Great Presentations Mean Business

Effective commerce demands effective communication. A great idea is not worth much until a viable market hears it and acts on it.

Step one. Identify the market. Step two. Describe, not the product itself, not its features, but its benefits. Construct a vivid picture in your audience’s mind. Take them on a journey that shows the world that could be, that would be, if only they… invested, committed, agreed, supported, signed up, signed on… well, you get the idea.

Oratory is an ancient art, but the majority of PowerPoint-based business presentations have completely “lost the thread” on doing it well. Books and classes on effective speaking and presenting can teach “tricks and techniques” but they can’t get at the root of most bad presentations – the message itself. Messages must be well-honed and laser-focused on achieving a specific result with a specific audience.

We all should know better. One can’t convince by merely describing. So why do so many presentations deliver a “laundry list” of content on their topic? The response that approach generates is along the lines of “Hmm? Oh, that’s nice. Is it time for my next meeting?” We believe every presentation worth making should stimulate the audience to act in specific ways that generate positive results. Otherwise, you’re wasting time and money.

In practice, most professionals have little to no opportunity to acquire and improve their skills before taking the stage. This “trial by fire” – at its worst – results in some spectacular failures. Most presentations stumble along with mediocre delivery, moderate to poor focus and results that are just left to chance.

Anything short of a great presentation wastes time, money and business opportunities. There is no substitute for personal training and iterative rehearsals to develop compelling, persuasive presentations with lively, solid delivery.

Great ideas, great services, even great products are worth absolutely nothing in a vacuum. Great presentations, on the other hand, mean business!