The Complete Idiot's Guide to Successful Business Presentations

by Kroeger, Lin

• ISBN13: 9780028617480
• ISBN10: 0028617487
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-07-01
• Publisher: Alpha Books

Summary

You're no idiot, of course. You know how to crunch the numbers, plan the strategies, design the products. But when it comes to standing up in front of people and talking aobut what you know, you feel like calling in sick. Don't let your fear of presentations stand between you and success! This book will help you learn some proven strategies for planning and giving a presentation. You'll learn how to orgazize your thoughts and plan your message, what to include in your visual aids, how to overcome nervousness, and much more. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

Author Biography

Lin Kroeger, a New York-based consultant, has more than 15 years experience in strategic/applied communications. She has helped many Fortune 500 managers and executives improve their speaking and presenting skills, and now she can do the same for you!

Table of Contents

Part 1: Thinking Ahead	1	(44)
1. So You Have to Make a Presentation! Knowing you'll be presenting is part of being in business.	3	(10)
2. Why Make the Presentation? Knowing your audience and the context helps you choose and organize your message.	13	(12)
3. Presentations Take Many Shapes Recognizing how often you present when you're not even in front of an audience can help your credibility in business.	25	(12)
4. I Didn't Go to Acting School! Focusing on conversation rather than performance helps.	37	(8)
Part 2: What Do I Say?	45	(58)
5. Know Who's Listening, Who's Deciding, and What You Want Knowing your audience, the context of the presentation, and their strategic issues helps you frame and support your message.	47	(10)
6. Structure Always Wins Choosing the right structure for your presentation is essential to success.	57	(10)
7. Message-based(SM) Always Works Focusing on messages, not facts, makes a presentation easier to organize and easier to understand.	67	(16)
8. How Do I Put Together a Presentation? Sorting the information and organizing it takes time and attention.	83	(8)
9. Persuasive Structure can Help Sell Ideas Persuading provides an alternative structure.	91	(12)
Part 3: Support--Space and Visual Aids	103	(48)
10. Preparing the Physical Realities of a Presentation Making sure the equipment, space, and co-presenters work together to deliver a message effectively.	105	(12)
11. Visual Support Helps Deliver the Message Designing visual aids that support your message and help you win your point.	117	(12)
12. Choose the Visual Aids Medium Carefully Knowing what type of visual aid to use can keep the presentation challenges simple or complicate them.	129	(12)
13. Offer Handouts Helping listeners get the message by providing the information they need when they need it.	141	(10)
Part 4: Getting Ready	151	(56)
14. Getting Ready Sending the message you want to send by dressing appropriately for the situation	153	(12)
15. I Shouldn't Be Nervous! Respecting and using nervousness can help you be credible.	165	(10)
16. Food Before the Presentation? Negotiating the pre-presentation social niceties and making sure you can still present effectively.	175	(10)
17. Prepare and Practice, Practice, Practice Practicing can make the difference between success and failure.	185	(12)
18. Getting Buy-In Pre-thinking and preparing for every challenge and concern the listeners might have.	197	(10)
Part 5: How Will I Ever Stand Up There?	207	(64)
19. What Do They Expect? Understanding how the listeners judge your professionalism can help you stay focused and effective.	209	(10)
20. Effective Presenters Focus Using your eyes and body to engage the listeners in your message.	219	(10)
21. Effective Presenters Use Energy Using your voice, gestures, and animation to engage the listeners in your message.	229	(10)
22. Using the Visual Aids and Machinery Knowing how to use the equipment makes you appear confident and comfortable.	239	(10)
23. Presenting with Technology Using technological innovations effectively is essential if you're going to present to large groups, across states, or across the ocean	249	(12)
24. Contingency Planning Knowing how and when to use or not to use humor, how to handle hecklers, and what to do when you don't have time to prepare can help you remain confident and professional.	261	(10)
Part 6: What Happens After I Present?	271	(22)
25. Effective Presenters Welcome Questions Managing questions and answers is essential to delivering your message effectively.	273	(10)
26. Effective Presenters Follow Through Making commitments means you have to deliver what you promised.	283	(4)
27. Reviewing the Presentation to Improve the Next One Learning from each presentation helps you keep getting better.	287	(6)
Glossary	293	(4)
Index	297