Blog | Tom Nixon Design

PowerPoint: The easy way out?

Why do so many PowerPoint presentations fail? Why are they not only boring but damn boring? Why have millions of C-suite executives, middle-level managers and front-line office workers come to dread walking into any meeting room that has a screen and a projector?

It’s simple: 95% of the people who use PowerPoint see it as a way to short circuit the presentation preparation process. “I don’t have to be a great speaker…” “I don’t have to rehearse…” “I can wow them with the data…” ”I’ll just list the things I want to talk about in bullet points and, well then, read them right from the screen.” “I’ll just put my data in one of those handy graphs and, well then, read it off the screen.” “Plus, I can print out the slide set for a handout.”

Done. See? Easy.

All this is easy. It gets the preparer out from under a very involved and difficult task: That of preparing a 10-15-20 minute presentation. See? Easy. Done.

But unfortunately the point is to communicate — to efficiently and effectively deliver information and ideas and even emotion. And to do that, to connect with people and influence them, to move them, requires work. It means being a good presenter. It means rehearsing and then rehearsing some more. It means understanding how your audience will react to your vocal delivery and your visuals. How those two elements can work together, engage both the left brain and the right brain and become greater than the sum of their parts.

In short, it is work. But it is worth it. We have all sat through a dreadful PowerPoint or Keynote presentation. But if you have ever been moved or motivated or educated or completely engaged by someone who understands the interplay of images and words then you know how great a presentation with visuals can be.

That’s what making meaningful presentations is all about: doing it right and connecting with people. It’s work. But it is well worth it.

Thursday, May 19th, 2011 Category: PowerPoint, Speaking, Technique No Comments

The silence between

“Music is the silence between the notes.” – Claude Debussy

Debussy’s quote suggests that the real meaning of something may be conveyed and enhanced by the space, the silence with which we surround it. A sunset on a busy, dirty city street is lost but seeing the same sun set over a vast mountain panorama is impressive. A photograph by itself may move us somewhat but put it in a large white matte and complementary frame and it gains the importance it deserves.

A speaker can pause either before or after an important point and the audience realizes that this is a critical part of the message. They may lean in to hear the upcoming pearl. Or they may take a second or two to process the valuable words they have just heard.

Pausing, adding space, gives importance to what we say and gives a setting for our viewers or readers to take in our words and ideas. In a visual or slide, space gives similar weight to an element. This is special and we will not crowd it.

In a presentation, a speaker may include a black or blank slide to provide such space. A visual pause, if you will. The audience redirects their attention to the speaker, they may lean in to hear the next words — this could be something very important.

Pay attention to what the space, the silence between the notes, conveys to your audience. It is powerful stuff.

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 Category: Philosophy, Speaking, Technique No Comments

Whose rules rule you?

When my kids were in Middle School I was silly enough to volunteer to be a youth counselor at my church. I won’t even discuss the obvious lack of good sense that demonstrates on both sides. But that is another story.

One night we played a group game. There were about 20-30 kids sitting in the gym in a large circle. Everyone had taken off one sneaker or shoe and placed them in the middle of the circle. The game was that two people who sat on the opposite sides of the circle would be blindfolded. When they were told to go they were to feel their way to the center of the circle, feel around for their shoe, put it on and get back to their position. The winner would go against winners of other pairings.

It was a typical high energy youth game. Lots of fun and excitement. After a few rounds we got to a young lady named Allison. Whenever Allison played any game she played to win. All or nothing. That was just her. She was blindfolded and then scampered to the center with her opponent to search for her shoe. That is when it all changed.

Instead of feeling one shoe and recognizing that it wasn’t hers and then trying another, Allison would take the shoe she just identified as not hers and fling it out of the circle. Not only would she not waste time trying to identify that particular shoe again she would place it out of reach for any other competitor. Brilliant. Just brilliant. I remember all the adults just shook their heads in disbelief and a little bit of admiration.

Allison knew what the rules were. Sometimes you play by the rules. Sometimes you may bend them or break them. But sometimes the rules are just what people have in their heads. It is what they blindly assume is correct and that they must follow. These are the rules, the assumptions, the ruts we must challenge whenever we can.

Monday, May 16th, 2011 Category: Creativity, Stories No Comments

Don’t show anything but your best!

At a recent Georgia NSA (National Speakers Association) meeting the members had the incredible honor of hearing Mark Scharenbroich.

Mark is one of America’s top presenters. His speech before our group was simply a master class in connecting with your audience, using humor and delivering a powerful message in a clear, moving and fun way.

But it was during a casual video critique session that he said something that all speakers should take to heart these days: “You live and die by your videos. Never show anything but your best.”

Marks’ site NiceBike.com boasts 4 or 5 brilliant videos showing him at his very best (here and here). They are professionally crafted and edited and they are elegantly presented within the site. It is a perfect example of how important video is to today’s professional speaker and how a real pro gets it done. As speakers, showcasing our talent with well-done professional quality video is our chance to “knock one out of the park.” Often before we even get to see or talk to a potential client.

Don’t show anything but your best! Nice bike, Mark!

Thursday, May 12th, 2011 Category: Mark Scharenbroich, Speaking, Video No Comments

Giovanni: The Ultimate Speaker Experience?

Welcome to the world of Giovanni.

You could easily be immersing yourself into the magical kingdom of some medieval wizard — a magician, a presenter extraordinare, a brilliant seducer of his audiences. But Giovanni Livera’s site is so polished and tight the overall impression is of total professionalism. The instant the site pops up on your screen you know you are in for amazing experiences: The Giovanni Experiences. www.giovanniexperiences.com

This site is more than skin deep, however. Giovanni Experiences is as complete a representation of what it would be like to witness this nationally acclaimed magician and motivational speaker as could be imagined. The videos are richly produced without the often seen overproduction of many “demo reels.” There is a full sampling of everything a meeting planner would want to hire this top-tier presenter and entertainer including audio, images and planner-focused descriptions of his 4 signature programs. Plus, the site is filled with plenty of recall opportunities for his well-earned fans.

For an “entertainer-style” speaker this site perfectly defines and showcases Giovanni’s incredible talents. Its perfection may be a little of its weakness however — there seems to be no room for anything newsy or organic. Nothing to update the viewer on “the latest.” Everything is perfectly fit together and seamless. All-in-all though, Giovanni Experiences is a pleasure to visit. Well-done!

The Giovanni Experiences site was created by Rich DeLong of Designtelic, 461 E. 3600 N., North Ogden, UT 84414. Phone: 801.230.9878

Sunday, May 1st, 2011 Category: Speaking, Website No Comments

Practice…

My good friend Jim Dawson is an excellent speaker and trainer in his own right. He is also the immediate past-president of NSA Georgia. At one of their recent meetings he made this simple declaration: “Amateurs practice until they get it right; professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong.” That quote has been around awhile but it still rings true.

Practice, rehearsal: it is really the actualization of the ideal of “persistence.” It may never make you perfect but professionals know it is the only way to get close.

Friday, April 15th, 2011 Category: Speaking, Technique No Comments

‘Tis the gift to be simple

Not simple like Forrest Gump, simple like Einstein.

I have spent well over 30 years as a graphic designer and photographer. My clients would bring me piles of unorganized stuff. Their stuff. And I saw it as my primary job to organize, distill and make sense out of this stuff so that whoever viewed the project I was working on could understand my client’s message. In other words: to simplify.

As communicators and presenters our primary task is to take a huge universe of information, pull out the critical parts, maybe combine them in a way that has not been done before and deliver this simply and effectively to our audience. To take the complex and make it understandable. To make it simple, like Einstein. It’s easy to make things complex but it requires mastery to make things simple.

“Everything deep is also simple and can be reproduced simply…” – Albert Schweitzer

Thursday, April 7th, 2011 Category: Philosophy, Speaking No Comments

They Googled you…

It may be safe to assume that the first place anyone looks to find out anything about you is the web and your web site. If they heard of you through a referral, read an article, or even saw you live, they will probably go to the web to get any additional information. Your fans will want to learn more about the details of you or your message. They may want to understand your positions or advice on a deeper level. Your potential clients will want to know if you are for real — a serious contenter for their audience. Are you worth their risking their dollars and reputation on you?

They will Google you and, boom, there they are on your home page. What do they see?

Within the first seconds they will have a subliminal opinion. They will almost instantly have some idea where to place you on the continuum of presenters: are you Bob, The Used Car Salesman? or Sally Superstar Speaker — able to wow audiences from Bangor to Belize?

The benefits of having a first-class, engaging, up-to-date website are many but maybe the most critical is that so important first impression. Your top quality site sets the bar high. Your first-time viewer will make certain snap judgement decisions about you within seconds of pulling up your site. A well-designed, organized and up-to-date site will go a long way to establish your credibility at a high level. You will get rid of 90% of the “Is this guy any good?” doubts in their minds.

A well crafted, great looking site will whisper (or maybe even shout) to fans and prospects alike just how great you are. Now you just need to fill in the details.

Monday, March 28th, 2011 Category: Website No Comments

Gene Griessman – The Power of Words

One of the benefits of belonging to the Georgia chapter of the National Speaker’s Association is that at just about every monthly meeting we are treated to a presentation by the best of the best. This month it was Dr. Gene Griessman, an internationally known public speaker, author, actor, Abraham Lincoln presenter, and executive coach. He has authored many books including The Words Lincoln Lived By and Time Tactics of Very Successful People.

His credentials are much too numerous to include here but his most notable accomplishment may be that he is the premiere Abraham Lincoln presenter in the world. He treated the audience of professional speakers to a brief but powerful list of ways to get clients to notice and book you as a speaker for their meetings and presentations.

But then he wrapped up his 15 minute talk with a stunning presentation of “The Power of Words” excepted from his book Lincoln on Communication.

Here is a small sample:

Build up your knowledge so that your words are true. Nurture your spirit so that your words are kind, strong, and wise.

The world may little note nor long remember what you say here. And yet it may.

For words, once they are released, take on a life of their own, and find lodging in places and hearts you may never know. But after many days, they may return to haunt you, or bless you.

Think carefully before you let them go.

It was a brilliant example of how a professional at the top of his craft can inspire an audience almost to tears. There was a most grateful standing ovation from his peers.

Thursday, January 13th, 2011 Category: Gene Griessman, Speaking, Technique No Comments