crafting outstanding presentations - storytelling techniques
DESCRIPTION
Spielberg "meets" Presentation Zen.TRANSCRIPT
How relevant are presentations to
your career?
In late 2007, I was leading a happy life
One day, my phone rang…
I was offered to speak at a BIG conference
On the one hand, it was a fantastic opportunity
On the other hand, public speaking scared me to death
Year: 1997 Location: C.E.R.N.
I trained 15 scientists for a week
They skinned me alive
I’ll never forget that experience…
There was no way I was going face another possible humiliation
Besides, I could brain-damage people with PowerPoint
What would you do?
1 Move Beyond Bullet Points
In Feb 2008, I joined the revolution
-‐-‐-‐ Leonardo Da Vinci
Simplicity is the ul<mate sophis<ca<on “
Despite my efforts, my first dry-run was a disaster
I had strong images, but lack of structure confused the audience
At first, I created a “logical” outline
Main Point: Agility + Communication + Creativity lead to success 1. Supporting detail: Agility 2. Supporting detail: Communication 3. Supporting detail: Creativity Summary: Agility + Communication + Creativity lead to success
Then, I discovered BBP!
Let’s “script” the first 5 slides
Let’s see how they “play”
Action!
The downturn threatens
the future of many individuals and organizations
You are an entrepreneur, meeting an investor
for the first time
Investors can be so
H A R D t o p e r s u a d e
You’d love them to invest in your great idea
Move beyond bullet points Unleash the Power of Story
Tame your story to persuade
I suggest...
…And Cut. Well done! (you’ll add the cool pictures another time)
What if Spielberg showed up?
But wait…
Dude, you are telegraphing.
Your “story” has no
drama.
How about this? telegraphing
vs. dramatic irony
vs. dramatic tension
Unleash the Power of Story
2
Enter a new world
People make choices based on emotions
(and use data to justify them)
Why Story?
What’s a good story idea?
Someone wants something badly and goes after it against great odds
[character]
[desire]
[obstacles]
Story revolves around conflict
Antagonist Nature Society Self
Protagonist vs.
Story has good structure
O u t e r j o u r n e y
Often, there is a character inner journey
W�A=C
W: Weakness (psychological and moral) A: Action (and struggle to accomplish it) C: Changed Person
Let’s see the “highlights” of a past presentation
Action!
Most IT projects fail Will yours?
Once upon a 1me I was a successful so6ware developer…
My technical skills made me feel invincible
Un<l one day…
…I entered a world of decep<on
It was Hell from day 1
What would you do?
I choked
…but then, I decided to fight back
This is what I tried:
Agility
Effec<ve Communica<on
Deliberate Crea<vity 1
2 3
Agility
1
…but the project was s<ll at risk
Effec<ve Communica<on
2
Deliberate Crea<vity
3
So, what happened to the project?
Amazingly, it succeeded
Lessons learned...
“ We moved from the Flintstones era to the future. -‐-‐-‐ an end user
“ I was part of something. I belonged. -‐-‐-‐ a developer
…And Cut!
Agile Tales Walk-‐through (1/3) Setup
Se\ng (+Hook)
Setup (ordinary world)
Character flaw
(“naivety”)
Inci<ng incident
Enter special world
Complica<on Dilemma Refusal of the call
Ac<on / Resolu<on
Turning point (will he succeed?)
Ac<on / Resolu<on
New complica<on
Agile Tales Walk-‐through (2/3) Development
Agile Tales Walk-‐through (3/3) Resolu<on
Drama<c ques<on (restated)
Climax Adermath Theme
How do you craft your own story?
Tame Your Story
3
I used to rewrite a story ~30 times
Not anymore
I use a 7-steps process
Step 1: Research (Create a Data Dump)
POV
Subject
Listeners
Ac<on Benefit
Step 2: Prepare
Step 3: Fill and cluster content
Step 4: Identify Story Ideas
Features Steel Nib Body Cap Blue ink ...
Benefits Does not leak Provides physical pleasure Thoughts flow on paper Can write beau<ful poetry …
Reversed Benefits Leaks Inflicts physical torture Thoughts don’t flow on paper Writes terrible poetry …
E.g.: Candidate Scenario 1 A poet struggles to leave her mark on this earth. She writes terrible poetry, her thoughts don’t flow on paper, all the pens she tries are physical torture for her hand. Un<l one day…
Reverse Benefits
(what, how) (why, WIIFY) (lead-‐to why)
Step 5: Create a dramatic outline
Complication: Claudio fears public speaking Development: 1. Claudio moves beyond bullet points 2. Claudio unleashes stories 3. Claudio tames stories Resolution: Claudio conquers fear
Step 5. Dramatic outline II (saga) Major Complication: Claudio fears public speaking Semi-Major Complication: Claudio kills with PowerPoint
Development 1,2,3 Interlinked Complication: Spielberg challenges Claudio Semi-Major Resolution: Claudio moves Beyond Bullet Points Semi-Major Complication: Spielberg challenges Claudio
Development 1,2,3 Interlinked Complication: Stories consume Claudio Semi-Major Resolution: Claudio embraces stories Semi-Major Complication: Stories consume Claudio
Development 1,2,3 Semi-Major Resolution: Claudio tames stories Interlinked Complication: Claudio fears public speaking Semi-Major Complication: Claudio fears public speaking (restated)
Development 1. Claudio pursues emotion Development 2. Claudio welcomes obstacles (carpe diem) Development 3. Claudio finds own voice
Major Resolution: Claudio conquers fear
Final Thoughts
“ --- Oscar Wilde
Everyone else is already taken.
Be yourself.
Claudio Perrone
[email protected] www.agilesensei.com
www.twiher.com/agilesensei www.a3thinker.com
Thank you!