the presentation.

June 24 and 25, 2008 Boston, MA

This seminar is open to those who both create and deliver presentations. You leave with...

• Redone presentation: A presentation you redid during the class. Get ideas for backgrounds, slide design ideas and slide content organization.

• Personalized action plan: Claudyne writes this plan specifically for you. You also have a video of the six or more presentations you gave during the seminar.

• Executive presence hints: Learn what you need to do to increase your executive presence in front of a group.

• Hours of time saved: Learn how to save hours of time when using PowerPoint.

• Confidence, confidence, and more confidence: Learn how using specific openings, focused closings, and story-telling transitions energize your talk.

I have solved the following problems for my clients.

"It takes us forever to put together our once-a-year events. Even with all that work, I'm still not happy with them."

Worked with the company to help develop the story line and key messages for the event.
Worked individually with each executive to help him or her focus content for the audience and logically organize the presentation.
Consulted with the PowerPoint designer on how to develop graphics that illustrate the messages.
Coached executives on presentation behavior.

"The other executives cringe when I talk to the President. They say I talk too long and focus on information the President doesn't need to hear."

Coached a Senior VP on how to discuss issues with the president.
Helped him redo his slides to focus on potential problems, not on telling the president what he had already done.

"Our sales people aren't selling, they are telling. I hear them talk a customer in, then out of a sale in 15 minutes."

Trained 90 sales people on how to present in person or on the phone.
Coached the graphic designer on how to make PowerPoint slides that are easy for the presenter to use and the audience to understand.
Coached executives on how to organize content in a logical flow.