President Obama's speaking style has been the subject of many articles, blog posts and media reports. He is assessed as being articulate, able to speak about complicated topics in a way that vast audiences can understand and he is effective at connecting with his audiences. He has a definite style and rhythm that sets him apart from most leaders.
What is missing from President Obama's speeches? There are no Power Point slides!
If Barack Obama could go from newcomer to president in just a few years, on the strength of his ability to communicate a message of something intangible like change--without a single slide--why shouldn't you be able to communicate your ideas without slide decks?
You have expertise, passion and experience built into you. You have creative ideas, your own unique take on "life" and lots of practice speaking in conversations to all kinds of people. These are the skills you need to be a business speaker. There is never going to be a slide that's better than you are.
I always urge business speakers to picture a speech or presentation as an experience they create for their audiences. The experience includes three components: the audience's needs, the speaker's ability expertise, and the time the audience and the speaker spend together.
Once this picture is in place, the speaker plans the speech or presentation. Only after the planning is complete--the call-to-action, the key points, the leading materials and the attention-getting opening--does the speaker think about how to deliver the speech. Slides MAY be a delivery method for some of the content.
This is very different from this equation: Speech = Power Point deck. When you live by this faulty equation you will miss great opportunities to actually transform people and your own reputation and success.
The next time you open Power Point to begin preparing for a speech or presentation ask yourself, "What would Obama do?" The answer is that he would know his audience, speak from his knowledge with passion and authenticity, and use language and his personality to get his message across.
That's what you must do too.
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