Synopses & Reviews
Chapter 1: It’s Not What You SayExplains the principles behind the book:
‘To transform presentations, we need to stop writing them like school essays. School essays are almost entirely about content — how much you know. And the meaning of a school essay? I’m clever and knowledgeable. Please give me a high mark.Totally inappropriate for adults in the workplace.
This is the underlying reason so many presentations are so bad. Most of us prepare them using the techniques we learnt for preparing essays at school. Instead, we need to prepare them by focusing first on our objective. Not as easy as it sounds. But that’s where the GOER process comes in.’
As this is a practical book, readers are encouraged to select a presentation to which they can apply the GOER method. The GOER method is summarised in brief:
Stage One: establish the Goal.
Stage Two: develop an Outline.
Stage Three: Elaborate.
Stage Four: Refine.
Chapter 2: AGoal Worth Achieving
‘If a presentation is not about content, what’s it about? Two things: what your audience wants, and what you want. Ascertain, firstly, what the audience want from the presentation and secondly, as a separate exercise, what you want to achieve from it…’
- How to establish an audience’s objective using two magic questions; who to speak to and how to interpret their answers. Illustrated with real examples from the author’s clients.
- How to clarify your own objective — a useful tool for this: the Five Whys. More case studies to illustrate this working in practice.
- Establishing the other key parameters you need to determine at this early stage: duration (not the same as the length of the meeting!); deadlines (not the date of delivery); approval and allies.
- Other vital considerations at this stage: tips for managing time, questions and answer sessions and late starts. What deadlines to set for yourself or team.
- A Goal form is provided for readers to complete.
Chapter 3:An Outline is the pathway to your Goal
- Establish the four key messages you want to convey. Some techniques to help with this: 3-level listening, a set of three Mind Maps – Dump, Dig and Clarify – plus an original tool the Meaning Generator.
- The most effective order in which to present this information.
- Before going any further, collaborate with the audience — in the right way — to check you have set the right Goalsin the correct order
Chapter 4: Elaborate
‘To create something unique, personal and compelling, add the flesh to your outline in whatever way suits you best: make notes, draw pictures, talk it through to yourself, or write it all out if you prefer…’
- How to get the first draft completed.
- How to Elaborate by expanding on your Outline.
- Various ways to record notes — to help readers establish which suits them.
- The way to achieve unity, zip and flow.
- Techniques for maximising creativity.
Chapter 5:Refine
- Ways to refine and reduce your raw material — ‘killing your darlings’ (editing out the bits that you included because they sounded good rather than contributed towards your Goal).
- More guiding principles for restructuring and rewriting.
- Using some of what you cut to create handouts.
- Visual aids — alternatives to PowerPoint slides.
- Benefits of memorising your material and tips on how to do this — trigger words, images and placing it in a journey.
- These trigger words are also the ideal points in your presentation for PowerPoint slides – if desired.
- Common PowerPoint presentation mistakes.
- Being prepared to reduce the presentation length if the meeting starts late.
Chapter 6: On the Day
Reasons to feel confident
- The audience are usually on your side – at least they are at the outset — and the confidence that comes with GOER
- Nerves — the difference between good nerves – which all performers have – and bad ones, which degrade performance.
- How to use your raised energy: the memorised presentation as a meditation, breathing control, voice control.
- Questions and answers — the shift from virtual to real dialogue. Why you should relish rather fear them.
Chapter 7: In an Emergency
‘The reality of today’s workplace is that you need to be flexible. You may well be asked to produce a presentation in very little time. This is a fantastic opportunity to flex your new creative muscle. GOER is particularly suited to this situation…’
- How to trim the whole process to less than forty minutes.
- Two phone calls to members of the audience to establish audience objective.
- 5 Whys to discover Personal Objective; Meaning Generator for words the audience will remember.
- Clarifying Mind Map.
- Call to the audience member to finalise your Outline.
‘…Such a presentation is, of necessity, spare and to the point. This will, in itself, delight your audience. Your team will be amazed at your ability to produce a presentation so fast…’
Chapter 8: The Best Presentation Never Heard
‘Those who use GOER and become skilled presenters, often discover something paradoxical: that presentations become a less, rather than a more, important part of their communication mix.
That’s because, while people fear them, being good at presentations seems to be the answer. Want to motivate a team? If only I could do a good presentation. Want the go-ahead on a project? Ditto. However, once they can do presentations, people discover that few decisions are made just because of a presentation, howeverpowerful and well-constructed.’
Ideally, presentations are just a part of the process of communication. And GOER helps with the whole of that process: dialogue, emails, telephone calls, meetings. Case Studies show how the research, dialogue and thought that goes into GOER have helped people transform the idea of ‘a presentation’ into something far more effective: a quasi AA meeting, an Open Day, a workshop.
A Case Study ends the book. ‘Paul, an ambitious executive in a worldwide company, had to present to the main board a revolutionary proposal that required the Board to make a critical decision. He had an hour’s slot, and presentations had to be with the Board members ten days before the meeting. Using GOER helped him stay focused on his Goal which was to get that decision.
This is how he began on the day. ‘I assume you’ve read my presentation?’ Nods all round. ‘Excellent. Any questions to help clarify your decision-making process?’The whole of the rest of the time was spent in dialogue. He got his decision, much praise for his expert use of time, and a major promotion.
Synopsis
Are you confident that you know what you want to achieve with your next presentation? Do you know for sure what your audience wants from it? Are you absolutely certain your presentation will deliver - both for you, and your audience?
In this practical book you will discover a completely new way to prepare yourself for a presentation. Packed with real life examples and case studies, at times laugh out loud, it will show you how to do presentations that deliver, for you, your audiences, your team, your business.
Surprise everyone, perhaps especially yourself, by becoming an excellent and relaxed presenter.
Synopsis
James Caplin is a certified, executive coach, and an expert at communicating. his highly successful courses have transformed the experience of presenting in businesses and other organisations for over two decades. He works with individuals and groups in businesses, teleclasses and workshops.
Synopsis
Would you like to be a more confident presenter? Do you know what you audience is expecting to hear? Would you like to be certain that your presentation will deliver positive results?James Caplin believes that too many people try to make a speech when presenting - and they lose their audience in the process. His 4-stage technique will transform your approach to planning and giving presentations. Taking a flexible and dynamic approach that focuses on clear, simple, and direct communication, he throws out the old rules and introduces four new ones.
Goal - Decide what you and your audience want to achieve.
Outline - Dump, Dig, and Clarify your goal.
Elaborate - Develop your outline in a unique and personal way.
Refine - Remember that 'less is more' and leave out the non-essentials.
Learning the art of GOER is easy. In no time you will surprise everyone, perhaps especially yourself, by becoming an excellent and relaxed presenter.
About the Author
“…a practical book.” (PublicNet.co.uk, Tuesday 1st April 2008)
Table of Contents
Introduction.
Chapter 1. About Presentations.
Chapter 2. Goal.
Chapter 3. Outline.
Chapter 4. Elaborate.
Chapter 5. Refine.
Chapter 6. On the Day.
Chapter 7. In an Emergency.
Chapter 8. The Truth about Presentations.
Afterword.
Final Thought.
GOER Flow Chart.
COER Check List.
Index.