How To Win An Award In Whiteboard Presenting - Business - Presentation

Looking for ways to wrap up an intense selling conversation with a bang? Discover this creative 7-step plan for whiteboard presenting. Use it to sell your ideas with poise, skill and professionalism.

Working interactively at a whiteboard allows everyone to get involved. Plus, it's a powerful way to support all the information, ideas and proposals that you've just covered.

Think of whiteboard presenting in this use as the 'frosting on the cake.' You'll plan your interactivity throughout your sales conversation or demo, and then end with a grand finale.

Here's how you can set it up and practice your skills for maximum impact.

Step 1. Announce at the beginning of the event that you will have an awards ceremony at the end. The awards are given out by an "Academy" and not by you.

Step 2. Plan a metaphor or fictional "Academy" and topic that match the content you are discussing. Topics could include variations on these themes:

Best overall performance in a project discussion.Best demonstration of a proposed product. Best performance for raising a critical objection. Best project management/time management tip.Most outstanding supporting role in the sales event.

Adapt these topics so that it is a creative and logical match for your product, service or sales topic.

Step 3. Within the sales event, have a timeslot for discussing categories and gaining agreement amongst the group.

Step 4. Ask participants to reflect on the categories and submit nominations for participants who have done the best in each area.

Step 5. Compile the results prior to the end of your event.

Step 6. Simulate an actual Awards ceremony such as the one done for Academy awards for film. Use the whiteboard as a backdrop, drawing a curtain, announcing the awards with flourish, and posting winners.

Step 7. Reveal the winners using envelopes to add mystery and ritual. Add additional rewards in alignment with your topic, business and purpose.

It's next to impossible to 'fail' at giving Awards. If you are looking for creative inspiration, do the challenging tasks: watch award shows, game shows, and talk show hosts. You'll get loads of ideas to develop flair and passion to your delivery.

What makes this a powerful way to finish a sales event? First, it rewards participants for their contributions and participation in the process. Second, it adds a spark of creativity and passion into an otherwise serious or formal environment. Third, it reinforces key themes and ideas to increase memorability.

As you contemplate where you could use this, there's another dimension to notice. In planning this activity, what happens? You easily shift into creative thinking, somewhat like planning a festive event. It's a happy feeling of joy and celebration.

While many sales events are dominated by caution, uncertainty and performance anxiety, this kind of Awards ceremony shifts the needle. Instead of worrying about whether you will 'close the deal' you are focusing on creating a highly interactive, engaging and meaningful experience.

Now you choose. Which kind of sales presentation event do you think your client is most likely to remember?

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Presentation Skills Training: How To Wow Your Virtual Audience - Business - Presentation

Recently, a Fortune 500 company asked for a presentation skills training on virtual collaboration. In our jam-packed 2-day course, new presenters learned specific skills for highly interactive virtual presentations. What we found may surprise you.

More and more organizations are gravitating towards virtual collaboration and educational webinars. The reason is simple. Save travel costs. Streamline communication. Stay connected between the regions and corporate headquarters.

But many people struggle with this: how to transform effective in-person meetings and presentations into virtual ones.

Here are 6 tips to help you engage, impress and 'wow' your virtual audience.

1. Step Away From The CheeseOops. Meant to sayslides. Step away from an over-reliance on your PowerPoint or Keynote slides. Look instead at how to create a lively, dynamic and interactive conversation.

2. Practice Conversational ArtRemember conversations? If you're used to texting non-stop, you may have forgotten the steps and art of conversation. If you've forgotten how to talk to people with confidence and skill, work with an executive coach. Practice the art of conversation with a pro. He or she will help you gain comfort and poise.

Best bet to practice this skill? Talk to people more often in your workplace. You'll remember how to open a conversation, listen, interact and close the interaction. Once you feel how good this feels in real-time, you'll find it's much easier to recreate online.

3. Ask QuestionsIn face-to-face presentations, you ask questions from the audience. Yet many presenters default into giving a one-directional pitch when in a virtual environment. Perhaps it's because pressing the 'unmute' button is a little terrifying. You don't know what people will say. Or there may be 800 people participating.

Embrace the technology and the options. Learn to ask questions that are easy to understand and easy to answer. Experiment with ways to receive participant answers.

4. Listen To AnswersTerrific. You're asking questions and opening up the zone of interaction. Now, listen to answers in different ways. Encourage responses via chat. Ask people to embellish their responses with emoticons.

If at all possible, open up the lines of communication to hear from specific participants. Depending on your provider and system, there are different ways to include participants to encourage a lively conversation. Practice using these so that you are ready to go for impromptu interaction.

5. Tame The TechnologyIf you're presenting or selling a complex or technical solution, stop. Listen to this concept. Your clients and prospects are likely in a daze when you impress them with your subject matter expertise. If you put tons of complex technology, intricate features and animation on top of an already complicated topic, guess what's going to happen?

They will check out. Not the effect you're looking for.

6. Show Photos, Pictures and VisualsIn planning your presentation, organize a variety of visual stimulation. Show photos of satisfied customers using your products and services. Share hand drawn pictures and sketches. Many providers include a whiteboard as a feature. Experiment with drawing simple depictions of complex concepts.

Finally, organize your visuals in slides so you can tell a powerful story. Make sure that your visuals are colorful and easy to understand. Practice showing the pictures and describing what is shown. This also helps participants who are participating via the telephone and not seeing what's shown on the screen.

Interested in powerful presentation skills training? That's important for your personal and business goals. Armed with these insights, expect your virtual audiences to give you a 5-star rating every time.

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Shattering The 5 Most Dangerous Presentation Myths - Business - Public Relations

Are you a natural at public speaking? Not every professional starts out with innate talent. But instead of denying yourself the benefits of charismatic speakingit pays to shatter the 5 most dangerous myths about presenting.

Anybody can learn effective presentation skills. The very first step is to find an effective training program to show you the exact system for success. Learning new presentation skills is one of the best investments you will ever make in your career.

Many professionals rely on their presentation skills to share ideas, give advice, present opinions, and demonstrate values. Presentation skills training enables people to stand out in a crowd, whether at a conference, in a team, or in front of an important client.

To be extremely effective, it pays to first shatter the 5 most dangerous myths about presenting.

Myth 1: Charismatic Speakers Are Born That WaySure, there are professionals who have a natural talent or are blessed with the ability to speak passionately. However, the majority of public speakers, politicians, and people in the public eye did not start out as talented presenters. They learned their skills with training, coaching and rehearsal.

Truth: If they can do it, you can do it. Presentation skills can be learned with step-by-step training.

Myth 2: Presentation Skills Training Is ExpensiveYes, this myth used to be true. And in many circles, this myth continues because there are many experts who will happily charge you a fortune for training. But that's not your only alternative.

Truth: There are many new alternatives including online, on demand presentation skills training. The best options are those where you can pay as you go, learn as fast as you want, and focus on specific skills based on your own interests.

Myth 3: Presentation Coaching Is Time ConsumingWhen busy executives want to improve, they opt for individual coaching. The myth is that this is both time intensive and expensive. Fortunately, today there are more affordable alternatives.

Truth: Virtual presentation coaching is a low-cost way to rapidly improve skills. If just one tip increases productivity in planning and presenting effectively, the cost of coaching will be paid back a hundred times over.

Myth 4: You Should Expect Pain and Suffering Improving skills can be tough. But the myth about tedious exercises, painful rehearsals is pure rubbish.

Truth: To win at presenting, it pays to have some fun. Make sure your learning experience is fun. After all, if you have fun learning new skills, you're going to have fun using them.

Myth 5: Some Presentations Are Essentially BoringA lot of people believe this myth. Participants often come to a presentation skills training with this myth forming their core beliefs. While some topics present challenges, test our creativity, and demand our persistence, it is important to shatter this myth.

Truth: There are no boring topics. Only boring presenters.

Ouch. But what about accounting, technical details, tax code, and mandatory procedures? Sorry. Any topic can be made exciting, if you put your imagination into it.

Wherever you are in your career, bust these myths. Challenge and shatter common myths about presenting. Myths get in your way and stop you from taking a direct, focused path to your greatest success.

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The Truth About Sales Presenting - Business - Sales

Far too often a generic sales presentation is the be-all and end-all for a busy sales team. A single presentation is supposed to work in any situation for any audience. But, let's face itdoes this really work?

How can one sales presentation do the heavy lifting for every situation and every customer? It must work for a creative, equally to a numbers focused decision maker. It must work in 5 minutes and in an hour time slot. It must be highly effective despite variances in presenter style.

That's a highly demanding standard. One presentation must be the ultimate solution to do it all. Attract. Interest. Engage. Customize. Overcome Objections. Close. In many organizations, legal approval and the slow wheels of corporate decision-making make it next to impossible to change a single word.

While this is a common practice in sales, it doesn't make much sense. Showing the same thing to everyone at every stage of their interest is foolish. It's a recipe for disaster.

After all, would you propose marriage to someone you just met? Would you write a formal request to have dinner with your sweetheart? Not likely. Different forms of communication are suited to different situations.

If you are locked in to a formal script and not able to add, change or delete--use these quick tips to add some individuality to your delivery.

1. Arrive EarlyMeet and greet participants before you start. Share ideas in informal conversation--even if you must be extremely formal in your on-stage delivery.

2. Get IntroducedAsk your host or hostess to provide an introduction. Give them a personal story or insight to add personality and human touch. Help people understand who you are. You're more than the person up in front. Get help from the person who is introducing you to set the stage.

3. Draw A SketchWhiteboard a key idea, before you start. Use this to connect with your audience and relate human-to-human.

Oops. Can't draw? Don't worry. Your sketch does not need to be beautiful in order to work. But if you have to explain endlessly, learn the fundamentals of selling ideas at a whiteboard.

4. Get Your Audience InvolvedAsk your audience to draw the same sketch. Encourage people to get into the action--and get engaged in your topic. Don't worry. The sketch does not need to be perfect or beautiful. Just doing something on the spot and involving participants helps build a connection.

5. Invite Questions During Your TalkWhile your script may be set in stone, responding to questions occurs ad hoc. Create a lively interaction during your talk. If you are not comfortable with this flowing environment, make time for questions after you've finished the scripted portion of your message.

6. Show and TellProvide evidence. Show people what you are talking about. If you must use slides, make sure that you are using the fewest number of slides possible. Get expert advice from an executive coach to amplify your story with visuals and props. If possible, bring in props, photographs and solid items to demonstrate what you're describing.

7. SmileEven in the most formal environment, you can smile. Your smile lets participants know that you're alive and kicking.

8. Stay LateStay after the presentation time is over. Be available for questions from anyone. Don't only talk to the decision maker and ignore other people. By staying attentive and open to all participants, you show care and integrity.

9. Question AuthorityIf you've done all these steps, you have a certain feeling in your gut. You know that you did your bestbut you also know that a formal generic script is not serving your goals.

That's why it's useful to look for avenues to question the practice of one-size fits all. Find out why this is the case--and where they may be wiggle-room. Who knows what you'll find out!

Just curious. Do you think your presentation skills will get you the results you deserve?

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5 Secrets For Presenting To Crazy Busy People?Virtually - Business - Presentation

Do more with less. That's the new mantra in today's economy. No doubt, you're feeling the pressure to present to crazy busy people in virtual presentations--and do it fast. You might need help right now. Get 5 tips to save your career, save time--and impress your virtual audience.

Last week I got a call from a successful University professor. She was under the gun to come up with a virtual presentation she'd volunteered to give 6 months ago. At the time, her schedule was wide open and it seemed like a good idea.

But last week was a different story. She had a new private client, a teenager crisis and was interviewing for a new position. Talk about short on time. Oh yes, she liked be completely organized in everything she did. She didn't feel she had time to take a presentation skills training--in person or online.

Should she bow out? Should she go ahead? Find out how she gained total confidence, delivered a dynamic virtual presentation, and built trust with her audience.

Here's what happened to, let's call her Sue.

Sue called me with a whirlwind of ideas. She could easily have gotten a PhD with all the concepts she wanted to present. Problem was, she only had an hour.

I introduced a few concepts and tips. Let me share these with you right now.

1. Reduce ScopeTake a surgical approach to your content. Cut it in half. Then cut it in half again. Repeat as needed.

While this sounds painful or even unthinkable, it will save you loads of time and pain. Plus, it will guarantee that your audience will understand exactly what you're talking about.

2. Repeat Key IdeasRemember that your audience is packed with people who are also crazy busy, with short attention spans. While you may believe your key ideas are crystal clear, do not leave this up to chance.

Improve retention by repeating your key points. If at all possible, focus on one single point and drive this home with repetition.

3. SimplifyYou are an expert. You are smart. You are passionate about your topic and subject matter expertise. But your audience is overloaded. Do the heavy lifting for them. Simplify your concept into an easy-to-understand phrase and picture.

If you're not sure how to simplify, work with an executive coach. In a short session, he or she will help you capture the essence of your story.

4. Share Your Personal StorySpeaking of stories, make it personal. Every day we have insights or something happens to us. Write these down in a journal. Keep this when and refer to your journal when you need to present to a group.

By gathering, valuing and using your personal stories, you'll connect human-to-human with your audience. Plus, there's an added bonus. Your stories are unique. You won't sound just like the last presenter--or the next one.

5. Give A Way To PracticeHelp your listeners and viewers put new skills into action. Provide time and a way for them to practice--within your presentation. This is very engaging and will encourage people to get involved on the spot.

With these tips in hand, Sue realized that she could easily keep her commitment. She followed these 5 tips and in a matter of minutes, the 'light bulb' went off. "Of course, I'm going to take this opportunity and give my talk!"

Curious how it went? She delivered her presentation and got rave reviews.

See it really is possible to engage your virtual audience--even if you are crazy busy and they are too. Ready to present with impact? Impress your crowd, look great and give a dynamic virtual presentation in 10-minutes or less. You, too, can keep your promises, save your career, and save time by following these 5 tips.

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Presentation Skills Training: How To Handle Difficult Questions - Business - Presentation

What's the toughest part of business presenting to important clients and prospects? How to handle difficult questions with poise. Curious how the pros make it look so easy and natural? Find out how to handle questions under fire with complete ease.

With more and more subject matter experts presenting directly to clients and prospects, answering questions on the spot is an increasingly important issue. In my presentation skills training, this is consistently the number 1 area of concern.

Why is handling questions such a hot topic?

Many professionals like to reduce risk and control the outcomes of their work environment. When faced with unexpected, uncomfortable or difficult questions, it's easy to feel on the spot.

Yet, we've all seen public speakers and professionals who seem to handle questions with ease and poise. What do they know that we don't?

If you're feeling fed up with formulas, tired of feeling bewildered, and ready for a solution to the question problem, read on.

1. Anticipate The WorstWhat are the questions you deeply hope no one will ever ask? What are the dark holes in your facts?What are the difficult parts in your company history? What are the missing links in your business story?

Anticipate these questions, and it's easier to work on your responses--before you step in the room.

2. Collaborate and ExpandWhen looking into all the scary questions, don't try to come up with all of them in isolation. Ask peers. Ask people from your company who have more experience presenting. Interview colleagues to find out what questions they received in the past.

Look to colleagues outside of your work environment. While the topics differ, difficult questions have a certain commonality. You'll be better prepared when you get a similar one tossed your way.

3. Brainstorm SolutionsWork with your team to brainstorm answers. Again, if you're feeling stuck, the fastest way to add fluidity is to brainstorm. Other people on your team will see answers and find solutions with a fresh perspective.

4. Explore More OptionsAsk a professional presentation coach to help you add to the questions you're compiling. They are likely to notice areas that you may be unconsciously avoiding. Your presentation coach also has personal experience in coming up with questions, and responding to difficult questions on the spot.

5. Simplify Your AnswersWhen you're preparing your answers to potential questions, keep it simple. This helps in two ways. First, you will remember your answer! Second, your audience will easily follow your response.

6. Practice, Practice, PracticePractice speaking your answers. Say each one, conversationally. Adjust the words until you are comfortable and confident.

Then, practice, practice and practice some more. Rehearse alone. Practice with a peer. Answer questions, working under rapid fire, with your presentation coach. The more you practice realistic speed and real-world content, the better you'll feel when your big moment comes.

7. Record and ReviewRecord your answers in front of a video camera. Yes, it's kicking the pressure up a notch. Not many people are thrilled with how they look on video.

But the pleasure of feeling confident far outweighs the pain of seeing yourself on camera. Record your response to questions. Then, watch your practice rounds with your presentation coach. Get candid and honest feedback from your coach.

Ask her or him to help you respond more naturally, authentically and professionally. Focus on using your unique strengths to build confidence and poise for challenging question sessions.

Interested in presenting like a pro? By following these 7 simple steps, you'll transform your skills and handle difficult questions with complete poise.

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How Do I Copy a PPT Presentation to Play on a DVD Player? - Computers - Software

Whether you're a student, an office worker, a supervisor or a job applicant, at times, you would need to create a slide show presentation. No matter what is the topic or type of presentation, you can make it easily with the help of software like PowerPoint.

The good thing about Microsoft's presentation tool is that there are ready-made templates that you can use or customize to make your slideshow even more attention-grabbing. But after you are done with the PowerPoint presentation, how can you burn a DVD of presentation? This is exactly what we will learn in this article.

Why Burn Your PowerPoint Presentation in a DVD in the First Place

Let's say that you have already finished creating a 10-point slideshow presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint. You have customized each individual slide; you checked on how things will appear once you press the Enter or space button during the showing process, and you have even added animation and sound effects.

What's the next step that you need to take? You can either store the resulting PowerPoint slide presentation file onto a flash drive - or you can burn it onto a DVD. There are numerous advantages to storing your PowerPoint presentation on a DVD.

If you are making a presentation in a room which has audio-visual equipment, you can have a much better means of showing your work as compared to the miniscule screen of your laptop computer.

If you have sound effects or animation effects on your PowerPoint presentation, they can even be highlighted with a bigger screen and a better sound system. More importantly, you can carry with you the DVD copy of your PowerPoint presentation no matter where you go and show it on any computer even without Power Point.

Steps to Follow when Trying to Burn PowerPoint Files to DVD

Now, what are the steps that you need to follow if you would like to learn how to burn PowerPoint files to DVD?

When you go on-line, you will see plenty of PPT-to-DVD converter software that you can download, some are for free while other require a minimum fee. If you see yourself doing this task a lot, make sure that you are choosing the right software which is power-packed with features. Here are the steps you need to follow after installing the software:

1. Import the PowerPoint presentation into the PPT-to-DVD converter software.

One of the reasons why most people do not take the route of converting PowerPoint files into DVD format is that they're afraid that the animation, photo and video effects will not be retained. The opposite is actually true. By using the right PPT-to-DVD converter software, you will be able to import your PowerPoint presentation onto the converter software without harming the integrity of the effects that you will incorporate onto the presentation.

2. Choose a DVD menu, watermark your presentation and burn the file onto the DVD.

The last two steps include choosing a DVD menu based on the presentation mode that you would like to have. You can take your pick from ready-made menus on the software. Finally, watermark your presentation and burn it onto the DVD. That's it.

The good thing about burning PowerPoint presentations to DVD format is that you can run the presentation almost anywhere. As long as there is a computer, projector, TV-and-media-player set or ordinary DVD playing devices, your presentation can be showcased without worrying whether PowerPoint is installed or not. As a result, your presentation will look more professional and impress your audience.

When choosing a PowerPoint to DVD converter, make sure that it is easy-to-use and understand. I personally use this PowerPoint To DVD converter to burn my presentation to DVD. If you think that you will be doing this a lot - converting PowerPoint to DVD - then you should definitely choose this PPT To DVD software as It gets the job done in as easy as 1, 2, 3.

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