HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations

June 13, 2014 - PRLog -- Business Book Summary of HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations

EBSCO Publishing has just released a new book summary. With technologies that facilitate instant communication, most people have become accustomed to rapidly drafting emails and text messages and then moving on to their next task. Presentations, however, are different. It takes planning and preparation to engage audiences and motivate them to act. In HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations, Nancy Duarte provides readers with the tools needed to create memorable messages and powerful visuals that will strike the right tone and capture audiences’ attention.

Nancy Duarte provides tools in seven areas to help presenters create memorable messages:

1.       The Audience. Presenters must use the audience’s desires and goals to guide all the content they deliver. By segmenting the audience, presenters can identify the people with the greatest influence and tailor the content to that group.

2.       The Message. Every presentation has a “big idea” that motivates audience members to change their behavior. Speakers should use contrast to amplify their messages, include a powerful call to action, and filter out content that does not support the big idea.

3.       The Story. Audiences are more likely to remember the main points of a presentation if the speaker includes stories. Compelling stories create conflict by comparing the status quo with a better way.

4.       The Media. Presenters must determine how their audiences prefer to process information. A formal slide presentation may not always be the right choice.

5.       The Slides. When slides are designed to be understood quickly, the audience has more time to focus on what the presenter is saying. To simplify slides, presenters should focus on design principles related to flow, contrast, white space, hierarchy, and unity.

6.       The Delivery. Rehearsing should include getting familiar with the venue and the schedule. Before the presentation, the speaker should send a concise written agenda to attendees.

7.       The Impact. Social media is becoming an important way for speakers to extend the impact of their presentations. Examples including using a presentation-specific Twitter hashtag, monitoring social media conversations, and posting videos to social media sites.

In addition to a 7-10 page summary of the book, each Business Book Summary includes a Key Concepts section that outlines the main points of the book, an About the Author section that informs readers of the author’s background as well as their additional written works, and a Features of the Book Section that explains the special features found within the book.

For busy professionals, Business Book Summaries from EBSCO provide an easy, quick way to stay on top of the best business books in the market. With many titles available in audio format, it becomes even easier to obtain the helpful information available in these top business titles.

For more information and to get free samples of Business Book Summaries, please visit www.bizsum.com.