The Orderly Conversation Business Presentations Redefined
What does this redefinition mean in practice?
Instead of defining success as a “perfect presentation” or “wowing the audience”
Define success as a fruitful, efficient interaction that gets the work of the presentation done.
Instead of preparing by scripting, memorizing, and rehearsing
Prepare by anticipating the conversation you want to have. After gathering the information you’re going to present, frame it for context, clarity, and relevance for listeners.
Instead of creating slides by following the rules of good design
Create slides that will be useful to you and your listeners.
Instead of delivering your presentation as a performance
Initiate and manage a genuine conversation.
Instead of treating your slides as a second channel of communication, assuming “they can read”
Bring slides into the conversation. Talk about what they are, what they mean. Tell listeners where they should look and what they should see.
Instead of treating questions and comments from listeners as interruptions to be controlled
Welcome questions and comments and use them to advance and focus the conversation.
