p1

p1 is the basis of the presentation. It is the data, the story, the message that the presenter wishes to deliver to the audience. This section covers blog posts that address any part of the construction of p1; taking the “what” of the data and converting it into a “so what” for the particular audience. In particular, this covers audience needs, the value of a single, identifiable message, an elevator pitch, the arc of the story and development of sparklines.

The cornerstone articles on p1 are below but please surf through the links to gain a deeper understanding of why p1 (the story) is the basis of your presentation and must be the starting point in construction.

1.Hysteron proteron – the place to start with a presentation is the message.

2. It is not acceptable or valuable to just talk, you must have a message.

3. The aim and objective of a presentation are not the same thing.

4. The best presentations are planned analog. Shut the laptop and be creative.

5. Consider principally “why” you are presenting, not what to present.

How to engage online audiences

How to engage online audiences is a real challenge. There are a multiplicity of distractions and the audience has learned, very quickly, that the majority of online presentations are worse than their in-person brothers. The challenge to engage the audience…
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Advocacy needs more than numbers

advocacy requires more than numbers

The story of Ignaz Semmelweiss should be encouragement to many presenters that advocacy needs more than numbers to persuade audiences. Data alone, despite the underlying belief of many audiences, is not enough. Data requires context, connection and perspective. The skill…
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Three obstacles

three obstacles

A useful tool in preparing a presentation is to consider the principal three obstacles an audience may have to accept the intended message. A great presentation has a single message but an audience requires to be persuaded. Sadly, even providing…
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Message not story

Message not story is the basis of a good presentation. We must communicate effectively with our audience and leave them with a message regarding the information delivered not simply a story about it or, even worse, a list of facts….
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structure helps

structure

Structure helps both the presenter and the audience. It underpins the message, the media and the delivery. Structure is essential. Without structure a presentation is challenging to deliver, seldom has impact and is easily forgotten; the value will be lost,…
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listing facts

listing facts

Listing facts is the basis of most presentations. It is not effective teaching. The education value of such a presentation is very small, possibly even negative. As the audience read along they are not learning, merely processing. Presentations fail not…
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Structure helps retention

Structure helps retention of a message. A presentation is never a data download. It is simply not possible for an audience to retain large volumes of data delivered through a presentation. To think otherwise is both naive and in denial…
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Take home message

take home message

A take home message can only be one item. We cannot remember more than three new items and most people at a presentation are not actively trying to memorise things. So even three is too many. The latest fashion of…
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Give the message early

give message early

Give the message early in a talk so the audience will want to pay attention. If the message has value and relevance for them, they will follow the presentation. If the value is only delivered at the end, few will…
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lists of facts

lists of facts

Lists of facts do not make a good presentation. Sense is made by structure in an argument. Lists of facts impose a structure and hierarchy. Indenting text makes it sub-ordinate to the preceding text. The majority of text on a…
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