Learn to Connect with Your Target Audience: The Pincus Group’s Presentation Training NY

At the core of any successful presentation or briefing is the ability to connect with your audience in a way that resonates with them. The Pincus Group’s Presentation Training NY helps you develop the skills necessary to forge these connections and move your audience.

Through personalized coaching sessions and interactive workshops, you’ll learn to tap into the power of messaging and storytelling to create presentations that resonate with your audience. You’ll learn how to meet your audience where they are and be remembered, increase your influence and overall effectiveness of your presentations.

Importance of Connecting with the Audience and the Pincus Group’s Expertise

As a presenter, your goal is to connect with your audience in a way that moves them toward a purpose or new understanding. Whether delivering a sales pitch, presenting research findings, or delivering a keynote address, your ability to engage and persuade your audience is critical. At the Pincus Group, we understand the importance of meeting your target audience where they are and reaching your goal of informing, inspiring and persuading. We’re here to help you achieve that goal through our tailored Presentation Training in NY.

With years of experience in coaching individuals and teams, our coaches are skilled at helping clients overcome any obstacles to deliver clear, powerful presentations that engage and persuade their audience. Our comprehensive training program equips you with the skills and confidence needed to address or brief any audience, bringing your best, most confident self in the process.

Executive Presentation Training: Unlocking Your Potential as a Speaker

The Pincus Group’s Presentation Training in NY offers a range of competencies that helps you become a more effective and engaging presenter. Through our training, you can expect:

Enhanced self-confidence: Our program is designed to help you overcome any fear of public speaking and remove any road-blocks. Developing confidence and authority is about helping you identify and

build on your individual strength, using that skill to deliver presentations, speeches and briefings that enhance your authority.

Strengthen public speaking skills: Our trainers will work with you to identify and develop your individual qualities as a communicator, refining your delivery, including your non-verbal communication, as well as developing your storytelling abilities.

Boosting presentation content and design: We’ll provide you with the tools and techniques needed to ensure all of your presentations are visually appealing and engaging for each target audience.

Techniques for Keeping Your Listeners Engaged: Our program taps into emotional intelligence tools to strengthen your connection with your audience, and enhance your authority, authenticity and credibility.

Expert Strategies for Handling Challenging Q&A Sessions: We’ll provide you with strategies for handling difficult questions and maintaining control during Q&A sessions.

Features of our Presentation Training in NY include:

Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and recognizing how to meet your audience where they are, and meet their needs to gain trust, motivate and persuade.

Storytelling for Impact: Learn how to craft engaging stories that heighten credibility and engage your audience. Our trainers will guide you through the process of developing your own most compelling messaging and narrative, that resonates with your audience in any venue

Vulnerability and Authenticity: Bringing authenticity to your presentations helps you stand out and forge connections with your audience. Our trainers will help you identify your personal strengths and minimize any weaknesses, bringing your best and most relatable version to every audience for every purpose. You’ll learn to tailor your presentations in ways that highlight your strengths as a presenter.

Empathy and Active Listening: You’ll work on how to identify your target audience and what they need to hear from you, and how to address those concerns or interests even extemporaneously.. You’ll learn how to deliver your material with authority while addressing your audience’s concerns, creating presentations and briefings that truly resonate.

Non-Verbal Communication: Harness the power of your natural body language, including facial expressions, tone of voice and pacing in order to convey your own commitment and connection with your audience. Our trainers will work with you to most effectively use non-verbal communication tools to enhance the impact of your briefings, keynotes, pitches and speeches.

With the Pincus Group’s presentation training NY, you’ll not only strengthen your public speaking skills in any venue and for any purpose, but you’ll also develop the ability to connect with your audience no matter the subject, making your presentations more impactful and memorable.

A Comprehensive Overview of Our Presentation Training Program in NY

At The Pincus Group, we pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence in presentation training and professional executive communication. Our mission is to empower our clients to become more effective communicators, enabling them to achieve their personal and professional goals.

We achieve this by providing personalized coaching, expert guidance, and a supportive learning environment, tailored to each client’s unique needs and objectives. Our trainers are dedicated to helping clients overcome any fears, develop new skills, while enhancing existing ones, and build the confidence needed to excel in their professions. As a leader in presentation training NY, The Pincus Group’s program is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our clients’ success.

Customized Coaching:

A personalized coaching plan is created for each client through an initial assessment. Our trainers evaluate presentation skills and identify areas of improvement. Clients discuss goals and objectives for a personalized coaching plan. Trainers create a customized plan with appropriate modules, exercises, and resources. This plan is a guide for the client’s journey to become a better presenter with ongoing assessments by our trainers. This ensures clients get effective training, helping them reach their presentation goals. Whether our clients choose short or longer term goals, there’ll be a coaching plan to meet their objectives.

Expert Guidance:

Our experienced trainers work closely with clients to develop personalized coaching plans that target specific areas for improvement. Through one-on-one sessions or group workshops, our coaches provide immediately applicable techniques and offer immediate feedback to help clients put their new presentation skills to work immediately.

Practical Exercises to Hone Your Skills and Build Confidence

Our training emphasizes hands-on, practical experiences in real-life situations. Participants will practice techniques for organizing their own materials, designing engaging visuals, and delivering messages with clarity and confidence for maximum impact.

Experience the Thrill of Delivering Winning Presentations in High-Stakes Situations:

The skills acquired through Presentation Training NY can be applied to a wide variety of real-life scenarios, equipping clients with the tools they need to excel in their professional lives. Learn about in which scenarios these skills are useful:

• Boardroom Brilliance: Presenting updates, proposals, or strategies to boards of
• Investor pitches: Meeting potential investors in support of a startup, enhanced offering, or new
• Conference Confidence: Delivering research findings, case studies, or best practices with confidence to industry
• Sales Savvy: Team or individual presentations on the value of a product or service to potential
• Training Excellence: Teaching new skills or sharing information with colleagues or

By practicing and refining their presentation skills, executives will be better prepared to navigate professional communications with confidence, achieving professional company, team and individual goals in the process.

Engage in Interactive, Hands-On Exercises That Build Your Skills and Knowledge

Our Presentation Training NY training sessions are designed to be interactive and engaging, providing ample opportunities for participants to practice their skills and receive constructive feedback. By actively participating in group and individual exercises, professionals gain hands-on experience and learn how to apply the techniques they’ve learned.

Access to a Wealth of Resources and Expert Guidance Long after Your Training is over

At The Pincus Group, we’re committed to providing ongoing support and resources to help our clients continue to grow and develop their presentation skills. After completing the Presentation Training NY program, clients receive access to ongoing virtual support , as well as opportunities for follow-up coaching sessions to ensure long-term success.

Customized Training Programs to Meet the Unique Needs of Your Industry

Presentation Training NY is designed to be adaptable to the unique challenges and requirements of various industries. Our trainers work closely with clients to develop training solutions that address the specific communication needs and expectations of their fields. Some examples of tailored solutions for different industries include:

• Technology Titans: Focusing on simplifying complex concepts and highlighting the benefits of new technology solutions for both technical and non-technical
• Medical, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industries: Enhancing organization and team messaging for specific outcomes, enhancing clear and concise communication for both professional and lay audiences, and dealing with complex, data-driven briefings tailored to specific
• Finance Fundamentals: Enhancing clarity and authority when presenting financial data, enhancing complex data for a clear, concise, and visually appealing presentation, to engage stakeholders and decision-makers for any
• Manufacturing: Addressing the unique challenges of presenting technical information related to production processes, quality control, and supply chain management for any target
• Non-Profit Navigators: Crafting compelling narratives that showcase the impact and value of an organization’s mission, learning to craft appealing narratives for donors, partners, and all
• Education Excellence: Developing engaging and informative presentations for diverse direct and indirect audiences, including students, parents, administrators and

No matter your experience or industry, Presentation Training NY will equip you with the skills and confidence needed to make your next presentation a resounding success.

Boost Your Presentation Skills with Our Customized Training Modules

At The Pincus Group, we understand that each individual has unique strengths and challenges when it comes to public speaking. That’s why our Presentation Training NY program offers a variety of specialized offerings designed to address specific aspects of presentation skills. These can be combined and tailored to meet your specific needs and goals, ensuring that you receive the most relevant and effective training possible, designed for immediate impact.

Storytelling for Impact

Learn the art of storytelling to create a compelling narrative for your presentations, speeches and briefings. This training focuses on teaching you how to craft stories that resonate with your audience, making your message more memorable and engaging.

Visual Design and Slide Creation

Enhance your presentation’s visual impact with our module on visual design and slide creation. We’ll teach you how to create visually appealing slides that complement and reinforce your message, helping you to maintain audience interest and attention.

Vocal Techniques and Body Language

Discover the power of non-verbal communication in our vocal techniques and body language module. You’ll learn how to use your voice effectively, project confidence, and harness the power of body language to engage your audience and convey your message.

Handling Question and Answer Sessions with Confidence

Master the art of handling challenging questions and audience interactions with our module on Q&A sessions. This module will equip you with strategies for responding to questions effectively, maintaining control, and staying on message even under pressure.

Cultivating a Confident Mindset

Develop the mental tools necessary to conquer your fear of public speaking and maintain a confident mindset during your presentations. This module explores techniques for managing stress, overcoming anxiety, and staying focused in high-pressure situations.

You’ll receive a comprehensive and personalized learning experience that addresses your specific needs and objectives. With The Pincus Group’s expert guidance, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a confident and captivating public speaker.

The Key to Mastery and Continued Growth as a Presenter

While completing our training is a significant step toward improving your public speaking skills, it’s essential to continue practicing and refining those skills even after the training is over. Regular practice will help to solidify your new skills and ensure continued growth and development.

To maintain and improve your presentation skills, consider incorporating the following practices into your routine:

Revisiting Your Materials: How to Stay Sharp and Build on Your Knowledge over Time

Periodically review the resources provided during the Presentation Training NY program to refresh your memory and reinforce key concepts.

Seeking Results: The Importance of Honest Feedback in Achieving Your Presentation Goals

Solicit constructive feedback from colleagues, friends, or mentors after giving presentations, and use this feedback to identify areas for improvement. Take advantage of included support to offer continual feedback.

Workshops and Webinars: Additional Resources for Continued Learning and Skill Building

Participate in additional learning opportunities, such as workshops, webinars, or conferences, to expand your knowledge and stay current on industry trends.

Recording Your Presentations: Tips for Self-Reflection and Improvement

Record yourself giving presentations and review the footage to identify areas where you can improve your delivery, body language, or vocal techniques.

Public speaking is vital for personal and professional success, but it can be intimidating. Pincus Group’s Presentation Training NY program helps you conquer your fears, gain skills, and build confidence. The Pincus Group provides personalized coaching, expert guidance, and supportive learning for effective training. With specialized training and ongoing resources, clients achieve remarkable advances in limited time. Call now in Presentation Training NY to conquer fear and become a skilled public speaker.

Master the Art of Connecting and Engaging Your Audience Today!

Good communication is crucial for success in today’s business. The Heartfelt Presentation Training NY program by The Pincus Group can improve public speaking, confidence, and communication skills. With our coaching, guidance, and skill development, create powerful presentations that engage your audience. Adapted to your needs, our program provides relevant and effective training. Take action and

call us The Pincus Group’s presentation training NY to overcome fear and reach your potential as a presenter. Contact us to gain the skills and confidence to connect with your audience and achieve your goals. Call or visit our website to schedule a consultation. Start your journey as a powerfully effective communicator and a star presenter now.

The post Presentation training NY appeared first on The pincus Group.

We tell clients that they are the presentation, not their scripts and nothing brings that home like facing an audience without one.

Know that, the good news is if you are prepared, speaking from notes is going to greatly increase your effectiveness as a speaker. No one in your audience wants to be read to, no matter what the topic. They’ve come to hear what you have to say, not what you have to read. (After all, you could have saved everyone time and bother by just emailing your script if that weren’t the case.) The bad news is, you’re going to have to get over the notion that preparation stops once you get your content down on paper.

Follow some basic guidelines to help you power up your presentation without that script:

• Always start by determining key messages. Your messages are your port in a storm. Lose your place? Return to port. Wondering if material is relevant? Look at those key messages and decide whether any of your material helps explain or convince us of their validity. If material doesn’t directly do that, leave it aside. This is how you’ll begin to reduce a lot of unnecessary material and get to the essence of why your audience has come to hear you.
• Reduce notes to key ideas and phrases. Don’t use full sentences on your note cards and don’t fill your notecards with small script. The whole idea here is to get away from just reading to the audience. That process gets much more complicated if you’ve simply transferred an entire script onto small notecards. Instead, focus on larger points with key phrases, using more of an outline reduced to a bulleted form (and numbering your note cards prominently). The idea is to maximize eye contact with an audience and gain some feedback from them. If you see heads nodding in agreement, or faces staring back in thought, you’ll get a cue you’re on the right track.
• Don’t memorize. You want to practice your talk until you’re comfortable with the general shape and outline, but give yourself the freedom to speak in the moment. No one knows what you meant to say. Meanwhile, by freeing yourself from exact phrasing and even exact order, you’ll have a better opportunity to really connect and give your presentation a flow that’s easier for the audience to understand.
• Try and leave even the notecards behind. If there’s a small table or surface off to the side you can place your notes on, work toward reviewing your notes periodically rather than holding the notes in your hand. Yes, it takes practice. If you need to return to your notes to check your place, don’t stress. Simply stop talking. Review your notes, and then begin again with your audience. Once you really free yourself from the need to fill every second of time with a scripted phrase, you’ll discover how much your props (notecards) have actually been holding you back. If you need to shorten your presentation to accommodate your ability to stay on track, then do so. It’s well worth it to your audience to get a sense of your passion and knowledge about a subject, then it is to try and follow a technically detailed presentation that’s just read to them.
• Practice, practice, practice.  Did I mention practice? Nothing will increase your proficiency and the audience’s enjoyment more than having a real sense that you’re not lecturing them but really communicating your ideas for some purpose. When you’re comfortable, it’s going to show, in natural hand movements, in a more relaxed voice, natural pace and more compelling presentation.

Remember, you are the presentation. The rest are merely aides to help you make it.

Aileen Pincus is a communications consultant and President of the Pincus Group, Executive Communications Training. She can be reached at www.thepincusgroup.com

The post Public Speaking From Notes: Some Tips and Techniques appeared first on The pincus Group.

Ever hear the one about picturing your audience naked to overcome your fear of presenting to them? How about the one about practicing in front of a mirror? Anyone who has ever tried either of those well-meaning tropes knows how futile they are. Deluding ourselves that we can calm fears by laughing at our audience, or that we can convince them of anything by faking authenticity, is worse than a waste of time.  It prevents us from using our greatest power as presenters: our true selves.

Nothing is quite as powerful as watching and listening to someone who is passionate about what they know and knows how to share it with an audience they know how to connect with. So what other well-meaning advice can we ignore as we build those powerful presentation skills? Try ignoring these “how to’s” and substituting some genuine skill builders.

Worst Advice:

Memorize Your Presentation
Now this one sounds reasonable enough on the surface. After all, much of our fear about presenting is wrapped up in our fear of looking foolish in front of others. Some of that comes from our fear of drawing a blank when all eyes are on us. If we memorize our presentation, that won’t happen, right? Perhaps, but what will certainly happen is that we’ll be taken out of “the moment” as we put all of our energy and attention on recalling the least significant portion of our presentation: the literal words. Suddenly, we’re not focused on the immediate reaction we’re getting from the audience or on making sure we’re connecting with them. We’re focusing instead on making sure the words keep coming. That sets the bar too low: surviving the presentation until the end isn’t your goal. CONNECTING to your audience is.

Instead: Know Your Presentation
Focus on the essence of what you’re presenting: namely your key messages. This is what’s most important for your audience to understand. If the worst happens and all of your materials and notes disappeared, how would you summarize what you came to say?  Put those bigger ideas up front and build your presentation around them. Your audience won’t likely remember all of the supporting details, but they should remember your key points. Worry less about repeating the exact words you intended and more about making sure you’re connecting. If you see heads nodding, react. If you see puzzled looks, don’t just plow through. Stop and make sure you’re not rushing ahead of your audience just to fill space. Slow yourself down and make sure you really see your audience and gauge their reactions. Remember, no one knows what you were supposed to say, so don’t let a pause or different phrasing than you’d planned throw you.

Use a Lot of Bullets
For some reason, lots of presenters think they can take a long, dry presentation and suddenly make it come alive if they can just add enough bullets to the screen. Ever sit through one of those presentations where the bullets don’t in any way indicate an abbreviated point? Heck, they may not even indicate a point! Here’s the thing: TEXT ON A SLIDE IS NOT A VISUAL AID. There is nothing about text that makes it more understandable, or illustrative, than the spoken word, by itself.

Instead: Put the Visual Back in Visual Aid
Are there actual visuals that would help illustrate your points? Can you bring in relevant charts, graphs, photos, illustrations to help your audience “see” your points? If you must use bullets, greatly reduce them and the words you use. Your audience didn’t come to read and they didn’t come to listen to YOU read to them. (Hint: if you use punctuation in your bulleted information, you’re using too many words.)

More is Better
Ever sit through a presentation that’s a product of many hands? More detail, more slides, with the presenter intoning something like…”..and here you can see again..…“ or “this is just yet another example of…” Yes, you want to prove your key points. Data does help you do that. However, information overload may quickly confuse your audience and actually mask your key points.

Instead: Pointed is Powerful
Limit your backup points and secondary data to your “best stuff.” Ask yourself whether any given slide is necessary, why, and what might instead be moved to handout material. Remember, this is ORAL presentation. That means it’s necessary for presenters to pay attention to higher messages, with just enough information to lend strong support. Remember, you are the presentation, so stay center stage.

Aileen Pincus is a communications consultant and President of the Pincus Group, Executive Communications Training. She can be reached at www.thepincusgroup.com

The post The Three WORST Pieces of Advice Given Presenters appeared first on The pincus Group.

(Washington DC) — “VALLEYSPEAK-2017,” a light hearted look at Silicon Valley jargon, includes a contribution from TPG on the use of elevator pitches. The book is intended to guide people through the stumbling block of jargon that could interfere with those seeking to communicate in the nation’s leading tech hub.

“Valley Speak-2017” by Rochelle Kopp and Steven Ganz has been named the eLit Gold Medal Winner for the year and is available on Amazon.

TPG’s President Aileen Pincus was interviewed on best practices for business communicators and for tips on avoiding the jargon that blocks clear and powerful communication.

For more on VALLEYSPEAK, visit http://www.siliconvalleyspeak.com/

The post TPG Included in TechSpeak Guide appeared first on The pincus Group.

We tend to avoid what we fear, so before you hand off that presentation to someone else or try side-stepping the responsibility altogether, consider what you’d be passing up. Each presentation in front of your peers, your boss, an important client is a unique opportunity to showcase your value. A home run in a presentation or briefing can do more to lift your reputation and cement trust for these important relationships than all of the hard work you’ve already put in getting ready for it.

That’s because your audience can see and hear your ideas for themselves. They can connect the messages with the messenger and get the full measure of their impact. Importantly, they will give credit for those ideas to you, the presenter. In short, presentation and briefing skills are essential tools every executive needs to master.

Embrace the presentation opportunities you have by conquering those fears and letting your expertise shine. Follow these pro tips to help:

Don’t memorize

If you memorize (instead of just getting comfortable with your ideas), all you’ll be concentrating on when you deliver your presentation is remembering what you were supposed to say. That’s going to interfere with being your best, most confident self. Instead, stay in the moment and give yourself permission to express your key ideas in a way that sounds natural and comfortable for you. Don’t worry about perfection. Your audience isn’t.

Do prepare (the right way)

Get your essential ideas down to (no more than) three main points. Practice delivering these orally. Pay attention to how you naturally communicate them, what details you use to explain each and how you transition from one main point to the next. There’s simply no substitute for hearing yourself present and building some muscle memory of how you want the presentation or briefing to flow. (Recording yourself is a great tool for this.) If you write out a full script, begin practicing with a greatly reduced one with just bullet points or notes with key points and phrases. It’s far more important to stay connected to your audience than it is to remember every detail of something you’d prepared.

Build in a breather

Many presenters need help controlling their fears at the very start of their presentations. Once they get into the body of their material, the content of what they’re saying helps them find their stride and pull through. If you’re most anxious at the beginning of your presentation, try a different approach. A question to the audience momentarily allows you to subtly shift the focus to your audience and might offer you the breathing room you need to settle in. (Of course the question has to be one you’re reasonably certain will draw the right response, or a survey with no right or wrong answer that helps you set up your points). You might also use a prop, or a handout to momentarily draw people’s attention to something you’re about to speak to. You might even start with a short video or other visual after the briefest of introductions.

Go with what works for you

Many executives heave a sigh of relief when the presentation or briefing is over and they can move on to answering questions. If that’s you, don’t feel constrained by formats. Keep the presentation shorter and lengthen the q and a. You’ll still need to deliver some key messages about your conclusions, but you can save the detail for when your audience signals they want it; by asking a question. Just tell your audience what you’re doing (“I have a brief overview and then I want to get right to your questions about what this means”). Remember to present with your audience first and foremost in mind: what is the essential information THEY need?

Treat the symptoms

Fear causes a physical reaction in us, as our brains signal to our bodies that we’re in some kind of danger. Our breathing becomes more rapid, our voices might shake, our palms sweat. It’s those ‘symptoms’ that many presenters fear displaying, so have a plan for handling those reactions. Know that no one can hear what you’re thinking, and are oblivious to your fear. Tell yourself you’re going to be great, remind yourself of past successes, and visualize how good it’s going to be to hear the congratulations afterwards (even if you don’t believe it). Tell yourself: You’ve GOT this! Remember no one knows what you were supposed to say, so if you forget something, just move on without apologies. If you forget something, it’s a good time to pause and ask, “any questions so far”? Don’t try to banish your nerves, channel them. It’s the same energy that will help fuel your performance. Expend a bit of it if you can just before your presentation (a quick walk, some deep knee bends and long, slow deep breaths).

Remember, the more presentations you do, the easier this will be. Don’t avoid speaking to your own ideas and your own capabilities. Remember how scary things were the first time you tried them, that you now do with ease. You can build this ‘muscle memory’ of success, one presentation, one briefing at a time!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9634281

The post Presentation Confidence: Take The Fear Out Of Executive Presentations appeared first on The pincus Group.

But is that because PowerPoint is widely considered a successful mode of communication? Anyone who has suffered through their share of bad presentations knows the answer. Very often, audience hopes of an interesting presentation are dashed quickly as soon as the lights are dimmed. So if you’re someone who wants to break the mold, doesn’t want to present their ideas using slides filled with bullets and text just because everyone else does, how would you present your ideas?

Ask yourself to consider how you might do things differently:

Bring back the visuals in visual aids

Ask yourself if you could get through a presentation without reading or asking your audience to read. How would that change your presentation? It definitely forces the presenter to be very clear about their purpose and key messages. By putting the burden of communication on the presenter, and excluding text, it forces a shift in the way presenters communicate their ideas. Are there photographs, drawings, or renderings you could use to show your ideas and help your audiences understand them?

Think outside the box

If you do decide to rely on visuals rather than text, think of those ‘visuals’ in the widest possible sense. There might be a simple prop you could use to demonstrate how your ideas work. There might be a video that helps you set the stage for your ideas. Then again, you might try simply interacting with your audience to lead them through how to consider your idea. Think about what your messages are and what your goal is for this audience. What are you trying to get them to understand or be persuaded of?  Removing text from your presentation might force you to find more creative avenues of communication. Remember, everyone loves a good story.

Keep it moving

When presenters use PowerPoint, the materials tend to drive the performance. Presenters often want to address each bullet on each slide, regardless of what their audience may be interested in, or the time allotted, because it’s there.  Without those bullets, with or without visuals, presenters become far more aware of having to reaching their audience successfully. That may mean presenters are motivated to stop for questions along the way, or find new ways of interacting with the audience as they present. A lively engaged audience is far more likely to forget about the time and absorb what’s being communicated.

However you present, remember the materials are secondary to you, the presenter. Don’t be afraid to try some different ways of communicating those ideas and to never take a back seat in your own presentations!

The post Leaving PowerPoint Behind: No, You Don’t HAVE To Use It appeared first on The pincus Group.

Training Contract Awarded for FDIC

Pincus Group Awarded multi-year contract for FDIC Executives

(Washington DC)—The Pincus Group was awarded a 4-year contract with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) beginning in 2016. TPG will be offering ongoing training to FDIC executives in presentation and briefing skills,  and available to FDIC personnel nationwide.

The communication skills training will be conducted by The Pincus Group, a media training and crisis communications executive training firm in Silver Spring, Maryland and led by TPG President Aileen Pincus and TPG VP and Senior Trainer David Burnett.

“We’re thrilled to be working with FDIC’s outstanding personnel and are gearing up for this new, extended commitment with them,” Aileen Pincus said. “The agency has a track record of commitment to personnel development and we couldn’t be more pleased to be a part of that.”      

The multiple day trainings will be scheduled on an on-going basis at FDIC’s Arlington Headquarters beginning in the Fall of 2016.

The Pincus Group provides executive coaching for public and private sector clients around the world in media, speech, presentation and crisis communications. For more information contact info@thepincusgroup.com or visit our website at www.thepincusgroup.com

The post Training Contract Awarded for FDIC appeared first on The pincus Group.

Presentations are powerful things. When they’re done well, they can persuade an audience, enhance the presenter’s credibility and motivate action. So how do you know when you’re hitting the mark with your audiences?

For most presenters, the answer is to simply ask a colleague or audience member afterwards. The problem is, a simple “How’d I do?” isn’t likely to be answered with an illuminating response. Many people are uncomfortable at giving anything but the most positive or at least neutral feedback (“I thought it was fine.”) Of course, getting helpful and precise feedback is one of the reasons executives hire presentation coaches. You can get good feedback though after your performances if you learn to ask the right questions.

Next time you present:

MAKE FEEDBACK EASY: You can construct a simple feedback survey on index cards to hand out after your presentation if it’s an outside audience. This removes the uncomfortable hurdle for some people of having to tell you in person, should they have anything but positive reactions. Always include at least one open-ended question about what could have been improved. For internal audiences, you might select a few people to ask the same questions via email.

ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS: If you know someone who’ll be attending your presentation, ask them ahead of time if they’ll listen for specific things you’re working on. For instance, if you’re working on reducing the “uhms and ahs” or other verbal fillers when you present, tell a colleague to listen for those as you present. If you make it clear that you’re welcoming that feedback precisely, you’re more likely to get accurate feedback on how you did.

PICK YOUR PRIORITIES: Don’t ask for more feedback than you can handle at one time. Select one or two priorities at a time, such as slowing your hurried pace, or making more eye contact with the audience. You’re much more likely to make real improvements by narrowing your focus.

TAKE IT IN STRIDE: The purpose of feedback is to better your performance as a presenter. Consider the feedback you get but don’t use it as a substitute for your own best judgement. If you have good reason for doing what you do, and it’s working for you, take that into consideration as well. Remember, presenting isn’t “acting”, so if any suggested changes make you uncomfortable, stay true to yourself.

Every time you present, you want your audience to see you at your best. Put the effort into improving this key executive communication skill so others can truly appreciate what you have to offer.

The post Powerful Presentations Depend on Feedback appeared first on The pincus Group.

Before you toss the tool, ask yourself whether you’ve been using it effectively. Are your slides packed with text? Is the point of each slide difficult to follow? Are the slides chiefly there to help you communicate your points? Are you using your slides both as presentation tools and as handouts for the audience to read and refer to later?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may not be using PowerPoint very effectively.  Remember, if your audience can see and hear you, you need to be communicating differently than if you sent your information in an email, or mailed out printed material. Oral communication demands something different from both the presenter and the presentation.

To make sure you’re making the most out of your PowerPoint, remember the purpose of the tool is as a “visual” aid. Keep these tips in mind:

•  Seek to be understood the first time.  Think about the “so what” of your presentation and keep those key ideas front and center. Don’t get bogged down by detail.
•  Keep it visual.  Limit text wherever possible and substitute graphs, charts, photos, videos and anything else that keeps the “visual” in “visual medium”. Your audience did not come to read or be read to.
•  Know and respect your audience.  If you have built a PowerPoint designed chiefly to keep you on track as the presenter, then you’ve got your priorities wrong. The success of your presentation depends on understanding and connecting to your audience. Try working harder to build a presentation that meets your audience’s needs rather than just your own.
•  It’s the movie, not the book. Think about what you remember from the last presentation you attended. Is it words on a slide? Probably not. It’s more likely about whether the presenter was engaged, whether there were clear points, well made, whether you were persuaded  your time had been well spent. If you were in your audience, what would you want to see?

There’s no need to ditch the PowerPoint if you want to be an effective communicator. Simply learn to use the tool to your best advantage. And of course, whether you seek coaching to hone these skills or not, take your preparation seriously. Every presentation is an opportunity at enhancing or solidifying your professional reputation.

The post PowerPoint or No PowerPoint: That is the question appeared first on The pincus Group.