
Keeping Control Of The Message When You’re Not In The Room
My conversations with clients this month have focused on pitching project ideas, persuading key stakeholders and building momentum for ideas within the business. Often this is done remotely, where it’s not possible to control the attention and direction of the discussion.
Here’s what I noticed: extremely busy slides. Now, I’ve written endlessly about the challenge and difficulty with this approach and yet, if we ‘have’ to use them, then let’s strengthen our impact by using the following tools:
1. Always explain the context for the visuals first. Otherwise, it’s a sea of numbers, charts and figures, which can be viewed and interpreted in multiple, different ways.
2. Avoid, avoid, avoid presenting what looks like a report. I can read for myself, thanks. We add absolutely no value if what we present is effectively exactly what we’ve written on the slide.
3. Use builds – and rehearse them – to break down visual density.
4. Use ‘embedded commands’ i.e., direct the audience’s attention in terms of where to look. Trust me, they’ll look where they are told to look.
5. Create greater interest by interspersing appreciation, audience names, referencing their metrics and priorities to make your point powerfully resonate. Otherwise, this message is all about you… and in fact it should always be all about the audience.
Until next time…

Sarah Brummitt
FFIPI AICI CIP
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