I listened to her tell me how one should do decent presentations, how the slides should be clear and easy to read, how the presenter must never read the slides off the screen word by word, how she could step in for me if I ever needed a helping hand as she had once spoken in front of 40 people.And, when I saw her she was dreadful. See the advice above and reverse it. Dull, turgid uninspiring slides with 10-15 lines each... which were read from the screen even though she had a stage monitor... in a monotonous bored voice. The audience started chatting amongst themselves!
And next on was a chap who did exactly the same. And he kept apologising for the industry he came from. And he kept patronising the audience. (I wanted to stand up and shout "We are not morons".)
And then another. Groundhog Day or what!
Might I add that all three have serious Chief Exec/MD salaries.
Hasn't anyone ever read the "Moron's Guide to Presentations?" Haven't these people ever sat through the dreadful presentations of other people and figured out what made them so dreadful??
Being invited to give a presentation does NOT make you a good presenter.
When the average is so dreadful it is not difficult to be above average.
23 comments:
Too right.
TW
I chanced upon to view your blog and found it very interesting. Great ... Keep it up!
Maybe it is time to give people a test for a licence before they are allowed to use PowerPoint... same might apply to running a business, using the internet, being a business advisor, being a parent!)
Jim
Are blogs such as this one dying?
Taking a look at the older content, it was interesting. These days it seems to have run out of anything interesting to say.
Christian
Robert
The above comment (Christian's)is neither helpful nor appropriate. I suggest that you disregard it.
TW
TW said
"The above comment (Christian's)is neither helpful nor appropriate. I suggest that you disregard it."
Ignoring your double negative I would say my comment is helpful and appropriate.
Helpful because this blog IS dying. It used to be based on the authors books and gave helpful tips on what/what not to do in business.
Appropriate because the author surely has better things to do with his time if he is (and he is) running out of steam on this blog. Especially if its a one way street. He has attracted the wrong sort of reader these days, and it adds zero to the knowledge shared. The material now seems to have come down to the lowest common denominator of reader.
The blog is these days about twitter and facebook and iphones and blackberries. It is commented on by flooring people and website designers who don't seem to know their apples from their oranges. They talk with such a broad brush as if they know something and when quizzed about specifics simply turn off or attempt to blow smoke up our arses.
You said TW that the readers here are more interested in twitter than real business issues.
Most blogs lose steam and its a shame this one is. I used to come here because the robert craven used to post such amazing stuff that I could take away and use immediately. It also made me want to buy copies of his books.
I think he has concentrated too much on his own material, and has not focused enough on innovating new.
I think robert craven is smashing. But this blog has become a bit like Bernard Manning. A fat and sad old soak that likes to hear the same audience listening to it spout the same material.
Christian
Get a huge electical cable and attach it to the genitals of the speaker, If they start to bore you then put 8,000 volts through the cable. This would motivate them to be more interesting.
Bonnie F
Isn't that what Hitler used to do to himself?
You should be happy that there are so many people like that, they only make you look better !
Bonnie
Who were your subtle(not!) comments aimed at? Lousy presenters or the comment above yours?
Robert
No comment - my comments were aimed mainly at lousy speakers but maybe (in retrospect) the comments above mine as well...
Sorry to have let off steam inappropriately.
Bonnie
@Bonnie: "maybe (in retrospect) the comments above mine as well...Sorry to have let off steam inappropriately"
The day you have the courage of your convictions is the day people might take notice of you. You allowed your 'independent thought" to be twisted by Craven, so easily. Pathetic.
@Craven: You may want to reflect on my words before trying to twist unconnected comments so that they look remotely like defending your, lately, absurd excuse for a business marketing blog.
It's so bad, you even still insist on perpetuating the idiotic and senseless drivel about Twitter. 144Characters seems to be your limit, so hwy not put us all out of the mistery you create and go live, dear boy?
You have now proven that Bernard Manning you are! I'll send you 20 Embassy Regal through the post to help further yourt pathetic wheezes!
Christian
Christian
I am happy to discuss your comments but not in a public arena.
Do contact me at rob@directorscentre.com
and put "blog comments" in the subject line.
Robert
@ Robert:
Well done, only 138 Characters.
Why isn't this the forum for open discussion and debate? Why does anyone who's critical of your method have to do it 'off-blog'?
In other words, why can't you be more open Mr C?
Christian
Back to the Lousy Presenters entry:
Saw a banker present so badly that the audience were texting and checking their diaries but not listening. This was followed by a stunning presenter (no names) who impressed the audience. The odd thing was that they were both saying pretty much the same words but the latter had passion, belief, gusto and spoke from the heart and from real true life experience.
I know which one I preferred.
Simon C
Part of the problem is that many people confuse "giving a presentation" with "putting together a set of PowerPoint slides". They use PowerPoint as the focus, rather than as a tool.
This often leads to: 1)presenters read slides to people instead of presenting to them, and 2) the energy is between the audience and the screen, rather than between the presenter and the audience.
Used well, PowerPoint is a fabulous tool. Used poorly, it has little power and less point.
FWIW, I work all over the world as a keynote presenter, I train Disney in presentation skills - and I don't use PowerPoint.
Powerpoint sucks. Let's have a Powerpoint-free day every week. Life would be so much sweeter. Also meetings in rooms without chairs are cool. Both devices will speed things up tremendously.
Death to Powerpoint.
Bonnie
Part of the problem is that many people confuse "giving a presentation" with "putting together a set of PowerPoint slides". They use PowerPoint as the focus, rather than as a tool.
This often leads to: 1)presenters read slides to people instead of presenting to them, and 2) the energy is between the audience and the screen, rather than between the presenter and the audience.
Used well, PowerPoint is a fabulous tool. Used poorly, it has little power and less point.
FWIW, I work all over the world as a keynote presenter, I train Disney in presentation skills - and I don't use PowerPoint.
@Bonnie: "maybe (in retrospect) the comments above mine as well...Sorry to have let off steam inappropriately"
The day you have the courage of your convictions is the day people might take notice of you. You allowed your 'independent thought" to be twisted by Craven, so easily. Pathetic.
@Craven: You may want to reflect on my words before trying to twist unconnected comments so that they look remotely like defending your, lately, absurd excuse for a business marketing blog.
It's so bad, you even still insist on perpetuating the idiotic and senseless drivel about Twitter. 144Characters seems to be your limit, so hwy not put us all out of the mistery you create and go live, dear boy?
You have now proven that Bernard Manning you are! I'll send you 20 Embassy Regal through the post to help further yourt pathetic wheezes!
Christian
You should be happy that there are so many people like that, they only make you look better !
Are blogs such as this one dying?
Taking a look at the older content, it was interesting. These days it seems to have run out of anything interesting to say.
Christian
The #1 Killer of Meetings (And What You Can Do About It)
http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2011/04/the-1-killer-of-meetings-and-w.html
Don't Be Nice; Be Helpful
http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2011/03/dont-be-nice-be-helpful.html
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