Cliff Atkinson

Using Microsoft  PowerPoint  to Create Presentations That Inform, Motivate, and Inspire (Bpg-Other)

Beyond Bullet Points

A guide to using Microsoft PowerPoint describes how to use stories to create effective business presentations.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint to Create Presentations that Inform, Motivate, and Inspire

Beyond bullet points

Audiences have taken control of presentations, and this is the only book to show how to leverage this phenomenon of backchannel conversation • •Provides practical advice about how to be a more effective presenter by harnessing, not resisting social media. •Introduces readers to the idea that they now have new tools to solve a problem they very much care about: feeling trapped in boring and pointless presentations. •Offers easy-to-understand anecdotes about what other people have done well--and not so well. Armed with laptops, cell phones, smartphones, and other devices, audiences have taken control through the backchannel. The intersection of frustrated audiences with unaware presenters can often create dramatic and public breakdowns of communication and even mob mentality. In this book, master presenter Cliff Atkinson shows that if the changes are harnessed and the conversation with audiences properly handled, the outcome can be a new, more effective form of communication. At the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in 2008, audience members using Twitter confronted a presenter during her interview with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg when they thought she was straying off track. At SXSW 2009, Guy Kawasaki called out to the audience, 'Who is Mary Ann?' and when she raised her hand, he directly asked her why she was calling him a vulgar name Twitter! Far from being isolated incidents, these examples are signs of the future of live presentations, when audience members shift from passive recipients to active participants, and even presenters become more assertive in engaging the audience. The Backchannel describes the massive impact of social technology on the live presentation environment, and what audiences and presenters can do to take advantage of the situation. The book presumes the reader is unfamiliar with social media, Web 2.0, blogging, or Twitter, and will introduce these important concepts and tools as they relate to the book.

How Audiences are Using Twitter and Social Media and Changing Presentations Forever

The Backchannel

Armed with laptops and smartphones, audiences today are no longer sitting quietly taking notes during live presentations. Instead, they’re carving out a new space in the room called the backchannel, where people are online searching for resources, checking your facts, and connecting with others inside the room and out. When audiences are happy, the backchannel vastly extends the reach of ideas and creates a new sense of community and connectedness. But when they are unhappy, the intersection of frustrated audiences with unaware presenters can often create dramatic and public breakdowns of communication—and even mob mentality. In this book, communications consultant Cliff Atkinson shows that if these new kinds of audience participation are embraced and the conversations properly handled, the outcome can be a new, more effective form of communicating. Whether you’re a host, presenter, or an audience member, Cliff will help you understand how this convergence of social forces is upending the presentation norm and how you can effectively manage the change.

Unlock the amazing story buried in your presentation—and forget boring, bullet-point-riddled slides forever! Guided by communications expert Cliff Atkinson, you’ll walk you through an innovative, three-step methodology for increasing the impact of your presentation. Discover how to combine classic storytelling techniques with the power of visual media to create a rich, engaging experience with your audience. Fully updated for PowerPoint 2010, and featuring compelling presentation examples from classroom to boardroom, this book will help transform your presentations—and your business impact!

Cliff Atkinson

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