I Hate Presentations Transform the way you present with a fresh and powerful approach

Chapter 1: It's Not What You Say Explains the principles behind the book: 'To transform presentations, we need to stop writing them like school essays. School essays are almost entirely about content how much you know. And the meaning of a school essay? I'm clever and knowledgeable. Please give me a high mark. Totally inappropriate for adults in the workplace. This is the underlying reason so many presentations are so bad. Most of us prepare them using the techniques we learnt for preparing essays at school. Instead, we need to prepare them by focusing first on our objective. Not as easy as it sounds. But that's where the GOER process comes in.' As this is a practical book, readers are encouraged to select a presentation to which they can apply the GOER method. The GOER method is summarised in brief: Stage One: establish the Goal. Stage Two: develop an Outline. Stage Three: Elaborate. Stage Four: Refine. Chapter 2: A Goal Worth Achieving 'If a presentation is not about content, what's it about? Two things: what your audience wants, and what you want. Ascertain, firstly, what the audience want from the presentation and secondly, as a separate exercise, what you want to achieve from it...' How to establish an audience's objective using two magic questions; who to speak to and how to interpret their answers. Illustrated with real examples from the author's clients. How to clarify your own objective a useful tool for this: the Five Whys. More case studies to illustrate this working in practice. Establishing the other key parameters you need to determine at this early stage: duration (not the same as the length of the meeting!); deadlines (not the date of delivery); approval and allies. Other vital considerations at this stage: tips for managing time, questions and answer sessions and late starts. What deadlines to set for yourself or team. A Goal form is provided for readers to complete. Chapter 3: An Outline is the pathway to your Goal Establish the four key messages you want to convey. Some techniques to help with this: 3-level listening, a set of three Mind Maps Dump, Dig and Clarify plus an original tool the Meaning Generator. The most effective order in which to present this information. Before going any further, collaborate with the audience in the right way to check you have set the right Goals in the correct order Chapter 4: Elaborate 'To create something unique, personal and compelling, add the flesh to your outline in whatever way suits you best: make notes, draw pictures, talk it through to yourself, or write it all out if you prefer...' How to get the first draft completed. How to Elaborate by expanding on your Outline. Various ways to record notes to help readers establish which suits them. The way to achieve unity, zip and flow. Techniq

James Caplin is a certified, executive coach, and an expert at communicating. his highly successful courses have transformed the experience of presenting in businesses and other organisations for over two decades. He works with individuals and groups in businesses, teleclasses and workshops.