Making presentations that stick

Almost three years ago I praised the ideas expressed in the bestselling book Made to Stick. I even featured the ideas briefly in the first book, Presentation Zen. Earlier this month Fast Company Magazine featured a 3-minute video by Made to Stick co-author Dan Heath on their website called Presentations that Stick. Watch the video below or checkout the transcripts and resources on the Fast Company site. As you may recall from the book Made to Stick, if you want to communicate your ideas in a way that makes an impact, then craft messages that embrace storytelling, are simple, concrete, credible, emotional, and have an element of unexpectedness. In the video below, Dan reminds presenters to (1) be simple (without being simplistic), (2) show something, and (3) tease before you tell.

Example: The Girl Effect
Below is the YouTube version of the Girl Effect, the sample that Dan mentioned in the video. (Go here for the high-rez version on the Girl Effect website.



NOTE: Presentation at Apple Store in Ginza (Tokyo) this Tuesday (4-13)
If you are in Tokyo this Tuesday — or know anyone who will be — please consider stopping by my free presentation which starts at 7:00pm, April 13 (Tuesday) in the Apple Store (Ginza) theatre. I'll be talking in English about the ideas in the PZD book, as well as ideas in the third book called The Naked Presenter (out in summer). I'll also touch on "the 10 Ps" of a great presentation, specifically focusing on "the 5Ps" of delivering naked. We'll also look at what good cooking and good presenting have in common. Loads of free stuff to give away such as PZ books in Nihongo, PZD books in English, PZ t-shirts, PZ stress balls, and some free stuff from iStockphoto. It's going to be a lot of fun. We had twice as many people as seats last time in December, so please get there early to get a seat.


I am working with Apple right now to see if I can present in the London store in mid-June. If there is interest in UK, I'd love to swing by. I'll let you know.

Comments

[Dan]

Wow, timely! I'm in the middle of creating a wireless security presentation and this post just made me rethinking the way I am talking about antennas. I'm now strongly leaning towards scrapping a few boring slides for a simple demonstration using balloons (yes, real balloons).

Thanks for the timely reminder to keep things simple!

[Andrew]

Yes please. I'll get on a train down from the so sunny Cotswolds to see newdadGarr.

[iAndrew]

Presentation Zen by Garr destination Apple Store London, June 2010 - it's in my diary!

Who knows, this happening could be at the new (yet to be opened) Convent Garden store.

Thanks for sharing the Dan Heath clip. I am waiting for my copy of Switch to arrive in the mail. Check out the Heath Brothers online

[Isynge]

Be delighted if you could make it to London - be nice to be able to show that the UK can do a throng just as well as Japan!

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Thanks for such a great post and the review, I am totally impressed! Keep stuff like this coming.

[RobertElm]

Thanks for simple but great ideas

[GB]

London? YES PLEASE!

[Dick]

Couldn't agree more and that was the exactly subject of a post on my blog, too, just a few days ago. Great books by the Heath brothers.

[Xander Kranenburg]

If you are in London, why not swing by Amsterdam! We need some Presentation Zen here big time. Keep up the great posts - really inspiring.

[Laurie Bartels]

Am sure I'm not alone in wishing you could present in a NYC Apple Store!!!

[Productive Porcupine]

London would be great. Is there anywhere we can go to let apple know we'd be interested in you as a speaker?

[Greg Stewart]

Garr - any plans for Melbourne in the forseeable future?
Greg

[Ric Dragon]

Just wondering - is the solution to make better powerpoints, or maybe just to throw it out altogether. Recently, in a pitch, a colleague suggested that in Powerpoint, you turn off the lights - and miss the eye contact. He advocated for printed boards.

I'm a powerpoint junky... but I'm giving this some serious consideration.

[Peter Monbailleu]

Hi Garr. The inspiration you provide is large enough to take the time to travel from Belgium to London and attend the presentation. I probably would...

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And according to this article, I totally agree with your opinion, but only this time! :)

[Fred E. Miller]

Remarkable stuff here.

The Heath Brothers 'Stick' stuff goes hand-in-glove with your PZ stuff.

The Girl Effect is AMAZING. No pics, but text used like I've never seen.

Thanks!

[Warwick John Fahy]

Loved the 6 SUCCESS principles in Made to Stick and especially "Simplicity".

As you said Garr, "simplify, not dumb down". That's a challenge for a lot of executives who suffer from the "Curse of Knowledge".

I use the metaphor of taglines to help them bring their meaning down to its core.

Loved the girleffect video. Very powerful.

Warwick John Fahy
Author, The One Minute Presenter

PS you can see an article on taglines here http://www.oneminutepresenter.com/2009/12/tagline-your-messages/

[Landon Creasy]

Timely stuff! The US has actually identified PowerPoint as a threat to success rather than an enabler. Why? Because we don't use it to engage with the audience. Subject of last night's blog...

[RoryO'Connor]

looking forward to seeing you in London!

[Rosalie Kramm]

I am so glad to read this post. As a novice presenter, I find it intimidating to speak in front of peopel who I believe might be more sohpisticated than I am, and yet I am finding they want the simple, down-to-earth message. Using props, balloons, and gifts adds excitement to the event. Everyone wants to be entertained no matter how dry the subject matter.

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Everyone wants to be entertained no matter how dry the subject matter.

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The Girl Effect is AMAZING. No pics, but text used like I've never seen.

[presentation coaching]

I too would love you to present your approach to presentations in London. Any chance in the coming year?

[Hannes Ricklefs]

London calling!!! Yes please.

Is there an official date set yet?

I have just done my first presentation after reading the Presentation Zen book and the responses have been phenominal! Thank you very much!

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As you may recall from the book Made to Stick, if you want to communicate your ideas in a way that makes an impact, then craft messages that embrace storytelling, are simple, concrete, credible, emotional, and have an element of unexpectedness.

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I can achieve far extra than I've, and I'll, for why really should the miracle which developed me finish with my start? Why can I not lengthen that miracle to my deeds of in the present day?