Video Blog: Get creative with your visual aids

Posted by Ben Decker | May 4, 2012 | 1 Comment | Tweet this

Using a PowerPoint deck soon?

Remember: even when you’re using a slide deck in a presentation, you’re not a slave to it. Believe it or not, you can still break up the talk by utilizing other visuals. You can still walk to a different part of the room, away from the screen. And, you can still switch to a black slide and draw something simple and meaningful on a whiteboard. Your Powerpoint deck is one tool of many in your presentation toolbox.

In that spirit, here’s today’s video blog, featuring a surprising visual used by Bill Gates. Now, start thinking, can you incorporate a memorable experience in your next presentation?

Please share any ideas for visual SHARPs that you’ve been using (and like Gates, hold the malaria)!

Video Blog: Influence with Crystallize/Break

Posted by Ben Decker | April 13, 2012 | 0 Comments | Tweet this

Be unexpected. You’ve heard that adding an element of surprise is a good way to grab attention. But how? What can you do to suddenly have a more unexpected message?

A tool called crystallize/break from Made to Stick is one great way to build unexpectedness in your message. Watch today’s video blog for an explanation and a recent example that’ll help you start using the crystallize/break tool.

So, what’s your first step to using this tool? Figure out what is counterintuitive about your message. What’s something people don’t already know? Share some of your ideas in the comments and I’ll write back with input!

Video Blog: Change your perspective

Posted by Ben Decker | March 22, 2012 | 3 Comments | Tweet this

Ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels? You’ve made a compelling argument, or a strong pitch, but somehow people still aren’t taking action.

Just because you say the “right” words, you can’t assume people will get what you mean and be moved. In order to influence and drive change, your audience needs to feel something. You have to change your perspective, get in their heads, and figure out what matters to them. Here’s a video blog where I share an example from purplefeather about switching your wording to gain a reaction from your audience.

Can you change the way you word something to make it more impactful to your audience? Have you done something like this before and seen results? Please share your stories!

Video Blog: Consider your electronic personality

Posted by Ben Decker | March 7, 2012 | 2 Comments | Tweet this

Let’s say we have a meeting coming up. We think about what our Power Point deck looks like, what we’re going to wear, and even whether to staple or paperclip our handouts.

Meetings only happen so often. But we’re sending out emails, tweets, and posts every few minutes all day long. Do you think about how you come across electronically the same way you think about how you come across in person? It’s time to put some emphasis on your electronic personality, too.

Your turn to share. Have you ever been doing business with someone electronically, and when you finally meet them in person, it’s a different experience? Any other stories? Please do in the comments.

Video Blog: Tell a story to land your point

Posted by Ben Decker | February 6, 2012 | 1 Comment | Tweet this

Recently, I coached an executive who shared a great example of business storytelling, as an alternative to getting bogged down in data speak. I now share it so you keep using SHARPs (Stories, Humor, Analogies, References & Quotes, Pictures & Visuals) to drive your points and lead others to action.

Enjoy! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments and share your own stories.

Video Blog: Steve Jobs motivated with numbers

Posted by Ben Decker | January 4, 2012 | 1 Comment | Tweet this

Before coming up for air from the new Steve Jobs biography, I stumbled across a great example of how to motivate people by using graspable numbers. We call this a SHARP (Stories, Humor, Analogies, References and Quotes, Pictures and Visuals) using human scale statistics, which we’ve covered before but will again because it’s so valuable.

Take a look and see how you can incorporate this idea in to your next opportunity.

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