How do you present naked?
By naked, I mean without the whole set of classy and sleeky powerpoint slides, latest projector, remote control, laser pointer, giant screen with latest videos and dolby stereo....
What happens when technology fails?
Recently, I had to facilitate a TeamBuilding seminar for International MBAs. I had designed a very "Zen" short and sleek, designer chic PowerPoint presentation, with pictures purchased from iStock photos, few words, big fonts, very "Steve Jobs" style... (without the black turtleneck, though)
I was very proud and eager to "make my show." I had rehearsed and prepared carefully. I had not anticipated that I would spill my coffee on my laptop the day before the presentation, ruining my unsaved PowerPoint. (The laptop, a brand new MacBook, is still alive with a mouse and keyboard transplant). Oh, lala! Désastre! Malédiction! (28 days later, it resurrected. I'm a Reborn Mac Believer, now). When I showed up the next morning, after a night trying to bring back my bonniemac to life, apart from my high stage of internal panic and lack of sleep, I had in fact all the presentation ready in my mind and was completely available for the participants.
I felt "naked". Like in naked truth. Simply, naturally... naked.
I told them many stories, I listened to them and asked them plenty of questions. I was more flexible and available than if I had stuck to my initial plan, which was, more secretly, to make a Marion show.
Of course, I had integrated the components of the presentation and was in fact making it "Live".
It was the best presentation ever. I felt free, natural, spontaneous, close to my audience and gave them more space too.
Who do I think is a naked speaker? Peter Senge is a naked speaker. He's speaking with simplicity, he's open and aware of others. Very natural. He's standing in the middle of a circle and telling us a story.
This is called "presence".
Conclusions?
If you really have to use PowerPoint - Preparing with visual aids, slides and even better mixing with mindmaps, can be a fantastic way to get sharp and ready. But be ready to do without, too...
1. It enables you to anticipate and structure your presentation, to think about the illustrations you might want to use.
2. You hand pick the best quality slides, the "wow" effect illustrations. That's all.
3. You rehearse and rehearse, and eliminate. You "prune."
4. It's a great discipline and framework, from which one has to free oneself and move out of the PPT box.
5. It's a means, not an end, and should be used with only one question in mind: What added value is it bringing to my audience?
A wonderful way to do this is to embrace the Magical Story Frog Prince! You tell stories in your presentation, you ask for stories from your participants, you make an imaginary fire and warm yourself all around! As Terrence Gargiulo says "If a picture is worth a thousand words, a story is worth a thousand pictures."
