Editor's Corner Excerpted from the Summer 2001 Newsletter Getting the Most Out of Team Presentations Team presentations are one of those good news, bad news things where both the good and the bad news are the same: You're not up there alone. A glorious side benefit of team presentations that may carry more weight than the actual presentation is the feeling of unity, camaraderie and accessibility that can come across to the audience. These are some things to think about that can give you that benefit. What do you do while the others are speaking? How do you transition from one speaker to the next? Should there be any interaction between team members? What do you do, where do you look, what do you do with your body? While the others are speaking, listen. Give them your full attention. That will take care of your facial expression, body language, additions or corrections that may need to be made and will make you invisible. While you're listening, look at the presenter most of the time. You may also look at the audience to see how they're responding, or you may not be looking at anything at all, as long as you're actively listening. Transitions are a subset of the presentation's organization. Plan an opening, bridge, thesis, support and close for the entire presentation, and also for each individual team member's part. Don't rush the transition. "Stick the landing" on your close. Let the audience get your message before you hand off. Then, "Brian's going to give you an idea of what you can expect in terms of schedule." Or, "You may be wondering how we can do all that and still stay within budget. Mary's going to tell you how." And keep listening. The real sense of team you give your audience that you know and respect each other and communicate well, can reassure your audience that this is a team they can trust and work with. "They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." Carl W. Buechner Sayings to Weave into Presentations You may recognize these from e-mails you've received. Did you see them as possible openings for your presentation? Or maybe an analogy for a point you're making? If not, consider each of these in light of a presentation you've had to give (or perhaps one that's in your future). It's wonderful to see how many different ways one of these can be used. And negative statements can be used to make a positive point. In Japan, Sony Vaio machines have replaced Microsoft error messages with their own Japanese haiku poetry, each only 17 syllables. A file that big? It might be very useful. But now it is gone. *** Chaos reigns within. Reflect, repent, and reboot. Order shall return. *** Three things are certain: Death, taxes, and lost data. Guess which has occurred. *** A crash reduces Your expensive computer To a simple stone. *** Yesterday it worked. Today it is not working. Windows is like that. *** First snow, then silence. This thousand dollar screen dies So beautifully. *** You step in the stream, But the water has moved on. This page is not here. *** Having been erased, The document you're seeking Must now be retyped. *** Windows 98 crashed. I am the Blue Screen of Death. No one hears your screams. *** ABORTED effort: Close all that you have worked on. You ask way too much. Dear teach John Walker, Publisher, Herald and News: "Our ad rep, Stacey DeLonge, came back from your PNNAEA [Pacific Northwest Newspaper Advertising Executives Association] workshop stoked. Achieving a major sales victory shortly afterwards, she told me you showed her the way." First Person "Stacy L. DeLonge, Advertising Executive, Herald and News: I've always been a classic case of nervous speaker sweaty palms, weak knees, butterflies in the stomach unable to function in front of a crowd. "Since attending your seminar I've been able to speak in front of small to medium crowds without a problem. I still get nervous, but all I do is reflect on the four words you taught us: When in the spotlight, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU. "Three weeks after your seminar I was the MC for my father-in-law's retirement party. I couldn't have done it without this course. It wasn't about how I looked or my shoes or how I smelled. It was about my father-in-law. "I'm much better since this seminar and recommend it to everyone who thinks they can't feel comfortable speaking in front of a crowd. Just remember, 'It's Not About You!' " Making your point in spite of the RFP "What's the best way to deal with a situation where the client's presentation agenda (RFP) doesn't include issues you feel need to be included?" While you do need to respond specifically to the RFP (Request for Proposal), you also want to help the client make the best decision. If your response is to be a presentation, you may find it challenging to include complete answers to the RFP plus your issues in the time allotted. As in every presentation, make every minute relevant to your objective. In the case you describe, answer every point in the RFP, keeping the parts you consider irrelevant brief, while including those things you consider vital (although they're not spelled out in the RFP). Which points in the RFP most closely correspond to the issues you want to include? With appropriate transitions, you should be able to link those issues smoothly with the requested information. Consider your alternatives and decide which approach is most likely to get you the job.

Our search for surprise successes I'm looking for stories about people who have used the principles from our book and seminars to conquer a limitation in some other area than speaking. If you, or someone you know fits this description, please send an e-mail that briefly describes the person and the accomplishment to Barbara@BarbaraRocha.com. Orders Think gifts. Someone you know is going to be giving more presentations soon. Give them a practical gift that will make those presentations easier and more effective. Learn more or Order Online. Book "Getting Over Yourself: A Guide to Painless Public Speaking...and More" by Barbara Rocha 208 pages, illustrated, cartoons $19.95 Audiotape or CD ROM The "Getting Over Yourself" book on audiotape read by the author ($17.95) or CD ROM ($19.95). Booklets by Barbara Rocha: $9.95 each (+$1.50 Shipping and Handling) "Pocket Guide for Presenters" 103 pages "60 Ways to Spark Your Speaking: Just in time answers to frequently asked questions" 154 pages "Love to Talk/Hate to Speak: Selected articles by Barbara Rocha" 121 pages Speeches on Tape: "From Bored Room to Board Room" $10.95 "Stand Up and Stand Out" $10.95 Video "Getting Over Yourself: A Guide to Painless Public Speaking" featuring Barbara Rocha in excerpts from her book, seminar classes and interactive coaching. VHS $99.95 Learn more Order Online Call (888) 800-2001 E-mail: BouldinHil@aol.com Write: Bouldin Hill Press at 17-555 Bubbling Wells Rd., Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241 Seminars **How to Overcome the Stress of Public Speaking Pasadena: 3-day workshop October 29, 30, and 31, 2008. We have two public seminars each year: May and November (adjusted to October this year for the election). If you have several people who could use this training, contact us regarding an in-house seminar. As a refresher, workshop graduates (from any of our 3-day workshops) may attend for half price at any time. People tell us they get as much or more out of the workshop the second time around. Visit our seminars section for details or call (888)800-2001 For more information, contact: Barbara Rocha and Associates PO Box 60521, Pasadena, California 91116 (626) 792-8075 or toll free at (888) 800-2001