Patricia Fripp Blog

With current technology, you might not be surprised at how often I’m asked, “How do you use video in your business?”

As often and in as many ways as possible! We have a green screen, professional lighting, and great recording equipment, and my assistant has become highly proficient at adding backgrounds, images, and branding. This is no longer just for Hollywood and ad agencies. Small business and entrepreneurs can use to our advantage. You can even add vintage videos.

Videos are effective for promoting upcoming events, webinars, and for explaining how to make the most of an upcoming seminar or coaching experience. We record live speeches, cut them into segments

Casablanca Film Poster Is your message clear? Bill Gold [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons — Great films and good speeches have a message. Is your message clear?

What’s your message? Legendary Hollywood producer Sam Goldwyn was quoted as saying, “If I want to send a message, I’ll send a telegram.” Yet, great films and good speeches do have a message. Some recent movies consist mainly of CGI explosions and chase scenes. They’re exciting, but at the end, the audience is usually left with a big “So what?”

In a speech, the funniest or most exhilarating story will be pointless if you don’t tie it into your theme and provide a lesson for the listener.

Vivien Leigh grabs the audience from her first moment onscreen in Gone with The Wind. Wikimedia Commons image. — If you don’t grab your audience in the first 30 seconds and hint at more to come, you lose them. This is true in film and in public speaking.

Do you know how to grab your audience? The first thirty seconds of your presentation are critical, like the first page of a book or first seconds of a TV show or film. If you don’t make an impact and hint at more to come, you lose your audience.

Good movies, TV shows, and books, like good speeches, often open with a flavor scene, grabbing attention and positioning the audience for what is to come. Take a classic movie that has been a favorite for eight decades, Gone with the Wind. Neither the book nor the film opens with a discussion of the causes of the Civil War. Both start with Scarlett O’Hara sulking because the impending war might interrupt her social life.

prospect's needs must be central to your sales presentations from FrippVT — Patricia Fripp explains how to make your prospect’s needs central to your sales presentation through FrippVT.

Selling to large enterprises can be complex, but your sales presentation does not have to be. You are often speaking to the audience of your audience. In other words, your presentation will be repeated and discussed for months with individuals you may not have met.

When your message is clear, concise, and focused on the prospect’s needs or opportunities, you have their attention. Everyone on the presentation team must deliver a consistent message and be well rehearsed.

I am often asked, “How can I be confident that I’m connecting with my audience?” The answer is, “Make an emotional connection.” Whether you speak at a boardroom table or in a vast auditorium, your goal must be to connect emotionally with your audience. Emotional connection is key to ensuring your message is heard. Here is my best advice on how to connect emotionally with any audience. Enjoy!

Have you signed up for a trial of Fripp Virtual Training? FrippVT is an easy, convenient, cost-effective way to become a powerful, persuasive presenter. Sign up for your free FrippVT trial.

What would it mean to you if you could Amplify Your Coaching Business? If every time you presented to a client you were powerfully persuasive, clearly concise, and capable of inspiring your clients to take action? What would it mean to your business if you could land multiple clients from a single presentation?

The more complex our coaching businesses become, the clearer and more concise our ability to communicate needs to be. As a coach, it is equally important to be able to deliver a powerful, persuasive presentation to build your credibility and your business. Join me, Tuesday, April 25th, 2017, 9:00am PST/10:00am MST for Amplify Your Coaching Business. In my complimentary web event, you’ll learn powerful presentation techniques that guarantee your message will be remembered, repeated, and will inspire your clients to take action.

Register now for Amplify Your Coaching Business!

Patricia Fripp Executive Speech Coach — Find out how you can save time when preparing your presentation. Patricia Fripp explains how in her upcoming webinar and through FrippVT.

Would it shock you to know that most professionals waste valuable time organizing their presentations? If you begin your process by opening your last PowerPoint presentation you may be guilty of falling into the trap of believing that is your presentation. Don’t get me wrong, I love PowerPoint. I often say, “Use more slides with less content on them.” However, PowerPoint is a visual medium and an aid to your presentation. You are the star. The creative process starts with paper, a flip chart, or white board. Don’t hyperventilate. You can look at your last slide deck if it is the same subject. We will then revisit, refocus, and rescript your message.

Enjoy the replay of my webinar where I share secrets to presentation preparation and a foolproof speech structure to save you time and help you maximize your impact. You will learn about the premise, opening options as well as speech structure. You will also see a segment from www.frippVT.com on your the premise formula.

A few inside secrets to make all your presentations unforgettable.

Professionals must often deliver formal, prepared presentations. However, they must also give frequent, unplanned presentations.

Imagine this scenario: You are in a virtual or in-person meeting when the executive leading the meeting notices you in the audience. She says, “I didn’t know you were going to be here. We are 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Why don’t you give us a 10-minute update on your latest project?”

As you make your way to the front of the room, you have only five rows to gather your thoughts before you take the stage to deliver 10 minutes’ worth of interesting information. In a virtual meeting, even less! In a virtual meeting, you have only a few seconds to gather your thoughts.

This is an important opportunity. You want to do well. The entire leadership team is there as well as your colleagues in the division. The audience knows you had no time to prepare. If you do well, your reputation increases because you have just proven you can think on your feet. When you prove you can keep your cool and deliver a clear, concise, and on-message update, your credibility soars.

Develop this ability and find unexpected opportunities ahead.

Learning how to become perpetually prepared is easier than you think.

Let us review the best way to prepare a formal presentation. It begins by answering these questions:

Who is the audience?

How do I make them interested in my subject?

Why have I been asked to speak?

How long is my presentation?

What is the big idea or central theme of my message?

What talking points will I use to make my case?

What is a good way to open my remarks to arouse interest?

Do I have an example to clarify my major points?

Is there a call for action or a request for support?

Principles Are Universal

No matter who or how large your audience is, the subject you are addressing, or how long you speak, the principles are the same.

As a speech coach, I always recommend that my clients practice with “safe audiences.” For example, tell your stories and examples at the dinner table or over coffee. Ask your coworkers to listen to you rehearse the presentation you will give to your senior managers.

Why not get in the habit of spending 5-10 minutes outlining what you will say or would say if asked.

The Pressure is On

Let us go back to your walking up to the front of the room or being the focus of the virtual meeting.

Always have something to say while you are thinking about what to say. My recommendations are to have “back-pocket phrases” prepared for when you need them. The late great comedian Jerry Lewis said, “It takes me 8 hours to write my best ad-libs.”

Also, have a logical structure into which you can mentally slot your ideas. Here is an outline I teach my clients. I hope it may come in handy for you.

On behalf of the dedicated six-person marketing team, thank you for the opportunity to update you on our latest project.

You will remember that in January our leadership challenged us to . . . (Put this update into the context of the whole year.)

At the end of the first quarter, we were happy to report . . .

Our biggest success was . . . (example)

We had a challenge in . . . because . . .

You will be glad to hear we overcame that with . . . (This will be a great story; make heroes of your team.)

Now that we are at the end of the second quarter, you can feel confident that . . . (Paint a picture of the result of the completion of your next stage or end of the project.)

At the next division meeting, we look forward to reporting . . .

Again, thank you for this opportunity.

Your marketing team is proud to be the face of our company, reaching out to prospects, customers, investors, and our community.

You Nailed It!

If you would like more information on preparing both formal and informal presentations, enjoy this segment from FrippVT Powerful, Persuasive Presentations online learning program.

If you want to become a great speaker easily, conveniently, and quickly, Fripp Virtual Training can help.

“I wanted a super bowl-quality coach, and I was lucky to be introduced to Patricia Fripp. Her help in coaching and scripting was world-class. With Patricia Fripp on your team, you can go places.”
– Don Yaeger, Long-Time Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated magazine, Award-Winning Keynote Speaker, New York Times Best-Selling Author

Enjoy a free trial of FrippVT!

Executive Speech Coach and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker Patricia Fripp works with those who realize that powerful, persuasive presentation skills give them a competitive edge.

Executive Speech Coach Patricia Fripp explains how to close your presentation to leave a lasting impact through FrippVT.

Last words linger. Star presenters know this well and use it to their advantage. Give your closing words extra consideration. Don’t close your presentation with, “We’re out of time,” even if you are. You waste your final opportunity to reinforce your core message. Don’t close on a Q & A, just in case you’re asked an awkward question, or in case an audience member just shares a rambling opinion. These are distractions that diminish your impact on your audience. You can thank your audience for the opportunity to speak, but don’t make these your last words. Instead, close your speech with words that support your presentation and maximize your impact. I share some examples of how to correctly close your presentation in this video:

Patricia Fripp explains how to open your presentation with impact through FrippVT screenshot. — Patricia Fripp shows you how to open your presentation with impact through FrippVT.

If you want to improve your presentations learn your options for openings.

No matter what your subject, audience makeup, or length of presentation what good presentations have in common is they get off to a good start.

The first 30 seconds of your presentation are very important, as your goal is to engage the audience. When you see they are smiling and paying attention it builds your confidence. There are many ways to open a speech or presentation. Some of the techniques are a question, story, statistic, quotation, little-known fact, or a challenge.

The purpose of your opening is to arouse interest in your subject.

How to Open Your Speech from FrippVT

Patricia Fripp helps speakers become great speakers easily, conveniently, quickly, and cost-effectively with FrippVT web-based presentation skills training.

Enjoy a trial.

Expert Advice about Presentation Skills
from Patricia Fripp

Why Video Matters & How to Make It Work for You

Make Your Presentation a Success – Is Your Message Clear?

How Can You Grab Your Audience? Expert Advice

How to Stay Clear, Concise & Focused on Your Prospect’s Needs

Want to Connect with Every Audience, Every Time? You Need To

Conquer Professional Speaking to Amplify Your Coaching Business

Want to Save Time Preparing Your Presentation?

How to Be Prepared for Formal & Informal Presentations Last Minute & Planned

A few inside secrets to make all your presentations unforgettable.