How To Open and Close Your Presentations
Orchestrate Your First And Last Impressions Think about the three distinct parts of your presentation. They are the opening, body and close. The body is the major part of the presentation. The opening and close might only comprise 10 to 15% of the time, yet they are critical because they convey first and last impressions. You’ve probably heard that first impressions are important. Did you know that last impressions are also important? The last impression follows the law of recency. We have selective memory, and we tend to remember firsts and lasts. We also place more importance on firsts and lasts. What does that mean to you as a presenter? Spend more time and effort getting your opening and close right. When creating your opening and close, consider the possibility that they might only remember these two parts. If that was true, would they have received your intended message? If not, revise your opening and close. The body is the detail, the opening and close provide the motivation and the direction. Rehearse your opening and close separately so you can deliver them confidently and effectively. If you are using slides, blank the screen during the opening and closing because you want to be the focal point. You want the audience focused on you during your opening and closing so your message is received, understood and remembered. Don’t allow a slide to interfere with your messages during these key parts of the presentation. What are common mistakes you can avoid in the opening and close? What are effective techniques and specific phrases you can use? Watch for the answers to these questions in the next set of presentation tips. When you speak, create and convey the first and last impressions that support your message. Access More Presentation Skills Resources Looking For A Speech Coach? Learn More Here
Managerial Training is Key to Your Success
Managerial Training is Key to Your Success Have you heard the expression that “sergeants run the army, and petty officers run the navy”? Sergeants and petty officers are the managers of the military and critical to the success or failure of operations because they are there at the front and working directly with the soldiers and sailors. In your business or organization your managers are the operational leaders of your success or failure. How can you boost their success and hence the success of your organization? By providing them with the training and coaching to develop their managerial and leadership skills. If they were promoted to manager, they already have the trade and operational skills. What they need most is the ability to work through others. How can they lead their team? When you promoted them did you design a managerial training program for them? Did that include communication and presentation skills? Managers face tough communication challenges. They need to convey instructions to their staff. They also need to listen to their staff to learn about problems and opportunities. Managers then need to communicate appropriate information within the organisation and to senior management. Managers might need to bite their tongue while listening to the wisdom of executive leadership before they offer insights from the front lines. Managers are key to the success of your organization, and they need the necessary communication, leadership and thinking skills to succeed. They also need the support of senior leaders because they are your eyes and eyes to what’s happening within and at the front lines. How can you equip your managers with the success for success? By providing the training, coaching to develop their communication, leadership and presentation skills. Imagine the results when you managers communicate more confidently, effectively and efficiently. Because effective communication reduces stress and enhances productivity. When you train and coach your managers, guess what they will be inclined to do? Train and coach, their staff. Your staff will become better communicators with their managers, with their team and most importantly – with your customers. Big win there. Imagine that – train your managers and they train their staff. Think about the benefits of that to your business. Communication training helps them do their jobs better, connect with their team and feel better about themselves and their perceived value. When you provide training for your people, they recognize that you care about them and want them to succeed. Think about that. Any training pays off in many ways and imagine the power of communication training – the one skill set that most of us need to improve at work and at home. Stop hoping that your managers become better communicators because that is a wasted plan. Instead support them with the training they need. Access More Presentation Skills Resources Looking For A Speech Coach? Learn More Here