Class Notes: How to Present: Share Ideas that Inspire Action

Note: These are my notes from the class which I took on paper and digitized several weeks after the class. This is in no way an exhaustive review of the course or even a complete reflection of the material covered. This simply reflects the things I found most interesting or novel. 

 

Presentations always move (or should move) people to take action, learn something, etc

 

Start with the end in mind (and tell the audience)

Build in stories

-“Imagine if…”

 

Teach from a place of giving, rather than selling.

 

Deconstructing the overview in to the how/why

-Create your topic outline, then invert it.

Example:

Topic

-Argument #1

-Argument #2

Conclusion (Ta Da! Moment)

 

Inverted Format

Imagine if you could (insert positive end goal). Would you like that? 

-Argument #1

-Argument #2

 

Both arguments build the case of how to reach the positive end goal.

 

Understanding

Deeper than knowledge of the product/problem, one must understand the user (may even be a user themselves)

 

Simon Sinek’s Steps:

1. Start with the end in mind
2. Chose a story that helps capture, frame, and paint the end result
3. Do an outline
4. Practice out loud (alone at first is good)
5. Remember good presentation skills
6. Present, record

Simon Sinek’s 9 Tips for Presenting:

1. Be yourself
2. Show up to give
3. Own the room
   1. Wait until you are centered on stage to start
4. Go quiet
   1. If you lose your place just be silent for a bit to refocus
5. Turn fear in to excitement
6. Slow down
   1. Too fast is easy, too slow is hard
   2. Use tone, pitch, etc 
7. Talk to one person at a time
   1. Given them one thought or sentence
8. Accept applause
   1. Accept with gratitude, genuinely thank them
   2. Walk off with confidence
9. You don’t have to know all of the answers
10. Know your stuff
    1. Be confident
    2. Don’t put all your text on slides