1)effective presentations definition. 2)six key concepts of effective presentation. a) KIS (KEEP IT SIMPLE) b) the power of three or the hamburger method. c)synchronicity and left right brain. d)humor/wit e)timing f)urgent vs important

1. The Art and Psychology of
Effective Presentations

2. Effective Presentations
“Effective” – having the power to
produce an effect or effects;
“Presentations or communications” –
that which is presented – could be a
reading of a poem, a video clip on
television, a recipe, a PowerPoint, a
written document, a speech.

3. Goal for this session:
To provide six (6) key ideas for
effectively communicating information
– whether in written, oral or visual (in
other words an Executive Summary,
a verbal presentation to a Board, or a
PowerPoint presentation for class or
a conference.)

4. 6 key concepts
KIS
The Power of 3 (or the hamburger method
of presentation)
Synchronicity and left/right brain
Humor/Wit
Timing
Urgent Does Not Equal Important

5. KIS
Keep it Simple
“Stay on target”

6. KIS
In writing, keep it to one page – front
and back if you have to. Never give a
big document to anyone without a
summary or abstract. It could be
wonderful, but no one will read it.

7. KIS
Oral presentations and meetings
should last no more than an hour.
The average attention span of
children is 5 minutes; teens is 25
minutes; adults 50 minutes.
And this may be decreasing with new
technology that encourages sound
bytes, 15 second commercials, text
messaging etc.

8. KIS PowerPoint
Less is better.
Not too many colors (in power point) .
Not too much animation.
Don’t distract from the main point.
Don’t introduce anything that can
distract the audience from your
message – if they can get distracted,
they will get distracted.

9. Primacy and Recency
Therefore, put the most important
things in a list either FIRST or LAST.
This goes for written, oral or
PowerPoint.
Start or finish a meeting with the
important things.

10. Say it 3(three) times
Tell them what you are going to tell
them.
Tell them.
Tell them what you just told them.

11. Beef-burger method of
communication
Writing and speaking is like a Beef-
burger.
Introductory bottom bun prepares the
audience for what comes next.
The main points – the meat of the
Beef-burger are placed on top one at
a time.
The conclusion or summary top bun
finishes off the Beef-burger.

12. Beef-burger Method
This applies to dissertations,
Executive Summaries, newspaper
articles, Power-Points, class lectures
and meetings.
All good meetings have an agenda,
cover a select few points, and the
minutes are written up.

13. The power of 3(three)
Don’t repeat yourself.
An introduction sets the stage and
focuses the audience.
The main points provide more detail.
The conclusion or summary needs to
put the details in perspective.

14. Synchronicity
Be consistent in your message.
Don’t introduce loose ends.

15. Multi Medium
Go after all the senses – visual graph,
oral presentation and written words.
Let your audience hear the choir, feel
the brick of the new sidewalk, taste
the soggy French Fries, smell the
locker room.

16. Left versus Right Brain
Left brain deals with words.
Right brain deals with art, music,
colors, pictures etc.
“A picture is worth a thousand words.”

17. 1 picture = 1000 words

18. Left and Right
People are more likely to remember
and react to information that is
presented to both halves of the brain.
Words (left) and pictures/graphs
(right) together are more effective
than either separately.

19. Humor
Avoid it, if the presentation is just in
writing, because as everyone
knows…”timing is everything”. What
could be funny out loud, can be
misread by a reader.
However, every good speech or oral
presentation starts with humor or a
story….

20. Humor
Humor is a right brain kind of thing. It
jump starts that part of the brain.
The very best speakers have not only
a really good message, but are also
entertaining…
Learning and life does not have to be
boring.

21. Timing – Know Your Audience
Timing requires perspective –
knowing your audience and what is
happening.
Don’t make a call for a new program
in Tiddlywinks, when department
budgets have been cut.
Friday 4pm is not a good time for
anything, except cleaning the desk.
Be first or last on the agenda
(primacy and recency).

22. Timing and Importance
Good Idea
Bad Timing
Good Idea
Good Timing
Bad Idea
Bad Timing
Bad Idea
Good Timing

23. Timing
Consider not only calendar year, but
day of the month, day of the week,
and time of day.
This is true for meetings, oral
presentations, emails, and memos.

24. Urgent vs Important
This requires perspective.
Important issues, even ones with bad
timing, will re-emerge.
Pareto’s Principle of 80 to 20 is true.
Of 100 items, 20 will be important.
Don’t write 100 emails about the 100
items.

25. 6 key concepts
KIS
The Power of 3 (or the hamburger method
of presentation
Synchronicity and left/right brain
Humor
Timing
Urgent Does Not Equal Important

26. Thanks
questions?