How to Make Your Presentation Pithy and Powerful

A pithy presentation is a powerful presentation.
A pithy presentation is a powerful presentation. Edit until your message is to the point.

Subtle changes will make a tremendous difference

Both in your public speaking and writing. Here are a few of my inside secrets on editing to ensure that your presentation is a success. A “pithy” presentation is “to the point” and “forcefully expressive.”  That’s powerful.  The word “edit” is commonly misused as a synonym for “delete.” However, “edit” actually means, “correct, revise, or adapt.”

Four strong suggestions

1.) Revise by deleting repetitions, digressions, fuzzy phrases, and meaningless clichés.

For example, “today” might be the most overused, impact-diluting word used in presentations and business communications. Simplify where you can without sacrificing meaning.

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Want to Be Regarded As A Brilliant Conversationalist?

You can be a brilliant conversationalist if you ask good questions and then listen, really listen.
You can be a brilliant conversationalist if you ask good questions and then listen, really listen.

What makes someone a brilliant conversationalist? Brilliant conversationalists engage others by asking excellent questions. You can improve the quality of all of your conversations, professional and personal, when you ask good questions and then listen, really listen, to the responses. This is also one of the best ways to get smarter.

Maybe you know of my brother Robert Fripp, the legendary guitarist? He’s one of Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time. You might not know that he’s also a thoughtful and erudite writer and speaker. In truth, Robert is one of the most brilliant people I know and he listens well. He’s said:

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Make Sure Your Movement Supports Your Words – Expert Advice

Executive Speech Coach & Creator of Fripp Virtual Training, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE
Executive Speech Coach & Creator of Fripp Virtual Training, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE

Stand still at the start of your presentation. Your audience members need a moment to become accustomed to the sound of your voice, your style of speaking, and sometimes your accent. After this, incorporate movement into your presentation, only if your movements are purposeful and support your message.

Learn how to make your movements match your words. Unconscious expressions of nervous energy will detract from your message.

My friend and fellow speech coach, Darren LaCroix shares these excellent techniques to help you make the most of the stage during your presentation:

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What Do You Do Just Before Your Presentation?

Imagine that you’re waiting offstage, about to deliver an important presentation. Are you a little bit nervous? Are you warming up? Or, have you found a comfortable chair in a corner where you can surreptitiously check your messages? (Hint: This would be a mistake!) In this brief video sample from Fripp Virtual Training, I explain what you should and shouldn’t do in the minutes before you take the stage:

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Can A Billionaire Give You Presentation Advice?

Sir Richard Branson at the eTalk Festival Party, during the Toronto International Film Festival by Richard Burdett
Where do you get your presentation advice? Even intelligent and highly accomplished individuals like Sir Richard Branson can benefit from an honest evaluation and coaching.

Speech coach and author Gary Genard is a great blogger. In a recent post, Gary discusses Sir Richard Branson’s advice on public speaking. Branson, the entrepreneur, adventurer, humanitarian, and founder of the Virgin Group, explained his approach to presentations in an article called, “My Top Tips for Public Speaking,” on the Virgin website.

Branson declared, “90 percent of the time, it is better to ad-lib rather than read from contrived speech notes. Even if you forget certain points you wanted to make, the people who are listening always desperately want to hear your passion, not just your theory.”

Gary counters, “…passion matters. But not at the expense of well-planned and formulated remarks. Actually, this sentiment is a weakness sometimes found among super-successful people. Whether it stems from anxiety … or arrogance,

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How to Make Your PowerPoint More Powerful

Designing a presentation starts with the creative process, which can be messy. PowerPoint is tidy, but should only come in later when preparing a presentation. I love PowerPoint. Maybe you do too? Remember, however, that PowerPoint is a visual aid.

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Do Your Presentations Bore The Boardroom?

Learn the Right Way to Prepare a Presentation

When you open your mouth at every stage of your career, you sell yourself, your ideas, your value, and your ability. Fortunately, even if you’re not a born communicator, the ability to deliver a powerful presentation can be learned. I share this story about one intelligent and ambitious MBA:

Mary might have been the smartest in her class, but public speaking wasn’t part of her MBA program. Even with extensive planning and preparation, she made some prevalent mistakes. These mistakes bored them and ultimately lost her audience. When you learn the right way to prepare a presentation, you will save yourself time. You will deliver your presentation knowing that your words will not bore your audience but will hold their attention and get your message heard.

When you improve your public speaking and presentation skills, you increase your confidence and gain a valuable tool in furthering your career goals. If you avoid public speaking at the high cost of your success, why not get the training you need to speak confidently in public?

Can You Relate to Mary the MBA?

If you need help, let’s talk.

“Patricia Fripp is a genius speech coach. Even for seasoned professional speakers.” Tracy Hooper, President, The Confidence Project

“As a seasoned speaker coached by Patricia Fripp has helped me deliver my game-changing message with more power and eloquence.  My client testimonials and feedback prove it.” Ron Karr, CSP, Past President, National Speakers Association

“Your coaching, along with FrippVT, helped us land one of our biggest sales ever.”  Mike Stryczek, President & CEO, AB&R

“As a speech coach, Patricia Fripp is a miracle worker.” Larraine Segil, Chairman and CEO, Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation.

“I would have paid $3000 for a year of FrippVT.”  Mitzi Perdue, Professional Speaker and Author.

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How to Ensure That Your Audience Is Interested

Keeping the audience interested... Executive Speech Coach and Creator of Fripp Virtual Training, Patricia Fripp.
Executive Speech Coach and Creator of Fripp Virtual Training, Patricia Fripp knows how to keep an audience interested.

Q: What is the secret of delivering a good presentation?
A: The audience is interested.
Q: How do I know that they will be?
A: If it is interesting, entertaining, and your audience can see themselves in your presentations… your audience will be interested.

Therefore, ask yourself these three questions:

  • Who is my audience?
  • What is their interest in my subject?
  • If they embrace my subject what is the result to them?

In other words, we are often “selling” the result of what we are addressing in our presentation, not the presentation itself. I share more on capturing your audience’s interest in this brief video:

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Want to Know the Secret to Sell Yourself and Your Ideas to Senior Management?

Conference Room Report to Senior Management
You can report to senior management without being nervous, whether it’s a formal presentation or a boardroom conversation.

As a Presentation Skills Expert, I’m often asked, “Patricia, how do I report to my senior management without being nervous?” The secret is to be prepared, clear, concise, and to act confident. Now, how do you appear confident when you’re nervous?

First, prepare. Script out exactly what you are going to say, at least the opening of your presentation or conversation. It could be as simple as, “Thank you for the opportunity to update you on our project”, or “The purpose of our meeting is to . . . ” or “As you will remember, at our last meeting, you challenged us to . . .”

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