Presentation Skills for Analysts

LT Craig Maxey

ContextAnalytical presentations often rely heavily on the display of data as opposed to a crafting of the underlying story

PurposePresent a synopsis of the research in “Made To Stick”

OutcomeChallenge analysts to tell a story in order to improve the “stickiness” of their ideas

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY2

"The principle vehicle of leadership is the story: The leader affects individual

behavior, thought, and feelings through the stories that he and she tells.”

– “Changing Minds” by Howard Gardner Harvard Psychologist

Scarier?

119 Attacks Worldwide in 201117 fatalities

150+ Deer-Vehicle Collision in Fairfax County each year1.5 Million Deer-Vehicle

Collisions World Wide each yearSeveral Hundred Fatalities

Elements of Sticky Ideas

SimpleUnexpectedConcreteCredibleEmotionalStory

Simple

Find the CoreCommanders Intent is a good example of the

core“Take the hill”Doesn’t tell you how, simply tells you the

objective

“World Class Care…Anytime, Anywhere”How does your presentation support this

idea?If you can’t communicate the “how”

succinctly, go back and rebuild

Unexpected

Enclave Mini-van commercial

What are the unexpected implications of your message?Write this lead story: Entire school faculty will

travel to the state capitol on Tuesday for a meeting with the Governor, name, to discuss state budget.

Concrete

When it can be described or detected by human sensesMovie Popcorn contains 20g Fat

or

Move Popcorn contains more fat than a bacon-and-eggs breakfast, a Big Mac and fries for lunch, and a steak dinner with all the trimmings – combined.

10,000 Active Duty Daysor

Manning the Kearsarge for a 3 Month

Credible

DetailsUrban legends

StatisticsShould illustrate relationships

Only 37% of employees had a clear idea of their mission

orIf a soccer team had this make up only 4 out of the 11

would know where the goal is…

The Sinatra TestTaken from the song “New York, New York”A test case that proves your point

Testable CredentialsReagan in 1980 “Are you better off than you were four

years ago?”“Where’s the beef?”

Emotional

Make people careNeed a burning platform

Peter Pronovost has Josie King

Story

The Challenge PlotClassic underdog, rags to richesE.g. Subway’s Jared losing 245 pounds, Susan Boyle

The Connection PlotStory about people develop a relationship that

bridges a gapMean Joe Greene commercial of the 1970’s

where he makes friends with a scawny young kid

Remember the Titans

The Creativity PlotMental BreakthroughSolving a long-standing puzzleAttacking a problem in an innovative way

Questions?