Differentiate - Presentation Skills

I recently attended a presentation on the US economic outlook by a well known fund manager. I have no doubt the speaker is very knowledgeable and his investment track record speaks for itself. Yet, his presentation was a disappointment.

The sad truth is that his was a rather typical business presentation.

After about three minutes of conversational introduction, he read from his notes without even looking at the audience. His speech lacked a clear-cut theme. The visuals, crowded with words and data, were barely legible. He went way over his time limit and many guests had to leave before he was done.

It baffles me why many top financial analysts still don’t recognize the power of outstanding presentations. It defies logic to spend time gathering data, generating unique ideas and not follow through with an impressive delivery.

More importantly, speaking in front of an audience places you in the limelight. It is an opportunity for you to be noticed and remembered, especially when exceptional presenters are rare. It truly has the ability to accelerate or stall your career progress.

I am a fan of Steve Jobs’ keynote addresses. It is a perfect example that a business presentation doesn’t have to be dull. In the article Deliver a Presentation like Steve Jobs, Camine Gallo, a renowned business communications coach breaks down Steve Jobs’ Macworld 2008 Keynote Address into a 10-part framework that you can use to wow your audience:

1. Set the theme.
2. Demonstrate enthusiasm.
3. Provide an outline.
4. Make numbers meaningful.
5. Try for an unforgettable moment.
6. Create visual slides.
7. Give ‘em a show.
8. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
9. Sell the benefit.
10. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.

In all fairness, there are only four Macworld keynotes each year and it’s a team production. As a financial analyst, you simply won’t have the time or resources to produce such elaborate presentations on a frequent basis.

The idea is to apply these principles of powerful presentations into your own. These principles aren’t difficult to implement. With practice, not only will they help you communicate your ideas effectively to your audience, they will help differentiate you from everyone else who continues to present in the same old fashion.

Differentiate Yourself

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