Presentation structure: STRUCTURE - SLIDES - PRESENTATION
The problem with many presentations is that the flow of facts and arguments is simply poor, meaningless, boring, and difficult to follow. It does not answer the question “So what?” We do not understand where it is leading us and why. The speaker forgets what to talk about next. Can this happen if you're telling a story?
Picture Superiority Effect: In most cases, people learn pictures better than words.
Slides are not reports, not tables, not for analysis. Viewers should understand the meaning in just a few seconds. The slide should grab attention and quickly make an impact on the audience. He must inform and convince
Companies that invest in design are more successful.
In the 10th century, the ability to write was an advantage. Now, design is the new writing.
Make your own slides. You still won't be able to afford designers who will deeply understand your topic. But this is the only way to make good slides.
3 principles of presentation: focus (thesis), contrast (antithesis) and unity (synthesis)

Focus

Every performance has a focus. In history, this is a hero. The slide has the brightest and largest element. In a speech - the figure of the speaker.
Focus is needed because the audience will not be able to remember everything you say. And you won't be able to tell everything you know.
It is well known that a person cannot hold many elements in short-term memory. According to some sources, 7. According to others, 4.
Hence the rules:
- The presentation consists of no more than 4 parts.
- And one main message. Put the main message in the title, in the largest font.
- For bullet points - no more than 3-4.
- No more than one idea per slide
- Total: 1 central message + 3-4 supporting ideas
Create stories with characters - it's difficult but effective
A presentation is a mini-movie, a mini-book... with its own plot, beginning and ending

Contrast

Principle of Contrast: Ideas become understandable only in contrast with others. All history shows that people love conflict. But the typical business presentation is not rich in conflict and contrast. Everything is predictable. And boring.
Create visual contrast. Make headings stand out, highlight important points, separate text from the background.
The most important part of your presentation is the problem. Conflict between problem and solution. This conflict is what will make your story interesting.
A popular mistake is that only achievements and victories are presented - there is no conflict or difficulties. This applies to any content.
4 types of problems: 1) moral or psychological 2) conflict with another person or company (comparisons) 3) conflict with the dominant paradigm (the best strategy) 4) conflict with the forces of nature, economics...
Try to maintain tension. It is not necessary to drag everything out to the very end, but at least one important point I have to leave it for the end.
Always put your facts in some context (comparison)

Unity

Principle of Unity: When properly constructed, conflicting parts create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Presentation preparation checklist

No matter how complex the presentation, you must choose one idea around which to organize the entire speech.
Determine the purpose of the presentation. The right goal connects the audience and the speaker. It answers the question, “What do I want them to do?” or “What do I want them to remember?”
Do you want your audience to understand and act on your presentation? Don't just inform her - get her involved! Get interaction!
Motivate them, inspire them, show them a vision of where to strive.
Every presentation should be about a vision (a set of values).
Don't be afraid of controversy. If there is nothing controversial in your presentation, it will be boring.
Don't start drawing up a PowerPoint presentation. It's better to do this with stickers or paper. Otherwise, you risk drowning in small technical details.
After the goals, we do a brainstorming session. Sculpt everything and then put it into a mental map. This mind map is just for order. This is not the structure of a future presentation.
To create cool patterns, we recommend the free and cool yEd
Make your presentation feel like a conversation. Imitate questions the audience might ask. And answer them.

Tips for working with slides on stage

Classic Mistake: Reading Slides Out Loud
What can you talk about in the introduction:
- state the basic rules of the game (duration, will there be a break, when are the questions...)
- introduce yourself, it is advisable to prove that you are a reputable specialist
- It’s better to tell some short personal story
- describe the situation, set a starting point for the narrative
“Confidence monitor” - when the current slide is shown on the speaker’s laptop, as well as the next one + time until the end of the speech. This can be configured in PowerPoint too.
The remote control is a clicker. With radio control (not infrared!) from Logitech, Kensington, etc. Coverage - 20-30 m. Works with any computer. No installation required.

Oratory

Speaker 1.0 planned everything, calculated the time of the speech and spoke. Speaker 2.0 prepared, but when faced with an unexpected question or reaction, he did not get confused, improvised and emerged victorious. Such presentations are much stronger than just well-prepared ones.
Speaker 1.0 is the ultimate know-it-all. Speaker 2.0 is not afraid to show his imperfections and is ready to laugh at himself.
If you notice that you made a mistake, admit it and correct yourself. You can laugh at yourself.
Alexey is against planned jokes. Only improvisation!
Do you want to become a passionate speaker? Watch videos of other outstanding speakers. Copy their voice, poses, etc. Over time, you will develop your own style.
Authenticity is believing what you say.
The secret to a good presentation (with improvisations and all) is a lot of rehearsal.

Design Tips

Slide template design:
- definition
- no unnecessary decorations, elements, shadows or 3D effects
- title text - larger and in a different color
Determine the focal point of each slide. And highlight it with a font or color.
According to the lists: no more than 4 points, each no more than 4 words.
Consecutive slides should not have repeating titles.
Avoid footnotes and generally small font on slides
Try to use your own photos. People will appreciate it. Quality doesn't matter.
If you need to illustrate an abstract idea, avoid photos. Instead, use abstract outlines and shadows.
Icons can be used as bullet points. For example, a watch, when we list time costs.
Placing text vertically in charts is bad.
Complex charts and tables can be animated step by step, explaining each step.
In PowerPoint, I prefer the Dissolve or Fade effect.
For the main slide (1 time per presentation), you can use the “Doors” effect.
Don't be afraid of empty space.
The background color is black if the presentation is in a dark room. White - in other cases.
Primary colors for fonts: white, black
Tool for choosing colors: https://kuler.adobe.com/
The picture on the slide is either big or not at all. Small is bad.
The text of the presentations is the language of a ninth grader.
Place latest version PowerPoint is already quite good.

Design is the “new writing”. Do you want your ideas to be purchased competitive advantage- become a little designer.

Best Designer your presentation is you.

2. Put the facts into a story.

Storytelling is not making up stories. It is the arrangement of facts in a sequence that gives them meaning.

I'm not just suggesting that you use stories as part of your presentation. I encourage you to carry the story structure throughout your entire presentation.

3. Determine what is opposed to what

No story can work without a dark side.

If you missed the dark side earlier - while expressing all your thoughts - go back one step.

Without conflict, the audience will become bored.

4. Draw the structure

Try drawing your structure as a process and you will feel the difference. As they say, if something can't be drawn, it can't be done.

This means that if you don't have a good visual idea of the project, you'll have a hard time when it comes to executing it.

Let's face it: presentations are usually a cheap, "wholesale" alternative to speaking individually with each audience member. But this doesn’t stop the presentation from being a conversation!

6. Don't force the listener to choose where to look.

Listeners shouldn't have a choice about what to watch. You must direct their attention. At every second of your speech, the audience must be sure that they are looking where they need to look.

7. Rehearse your speech, rehearse your improvisation

First, just say the words out loud - that's the trick. When you feel like the words sound unnatural, it's time to start rehearsing improvisation. Relax and let the flow carry you.

At the end of 2003, I worked as an analyst at consulting company. The firm specialized in strategic consulting. Our clients were Russian ministries, senators, legislators and formerly state-owned and now privatized companies. My job was to write reports that would contribute to the decision-making process. I had virtually no contact with clients, and to be honest, I wasn’t very upset about it. I was quite happy with just writing. But then that day came. One of the firm's partners (to whom I am very grateful today) decided that it was time for me to look at Big world. I had to “present” to a client of the company a report that I had recently written for him.

I tried to convert my report into a PowerPoint presentation. The result was a bullet point-filled nightmare reminiscent of a teleprompter. This is something you rarely see today. I remembered that my boss recommended using more pictures. In 2004, “pictures” were taken primarily from the clipart libraries built into Microsoft Office by default. At the same time, I completely lacked design skills and my taste was very far from ideal. So yes, there were a few pictures, but to be honest, it would have been better not to have had them at all.

I spoke for 30 minutes and everything was going well (or at least I thought so). Unfortunately, it turned out that the client did not fully share my point of view. He did not understand why this report was prepared, what it revealed, and why we spent so much time and money on it. My bosses immediately had to improvise another presentation, which, fortunately, had an effect. The client eventually calmed down, but asked that he never assign me to give presentations again. I was so upset that I promised myself that I would learn how to give presentations within the next few months. That's how it all started*. Two years later, a client (although not the same one) asked that I give presentations whenever possible.

Four years later, I read Jim Collins' book Good to Great and decided to make a living doing what I did best: presentations. The following year, I published a presentation called "Death by PowerPoint", which, to my complete surprise, went viral - to this moment it was watched by more than 2 million people. This was the best confirmation of the correctness of the path I had chosen. Today I teach a course on presentations at one of the best Russian business schools, conduct corporate master classes, work as a consultant and collaborate with the Mercator company, a leading Russian producer of corporate films, business presentations and infographics.

I just wanted to learn how to make slides.

But instead, MIF “slipped” me BEST book from the ones I read in 2014. From 46 books.

Why the best? I'll explain now.

Alexey Kapterev

What is this book about?

How to give presentations.
How to speak in public.
How to prepare material for a presentation.
How to create an unforgettable story.
And yes - how to prepare slides.

Passion

The book was written by a man who loves his work. Such things are immediately visible.

…presentations are transformative. This doesn't necessarily mean they're changing audiences. This can also happen, but that’s not what I’m talking about now. Presentations transform you and your own ideas. It's not about them helping you become rich and famous. It's about becoming different the best people. You will become more knowledgeable, more understanding, more sincere and more passionate. Alexey Kapterev

Nowadays the fashionable approach is “read 10 books on the topic, and you are a guru.” You can write your own books, teach people, etc. How different Alexey is!

He read everything that was close to the topic. Attended a bunch of seminars on presentations, screenwriting, acting. Watched hundreds of presentations. He was a participant and organizer of the famous TED conferences, which we love so much here at Lifehacker...

And only then did he write the book.

This is noticeable: erudition just splashes from the pages. But always to the point!

Practical experience

Alexey - practitioner:

He often speaks in public.
He stood on stage as a stand-up comedian and as an amateur actor.
He advises professionally large companies(Yota, Yandex, Skolkovo) regarding presentations.

By format

The format “delivers.”

For example, here's how comments are formatted:

And here are the notes:

But the main thing is examples. A lot of them. How right, how wrong...

Almost all examples are not invented, but taken from real life. For example, Alexey analyzes famous presentations and speeches of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Al Gore, Evgeny Grishkovets and others.

Road map

books;
presentations;
video;
blogs.

I appreciate it. In the current whirlpool of books and articles, it is as if you have a road map with pointers.

Well, and, in fact, Alexey himself

It would be strange not to show something from Alexey after the “thick, thick layer of chocolate.”

And here he is live at the TED conference in Odessa:

I think it's great!

Total

Interesting read. Just like an art book.
Teaches us the philosophy of a great presentation.
And a large number small tips that you can immediately go and implement into your presentations.

If I decide to write my own training book, I will use Alexey's book as a reference.

Alexey Kapterev is one of the main Russian trainers in the field public speaking and the teacher of the course “” told the site in an interview about the components of effective business communications, people with bright charisma and secret techniques of speechwriters.

— How did you suddenly start doing presentations?

At the end of 2003, I worked as an analyst in a consulting company. The firm specialized in strategic consulting. Our clients have included Russian ministries, senators, legislators and formerly state-owned and now privatized companies. My job was to write reports that would contribute to the decision-making process. I had virtually no contact with clients, and to be honest, I wasn’t very upset about it. I was quite happy with just writing.

But then that day came. One of the partners of the firm (to whom I am very grateful today) decided that it was time for me to look at the big world. I had to “present” to a client of the company a report that I had recently written for him. Note.

I tried to convert my report into a PowerPoint presentation. The result was a bullet point-filled nightmare reminiscent of a teleprompter. This is something you rarely see today.

I remembered that my boss recommended using more pictures. In 2004, “pictures” were taken mainly from the clipart libraries built into Microsoft Office by default. At the same time, I completely lacked design skills, and my taste was very far from ideal. So yes, there were a few pictures, but to be honest, it would have been better not to have had them at all. I spoke for 30 minutes and everything was going well (or at least I thought so).

Unfortunately, it turned out that the client did not fully share my point of view. He did not understand why this report was prepared, what it revealed, and why we spent so much time and money on it. My bosses immediately had to improvise another presentation, which, fortunately, had an effect. The client eventually calmed down, but asked that he never assign me to give presentations again. I was so upset that I promised myself that I would learn how to give presentations within the next few months.

— Is there a continuation of this story?

- Yes, oddly enough, there is - many years later, one of those same dissatisfied clients ordered me another presentation. And this time I was absolutely satisfied.

Between these two events, naturally, there was long work above myself: I read a lot and I copied people a lot. I transcribed Jobs' presentations, gave these presentations, and tried to be more convincing and professional, just like Steve Jobs again.

— Is this the person who inspires you?

— Yes, I respect Jobs very much.

“There is no seed in our computer, but we are taking these specific steps and working on it this way” - this is an example of excellent brand communication from Jobs.

Good brand communication is always built on the fact that you find a problem that worries you and solve it.

— Are there any general life hacks that help develop oratory and the ability to speak in front of an audience? Something like the techniques used in The King's Speech?

- No, no, “The King’s Speech” is a story of psychotherapy, this man had a serious defect and this film is a story about his struggle with this defect.

Public speaking is the story of one’s own problem and overcoming it, the story personal experience and some good news that the narrator brings to his audience - that he suffered, that he understood, what is his conclusion after overcoming.

— And if the product is perfect, and there are no problems, what would you say?

- Then, of course, there is no need for a presentation, the product will sell itself! But, as a rule, there are no products without shortcomings or without a story of overcoming, or, say, if the product is almost perfect, there are stories of neophobia - fear of a new product. Therefore, presentations are, of course, necessary.

- What can’t he do without? good presentation?

— First, the speaker needs to sit down and think carefully about what problem his speech solves, what the main problem is. That is, what do you want to convey to the audience, and why does the audience need it. Then you describe a plan to solve the problem, describe what you are presenting.

You need to immediately decide what the main insight, the big idea, the main news of the speech is that a person will take away after meeting me.

For example, I recently watched Monica Lewinsky's recent TED talk - she talked about how difficult it is when a lot of dirt is thrown at you, and people are ready to destroy you, although, by and large, you have not killed anyone. A speech about tolerance, let's say. And it was supported by her personal story, the story of overcoming her disadvantages and advantages - and thus the performance turned out to be wonderful and very convincing.

— Are there any speech preparation techniques that are useful to a speechwriter?

- Undoubtedly! It is necessary to read your speech out loud, this will help you feel how strong or convincing it is. In the same speech of Monica Lewinsky (which, it was clear, a good speechwriter worked on) there were very strong parts that coincided with her image, and it was clear that this was close to her. And there were philosophical pieces that, rather, are inherent in book reflections, and it was clear that Monica Lewinsky does not speak like that in normal life. That is, the performance should be rehearsed so that such dissonance does not arise.

— Is it possible to somehow develop attractiveness and personal charisma? Is it possible to learn this?

— Charisma, in my opinion, is an external manifestation of internal qualities. Again, the example of Steve Jobs convinces us that charisma is often acquired when a person persistently pursues his goal and how much of a hero he is in this.

Oddly enough, people who have been in prison have great charisma.

Now, if a person is ready to go to prison for his ideas, if they thought about them for a long time in prison - then nothing can break him, the charisma of such a person is visible, it can be read in everything - because the person carried out his thought and his idea.