BlogArgue your way to presentation success
One Minute Pause No 39
From time to time I see an outstanding presentation, and I want to share one with you today. It’s by a bloke called Lawrence Lessig. To view it, click here and choose the flash presentation: you can continue reading while it loads.
Why does this presentation stand out from the rest? There are two reasons:
1. Lessig gives us a lesson in PowerPoint
Lessig doesn’t simply put word lists up on the screen like many of us tend to do. Instead he makes the screen jump to life by highlighting key thoughts and words and mixing them up with relevant graphics. A really tasty and interesting way to present on PowerPoint.
2. Lessig presents a winning argument
He calls it the “refrain”. Others might call it an agenda. I like to think of it as an argument. When a presentation lacks an argument it lacks impact. When a strong argument is presented, backed up by irrefutable evidence, you have a persuasive, winning presentation.
The big problem out there with a lot of presentations is that they appear to the listener to be a loosely bundled collection of facts (features). Which is why audiences tend to drift in and out.
Before your next presentation, try and find your argument. Before collecting all the usual data ask yourself what you think of the problem or situation in front of you. What do you truly believe? Why should the audience do what you want them to do?
When you are competing for time, money, audience attention, new business or other resources it isn’t a matter of “best collection of facts win”. It is a case of “the strongest argument wins”.
Strong arguments win hearts, elections and business. For your next presentation try elbowing your way out of the world of bland and dry facts, and instead run with a strong, thought provoking argument.
