Creating Powerful Presentations

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What outcomes can you expect?

This advanced workshop helps presenters plan, write, and design a powerful, persuasive message and materials to support stand-up or tabletop presentations. Learners practice our audience-centered writing process as they

  • plan presentation strategy using the Presentations Focus SheetTM
  • generate and assemble content productively before drafting
  • create a team or solo presentation with a unified message and stand-alone handouts
  • decide what information goes on slides or handouts
  • use planning tools to delegate assignments and coach others effectively.

The workshop does not cover delivery skills, such as confidence or speaking techniques.

The focus: creating memorable presentations that drive action
Learners use The Five Steps to Writing Audience-Centered Presentations to plan, draft, and edit and on-the-job presentation. After the program learners will be able to

Write attention-getting PowerPoint® presentations

  • use storyboarding to plan a well-crafted presentation
  • enhance visual design--use images and graphics in new ways for impact
  • create effective handouts

Influence your audience
  • analyze the audience to motivate and "sell" the key message using the Focus Sheet
  • structure arguments logically and persuasively using the Presenter's Map tool

Streamline your message
  • include only the content that the audience needs for decisions
  • learn the 6x6 rule and other editing skills for slides
  • eliminate jargon and wordiness
  • improve parallelism and passive voide
  • apply visibility/readability standards to slides and handouts

Write for results
  • position the key message and persuaders strategically
  • Use the "you" attitude
  • end with a call to action
  • use a rating tool to evaluate the quality of their presentations.

Who should attend?
Anyone who writes presentations for internal or external audiences

What books, materials, and job aids do you receive?

  1. Instant-Answer Guide to Business Writing (iUniverse) by Deborah Dumaine, founder of Better Communications®
  2. Better Communications' Creating Powerful Presentations binder and handouts
  3. Presentations Focus Sheet, Presenter's Map, and storyboarding guidance
  4. SPARK (Strategic Presentations Analysis and Rating Key)