The Presentation Survival Skills Guide

The Presentation Survival Skills Guide is a 145-page resource tool for presenters of every kind. Its quick reference format directs presenters to topics ranging from laying out a powerful presentation (process), crafting great storylines (message development), optimizing graphics (design), and includes tips on delivery skills, technology and handling Q & A sessions. Interesting case studies and special "Shrink Wrap" sections feature unique perspectives from psychologist Dr. Scott Lee. Scott provides unique insights into audiences, retention and successful presenting. A helpful appendix section at the end of the book also offers up quick definitions to terminology that presenters frequently encounter. The Presentation Survival Skills Guide is a must-have traveling companion for every presenter.

Here's a genuine customer feedback excerpted from Amazon.com:

A rare find- if this is the only book you buy on creating high-impact presentations, it will be the best investment you ever made for your organization!

This is from the authors:

Everyday in America, people from every walk of life find themselves in front of an audience presenting their thoughts and ideas. Sometimes the stakes are huge. Other times the opportunities may not be profound or life changing, but they are always intensely personal. For business professionals, educators and others, the process related to delivering a compelling presentation is often fraught with frustration. Never has the need for such an essential life skill permeated the world of business and personal life so completely.

The Survival Guide offers up some practical insight into the secrets of creating great presentations, start to finish! You'll quickly find the critical fundamentals needed to approach the process of message development, graphics and design. Although most books end there, The Survival Guide goes on to tap into the experiences of a psychologist to shed some light on the frequently misunderstood areas of how and why audiences learn, retain information and take action. His answers will surprise you.

There's one other thing we can say for certain. Most presenters lack the one essential ingredient critical to their personal development…time. Time to pick up more relevant skills; time to think through the process of creating a better message; and time to seriously hone the art of presenting. We can't create more time, but we can find tools that help us pick up essential skills when we need them. Now all the elements you need to elevate the impact of your next presentation are available in one easy-to-read book. If the introduction strikes a bit close to home, then the Presentation Survival Skills Guide was created just for you. Its quick reference format puts essential presentation concepts at your fingertips to help you not only survive your next big presentation, but truly excel.

Creating a Presentation Game Plan
Bottom-line messaging

When presentations are created without regard to a core message, they meander, confuse and overwhelm an audience. Distill your presentation down to 3-4 key messages. Presentation length is generally a by-product of how extensive the supporting detail is under each of your key presentation messages. Content that doesn't support those messages should be scrutinized for appropriateness.

Prepare for Your Audience
Creating strong presentation conclusions

Be sensitive to when your audience is really stuffed. Frequently, presenters try to jam too much content into too little time. Let me suggest something a bit radical. Create content that only fills 90% of the time. You heard me. For good presentation content to be "digestible" by an audience they need processing time. If your pace is rapid or if the content is heavy, you will lose your opportunity to be memorable. Good handouts are helpful in archiving reference information but if you don't provide breathing room to assimilate visual content, you run the risk the audience won't find it later. We're not talking long dramatic pauses but rather a reasonable amount of well-paced content that leaves your audience wanting just a bit more.

Shape the Message
The use of eye contact in storytelling

"And the dragon flew in front of them, stopped, turned and looked them right in the eye!"
Those who tell stories to kids in the libraries or street fairs are masters of eye contact. Watch them. Watch their eyes watching their audience's eyes. They connect for only a moment, but they work the young audience to make sure that every person in the room is hanging onto every word. Watch the problem youngster in the front row. The storyteller will hold that eye contact a moment or two longer and will occasionally take a small step or two towards the youngster. This subtle movement often brings the youngster back into the story. The slight invasion of his/her "personal space" makes it difficult to disregard the storyteller. Ever had someone nod off or appear to be disinterested in your presentation? This happens to the best of us, but this simple technique can help you regain the audience's attention. Eye contact and body position can help keep your audience more closely involved with what you have to say.

Craft the Images
The use of clipart in a presentation

Although appropriate for informal settings, traditional clipart will convey a pronounced informality and light-hearted atmosphere to a presentation. Familiar clipart is rarely found in professional presentations. Need proof? When was the last time you saw clipart in an elegant professional brochure, advertisement or annual report? Don't take the easy way out with these elements. Informal images can transcend the medium and connect with an audience but must be chosen carefully.

Jim Endicott is an internationally recognized consultant, speaker and trainer specializing in professional presentation messaging, layout/design, and delivery. His writing appears in Presentations magazine as well as a number of presentations-related industry websites. His company, Distinction, provides consulting and presentation graphics support for many Fortune 500 clients and leverages the Internet for delivery of content and training.

Jim Endicott, a Neal Award-winning columnist for Presentations magazine, currently writes for several web sites focusing on topics from how to deliver effective presentations to designing unique presentation content. Distinction continues to support business and educational institutions of every size in this critical communications area.

Dr. Scott Lee is a clinical psychologist in the Seattle area where he has practiced for nearly 20 years. His academic background has provided Scott with a wealth of practical insight into how communications are processed, including physiological, psychological and emotional processes. He has further developed practical insights into effective presentations with his history of offering hundreds of seminars, workshops and various other presentations to a wide variety of audiences.

Dr. Lee has written for several publications in the area of practical psychology and presents actively in the areas of interpersonal communications, motivation, family interactions, and how to serve effectively as a consultant to business and community groups.