3 Presentation Tips From The Comics

Are you stuck preparing for Your Next Presentation, putting together a short intro about yourself?

Follow these 3 powerful tips, your presentation will be fantastic!

• Start "as if" you were telling a story. Find the thread, the situation, the main characters and begin telling your story aloud. If you can, record yourself via your computer or your phone. A great way to do that is to tell what you are going to talk about to a trusted friend, someone who would listen to you actively and reformulate what you really want to say.

Recently, I've been lucky enough to be interviewed by 2 trusted professionals, Susan Mazza and Lolly Daskal, for their Radio Show, You Matter.Initially, I thought I would mostly talk about my business. I eventually found myself telling the story of my life and the reasons why I was into a mission of empowering women to speak and to become leaders of their own life.We started talking without a clear set of questions. However, very soon, the underlying structure, pattern, emerged, and the story shaped into flesh and soul.I clearly expressed three major events in my life, which shaped my professional life, and highlighted three women mentors.Suzan and Lolly are talented coaches, interviewers," midwives of true selves". Merci.You can listen to this story here.

• Call your Superhero! Be the hero of your own life! Use your whole self (mind, body and heart) to express what you want to say. Deliver with passion. Believe in what you are going to talk about.Be 100% certain about your intention: why you want to speak, why does it matter? Identify with your purpose, your values and stretch yourself!

How do you do that? Recall your own success stories, these fabulous moments in your life where you experienced "flow", where you felt aligned with your values, purpose, skills and actions. Reconnect with the feelings and emotions associated with these experiences of success.If you had to name a character, a "hero", fictional, historical or ordinary, who would it be? Make it personal, make it fun, make it yours. How did you feel like, in that situation of excellence, of flow? The only limit is your imagination!

My own favorite superhero is Mrs Incredible, Helen, the elastic girl, with her incredible family!

Why? She seems to integrates brilliantly work and family, is (very) powerful and has a strong sense of humor. She's flexible, warm-hearted and leads a very simple life, most of the time...

Don't get me wrong, I don't take myself for a Superhero! I can only too easily identify plenty of other role models (Garfield, Coyotte, Lucy in Peanuts, Droopy or the ugly little duck...)

But this little figurine keeps me focus, it stands on my laptop, sometimes in my pocket and gives me strangely confidence, when I need to stretch like an elastic out of my comfort zone, especially!

• Follow the magical "Rule of Three". The best stories always follow the Rule of Three.There were the three musketeers, the three little pigs, Goldilock and the three bears...

Think of the generic three-panel daily comic strip.

In the fairy tales,Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk

has Jack climb the beanstalk three times.

The wicked stepmother visits Snow White in the forest three times before she finally causes her to fall dead.

Rumpelstiltskin spins three times for the heroine and lets her guess his name three times and days.

Wicked Stepmother

 

Rumpelstiltskin

Rumpelstiltskin is a character in a fairy tale of the same name that originated in Germany . The tale was collected by the Brothers Grimm, who first published it in the 1812 edition of Children's and Household Tales...

Regarding the rule of three in presentations, much has been said already, so I recommend you read some excellent articles and tips from Max Atkinson and Nick Morgan.

Andrew Logan, in 6 minutes tells us how using the rule of three can improve your speeches by:

1. Writing triads of words, phrases, and sentences
2. Applying three-part speech outlines.
3. Adding an unexpected twist to the third element   (from BoomBoomBoom to BoomBoomBANG!)
   

        

“We find something complete and satisfying in a group of three, like a three-legged stool that can stand firmly on uneven ground”  Nick Morgan

"One of the attractions of the three-part lists is that they create an impression of completeness. Lists with only two items in them sound inadequate, while lists of four items or more are more difficult for an audience to take in." Max Atkinson.

Take Action, now!

Use the power of Comics and Storytelling

• What is Your Story?

• Who is Your Superhero?

• How could You use The Rule of Three?

Believe in Yourself and Speak Up!

If "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."  as Mahatma Gandhi said, then when I express myself via comics, stories and fairy tales, I feel happy and in harmony!

Next post will be how to use comics "figurines" to improve confidence, develop focus and achieve your goals.

Comments

[Eliz Weiland]

The entrepreneur usually finds success on his/her third attempt. That's one reason why the US has a strong entrepreneurial culture - failure is often seen as a stepping stone or a learning step.

[Susan Mazza]

It is fun to see your superhero figures in action here! Still thinking about who my superhero might be. Love the creative access to empowerment.

I am thrilled you had such a great experience with Lolly and I through our You Matter interview. Your story is one of great courage as is your willingness to share so openly about your life. It is a privilege to have supported you in telling it and a gift to our listeners to have you as a guest on our show!

[marion]

Re: TypePad: [Geronimo Leadership Coaching ] Susan Mazza submitted a comment on "3 Presentation Tips From The Comics"

Thanks, Suzan, for stopping by on my blog and posting such a sweet comment.
Thanks to your interviews with Lolly, you also create access to empowerment: the  opportunities to tell one’s true story.
Would love to guide you into discovering your inner superhero...just ask!
With gratitude, Marion.

[Alain Yap, Morph Labs]

Can never have too much of tips on how to make a great presentation. Appreciate sharing what you know because in our company, we strongly believe in the power of getting the message out creatively. Something easier said than done, though.

Best.
Alain

[marion]

Re: TypePad: [Geronimo Leadership Coaching ] Eliz Weiland submitted a comment on "3 Presentation Tips From The Comics"

Thanks Elise for this reminder. I love it “failure seen as a stepping stone or a learning step”. It’s another story in Europe, and especially in France, where you almost have to succeed at the first attempt, or you’re considered a failure!
Boom, Boom...Bang!!!