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Good cast on presentations. You're correct in that most people DON'T want to stand still or create that discontinuity. Here is the question. Most of the meetings I attend don't have stand-up presentations. What generally happens is that the team is around a table, someone is running the audio visuals, and updates occur from your seat. Any thoughts on how to approach this?

ctomasi's picture

Alphaman,

I was going to ask the same question. I have a 15 minute presentation (with the Sr. Management Team) once a month that is much the same. Several of the business groups give a quick status update, but nobody gets up for the presentation.

To make matters more interesting, this is only part of a longer meeting. By the time I and the other functional groups get there, the meeting has been going on for a while and we get the seats that remain. There isn't a power position so to speak. Some attendees are via the phone, most all have laptops open. Talk about "competing for attention."

While I may get some mileage out of the pause, the "stand still" technique won't apply here. Try to pay particular attention to the eye contact here. You should try to sit where you can see the most people (near one of the ends).

Do you have any other tips Mike and Mark?

xdarrah's picture

One tip that can absolutely make a difference is to smile. It's such an underestimated tool in building a rapport and checking the 'temperature' of your group. Especially if your audience has been locked up in the conference room all day!

Are we really doing the Flickr thing?

Mark's picture
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Folks-

What you're asking about is a completely different animal... and now you have some sense of why there are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of future casts in the works.

As an interim suggestion, I'd encourage you to consider standing. If you're using AV, and the group is looking at that, things get harder sitting down. (I know - "no one does that". Yes, and neither did they/you do one on ones.)

More on this in 07.

Mark

tron's picture

[quote="Alphaman"]...Most of the meetings I attend don't have stand-up presentations. What generally happens is that the team is around a table, someone is running the audio visuals, and updates occur from your seat. Any thoughts on how to approach this?[/quote]

Alpha:

I am often in this same situation, and have found that investing in a [url=http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-2-4-GHz-Cordless-Presenter/dp/B0007KVK8E/... handheld RF remote[/url] will help. You can run the PPT yourself, and it allows you the freedom to stand at any time without having to dive over a table to hit the 'next' key on the computer.

I usually hide the remote in my hand... and NEVER put it or my hands in my pocket (I learned that one in the USAF :lol: )

Alphaman's picture

Folks:

I'm seeing more and more the benefit of Manager Tools! One thing this does for me is expand my thinking - and improve my effectiveness.
I'm going to try the presentation techniques, let see what happens!

More later...

alsam's picture

I definitely agree on the remote. I've used one for several years now and it makes the flow much easier.
I work for a company that owns wineries across the globe. Most in the room (myself included) have multiple priorities. That said, there is one core product that pulls the train. I find it effective to have a bottle of this wine next to me where I stand. It helps people focus in on the top priority. While not applicable for everyone, I have had consistently good feedback on this one touch.

Rich Sheehy's picture

As a substitute for a remote I have used an RF mouse to control the PPT. I am able to move around and click the mouse to advance the slides. This has worked fairly well for me.

stewartsavage's picture

We use remotes for sit-down presentations and they work great. Powerpoints are combined into a single sturctured presentation. The remote is passed along as each person completes their section and the next person's section begins. The individual presenter is in total control of their slides. It is a very nice electronic talking stick.

smholland10's picture

Whilst working at EDS, I was sent on an executive storytelling course. The most interesting part of the course that although it was designed to help deliver better presentations to "C" level. it was a powerpoint free zone for the first two days.

We were taught to deliver a presentation in the equivaleant of 5 powerpoint slides. It took into account how differently people process information. I have used the techniques from the course ever since and constanly receive comments for the quality of my presentations. I can always deliver my presentations without a laptop or OHP because I know the content and have done the prep to deliver.

The course was run by Tom Peurach of Articulus. I highly recommend you arrange for your organisation to have Tom or someone similar to deliver this type of training.

conw88's picture

It is always better to be introduced by your host. Often, The host is simply the person from whose mailbox the calendar invite originated.  If you need to grab their attention on your own, try putting up a simple picture or a word that engenders a business value.

swguy