Twitter Success: Presentation + Adapting to the market

Watch this video by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and pay attention to what he describes over a few minutes starting at the 10:55 mark. He explains how the common features of Twitter actually came from users - not the company.



Message: Pay attention to what your customers are doing with your product/service.

Also, his presentation style shows how you can be quite reserved, yet still engaging as long as your audience is connecting with you. (Know your audience). Only a handful of PowerPoint slides used, mainly to show things he cannot put into words.

However his reserved presentation style may seem slow (possibly painful) to some people, as witnessed by comments on the video page.

He starts off a bit nervous (note a slight hesitation and few umms) but then settles in for a relaxed 'conversation' with the audience.

Presentation Skills Myth De-bunked

For years many presentation skills workshops have promoted the "fact" that the meaning of your message is accounted for mainly by your body language (tone of voice and gestures) - with only 7% being attributable to the actual words you use.

For a detailed exposure of this myth see this blog post by New Zealander Olivia Mitchell.

My view...

Yes, the original research from the 1960's may have been misquoted. However reality is that the impact you - as a presenter - make on your audience is a combined result of your words, voice, mannerisms, gestures, and of course any visual aids or props you may use.

That is... both content (words) and delivery (style) are important.

Yes, the "fact" that words alone account for only 7% of the message is not correct. Doubt this? check one of the many technically-oriented presentations given by Bill Gates - he still gets a message across even though he usually does very little apart from the words he says. (When it comes to presentations he's certainly not an entertainer!)

My message here is that a presenter must manage all aspects of the presentation to get the result they are aiming for from their audience.

Presentations are about communication. It's about getting a result. Moving people to action - either in thought or in person.

To learn more about how you can improve your own presentations skills check out my presentation skills workshop coming up in Sydney and Brisbane.

Join me at International Coaching Federation luncheon Brisbane April 3

I'll be presenting an insightful presentation titled How to Use Online Social Networks to Grow Your Practice . Everyone is welcome - you don't have to be a coach. RSVP essential.

Brisbane
April 3, 2009
11.30am to 2.00pm
433 Logan Road, Stones Corner

View event details here

New training workshops Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne

A brief message to announce my new Presenting With Confidence presentation skills workshop.

First workshop date is in Brisbane on April 8, followed by Sydney May 22.

Also now available are additional dates for Selling With Confidence sales training.

Registration is now open for:

Brisbane (one-day workshop) April 29
Sydney (2-day program) May 12-13
Melbourne (2-day program) May 7-8

Any questions please let me know.

Being the best doesn't mean you will win.

In reading this article from the Sydney Morning Herald blog I was reminded of a few recent conversations with clients - about how to present to a group of buyers. The bottom line is that the best service or product doesn't always win the sale.

In one case my client presented to a buying team (a committee). The presentation was mainly a summary of the written proposal. Pretty boring!

When you are presenting, you are selling. And when you are selling you must make efforts to discover what the prospect is really looking for. In the case of the group presentation you really should know (or at least have some idea) about what the concerns are for the individuals you are presenting to.

You need to win over the individuals - give them a reason to want your service.

To find out the sort of information you need, you may do one or both of:

1. Ask around before the presentation. Find out who will be there. See if you can have a brief chat about their major issues, or requirements. Or ask their colleague for some insights.
   
2. Structure your presentation so you ask some questions at the beginning, and then get around to covering those specific areas of interest during your presentation.

If your business hangs on the success of presenting to groups, make sure you know what the 'hot spots' are for your clients business overall - as well as for the individuals that will influence the purchasing decision.