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The Xs & Os of Winning Presentations

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table of contents

INTRODUCTION 3ESTABLISH YOUR GAME PLAN 4-10+ Get your head in the game

+ Build your dream team

+ Create some chemistry

+ Know your opponent

+ Get into a groove

+ Sell the tickets and pop the popcorn

EXECUTE YOUR GAME PLAN 11-16+ One play at a time

+ Think outside the pocket

+ Call an audible

+ Clock management

+ Punt or go for the Hail Mary

RECAP 17-20+ Connect with fans

+ Watch the tape

+ Plan the next campaign

GAME ON 21

ABOUT US 22

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Ah, presentations.

When they’re good, they exhilarate an office, pump up a crowd and rally the forces of collaboration. When

they’re bad… they’re really bad. So bad that they could halt your BIG IDEA in its tracks or even land you on

the free agent list.

According to a recent PGi survey:

80% of attendees have checked email during a presentation.

60% texted

31% left before it was over. Why? The presenter was boring, long-winded and didn’t stick to the topic.

What you need is a playbook. One go-to source that will give you the complete game plan for an unstoppable

offense and an impenetrable defense. You’ll finesse the crowd, drive your strategy home and claim a victory

they’ll be talking about for years to come. This eBook is your all-expenses paid ticket to presentation triumph.

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Get your head in the game. If you think you can phone in your next meeting or presentation,

think again! A recent PGi survey of more than 1,400 customers

revealed that 98% of people think presentations are the ticket to the

big time. So get your head in the game!

Know what you want to achieve every time you stand up in front

of the crowd. Firmly establish your BIG IDEA. This one idea is

your quarterback, your playmaker, your hero. Without it, your

presentation is doomed to fail. With it, you’re on your way to a

winning presentation.

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coach quarter-back

wide receiver

running back

tight end

offensive line

Now that you have your dream quarterback, it’s time to create your fantasy roster.

dream

coach quarter-back

wide receiver

running back

tight end

offensive line

This is you, the

leader focused on a

strategy to make the

BIG IDEA succeed.

The BIG IDEA, the

power behind your

offensive strategy.

The main points

supporting your

BIG IDEA; 3-5 rock-

solid supporters

that help your QB

advance the ball.

Your flash and bang,

your creative juice.

This is your awe-

inspiring slide deck,

your Prezi that

zooms, your powerful

whiteboard skills that

sell your audience on

your BIG IDEA.

Your workhorse, the

data that ultimately

drives deeper

understanding of your

BIG IDEA and secures

the crowd’s buy-in.

This is your back pocket

trick when your QB needs

a little something extra.

Emotional videos, one-

liners, powerful images or

your “One More Thing”

to keep the crowd coming

back for more.

Build your dream team.

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CREATE SOME chemistry.In a remarkable presentation, one your audience will remember

for years, the chemistry sizzles between the presenter, the story

and the visual aids.

1 part appearance: Don the uniform. Dress to impress and inspire,

and don’t hide behind a podium or phone call. They need to see you to

believe you.

3 parts story: The best drives are built on play-action passes, runs up

the middle and quick slants — small gains that lead to a memorable

score. Be a storyteller and utilize plot points like you would plays in

your offensive drive: beginning, middle and a memorable ending.

2 parts visual aids: A boring, cluttered visual will halt your offense

before it even reaches the line of scrimmage. Know the tools of the

trade — slide decks, apps, whiteboards, idea boards, and even handouts

— and how to transform them into a graphic masterpiece

of persuasion.

Check out our first eBook, The Little Black Book of Presentation Ideas,

for the tools and how-to’s that will make your visuals sing.

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Know your opponent.Better than they know themselves.

If you go into the game thinking you’re

going to waltz past your opponent, you’ve

got another thing coming. For every idea

in your playbook, your audience will

have a defense, offering up reasons why

it’s doomed to fail. When crafting your

presentation, brainstorm all possible

objections and strategically insert proactive

rebuttals—before someone can lay the hurt

on your BIG IDEA.

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Flow is vital to every drive to the end zone, as individual plays come together to build to a masterful, memorable finish. Organize your

presentation so the BIG IDEA is the central theme, and the components of your presentation will build to a memorable crescendo.

Catchy introduction

of the BIG IDEA

Background of

how you arrived

at the BIG IDEA

Data on why the BIG

IDEA is the best idea

How the BIG IDEA

will transform

your business

How to put the BIG

IDEA into action

Surprise,

powerful ending

Get intoa groove.

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If you want your BIG IDEA to become a winner, you have

to sell some tickets and pop the popcorn. For presentations,

this is all about the invitations and agenda.

The invitation sets the scene and gets the crowd pumped up

for the big game. Include the “who, what, when, why and

where” and a concise agenda in your eye-catching invitation

so you draw hyped-up fans, not irritated attendees.

the ticketsSell

the popcorn.&Pop

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Now that you have your team ready and the tickets sold, it’s time to put your game plan into action. Stick to your plan like white on rice,

but be ready for the defense to throw some surprises your way.

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One play at a time. A common mistake, both on the field and during presentations, is not keeping your

head in the game. Don’t skip ahead in your playbook just because you have a heckler in

the crowd asking questions, interrupting your presentation or trying to monopolize the

conversation. Smile and politely redirect their attention to the clock and the agenda.

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THINK OUTSIDE THE POCKETSometimes the defense throws something you’re not ready for

and there’s no other way to move the ball than to get a little

creative. Don’t be afraid to do some fancy footwork to keep your

presentation on track. Stay focused on your BIG IDEA, take a deep

breath and trust your instincts.

• BRING IN TECHNOLOGY TO FURTHER YOUR CAUSE. Pull up an

app or go to a website to answer a question or objection. In a web

conference, show multimedia files and share your screen to make

the presentation more dynamic and interactive.

• SIT DOWN: STANDING UP IS FOR FORMAL PRESENTATIONS.

If you need to encourage participation, sit down where everyone

can see you while still positioning yourself as the leader at the

head of the table.

• BE QUIET. On rare occasions, simply remaining silent can be a

powerful tool, especially when your audience is actually talking

themselves into believing in your BIG IDEA.

• ORDER PIZZA. Is your presentation so good it’s lasting longer

than expected? Bring in food, drinks, frozen yogurt, candy or

whatever you can get your hands on to keep the energy level of

your team players elevated.

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Call an audible.BIG IDEAS become GREAT IDEAS when collaboration happens.

If one of your fans raises an idea that makes your playbook even

better, don’t be afraid to call an audible and encourage the new

idea—schedule a follow-up brainstorm session to roll up your

sleeves and propel your BIGGER IDEA into the end zone.

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CLOCK MANAGEMENTWith your BIG IDEA at stake, you cannot afford to get caught

looking away from the clock. Schedule your presentations with

the subject matter, format and audience in mind.

5 MINUTES: Share news or project updates quickly, often in a

stand-up formation.

15 MINUTES: Present one small idea, explain briefly and

schedule a follow-up once everyone can mull it over.

30 MINUTES: Present one BIG IDEA with a maximum three

supporting ideas that will impact only a team or department.

45 MINUTES – 1 HOUR: Discuss one BIG IDEA, with multiple

elements and deciding factors needed to make it work. This

can often be the trickiest clock to manage because long

presentations can quickly move from intriguing to boring. If

the crowd is restless, don’t be afraid to skip the “Any more

questions?” to keep your fans happy and coming back for more.

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Punt or go for Sometimes it just doesn’t matter how solid your game plan is;

you’re going nowhere fast. If you’re running into objections

left and right or can’t sell the crowd, decide whether to punt or

throw a Hail Mary.

When to punta Timing is not ideal within the big picture business strategy.

a Crowd is sidetracked by other events or projects.

a You have the wrong fans in the crowd.

When to throw a Hail Marya The primary decision maker says he/she has to leave the

1-hour presentation in 15 minutes.

a The presentation has been rescheduled multiple times.

a You know your BIG IDEA is THE IDEA that will propel your

business into the future, but the game plan isn’t working.

Sometimes it’s best to throw out the plays, trust your BIG

IDEA and shoot for the end zone.

the Hail Mary.

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You’ve left it all on the field — in conference rooms, online meetings and brainstorming sessions. Now you

can celebrate a win or recover from a loss.

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Connect with fans.

Every good player knows that great fans will stick with you

during good times and bad. Great presenters know that the

audience is the “twelfth man” that can take a good idea and

propel it toward action.

After every presentation, reconnect with individual audience

members: from decision makers and managers to colleagues

and executives.

1. Send a recap of the presentation with a “thank you and next

steps” assigned to specific people by name.

2. If applicable, immediately follow the presentation with an

invitation to any follow-up meetings or further presentations.

3. Speak to key attendees for their feedback. Make sure they

share both the good and the bad, along with any ideas for

improvements.

4. Give credit where credit is due. If one of the attendees has a

great idea, give them credit for it in your next presentation.

A loyal fan is one who feels like they are part of the team.

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Watch the tape.

A tried-and-true method for evolving into a powerful athlete is

evaluating your performance after the game. Incorporate this

technique into your presentation process. Recognize the great

moments and identify the weak spots so you can throw them

out completely or modify them in order to build a stronger

overall presentation.

+ Record your live presentation using a video camera for face-

to-face presentations or the recording features of a web

conference or webinar product.

+ Ask someone impartial to provide sidelines commentary via

extensive note-taking during the presentation.

+ Follow up with stakeholders for their thoughts, feedback and

opinions post-presentation.

+ Invite your mentor to be a spectator and provide feedback as

part of your long-term growth plan.

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Plan the next campaign.

A great coach knows there is always a next play, a next

game or a next season. Focus your attention on the next

steps needed to turn your presentation into the next BIG

IDEA. Determine what your next step should be:

• The same presentation with new stakeholders and/or

decision makers.

• A brainstorm session with creative thinkers and subject

matter experts to build upon your idea.

• A discovery meeting to determine the parts of the whole

needed to advance your idea.

• A planning session with the feet-on-the-street that will

turn your idea into action.

No matter what comes next, use everything you learn during

the recap phase to make your next presentation even more

powerful than the first.

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game onNow it’s time to put on your uniform and get into the game. Take a deep

breath. Focus on your BIG IDEA. You’ve done everything you can to make

this presentation a winner. You’ve built your game plan and studied every

play. You know the opponent. The dream team is in place. You’re ready.

You’re ready to win.

PGi’s presentation expertise has been featured on Mashable, CNNMoney,

Fox News, TechCrunch, About.com and more. And all the fun presentation

ideas are in our Learning Space. To become a powerful presenter, join us for

the presentation revolution: Goodbye, Death-By-Slides. Hello, innovation,

collaboration and BIG IDEAS.

For more inspiration, visit our Presentation Ideas community.

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PGi has been a global leader in collaboration and virtual meetings for more than 20 years. PGi’s cloud-based

solutions deliver multi-point, real-time virtual collaboration using video, voice, mobile, web streaming

and file sharing technologies. PGi solutions are available via desktops, tablets and mobile devices, helping

businesses worldwide be more productive, mobile and environmentally responsible. PGi has a global

presence in 25 countries and an established base of more than 40,000 enterprise customers, including 75% of

the Fortune 100™. In the last five years, PGi has hosted nearly one billion people from 137 countries in over

200 million virtual meetings. For more information, visit PGi at www.pgi.com.

For more on the PGi survey referenced in this eBook, visit http://experts.pgi.com/presentation-ideas-survey.

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