“A strong presentation structure gives you the freedom to be creative.” Patricia Fripp
This is how you organize your presentation with a logical flow. (Part one)
It will be easy for both you and your audience to remember with minimal or no notes.
The more you work on clarifying your content, organizing your structure, then adding some initial scripting, the easier it will be for you to have professional-sounding delivery.
You would not build a home without a blueprint. You would not drive to another city without a map, GPS, or good directions. It is the same with your speech structure. It is what we consider the skeleton under the flesh of your words.
Once you have decided on the content you are going to include in your presentation, you are ready to learn how to organize it into a strong structure.
The first step is to clarify the intent and benefit of your message for the audience.
Hollywood Knows How to Connect Emotionally with an Audience
Just as speakers, sales professionals, and leaders have to.
A cast of colorful characters works in front of and behind the camera to make a movie, a movie that has the power to transport us into the future or show us life as it might once have been.
Hollywood can teach us how to add impact to our presentations.
Here is an example of how I open a presentation about movie techniques that help us become better speakers.
The lesson to learn is to speak in short phrases and build a rhythm.
Lisa Poole knows how to capture an audience’s attention.
Are you ready to take your presentations to the next level and captivate your audience from the very beginning?
One surefire way to make a memorable impact is by incorporating interesting statistics and little-known facts into your opening.
In this article, we will explore a brilliant example of how industry expert Lisa Poole used these techniques to engage her audience and set the stage for her presentation delivered at a PayrollOrg convention about “Adding Value to Your Organization Through Job Costing.”
Be my guest at Captivate Your Audience of Five or Five Hundred in 30 Seconds: Unlock the Secrets to Powerful Openers
Web eventThursday, June 22, 2023 at 10 AM Pacific / 1 PM Eastern
Let’s dive in and discover the power of intriguing statistics!
To begin, Lisa drew inspiration from the lively atmosphere of a recent event, the Payroll Palooza. She began her introduction with a playful reference to the attendees’ likely tired state after the late-night festivities: “Good morning! Did you enjoy last evening’s Payroll Palooza? After that party, I bet you slept very soundly!” By immediately connecting with the audience and acknowledging their shared experience, Lisa instantly captured their attention and created a relatable atmosphere.
Lisa spoke of her personal experience working at Simmons Bedding Company, where she discovered the intricate process of manufacturing over 50 different styles of mattresses, each consisting of up to 37 distinct parts.
She engaged the audience by highlighting the various job positions involved in creating a single mattress, using a touch of humor by questioning the validity of the word “ruffler and borderer.” By painting a vivid picture of the teamwork and expertise required, Lisa ensured that her audience was fully immersed in her topic.
Lisa said, “Imagine the following job positions having a hand in making your great night’s sleep last night:
A Cutter and Closer
A Sewer and Quilter
A Coiler and Foamer
A Hog Ringer and Nailer
A Ruffler and Borderer – is that even a word?
A Baler and an Edger
An Assembler and Stitcher
A Topper and Stager
A Builder and Mechanic
A Packer and Shipper
An Inspector and a Sweeper
A Scanner and an Upholsterer
And finally, a Capper!
And I’m sure I left a few off this list!
By sharing this behind-the-scenes perspective, Lisa not only showcased her industry knowledge but also emphasized the importance of job costing in the mattress manufacturing process. She reinforced her point, “Our Production Managers knew to the penny the exact cost of each mattress type by raw material and labor function.”
This statement immediately conveyed the value and relevance of the upcoming session, setting the stage for an engaging and educational experience.
Lisa’s presentation demonstrated the power of utilizing interesting statistics and little-known facts to captivate an audience. By incorporating these techniques, you can create an immediate connection, spark curiosity, and set the tone for a memorable and impactful presentation.
So, the next time you’re preparing to deliver a technical or industry-specific talk, consider incorporating theatrical techniques and engaging statistics to make your opening truly shine.
Lisa Poole, CPP, is the Vice President, Payroll Governance Manager at Truist.
Be my guest at Captivate Your Audience of Five or Five Hundred in 30 Seconds: Unlock the Secrets to Powerful Openers
Web eventThursday, June 22, 2023 at 10 AM Pacific / 1 PM Eastern
Let me help you become a great presenter quickly, easily, and cost-effectively on your own schedule. I’m here for you 24/7 through Fripp Virtual Training.
“I wanted a super bowl quality coach. Patricia Fripp’s help in coaching and scripting was world-class. With Fripp on your team, you can go places.” Don Yaeger, Long-Time Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated magazine, Eleven Time New York Times Best-Selling Author
“As the author of a best-selling sales book the best investment in my speaking career was to hire speech coach Patricia Fripp. She is the master at helping structure and script your presentation.” Andy Paul, Author, Zero Time Selling
“Every year, my appreciation for you grows stronger! With great enthusiasm and reliability, you have proven yourself to be an integral part of our annual conference and a favorite among our members. Thank you so much for being an important part of our success! My most gracious thanks.” Dan Maddux, Executive Director, American Payroll Association
“When we hired Patricia Fripp to improve our sales conversations and presentations, my expectations were high. Patricia Fripp’s customized approach before, during, and after with her FrippVT online learning has resulted in more and larger sales. Patricia’s ability to excite, inform, and coach our team was impressive.” Scott Hamilton, Vice President of Sales, Distech Controls
Yes, everything begins with a love story. Happy 35th anniversary!
This will be of interest to you if you are a friend or fan of my brother Robert Fripp, legendary guitarist of King Crimson, and his very talented wife award-winning singer, songwriter, and actress Toyah Willcox. This is a tribute to them on their 35th anniversary.
This might also interest you if you are a sucker for romance.
If you do not enjoy the position, salary, or respect your feel you deserve, I recommend you dress and speak for the role you aspire to, not the one you now have.
When I was growing up, my mother gave me great advice.
Patricia with her parents, on the right, and friends dressed up for Rotary Ladies NIght.
She said, “Patricia, of course, it is the inner you that is most important. However, you have to dress up and look good so that you can attract others. They will then discover how nice and smart you are and how you can be of value to them.”
Hollywood has ideas to help you get promoted.
Edith Head, the famous costume designer for Hollywood movies, gave us more great advice!
She said, “You can have everything you want as long as you dress for it!” She had a point. Costumes are as essential for the movie of your life as they are for a Hollywood movie.
Before you open your mouth, your appearance speaks for you.
If you do not want to be perceived as boring, sign up for Patricia Fripp’s May 15 Masterclass
When you have created your presentation you are only halfway there.
You need to internalize your new way of presenting and make it second nature. When you deliver your presentation, you want to be able to focus on the audience, not your performance.
Build rehearsal into your everyday life.
You will never be able to schedule as much rehearsal as much as you need, so make it a part of your routine:
Practice your presentation as you walk around your office.
Record your presentation and listen to it. How does it sound?
Rehearse on a treadmill, which engages your left and right brain and can help you see your presentation structurally and creatively.
Ask friends and supportive colleagues to be your test audience. These are people who are on your side and have your best interests at heart.
Decide your movement strategy.
Some presenters like to move, while others stand still. There is a big difference, however, between movement and nervous energy. Have you noticed that some presenters do what looks like a little dance in the front of the room? Or put their weight on one leg and then the other? Do not distract from your own message with unnecessary movement.
In the beginning, it is best to stand still, and I also recommend standing still when you are telling a story or delivering your key benefits as a way to emphasize your points. How you stand represents the stability of your ideas and your company, which builds your authority and makes you feel comfortable. If you have an accent, remaining stationary helps your audience get used to the sound of your voice. (This may not make sense, but it is true!) If you are moving around when they are getting accustomed to the sound of your voice, your listeners often believe they can’t hear.
The three ways to move.
If you study exceptional speakers, you will notice that they employ three types of movement:
It is not your client’s job to remember you. It is your responsibility to make sure you are unforgettable.
Here is a great action step to take. Call your five best clients, those whom you currently use as references.
Even if you leave a voicemail, say “Bob, I never get tired of telling the story about how we (fill in the name of an important project you worked on together). Would you mind telling me in your words what your experience was? Did we reach or exceed your expectations? Did we come in under budget? With your permission, I would like to make an appointment and record your comments. May I use you as an example in my sales presentations? Let me know when we can talk.”
In 2000 the TV show 60 Minutes spent five days at the National Speakers Association convention.
I was one of many interviewed and one of the few not left on the cutting room floor. Yea! They asked me the question you may be wondering, “Patricia, you used to be a hairstylist; now you are a motivational speaker. There has to be a big difference.”
This is what I said:
That line got me on 60 Minutes. That half-inch has made me millions of dollars. Not all in the same year!
I loved being a men’s hairstylist in the San Francisco financial district and traveling the country teaching hairstylists. Once I became a professional speaker, however, my world expanded.
Over the years of my career, I invested years and thousands of dollars into increasing the quality of my presentations. I hired the best speech coaches and attended comedy and screenwriting classes before I discovered that others wanted to learn what I knew to shorten their learning curve.
Of course, I don’t know what gives you the most satisfaction from your life or career, but for me, as much as I love being on stage and hearing applause, it is much more rewarding to see and hear how my clients are becoming more successful and getting results from my help.
Regardless of your goals or career path, becoming a good public speaker will help you excel.
Does this make sense to you? Let me know what you like most about what you do and how you help others.
The bottom line, good public speaking skills will help you help others. You may never be interviewed on 60 Minutes however, you can still be a star. I am here to help you. Want a conversation to see how?
“Your ability to hold an audience in the palm of your hand with a story is incredible. Your talent in turning a speaker into a world champion on the fly in front of a packed audience is even more amazing. When COVID-19 turned everything into a virtual experience, you were the first speaker and trainer I thought of to help us break through the noise and attract a crowd.
When our community hears you are presenting, the registration numbers skyrocket. Mixing your inspirational stories combined with digital elements like video keeps the audience engaged and wanting more! They keep asking “When can we get Fripp back?”” Michelle Kabele, Channel Marketing, Zebra Technologies
Make more sales more often. Patricia Fripp can help.
Developing good public speaking skills helps you make more sales more often.
To sell you need technical skills, product knowledge, know the details of you compared to your competition, territory management, a good relationship management system, discipline, and self-management.
However, that is not enough. Too often the best presentation wins.
Earlier in my career when I was primarily a keynote speaker, a large food service company invited me to keynote their yearly sales conference. After my speech, Jennifer, the National Sales Manager, pulled me aside and said, “I liked your speech. However, I really loved how you delivered it. Can you teach our salespeople to speak that way? We sell quality food and uniforms to hospitals and healthcare systems.
“It takes us a year of work and relationship management to be in a position to deliver an hour presentation to a hospital board. It is worth $9 million dollars a year if we win the business. We are losing sales, and it has nothing to do with our offering or price. When I follow up, I keep hearing it has to do with the fact that the presentation skills of our competitors are better than ours.”
As I put together the program for them, little did I know she had just given me the secret to always be in demand, no matter how good or bad the economy is.
Developing good public speaking skills will boost your confidence in front of your senior management.
Will is a Staff Performance Engineer with a large technology company in Silicon Valley. Like many brilliant technical experts, they invest years developing their skills and suddenly find themselves pushed more into the spotlight.
Will said, “I attended your presentation skills Masterclass four months ago. It was eye-opening. I just wanted to let you know how insanely helpful that class has been for me. I’ve been a very anxious public speaker for as long as I can remember. After your class, my anxiety magically melted away. Recently, I delivered an hour-long talk to my twenty-five-person team. The audience included management, a Director, and our Technical Director.
Thanks to your presentation skills Masterclass, I felt at ease the entire time.
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How to Present and Teach in the Virtual World…and More
Receive free, on-going Fripp webinar invitations, sales and presentation skills information, and special discounts from Executive Speech Coach, Sales Presentation Trainer, and Professional Keynote Speaker, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE. As an added bonus, sign up now and receive a free copy of Patricia Fripp’s How to Present and Teach in the Virtual World.
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help you become a great presenter quickly, easily, and cost-effectively on your own schedule. I’m here for you 24/7 through 
