A visit to Toronto is the source of today’s presentation tip. A city? Who inspires a presentation tip? It sounds strange. But that’s exactly what happened. Here’s how.

I went to Toronto last November to do a training course at Laurentian Bank. Since the training is in the afternoon, I plan a two-way trip in the same day.

My flight lands at Billy Bishop Airport. This airport is unique in that it is located on an island in Lake Ontario about 150 metres from downtown Toronto.

I set foot on the ground around 8:30. Since my training is at 1:00 p.m., that the Laurentian Bank building is barely 3 km away and the sun is beautiful, I decide to walk. I like to walk.

I’ve been to Toronto before. But, always via the other airport which is located outside the city. I think I know the city. But this first landing at Billy Bishop will change my vision.

Coming out of the tunnel under the lake that connects the airport and the city, I turn right to follow the waterfront and possibly find a coffee shop. Working in a coffee shop in a city I visit is a pleasure that I enjoy.

As I walk, I admire the landscape that offers itself to me. And that’s when I had the revelation.

When we think of Toronto, we think of skyscrapers, a dense downtown and, above all, the CN tower and the Rogers Center. As a matter of fact, this is the vision I used to announce my first conference in Toronto a few years ago.

But on this autumn morning, Toronto turned out to be a bucolic place that I had never imagined. Toronto is bordered by Lake Ontario. And the view of the lake is magnificent, aquatic, maritime. It has nothing to do with the urban landscape that comes to mind when you think of Toronto. Seduced by this landscape, I took the picture below.

Suddenly I feel like Toronto is a seaside city. I feel like I’m in a port on the Atlantic coast. I know, I know. It’s a lake. It’s not the ocean. But I have that ocean feeling.

In front of me is the maritime landscape and behind me are the skyscrapers. It’s a strange feeling.

This new vision of Toronto makes me curious, opens up my senses and makes me want to be even more attentive to what I see and what I might discover.

For my happiness, right next to the sailboat, there is a café where I sit down to work and think about what I have just felt on the dock. I sip my coffee and admire the view of the sailboat alongside the wharf.

I thought I knew Toronto, and Toronto surprised me. It incited me to come out of my bubble, to open up my senses and to be receptive.

Our challenge as presenters is similar. We must urge people to come out of their bubbles, their heads, their concerns and be receptive to our message.

I knew that the surprise effect is a known and effective tool to achieve this goal and I use it regularly. The purple and orange balloons I use in my presentations and lectures are a good example. But the experience in Toronto reminded me of how powerful it was to provoke receptivity.

And now, sitting in that coffee shop, I’m wondering. How many times have I made presentations in which the audience could easily predict the outcome? How many times have I witnessed dull, predictable, unsurprising presentations in which my thoughts were elsewhere?

Conversely, how many times have I surprised my audience and provoked more intense attention? Whether it is with the use of my famous balloons, inspiring anecdotes or others? Did I take full advantage of the potential of this presentation tip?

The surprise effect had a special place in my toolbox. I believe that it will now have to occupy a prominent place.

What about you? What place does the surprise effect occupy in your presentation toolbox?

I invite you to share this post. Please give attribution and don’t modify.

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Denis Francois Gravel

Denis François Gravel aide les organisations à performer en contexte de présentation pour que leurs prestations donnent les résultats souhaités. Il les accompagne dans l’acquisition de meilleures pratiques et dans le développement des habiletés de leur équipe.

Il est le fondateur de PRÉSENTabilité, le cofondateur de TEDxQuébec et a été l’hôte de PechaKucha Québec. (2)

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The post Surprise your audience as Toronto surprised me appeared first on Denis Francois Gravel | PRESENTability.

Three of my posts made the “World best presentations tips” series on the blog: All About Presentations.

I am very proud that some of my work has been selected for that list. Thanks to the author of the blog: Vivek Singh

Source: World’s Best Presentation Tips #12 Denis Francois

Posted by: Denis Francois Gravel

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3 de mes billets en vedette sur « all about presentations »

3 de mes billets ont été inclus dans la liste : World best presentations tips(meilleurs trucs au monde pour les présentations).

Cette liste est la création du blogue « All About Presentations ». C’est assez flatteur d’en faire partie. Je remercie l’auteur : Vivek Singh

Vous pouvez consulter le billet : World’s Best Presentation Tips #12 Denis Francois

Publié par : Denis François Gravel

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Denis Francois Gravel

Denis François Gravel aide les organisations à performer en contexte de présentation pour que leurs prestations donnent les résultats souhaités. Il les accompagne dans l’acquisition de meilleures pratiques et dans le développement des habiletés de leur équipe.

Il est le fondateur de PRÉSENTabilité, le cofondateur de TEDxQuébec et a été l’hôte de PechaKucha Québec. (2)

presentability.com

The post My Posts Featured on “All About Presentations” appeared first on Denis Francois Gravel | PRESENTability.

A common problem in public speaking is having too much materiel to present and not enough time. As a consequence, speakers take more time than allowed. It annoys the audience and put pressure on the following speakers and on the organization. How can you avoid doing this?

I was a guest speaker last weekend at a Toastmaster Leadership Session for the District 61 (Quebec City, Canada). As some experienced speaker took more time than supposed, it gave me the idea for this post.

I had too much materiel myself, and I struggled to respect the time. I spoke for 47 minutes instead of 45. I know two minutes is not the end of the world, but it is a two minutes that I shouldn’t have used. Mea culpa.

It could have been worst, but I have a technique to manage my material and my time. As you can see, my technique is not perfect (remember the 2 minutes I took), but it gives me a lot of flexibility.

Preparation

Preparation is an element of success in public speaking. While preparing your speech, you should cut the fat, get to the point, simplify your message and cut again. At the end, you will still have too much to say for the time allow.

The secret is to have materiel for less time than you are allowed.

Rehearsal

While rehearsing, you have to consider two things for the timing.

• Your speaking speed will be different on stage. Usually, speakers tend to speak faster, but they add words and sentences that were not in the preparation. Result: you will probably take more time than when you rehearsed.
• You will interact with the audience (depend on the type of presentation). This interaction will take time that wasn’t planned in your rehearsing.

Again, you should plan to finish in advance of your time.

Fear: I have nothing else to say

One of the fears in public speaking is: not to have enough to say and be forced to end our speech before the time limit. Think about it. Where is the problem? Is there someone somewhere who have been beaten because he finished too early? Usually, attendees have difficulty to stay awake till the end of most of the speeches.

Seriously, I am the first one that want to give enough materiel to the audience. I want them to leave the venue satisfied. I always prepare more materiel than necessary.

More than necessary?

Isn’t this the opposite of what I said earlier? “The secret is to have materiel for less than the length of your allowed time.”

Yes! absolutely, but stay with me.

With more material than necessary, I have the flexibility to adjust my speech. I can develop more on a sub-matter and cut on something else.

I can adjust to the audience. If they have more interest or knowledge on a topic, I can go more or less deeper.

So, how do I manage to respect the time?

Hierarchical structure

I like to develop my speech using a hierarchical structure. This means that I have major topics to address. Each topic has some secondary topics. Secondary topics have a third level topics, and so on.

During the preparation of the speech, I decide how much time to allow to each topic. This way, I know precisely where I should be at any given time.

It is easy during the speech to skip a third or fourth level subtopics to save 2-3 minutes.

Mind map

An excellent tool to build your presentation is the mind map. It is a natural way to give a hierarchical structure to your speech. We will go deeper on this another time. For now, you can use a simple list like the illustration above.

Conclusion

As you can see, the hierarchical structure of my speeches gives me the flexibility that I need to adjust to the audience and to respect the time. Usually, when I use this technique I am finishing exactly on time. Last weekend I let something distract me and forgot to check the time (shame on me, not on the technique).

Great people

Among the many things I love about those events, I particularly like the opportunity to meet great people.

Before the session begun, I was preparing my stuff in front of the room. Another speaker was beside me preparing for his presentation. He had a welcoming smile, I felt comfortable instantly. Of course, we chat together.

The man was Chris Ford, a retired military (he was a brigadier general). He is now a consultant in communication and leadership. He was also the president of Toastmasters International in 2007-2008.

From left to right: Denis Francois Gravel & Chris Ford

Toastmasters Leadership Session

This man reaches the highest level in the Canadian army, he was the top officer of the world’s Toastmasters organization and he had no pretension at all. He chats with me and make me feel “one of the gang”. Talk about accessibility.

Chris Ford is a great man. I am glad I had the opportunity to meet him.

Share with me: What do you do to respect the time?

Related posts:

• How do you know your presentation is ready?
• Audience will not understand your numbers
• Presenting data: be creative with charts

Posted by: Denis Francois Gravel

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Denis Francois Gravel

Denis François Gravel aide les organisations à performer en contexte de présentation pour que leurs prestations donnent les résultats souhaités. Il les accompagne dans l’acquisition de meilleures pratiques et dans le développement des habiletés de leur équipe.

Il est le fondateur de PRÉSENTabilité, le cofondateur de TEDxQuébec et a été l’hôte de PechaKucha Québec. (2)

presentability.com

The post How to respect allowed time appeared first on Denis Francois Gravel | PRESENTability.

“Protect your identity online”

The third information and awareness campaign was launched on Monday by ISIQ (security institute of Quebec).

I like this campaign because it is useful for every Internet user, and because it does not use the “FUD factor”.

Campaign Web site: click here

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Disclosure

ISIQ asks me to cover the campaign. I accept but only within my editorial line, which is: presentability.There is no money involved. My collaboration is my small contribution to help make the Internet safer.

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No “FUD factor”

The FUD factor is a technique used in sales and marketing to convince people. It is based on Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. It is easy to apply and really effective.

The problem is that this technique had been overused, and it has created a side effect. Everybody is afraid of everything.

The goal of this awareness campaign is not to convince us to get off the Internet and to never go back again.

The message is simple: Enjoy the power of Internet safely. As in real life, there is some risks, and you should follow some basic rules (see the “Web site” section down this post). No FUD factor here.

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Spokesman

The choice of the spokesman, Denis Talbot, is perfect. He is hosting the TV  Show “M. Net” for the past 10 years. He is well known, he is renown as an “Internet expert”, and he have the needed credibility to endorse the campaign.

More information on the spokesman: denistalbot.com or TV show “M. Net”

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Web site

On the Web site, you will find a tons of useful information. Everything is clear and easy to find. It is written in plain English.

I would have prefer the site to be more “jazzy”, but maybe it would have been less accessible for new net surfers.

Some of the tools you will find on the site

1) An online code of conduct. Here are some of the rules:

• Keep your software up to date, particularly your security software.
• Copy and safeguard important files.
• Restrict access to your personal network, especially your wireless network.
• Other rules on the campaign Web site.

2) A social network guideline for Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.

For the other tools, visits the Protect your identity online Web site.

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Raise the awareness

The ISIQ awareness campaign is well started. The list of tools is big enough to satisfy the majority of Internet users. Spokesman Denis Talbot is a good choice.

In the next days, there will be some Web events in French (registration required). The first one is the “Conference on cyber security and prevention”, which will be held Monday November 16 at 10 : 30 (Eastern time).

You can also follow the campaign on Twitter with the hashtag #jpmi

See you Monday at the Web conference.

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Share with me: What are you doing to keep your Internet usage safe?

Posted by Denis Francois Gravel

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P.S. – Remember to update your bookmark and RSS feed to the new URL. I moved my blog to my new domain name recently.

Blog address: https://presentability.com

RSS Feed: https://presentability.com/feed

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Denis Francois Gravel

Denis François Gravel aide les organisations à performer en contexte de présentation pour que leurs prestations donnent les résultats souhaités. Il les accompagne dans l’acquisition de meilleures pratiques et dans le développement des habiletés de leur équipe.

Il est le fondateur de PRÉSENTabilité, le cofondateur de TEDxQuébec et a été l’hôte de PechaKucha Québec. (2)

presentability.com

The post Protect your identity online appeared first on Denis Francois Gravel | PRESENTability.