Storytelling in Presentations

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in This Book
	Beyond the Book
	Where to Go from Here
Part 1 Martians, Stories, and Heroes
	Chapter 1 Sizzle Your Presentations with Stories
		Storytelling Isn’t Just a Buzzword
		Storytelling Is Your Axe; Sharpen It
		Setting the Stage
		Avoid Defaulting to Slides
			Eliminating slidezillas
			Visual storytelling can be exceedingly powerful
		Firing Up Your Audience’s Imagination with Storyopia
		Using the Story Arc
		Pitting the Heroes Against the Villains
		On to Storyboarding. . .
	Chapter 2 Storyopia: Sharing Stories from What Is to What Can Be
		Taking Your Audience on a Journey
			Understanding why people respond to stories
			Remembering that stories can be visual
			Knowing that everyone has a story (Yes, even you!)
		Mapping Out Your Storyopia Journey with Storyboards
			Speaking in the first person, present tense
		Learning from the All-Time Storytelling Greats
			Aesop
			Abe Lincoln
			Jerry Seinfeld
			(Mr.) Fred Rogers
			Winston Churchill and Volodymyr Zelenskyy
			Steve Jobs
			Guests on TED Talks
Part 2 Nuts ’n’ Bolts
	Chapter 3 Knowing Your Audience to Make Them Heroes
		You Must See Your Target So You Know Where to Aim
		Do You Aim at the Needs of Your Audience?
		Using the Start-Up Brief to Target Your Audience
			Audience
				1. What’s the key issue — the one takeaway message I want my audience to remember?
				2. Who’s my primary audience?
				3. What does my audience need to know about the topic?
				4. What’s in it for my audience?
				5. Does my presentation need a special angle or point of view?
				6. What will my audience’s reaction be toward the topic? Positive? Neutral? Negative?
			Purpose
				7. My purpose is to ________________ so my audience will _____________________________________________.
			Questions
				8. What who, what, when, where, why, and how questions will my audience want answered?
	Chapter 4 Mining and Crafting Great Stories
		Examining Ways to Mine Stories from Experiences
			Becoming an active listener
			Honing your skills of observation
			Noticing when an experience sparks a reaction
			Noting when you (or someone you know) beat the odds
			Drawing upon what you’ve read
		Avoiding Story Overload and Clutter
		Morphing Stories from Data
			Knowing the tools
			Crafting the data story
			Using data to inspire action
		Crafting Your Own Repertoire of Stories
			Starting with paper and pencil (or pen)
			Making the connections and creating a list
		Introducing the Four Pillars of Storytelling
			Setting
			Characters
			Conflict
			Resolution
		Including a Call to Action
			Embellishing your stories
			Looking to others for inspiration
		Refining Your Stories
			Including sensory language for added depth
			Replacing insensitivity with mindfulness
			Revisiting the language of genders
		Coining Your Own Word (Becoming a Neologist)
			Learning from a modern-day expert
			Rising to the challenge
	Chapter 5 Starting Strong for a Groundswell Response
		Grabbing the Audience’s Attention as They Enter
		Opening your Presentation with a Story
			Conveying a hero’s journey
			Putting the backstory up front
			Telling a future story
			Sharing converging strategies
			Crafting a case study
			Delivering the story pitch
			Using visuals to complement opening stories
				Example 1: Enjoying early retirement with gusto
				Example 2: Fostering the love of music at a young age
			Other opening attention grabbers
		Introducing Yourself and the Program
		Appreciating the Power of the Pause
		Taboo Openings
		Avoiding Openings that Lack Confidence
		Presenting an Opening Activity
			Starting with a group activity
		Previewing the Audience on Q&A Expectations
	Chapter 6 Ending Memorably
		Letting Them Know You’re Wrapping Up
		Combining a Call to Action with a Story
		Exploring Other Powerful Closings
		Ending Gracefully and On Time
			Curtailing if you need to
			Thanking everyone for coming and relishing the applause
		Giving Them Something to Remember You By
		Staying in Touch to Build Your Network
	Chapter 7 Storyboarding: Bringing Stories to Life Frame by Frame
		Storyboarding in Business
		Before You Start Storyboarding. . .
		Considering Different Storyboarding Formats
			Using comic strip frames
			Using sticky notes
			Using “wall-paper” editing
			Preparing Tell and Show columns in word processing software
				Starting with the Tell column
				Filling in the Show column
			Using greeking when visuals drive the talk
		Building Transitions and Breaks into Your Storyboard
		Stepping Back and Looking at the Big Picture
		Outsourcing to the Pros
			Knowing your needs
			Vetting vendors
		Storyboarding for Sales Presentations
			Making the audience the heroes of every sales presentation
Part 3 Adding Flourishes
	Chapter 8 Slideware: Buying and Applying
		Life Before Death (by PowerPoint)
		Buying: Meeting the Cast of Presentation Players
			Knowing your needs
			Finding the app that fits
		Using and Sharing Slideware During Virtual Meetings
		Giving Your Presentation an Enticing Title
			Not needing to reinvent the wheel
			Knowing your audience’s inner monologue
		Appreciating the Power of an Opening Slide
			Understanding how not to open
			Designing an engaging opening slide
		Knowing How and When to Use Bullets and Numbers
			Using bulleted lists
			Using numbered lists
			Using parallel structure
			Punctuating a list
			Avoiding laundry lists
		Formatting Text
			Formatting do’s for text
			Formatting don’ts for text
			Preparing graphs, charts, and tables
			Adding transitions and animations
			Incorporating videos
		Adding Sizzle to Your Presentations
			Finding popular platforms
			Visualizing in the cloud
		Creating Slide Accessibility for All
			Checking out Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
			Preparing slides for colorblind audience members
		Proofreading Until Your Eyes Hurt
	Chapter 9 Slide Sense: Using Slides Effectually
		Don’t Lambaste Slides
		Getting the Most from Your Slide Real Estate
			Slides that are not effectual
			Slides that are effectual
		Showing Statistics to Your Advantage
			Knowing the difference between manipulating and persuading
			Remaining ethical
		Incorporating Images
			Using photos
				Overlaying text
				Applying the rule of thirds
			Using clipart
		Living in a Visual World
			Using visuals to tell an entire story
			Complementing visuals with a story
			Turning data and tables to into a story
	Chapter 10 Handouts and Workbooks: Kick ’Em Up a Notch
		Preparing Handouts
			Presenting handouts of your slides
			Leaving room for notetaking
			Knowing what to include
				Making lists
				Including content not in your presentation
				Adding a list of references
			Deciding when to distribute handouts
		Crafting Workbooks
			Giving step-by-step instructions
			Including Before-and-After examples
			Incorporating stories
			Adding practice exercises
			Remembering your bio and contact information
		Writing the Copy
		Printing and Binding
			Printing options
			Binding options
				Stapling
				Saddle stitching
				Binding
	Chapter 11 Your Bio: The Story of You
		Showing You Have a Personality, Not Just a Pulse
			Establishing bragging rights
			Breaking from the pack
			Choosing your voice
		Creating Your Infomercial
			Crafting a pithy elevator pitch
			Creating a two-paragraph profile
				Preparing for a self-introduction
				Preparing for someone else to introduce you
			Crafting a one-page bio
		Developing Your Online Persona
			Including keywords for SEO
			Knowing your character-count limits
			Responding to comments
		Knowing What’s Out There About You
			Checking for accuracy
			Dealing with social media defamation
	Chapter 12 Requesting Feedback: Evaluation Forms
		Making On-the-Spot Visual Assessments of Your Audience
		Audience Evaluation Forms
			Asking closed-ended questions
			Going for more detail with open-ended questions
			Putting it together
		Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
			Doing a self-assessment
Part 4 It’s Showtime
	Chapter 13 Poised to Present
		Making a Great First Impression
			Dressing for the occasion
			Wearing a name badge
			Wearing a mic
		Practicing the Art of Practicing
			Practicing in front of people and getting feedback
			Using notecards
			Making your audience the heroes
			Knowing when to use positive or negative
			Practicing strategic use of repetition
			Avoiding unnecessary redundancies
			Asking rhetorical questions
			Practicing pauses and punctuating with your voice
			Considering speech patterns and word choices
		Getting in the Zone
		Looking Them in the Eyes and “Listening”
		Being Sensitive to Diversity and Inclusivity
			Updating your terminology
			Avoiding online barriers
		Dealing with Technology Snafus
			During face-to-face presentations
			During virtual presentations
		An Ounce of Prevention . . .
		Embracing the Benefits of Public Speaking
	Chapter 14 Collaborative Team Presentations
		Meeting the Team
			Knowing what makes a cohesive team
			Understanding the role of the project manager
			Dealing with shirkers
		Completing the Start-Up Brief Together
		Storyboarding as a Team
		Delivering Formal or Informal Presentations
		Using Technology to Aid Collaboration
		Giving and Getting Peer Feedback
		Scenario: Setting the Stage for a Purchase
			Filling out the Start-Up Brief and preparing handouts
			Storyboarding for this scenario
			Making sure the Naugle team focuses on the visitors as the heroes
				Shaping the scenario with storyopia
				Rehearsing the choreography
	Chapter 15 On the Spot: Fielding Difficult Questions and Delivering Bad News
		Dealing with Grinches
			Responding to a combative person
			Defusing tension
		Fielding Questions
			Deciding when to take questions
				Answering questions throughout
				Saving questions until the end of each section
				Leaving questions until near the end of the presentation
			Handling difficult questions
			Not having the answer
		Delivering and Owning Bad News
			Owning the news
			Making a bad news sandwich
			Using a direct approach
			Looking ahead when delivering bad news
	Chapter 16 Adding a Splash of Humor
		Invigorating a “Bored” Room
		Giving a Little Giggle
		Sliding in Lightheartedly
		Fashioning a Funny File
		Popping Out a Prop
		Ferreting Out Punchlines or Quotes
		When in Hesitation, Skip the Citation
		What to Do if Your Audience Left Their Funny Bones at Home
		Trying 30 Days of Chuckling
	Chapter 17 Vive la Différence: Diversity and Inclusion
		Presenting Skillfully to a Diverse Audience
			Speaking with clarity
			Paying attention to your body language
			Being content sensitive
			Pronouncing names correctly
		Presenting in a Foreign Country
		Knowing Conversions
		Storytelling Across Multiple Generations
			Being non-judgmental
			Understanding generational dynamics
			Blending the generations creates a rich exchange of ideas
		Accessibility for All
			Making accommodations
			Delivering your presentation
	Chapter 18 Journeying from In-Person to Virtual
		Storytelling to the Rescue
		Getting to Know You
			Sending electronic invites and follow-ups
			Sending pre-work
		Being Ready for Your Close-Up
			Creating seated energy
			Being ready with an understudy
			Choosing a background
		Creating a Culture of Inclusivity
		Conducting an Interactive (Synchronous) Presentation
			Knowing the maximum number of participants
			Finding ways to be interactive
		Being Savvy On Screen
		Following Up with Your Audience
Part 5 Specialized Presentations
	Chapter 19 Structuring a Training Session or Workshop
		Understanding Your Audience and Making Them Heroes
		Performing a Training Needs Assessment (TNA)
			Determining areas where hard and soft skill training may be needed
				Assessing hard skills
				Assessing soft skills
			Getting a ROI
		Arranging and Organizing Your Session
			Personalizing the session
			Incorporating engaging activities
		Mining Session-Related Stories
			Understanding why people attend
			Tapping into past victories and flubs
		Crafting a Storyopia Journey
			Including characters, settings, conflicts and resolutions
			Sharing a cautionary story
		Accommodating Different Learning Styles
		Evaluating the Success of Your Session
		Training, AI, and the Big Bang
			Understanding how AI is reshaping training
			Adding value or replacing people?
			Using AI for its good
			Being aware of AI’s drawbacks
	Chapter 20 Nailing an Executive Briefing
		KISS-ing the Message (Keeping it Short and Sweet)
		Executive Beef-ings
		Welcoming the Chance to Shine
			Learning your audience’s persona
			Finding an ally beforehand
			BLUF-fing your opening
			Adding supporting data
				Phrasing skillfully
				Showing if-then scenarios
			Applying the 10/30 rule and being ready to pivot
			Fortifying a robust conclusion
			Rehearse. Rehearse. Rehearse.
		Executive Sales Briefings
			Finding their pain, needs, and desired outcome
				Including testimonials to shout your praises
				Creating a storyboard
			Questioning that can lead to sealing the deal
	Chapter 21 Presenting a Paper at a Conference
		Presenting at a Conference
		Stories, Science, and Conferences
			Storytelling is the soul of science communication
			Knowing where to find stories
		Developing an Abstract
		Getting Ready for the Conference
			Structuring your message
			Preparing and delivering your presentation
			Making your presentation interactive
			Checking out the room
			Anticipating questions
			Preventing parchedness
		Avoiding Boos and Taboos
		Taking Center Stage as a Keynote Speaker
			Becoming a keynote speaker
			Being the opening keynote speaker
			Making the lasting impression
		Networking at a Conference
		Evaluating the Results
	Chapter 22 Presenting Someone Else’s Content
		Making This Your Time to Shine
		A Nip Here, a Tuck There
		Making the Presentation Your Own with a Story
		Don’t Catch ’Em by Surprise
		Dealing with the Elephant in the Room
		Don’t Try to Wing It!
			Amending the slides
			Including the audience
			Taking a tip from artisans
		Adapting a Presentation from the Corporate Office
		Preparing as You Would for a Substitute Teacher
Part 6 The Part of Tens
	Chapter 23 Ten Hints for Combatting Stage Fright
		Think of Elvis
		Greet People As They Enter the Room
		Remember You’re the Star
		Build a Memory Palace
		Practice — Practice — Practice
		Make a List of Specific Worries
		Visualize Your Success
		Say Bye-Bye to Butterflies
		Use Notecards
		Join a Group
	Chapter 24 Ten Tips for Telling a Relatable Story
		Keep a “Resource” File
		Don’t Open with a Slide Unless . . .
		Start with a Compelling Story or Hook
		Take Your Audience on an Adventure
		Embellish the Story
		Personalize the Story
		Start with One of the Five Questions
		Make Sure Your Story Is On Point
		Circle Back to the Original Story
		End with a Call to Action
	Chapter 25 Ten-Plus Ways to Make Your Presentation Interactive
		Ask Questions
		Move Around the Room
		Get the Audience Moving
		Gamify the Presentation
		Do a Host-Guest Interview
		Give Your Audience the Steering Wheel
		Get a Debate Going
		Group for Scenario-Solving
		Create a Human Barometer
		Initiate Lightning Talks
		Speed Network
		Incorporate Technology
	Chapter 26 Ten Reasons Presentations Can Fail
		Opening
		Audience
		Verbal language
		Body language
		Technology
		Slides
		Storytelling
		Questioning
		Closing
		Feedback
Part 7 Appendixes
	Appendix A Presentation Checklist
		What to Bring
		Stories, Slides, and Props
		My Appearance
		On the Morning of the Presentation
		Other Speakers
		At the Event
		After the Event
		Additional Checklist for Virtual Presentations
		Miscellany
	Appendix B Glossary
Index
EULA