from folk tales to presentations

Modern presentationsoriginated from stories

told thousands of years ago.

Introduction

Presentations replacedstorytelling ceremonies

as society developed.

Introduction

They both follow the same rules,yet have different results.

Introduction

So why do we stillremember folk fairy tales …

Introduction

… yet we forget presentationsin just a few minutes ?

Introduction

There are 7 key elementsthat ensured the survival of folk tales.

Introduction

The exact same elementsshould become the foundation

of any presentation.

Introduction

One

Both folk tales and presentationsare delivered orally.

Oral Delivery

Storytellers told storiesin tribes, groups and communities …

Oral Delivery

Oral Delivery

… while speakers givepresentations in front of

small or large groups.

In the past stories were usedto explain, warn, set examplesor communicate knowledge.

Oral Delivery

Today we‘re using presentationsin a similar manner.

Oral Delivery

The Problem

So where did we go wrong?

Speakers rely too much on slideswhile storytellers never needed

notes to tell their stories.

The Problem

Folk tales survived becausedifferent narrators wouldretell them over and over.

The Problem

Write less, speak more.Use slides to support yourmessage only if necessary.

The Solution

Before adding a new slide ask yourself:Do I really need it?

Is oral delivery enough?

Advice

Two

Folk tales were notintended for children…

Relevance

… as they were based onconflicts that humans experienced:death, abandonment, hurting, etc.

Relevance

Telling effective and relevant storieswas vital if one wanted to becomea leader, priest, king or minister.

Relevance

Today, giving relevant presentationsis essential for anyone who wants to

become a thought leader, CEO or politician.

Relevance

Not all tales survived the test of timeas some became irrelevant…

Relevance

… but the relevant ones wereimitated, reproduced and transmitted.

Relevance

In Charles Perrault's versionof Little Red Riding Hood,

Red takes her clothes off and …

Relevance

… gets into bed with the wolfright before he eats her.

This is how it ends.

Relevance

The moral is that girlsshould not trust all sorts of people.

Relevance

The story of Little Red Riding Hoodsurvived because the dangers of trusting

a stranger is still relevant to this day.

Relevance

So where did we go wrong?The Problem

Nowadays speakers createtheir presentations based on their needs

without focusing on the audience.

The Problem

What they choose to presentmay not be relevant to their audience.

The Problem

Choose a relevant topicfor your next presentation.

If you can’t choose it, make it relevant.

The Solution

Learn about your audience’s needs,interests and the conflicts

they experience.

Advice

Ask yourself:Why should they care?

How does it relate to them?

Advice

Three

In an era of illiteracywith no access to books …

Simplicity

… storytellers managed to persuadeand educate their audience.

Simplicity

Folk tales provided knowledgein a simple and memorable way.

Simplicity

The topics were structuredin short tales so that anyone

could understand them.

Simplicity

A complex notion such asbullying would become a simple

and beloved fairy tale called Cinderella.

Simplicity

So where did we go wrong?The Problem

Today speakers fail to persuadeand deliver memorable presentations

despite the resources they have.

The Problem

Their presentations are long,and complex, accompanied by

slides packed with lots of content.

The Problem

The audience no longerrelate to the message and

have a hard time understanding it.

The Problem

Simplify the information withoutdumbing it down while using

analogies and examples.

The Solution

When describing the iPod,Steve Jobs compared it with

an entire music library in a pocket.

The Solution

Don’t be afraid to cut contentfrom your presentation.

Less is indeed more.

Advice

Always ask yourself:Is this related to the core message?Will they understand the concept?

Advice

Four

Folk Tales never hada fixed form as they

were altered by the tellers.

Flexibility

They dropped and addedelements to make the story

more meaningful to the listeners.

Flexibility

Various versions ofthe same story can be found

in different parts of the world.

Flexibility

It’s because storytellersunderstood the importance of

adapting the stories to different groups.

Flexibility

So where did we go wrong?The Problem

Today people use the samecontent for multiple purposes.

The Problem

It’s easier to reuse the same slidesthan adapting and changing the message.

The Problem

Stop recycling your slides andstart adapting your speech to whatyour audience actually need to hear.

The Solution

Make time to work on your speechand don’t rush the process.

Advice

Five

Storytelling was neverabout the story or the teller.

Connection

It was about the listeners.Connection

During storytelling the audiencehad access to imaginary worlds

where each of them could be the hero.

Connection

The tellers would observetheir listeners and would adapt

the stories based on their reactions.

Connection

A connection would establishbetween storytellers and

their audience.

Connection

So where did we go wrong?The Problem

Today it’s all about the speakers.The Problem

Their slides are in fact projectednotes packed with bullet points.

The Problem

They are too busyreading their notes to

look the audience in the eyes.

The Problem

The audience is just thereto sit through dull and

emotionless presentations.

The Problem

Acknowledge and look for signsfrom your audience.

The Solution

Find common ground with themby showing that you understand

their problems.

The Solution

Always remember thatthey are the heroes, not you.

The Solution

Spend enough time practisingyour presentation so you

won’t need any notes.

Advice

Six

In the past people lookedfor different ways to tell stories.

Visuals

So they experienced withdifferent visual techniques

that made folk tales come to life.

Visuals

However, visual communicationwas not just based on

illustrations and drawings.

Visuals

The stories themselveswere visual as well.

Visuals

For instance the hero's inner turmoilis always described as a dark forest.

Visuals

Little Red Riding Hood,Hansel and Gretel or Snow White …

Visuals

… they all go througha dark forest at some point.

Visuals

We can easily imaginethe dark forest without seeinga visual representation of it.

Visuals

By putting ourselves in the hero's shoes,we can visualize and understand

how it feels to be in such place.

Visuals

Simple yet meaningful wordscan trigger visuals and emotions

in the listeners’ minds.

Visuals

So where did we go wrong?The Problem

Today we have maintainedthe visual concept and presentations

are accompanied by slides.

The Problem

But speakers use mostly wordsand very complex illustrations …

The Problem

… while the content is too technicalto allow the audience to visualise it.

The Problem

Make your speech more accessibleby using metaphors, analogies and

words that can trigger mental images.

The Solution

Use photos, videos andcharts to support your ideas.

The Solution

Keep in mind that it’s easierfor us to remember images

than projected words.

Advice

Seven

Folk tales have always beenabout finding solutions to common issues.

Problem Solving

The solution wouldenable the heroes to

transform themselves …

Problem Solving

… and the environmentin a positive manner.

Problem Solving

So where did we go wrong?The Problem

Most presentations todayprovide general information …

The Problem

… without focusing on howit could benefit the audience (heroes).

The Problem

End your presentations withsolutions or lessons …

The Solution

… that will enable the audienceto transform themselves

in a positive manner.

The Solution

Make sure you providea solution for each problem

you identify.

Advice

All these 7 elementshave made it possible for folk tales

to survive thousands of years.

Final Words

Use these tips next time youwork on your presentation …

Final Words

… as they will help youcommunicate effectively and

deliver memorable presentations.

Final Words

Remember:Write less, speak more.

Final Words

Remember:Think about your audience’s needs.

Final Words

Remember:Keep it simple.

Final Words

Remember:Stop reusing, start customizing.

Final Words

Remember:Your audience are the heroes.

Final Words

Remember:Use visuals.

Final Words

Remember:Solve a problem.

Final Words

Feel free to contact meshould you need help

with your presentations.

Do you need Help ?

Ionuţ DobrePresentation Designer

ionut.dobre@presenterlab.com