More survey results from Distinction Communication’s 2009
Annual Presentation Impact Survey…
Q8. Rank these presentation frustrations from most to least challenging for you?
(Ranked responses based on full survey input)
3.7 Presentation technologies don’t always work as advertised
3.0 No time to actually practice delivering the presentation
2.9 The time it takes to create the slide presentation
2.8 Collaborating with others in creating and delivering the presentation
2.7 Getting feedback to know if people actual “got” the presentation
20 watchful eyes are targeted on you. You’re fumbling with your mouse to get the projector and computer synced. The audio’s not working. And they’re glancing at the clock while you’re sweating bullets. Is it any wonder, technology was ranked as the number one agitator? (Albeit not by much)
While it would have been great to know what specific technologies were the frustration-makers, it’s safe to assume it might have to do with projectors, remote pointing devices, patching in-room audio or maybe trying to integrate digital video or a live web hyperlink. Unfortunately our tricky gadgets and tools may be doing more harm than good by diverting our time and attention from more important things- like- oh I don’t know- the message we’re trying to convey.
What this means to you…
Dozens of times every year I ask groups about their greatest presentation successes. More times than I can tell you I’m told about a seemingly horrible situation when a certain technology left the presenter(s) high and dry and they simply turned everything off and had a conversation with the customer, investor or partner. No projector… no screen or PowerPoint. Just conversation. And the funniest part? They get the opportunity. The “best meeting they ever had” so many have told us.
There’s a lesson in all of this and it permeated our survey results. First, good presentations will never be about the stuff we bring into the presentation room. Second, there is indeed a “secret sauce” for presenters today. Want to know what it is? First and foremost, the art of presenting is not a technical skill, it’s all about some very important relational ones. Thanks for being a part of our 2009 Presentation Impact Survey!
To receive a copy of the entire survey, visit our website and sign up for our Mark of Distinction eNewsletter. All the results from the December 2009 Presentation Impact Survey will be in the March 2010 issue. Don’t miss it!
