As video marketing, podcasts, and audio courses become critical tools in marketing, the importance of good public speaking skills increases. More people are speaking to bigger audiences then at any time in the history of the world. A 17 year old can get a million viewers on YouTube with a video gone viral; an impossible feat a few years ago. Multimedia is the future and the future of multimedia is in the public’s hands.
Chances are that anyone working in marketing is going to need to do some public speaking online or offline. Just winging it works for a few very gifted individuals, but to be successful consistently requires a method. The effortless presenter undoubtedly spent years honing her skills to make it look easy. To succeed at public speaking requires a good proven guide.
How to Prepare, Stage & Deliver Winning Presentations by Thomas Leech is one of the classic books on public speaking. First released way back in 1982, the updated edition includes the use of evolving presentation technology. Leech recognizes that technology is constantly changing so he does not waste ink on detailed explanations of specific computer programs or hardware that will soon be as outdated as a Windows 97 user manual. Rather Leech focuses on timeless success principles and points out that evolving technology simply makes it easier for anyone to create a winning presentation without a graphics department or expensive software programs.
The book is broken into three sections. The 36 page first section entitled “Presentations: An Overview” should be read through carefully to understand the big picture in delivering great presentations. Leech does a good job of setting the stage for part two.
With 235 pages, “The Systems Approach to Presentations” is the meat of Leech’s book. Part two gives a detailed description of his proven system for planning, organizing, supporting, staging, and delivering winning presentations. Leech then covers audience interaction like question and answer sessions, followed by a good discussion on post presentation follow up.
Part three “Special Presentation Situations” provides another 30 pages of advice covering various specific types of presentations one might encounter and how to adjust the system to cover these challenges. Exceptions and additional information are well laid out in this section.
The book is extensively footnoted for the curious, but the scholarly footnotes do not reduce the wonderfully engaging readability of the text. An extensive further reading list, index and glossary round out the resource section of the book.
Not only is the book very readable, but it is extensively illustrated. Illustrations range from flow charts to cartoons that clarify and drive home the key points. Leech believes that picture is worth a thousand words in both effective presentations and in how to books.
The book is in itself a presentation that follows the advice the author gives for creating winning presentations. As you read the book watch how it is written because it includes a good introduction, meaty content, humor, an engaging writing style, a good summary of each chapter and the over all system, plus some great resources.
How to Prepare, Stage & Deliver Winning Presentations is not specifically written for the YouTube generation, but maybe that is a good thing. Today’s video marketers could take a lesson from an experienced presenter and public speaking consultant like Thomas Leech. This book is a must have in any marketer’s library.
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Thanks for this review, I think it is exactly the kind of thing I need to read now! With so much amateur video available on the web today, I think having an idea of what works for presentation can only be a benefit, especially when your whole project relies on having to convey a message!
Just wondering, do you do any video blogging or presenting? Do you have any tips?
I have some proficiency in public speaking and I have read many books on how to give presentations. This one is exceptionally good which is why I wrote it up for the blog. I follow some of the principles in my writing. I do not (yet) video blog but I plan to someday soon. There is no real magic to speaking in public it just takes focus and practice and a plan. The best presenters are always trying to hone their skills further.