1

Presentation Tip of the MonthFor December,January and February

©2010 Dyment & Associates

Presentation Tip For December: Use case studies.

Please promise to spare your audience those sad, manufactured vignettes that begin with “John and Mary are co-workers…” Instead, summarize a real-life business story about a named company taken from the Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, or another quality business periodical. Think “best and worst business practices.” Follow up your story with three or four challenging questions. Be sure to reveal new information that changes the salient factors. Most of all, don’t forget to tell the audience how it all turned out.

©2010 Dyment & Associates

Presentation Tip For January: Ask an audience member to join you on stage.

You may think you are riveting to watch for an hour, or even a morning, but please get a second opinion.

Bringing an audience member up to the front to help with an illustration, especially one that employs a bit of physical skill on their part (not yours), breaks the monotony, instantly raises the attention-quotient in the room, and brings back fond memories of the magician that came to their 7th birthday party.

©2010 Dyment & Associates

Presentation Tip For February: Display a quiz question or brain teaser while you are setting up or on break.

If you have ever been cornered by that chatty, half-hour early, participant or that needy, break-time, audience member, you may find relief or a chance to return that important phone call by challenging them to a pre- or mid-presentation quiz question. Sure, your standard presentation slides are nice, but getting the audience involved or re-invested is even nicer.

©2010 Dyment & Associates