New Persuasive Presentations Blog

Thank you for following me on The Grab

My blog has now been incorporated into my website, you can view it here www.persuasivepresentations.com.au

I look forward to seeing you there!

Regards

Sharon Ferrier

Stand up, Speak up & Persuade. New Public Workshop – August 19th, 2015

Does the thought of delivering a presentation scare you?

Do you want to learn how to be confident in front of a group, think on your feet and deliver a persuasive and engaging presentation?

Then this course is for you!

I only do a few public workshops per year – my next one is at the end of July – Stand Up Speak Up and Persuade works and the lessons learnt stay with you for life.

“I was fortunate enough to attend the “Stand Up, Speak Up and Persuade” course at Scholle. Have attended many courses during my career, but this one has been a clear stand out, and has really stood the test of time. It has continued to resonate with me, and I continue to use the principles when preparing any presentation I do. I couldn’t recommend this course more highly to organisations and people who want really want to make an impact.” Randall Pearce  –  strategic Sales and Marketing Professional

Now is your time to shine – and I can help.

For more information or to discuss your in-house training needs,  flick me an email:

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Stand Up, Speak Up & Persuade 22nd July 2015

Does the thought of delivering a presentation scare you?

Do you want to learn how to be confident in front of a group, think on your feet and deliver a persuasive and engaging presentation?

Then this course is for you!

I only do a few public workshops per year – my next one is at the end of July – Stand Up Speak Up and Persuade works and the lessons learnt stay with you for life.

“I was fortunate enough to attend the “Stand Up, Speak Up and Persuade” course at Scholle. Have attended many courses during my career, but this one has been a clear stand out, and has really stood the test of time. It has continued to resonate with me, and I continue to use the principles when preparing any presentation I do. I couldn’t recommend this course more highly to organisations and people who want really want to make an impact.” Randall Pearce  –  strategic Sales and Marketing Professional

Now is your time to shine – and I can help.

For more information or to discuss your in-house training needs,  flick me an email:

Name(required)

Email(required)

Telephone number

Comment(required)

Submit

Δ

Stand Up, Speak Up & Persuade – March 26th 2015

Does the thought of delivering a presentation scare you?

Do you want to learn how to be confident in front of a group, think on your feet and deliver a persuasive and engaging presentation?

Then this course is for you!

I only do a few public workshops per year – my next one is at the end of March – Stand Up Speak Up and Persuade works and the lessons learnt stay with you for life.

“I was fortunate enough to attend the “Stand Up, Speak Up and Persuade” course at Scholle. Have attended many courses during my career, but this one has been a clear stand out, and has really stood the test of time. It has continued to resonate with me, and I continue to use the principles when preparing any presentation I do. I couldn’t recommend this course more highly to organisations and people who want really want to make an impact.” Randall Pearce  –  strategic Sales and Marketing Professional

Now is your time to shine – and I can help.

For more information or to discuss your in-house training needs,  flick me an email:

Name(required)

Email(required)

Telephone number

Comment(required)

Submit

Δ

Rules of Engagement

The first step in selling is to get people’s attention – you can’t sell anything until you get people to look and listen to you. As trainers, we are not selling products or services, but we are selling ideas. Hence the rules of engagement apply.

Rule 1 – First impressions count

Put yourself in your participant’s shoes. This maybe the first time they have attended a workshop in a while.  They are going to a strange venue, to be taught by someone they have never met and to sit and interact with people they don’t know. Emotions, anxiety and nerves are flying high. Make it easy for them to connect. Send a welcoming video, make a pre workshop phone call and then welcome them into the room as you would welcome them into your home.

Rule 2 – It’s all about rapport

One word that is overlooked by many trainers is ‘trust’.  Trust can be earned by building a rapport bridge.  Rapport = positive interaction + frequency. Try and create as many positive experiences with your participants as you can.

Rule 3 -Make it about them

It has been said that in today’s world we process more information in a day than our ancestors did in a year.  This leaves us feeling like our brain is a bomb ready to detonate and that just one more bit of information will do it!

Be ruthless with your information. Tailor it to suit their learning style, get rid of the boring slides, reduce cognitive load and relate everything to their world.

Rule 4 – Facts tell stories sell

There is no such thing as a boring topic – only boring delivery. We have all experienced great teachers who have made their subject sing. It’s our job to convince the audience that what we are talking about matters. Good story telling is about the emotional connection. If you need an example have a look at Tyler DeWitt’s talk on http://www.ted.com

Rule 5 – And a little persuasion doesn’t hurt

In his book ‘Influence, the psychology of persuasion’ Robert Cialdini outlines the six pillars of influence.
They are:

Liking – we are more easily persuaded by those we like

Reciprocity – Mini mars bars are very engaging!

Authority – Share your experience to increase your persuasion impact

Social proof – Encourage people to share their knowledge and teach others

Scarcity –  We desire something more when it appears to be scarce

Commitment & Consistency– Ask for action frequently. “So, how are you going to use this idea?”

So… increase engagement, increase uptake and increase outcomes.

Simple is not always easy…

One new year’s resolution that constantly appears on January the first is: ‘I want to lose weight.’

Well, the good news is, is that losing weight is simple! All you have to do is move more and eat less – it doesn’t get much simpler than that!

But, as those of you, like me, have tried – you know,  it ain’t easy.

I’m not an expert in weight loss, but if your new years resolution is to become a better speaker, well, the strategies are similar.

1. Have a goal
   • Just as you set a goal to lose 5kg, you also need to set a goal when you speak
   • Ask yourself when you sit down to write your presentation: “What is it that I want the audience to do, say, think or feel as a result of this presentation?”
2. Be prepared
   • It’s pretty hard to eat healthily if you don’t have the food in the fridge
   • Same with your presentation. Do your homework.
     • Familiarise yourself with the venue
     • Find out who will be in the audience and what they will want to hear
3. Develop good habits
   • Habits take time to change
   • Ensure you give yourself plenty of time to practice your presentation and join a public speaking group such as Rostrum or Toastmasters if you need more practice.
4. Get a coach
   • We all need a little help at times
   • A coach can help you strengthen your ‘soft spots’ and keep you motivated
5. Flip the tape
   • Be aware of your self talk
   • Are you sabotaging your good work with negative thoughts?
   • Remind yourself of how far you have come and  what you are capable of

So, simple is not easy. But if you follow some simple steps and just keep moving forward, you will achieve your goal.

Here’s to a fabulous 2013 and now I’m going to grab an apple and go for a walk!

PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – March 14th 2013 – Please contact me for details

Stand up, Speak up & Persuade – National public workshops

Hobart – August 30^th 2012 

Brisbane – September 4^th 2012

Darwin – September 5^th 2012

Canberra – September 13^th 2012

Sydney- September 12^th 2012

Adelaide – October 11^th 2012

Melbourne – October 12^th 2012

Perth – October 25^th 2012

Please refer to the IBSA website for more information: www.ibsa.org.au

See you there!

Don’t touch, tilt or tamper!

I was delivering my workshop Staple it to their heads – how to make your training stick in Canberra last month and we were discussing memorable messages. The guys from the police training department shared the ‘Don’t touch tilt or tamper’ motto from the bomb squad.

Later in the day we were discussing the challenge of increasing engagement with ‘boring’ topics. One participant was in the process of writing a workshop for harrassment in the workplace when it occurred to me that the ‘Don’t touch tilt or tamper’ slogan could be used. Touch could refer to inappropriate contact, Tilt to teasing and bullying and Tamper to people’s personal space and possessions.

A fabulous staple that is both expressive and memorable.

Staples are everywhere – you only have to look