Page 102 - Today’s Business Communication; A How-to Guide for the Modern Professional

WhY MUST I gIvE A MEMORABLE PRESENTATION? 91

it, and it’s good enough to be in a book of quotations, then it’s good
enough for us. Plus, quotations make you look smart. Be sure to make
the connection between your quote and the presentation’s topic for your
audience. You can even share a quotation and ask your audience ques-
tions about it if that works for you. We once delivered a presentation
for a client about strategic planning. In an earlier chapter, we shared the
following quote that is attributed to Dwight Eisenhower. We believe it is
worth repeating: “Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” We asked
our audience to tell us what that meant in relation to their organization’s
strategic planning.

Use a visual Aid

One of us once saw a politician begin a speech by holding up a gigantic
screw made of Styrofoam and painted gold. It won’t tax your imagination
too much to learn that the politician was making a speech about govern-
ment waste and the need to reduce taxes.

Cite a Statistic

We like Mark Twain’s famous statement, “There are three types of lies—
lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Whether you agree with the author or
not, a statistic can make a powerful point. Using statistics can be diffi-
cult because the data must really have a “wow factor.” It must be truly
jaw-dropping. The statistics also need to be relevant and accessible. In
other words, people don’t easily grasp large numbers. What do “a million
smokers” look like? How large is a stack of “a trillion dollars?” It isn’t really
startling or dramatic if the statistic is not relevant and accessible.

Make a Startling Statement

We like these statements because they can be disruptive, provocative, or
invoke laughter. There’s hardly a better way to get someone’s attention.
Sarah Kay, the founder of Project V.O.I.C.E., delivered a now famous
TED Talk. The presentation was about her work with Project V.O.I.C.E.
teaching kids about the power of self-expression through spoken word