Presentations, are defined as the simplest collection of ideas that assist persuade, inform or motivate men and women (Stevenson, 2002, p.3). From the past, presentations have been merely concerned having a monotonous display of bullet-point lists, to convey the speaker’s train of thoughts. Today, technology has encouraged a broad range of presentation mediums: standalone presentations on a Web, loop presentations to show repeatedly at trade show booths, burning of CD’s of the presentation to distribute to a wide audience, adding of sound, animation, and even video on the slides (Stevenson, 2002, p.3).
The purpose of this paper is to outline what marks the difference between an outstanding, along with a mediocre presentation, and to analyze the significant reasons that go within the generating of one. The word “outstanding” doesn’t really convey the right impression simply because the overall aim of effort utilized in making a presentation, is to achieve some type of desired result. For this, we shall use the term “winning” presentation for our remaining discussion. The desired result examples is also as follows (Stevenson, 2002, p.3): 1) Outlining of timeline and deliverables on the product launch on the manufacturing team. 2) Teaching the sales force on the feature and benefit from the new product so that they can sell better. 3) To create a business situation to your potential industry for the new item to gain financing from investors. 4) To introduce new products to customers.
So, what makes a presentation mediocre? A variety of communication experts have their own opinions drawn from own experience. But, for ones sake of all-inclusivity, we shall outline probably the most normal characteristics of mediocre presentations that not just fail to generate results, but are commonly labeled dull, dry and boring- no euphemism needed for your case exactly where the audience is compelled to doze off mainly because the presentation failed to capture their interest.
ANR Communication Services at the University of California, have outlined Seven Deadly Sins of PowerPoint presentations (ANR, 2006):
1) Length: It is not needed to utilize the whole time allotted, in reality the winning presentation need to often aim at delivering a message as fast as possible. The favorite refrain is that some speakers have a tendency to “warm-up” using a windy introduction that noone bothers to pay attention to. It's always advisable to hit bottom-line directly, and occur “straight for the point”. 2) Adverse visuals: Adverse visuals arrive in numerous categories, but their general definition lies inside a sheer ignorance of aesthetics. E.g. using elaborate graphics which have no connection to the subject matter, and had been included just so that you can cast an impression of technical know-how. Other examples are sandwiching too significantly details in incredibly smaller space, and utilizing illegible fonts against an atrocious background.
Other sins are: 3) Not sticking for the primary point: Too quite a few speakers have a habit of digressing inside the subject, and beating around the bush, an exercising that may be extremely screening on the audience’s patience, and defeat any chances of success from the presentation. 4) Too several numbers: Even technical presentations can do much better without having an overdose of figures and numbers. It's a popular misconception for quite a few people, that a bombardment of numeric info utilizing charts and graphs would illustrate the monumental work they put in, in order to create the presentation. Charts and graphs, and figures are meant to help some conclusion, but by no means should they be the only reason for ones presentation to exist. 5) Technical failure: Too several presentations were ruined due to glitches for example the Projector not working (that too right after spending substantial time to produce one presentation). It is often advisable to double-check previous to final show. 6) Not summarizing: If the presentation fails to summarize the key items discussed, the entire purpose is defeated mainly because audience memory is short. The speaker requirements to tell the audience what was the underlying conclusion for them owning met. 7) Inadequate rehearsal: This goes with Issue no. One and 6.
The purpose of this paper is to outline what marks the difference between an outstanding, along with a mediocre presentation, and to analyze the significant reasons that go within the generating of one. The word “outstanding” doesn’t really convey the right impression simply because the overall aim of effort utilized in making a presentation, is to achieve some type of desired result. For this, we shall use the term “winning” presentation for our remaining discussion. The desired result examples is also as follows (Stevenson, 2002, p.3): 1) Outlining of timeline and deliverables on the product launch on the manufacturing team. 2) Teaching the sales force on the feature and benefit from the new product so that they can sell better. 3) To create a business situation to your potential industry for the new item to gain financing from investors. 4) To introduce new products to customers.
So, what makes a presentation mediocre? A variety of communication experts have their own opinions drawn from own experience. But, for ones sake of all-inclusivity, we shall outline probably the most normal characteristics of mediocre presentations that not just fail to generate results, but are commonly labeled dull, dry and boring- no euphemism needed for your case exactly where the audience is compelled to doze off mainly because the presentation failed to capture their interest.
ANR Communication Services at the University of California, have outlined Seven Deadly Sins of PowerPoint presentations (ANR, 2006):
1) Length: It is not needed to utilize the whole time allotted, in reality the winning presentation need to often aim at delivering a message as fast as possible. The favorite refrain is that some speakers have a tendency to “warm-up” using a windy introduction that noone bothers to pay attention to. It's always advisable to hit bottom-line directly, and occur “straight for the point”. 2) Adverse visuals: Adverse visuals arrive in numerous categories, but their general definition lies inside a sheer ignorance of aesthetics. E.g. using elaborate graphics which have no connection to the subject matter, and had been included just so that you can cast an impression of technical know-how. Other examples are sandwiching too significantly details in incredibly smaller space, and utilizing illegible fonts against an atrocious background.
Other sins are: 3) Not sticking for the primary point: Too quite a few speakers have a habit of digressing inside the subject, and beating around the bush, an exercising that may be extremely screening on the audience’s patience, and defeat any chances of success from the presentation. 4) Too several numbers: Even technical presentations can do much better without having an overdose of figures and numbers. It's a popular misconception for quite a few people, that a bombardment of numeric info utilizing charts and graphs would illustrate the monumental work they put in, in order to create the presentation. Charts and graphs, and figures are meant to help some conclusion, but by no means should they be the only reason for ones presentation to exist. 5) Technical failure: Too several presentations were ruined due to glitches for example the Projector not working (that too right after spending substantial time to produce one presentation). It is often advisable to double-check previous to final show. 6) Not summarizing: If the presentation fails to summarize the key items discussed, the entire purpose is defeated mainly because audience memory is short. The speaker requirements to tell the audience what was the underlying conclusion for them owning met. 7) Inadequate rehearsal: This goes with Issue no. One and 6.
Other intriguing ideas worth mentioning are David People’s recollections from interactions with IBM executives (People, 1992, p.20): 1) Showing information, after which “apologizing” in advance – it conveys the impression how the speaker isn't confident for the subject matter, and kills the extremely purpose of presentation. 2) Not explaining any reason why the subject has any significance for the audience – these kinds of an act can convey a total disregard for audience time.
In order to round up our discussion on mediocre presentations, it's critical to mention popular technical characteristics of such presentations (OneVision UK, 2004): 1) Slide transitions and sound effects; after unnecessary they can turn out to be a pain within the neck for they divert the focus of the audience within the central theme. 2) Normal Clip-Art which shows a clear lack of creativity on behalf with the presenter who could have done much better by for instance much more relevant graphics. 3) Presentation templates – unless there is no other alternative, these need to be greatest avoided. 4) Reading the presentation – a speaker must have extempore communication skills, otherwise the presentation is also really boring.
A winning presentation does not repeat the well-known fallacies mentioned for mediocre presentations as above. Also, a winning presentation includes a persuasive variety that impresses with its tone, content, representation and output (People, 1992, p.45). To tell the difference in between the two, Tom Sant from the American Management Association, reviews the scope and utility of the winning presentation, which ought to look at here considerations (Sant, 2004, p.12): 1) It is not a blind price quote. 2) It's not a bill of materials, project plan or scope of work. 3) It's not on the history of the product. The watchword, the following is “influencing” of customer (Sant, 2004, p.17). Each time a presentation is made, the objective is in terms of thinking for the long-term influence that the presentation will have over a client, one thing that requires lots of introspection on component of the presenter. Thus, presentations must be looked at as “tools and opportunities” (Sant, 2004, p.17) rather than a summary judgment on a particular subject.
Summary: On a final note, the pounds of the good presentation, apart from key points mentioned in this paper, depend a lot on a person presenter’s qualities, what are named “gestures” (Arrendondo, 1991, p.73). It's crucial to state that appropriate gestures and movements add meaning to a message, and mark the difference in between a “winning” including a “mediocre” presentation. The gestures ought to convey a certain energy, and enthusiasm during the subject, and be manifested from your presenter’s self-belief.
In order to round up our discussion on mediocre presentations, it's critical to mention popular technical characteristics of such presentations (OneVision UK, 2004): 1) Slide transitions and sound effects; after unnecessary they can turn out to be a pain within the neck for they divert the focus of the audience within the central theme. 2) Normal Clip-Art which shows a clear lack of creativity on behalf with the presenter who could have done much better by for instance much more relevant graphics. 3) Presentation templates – unless there is no other alternative, these need to be greatest avoided. 4) Reading the presentation – a speaker must have extempore communication skills, otherwise the presentation is also really boring.
A winning presentation does not repeat the well-known fallacies mentioned for mediocre presentations as above. Also, a winning presentation includes a persuasive variety that impresses with its tone, content, representation and output (People, 1992, p.45). To tell the difference in between the two, Tom Sant from the American Management Association, reviews the scope and utility of the winning presentation, which ought to look at here considerations (Sant, 2004, p.12): 1) It is not a blind price quote. 2) It's not a bill of materials, project plan or scope of work. 3) It's not on the history of the product. The watchword, the following is “influencing” of customer (Sant, 2004, p.17). Each time a presentation is made, the objective is in terms of thinking for the long-term influence that the presentation will have over a client, one thing that requires lots of introspection on component of the presenter. Thus, presentations must be looked at as “tools and opportunities” (Sant, 2004, p.17) rather than a summary judgment on a particular subject.
Summary: On a final note, the pounds of the good presentation, apart from key points mentioned in this paper, depend a lot on a person presenter’s qualities, what are named “gestures” (Arrendondo, 1991, p.73). It's crucial to state that appropriate gestures and movements add meaning to a message, and mark the difference in between a “winning” including a “mediocre” presentation. The gestures ought to convey a certain energy, and enthusiasm during the subject, and be manifested from your presenter’s self-belief.
