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The 5 step formula for delivering an awe-inspiring presentation - The Week


Stashed in: Presentations, @bakadesuyo

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2) Have one theme

You'd love to convey 67 points and have everyone remember everything. And that is never going to happen.

(You don't even remember the eight techniques I listed under "Start strong" and you just read that a few seconds ago.)

Your audience can walk away with one really good message.

Be clear about what it is ahead of time and your presentation will be more focused.

How does the military make sure objectives are clear when plans are complex and lives are on the line?

They use a concept called "Commander's Intent," a crisp, plain-talk statement that appears at the top of every order, specifying the plan's goal, the desired end-state of an operation.

If the unpredictable occurs rendering plans ineffective, the CI still allows everyone to stay focused on the end goal.

The CI never specifies so much detail that it risks being rendered obsolete by unpredictable events. "You can lose the ability to execute the original plan, but you never lose the responsibility of executing the intent," says Kolditz… Commander's Intent manages to align the behavior of soldiers at all levels without requiring play-by-play instructions from their leaders. When people know the desired destination, they're free to improvise, as needed, in arriving there. [Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die].

Have one clear message and the presentation will be easier for you to craft and your audience to remember.

Here's more on Commander's Intent.

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