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The following are tips to help you master preparation for executive presentations. “Executive Presentations” are those presentations intended for introducing new ideas or reviewing performance for management within an organization. These suggestions are intended for optimizing powerful and focused communications.

Be Brief, the Ten Minute Rule

Regardless of the amount of time that you may have scheduled for your meeting, make sure that you can convey your complete message in ten minutes or less. Strip away conjecture, comments or perceptions to convey the core message as quickly, accurately and concisely as possible. If you have additional interesting materials, place it in an appendix for leisure reading. (Do you know many executives who have time for leisure reading? If your audience is not going to read the material on their own spare time, then don’t put it in the heart of your presentation.) Would you rather present to a Board of Directors, or board directors?

Bullet Points, Numbers, Dollars, Graphs, Charts and Pictures

Can you convey your message in five bullet points or less? Can you substantiate your message with numbers, dollars or a graphical representation? Then do it. A picture is worth a thousand words, but dollars can common sense will get the most attention. Graphical and financial representation of data and trends changes what you “think” into what you “know”. Do not waste time discussing opinion, but rather provide substance to generate meaningful conversation about interpretation of the facts.

Who

Be prepared to name the resources required and the individuals, organizations, departments or customers who will contribute or be impacted. Be prepared to respond to the worst case scenario impact by person or area, and the countermeasures.

What

Try to state what you are presenting in seven words or less

When

Be prepared with a timeline, plan, milestones and metrics of measurement. If you are proposing an idea that has fiscal impact, demonstrate the key milestones as points in the process that can be measured and compared for progress. Don’t wait to measure at the end of the project, know how you will measure from the beginning and through the entire process. Identify the critical path elements that could delay a project or strategic direction, as well as points in the process at which a project could be completely stopped, if necessary.

Where

Is your presentation related to specific geographical or demographic area? If so, it may be appropriate to indicate the limit or scope of the topic. It may not be necessary to include this in the presentation, but you should be aware. It is equally important to recognize if your presentation or proposal specifically excludes a particular geography or demographic. For example, does your idea benefit end-user customers at the expense of corporate customers? Is your global strategy equally relevant in Latin America as it is in Europe?

How

This can be included with the ‘When” of your planning process. If you are presenting a plan, proposal or change in strategic direction, then show your plan. How you plan to implement or improve should be integrated with timelines, milestones and measurements. It is much easier to review a plan than to discuss a concept.

Why

Unfortunately, far too many presentations are completely focused on the intent of the message. It is reasonable to assume that the purpose of a presentation is some benefit. The benefit may be associated with reduced cost, risk avoidance, strategic initiatives, revenue generation, compliance or planning. Whatever the benefit may be, it is important to balance the benefit message with substantive facts and responses to the above mentioned details as applicable. The benefit statement in your presentation should also be concise, easy to understand and very focused. State the purpose of your message in one sentence.

Alternatives

Every presentation or ideas has alternatives. The alternative to change is to remain status quo. Although remaining status quo could be a substantial competitive disadvantage for most organizations, sometimes it is better than the risk associated with proposed changes. Enhance the power of your presentation by offering a few bullet points that demonstrate investigation of the alternatives and the potential comparative impact.

Method

Use an appropriate manner of communication to accommodate your audience. This may be a Power Point presentation, a single sheet of paper with bullet points and graphs, or a documented study with an executive summary at the beginning. The most important element of your presentation is the content. Convey your message quickly. Be prepared to substantiate your message with facts, a plan, impact and alternatives. If a conversation erupts about your message, embrace it and use the communication as an opportunity to engage the audience. A conversation is infinitely more interesting than a presentation. Deliver your material in a manner that fosters thoughtful interactive dialogue with active participation for best results.

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Words of Wisdom

“And, of course, you have the commercials where savvy businesspeople Get Ahead by using their MacIntosh computers to create the ultimate American business product: a really sharp-looking report.”

- Dave Barry

“I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.”

- E. B. White

“I have always found that in preparing for any presentation that the plan never applies, but the preparation does.”

- John Mehrmann, Executive Blueprints Inc

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John Mehrmann

There is no doubt that times can be very exciting when an offer is accepted and a new owner knows they can move forward with the purchase and begin closing on a house. From the seller’s side, many of the barriers to buying the property have been taken care of and now it just comes down to the closing logistics, such as the mortgage and inspections, which are meted out with a few rounds of home negotiation between buyer and seller. But (and it’s a big one), sometimes negotiations between home buyers and sellers is an uphill battle that few can accomplish. It’s not enough just to be strong in an offer and budge little by little as you try to show your pride in the process. Some people just throw out tough statements and act rough as if to let the other side know they are not going to be pushed around. Believe me; this way won’t work well in the long run. If anything, it will just turn the other side off to working with you. Good home negotiation comes with understanding the other side’s key points, prioritizing them, and working on overcoming them. It’s one of the best ways to make sure everyone agrees to the same terms when closing on a house.

During this key home negotiation process, real estate agents can be very beneficial . Not only have they taken classes on how to negotiate and reach amiable terms for both sides, but their experience has allowed them to see what works (and when) and what doesn’t when closing on a house. There is a fine level of finesse in the home negotiation process that requires you to know how to get what you want out of the situation.

The Art of Home Negotiation: Understanding the Other Side

When sending the contract offer, you will need to bring up the points you want to negotiate and allow the other side to bring up their points of interest as well. This will usually happen when some of your terms are not accepted and the seller decides to counter your written offer. It is essential for both sides to understand what is important to each other when a buyer is closing on a house. Balance comes from fully understanding the other side’s key points during any home negotiation session.

Internalizing and digesting this information during a home negotiation session will help you compare and contrast this against your own needs. If there is something you aren’t willing to concede when closing on a house, you can use this information to leverage other terms that the seller will easily grant you.

Prioritization of Key Points in the Process

Once you have an understanding of which points are important to you and the other side as well, you will need to also know how those measure up. How important are they for you to continue closing on a house? You will need to know what will be acceptable or become a “must have” to you so that you can feel comfortable before signing on the dotted line and moving to your new house. Whether you are using a real estate agent or writing the offer yourself, you will need to disclose those requests in the written contract offer so that the previous homeowners can legally receive your proposal with what you are petitioning. Since your needs will be in contract form, you can be sure to cover every term or, at the very least, bring up your points for discussion with the seller. If not named or mentioned in your contract offer, you may forget specific terms you want addressed during the home negotiation session and you may lose out on what you really wanted to accomplish. In most cases, the seller is willing to make a number of concessions when closing on a house, and if you’re prepared, you will be able to make it worthwhile for both sides.

If the seller counters on your offer, prioritizing the other side’s key points helps you so you can use some of your requests and offer to give them up if they are willing to do the same on their side. The purpose of both sides is to agree on the most important points when closing on a house. For example, if the seller is willing to include the kitchen appliances but not fix a bathroom you requested to be fixed in your contract offer, this may or may not appeal to you and should fall appropriately within your prioritization scale. Most importantly, however, keep your eyes on the goal during any effective home negotiation session and keep the communication going!

Overcoming the Obstacles on Either Side

Explain why each term you are asking for is crucial during the negotiation process. This is another reason why I strongly suggest that buyers and sellers use agents. It will be something both sides will be able to use to help prioritize what’s important to each, i.e. what you can or can’t live without. Explaining each side helps with persuasion and plays a big part in home negotiation. Obviously, you’ll also want to avoid damaging the relationship that you have with the seller – and closing on a house is where that fine level of finesse plays a large role. Understanding that this meeting of the minds should be a win-win situation for everyone is vital to your approach and ultimate success for effective home negotiation.

The company that I work for (and other similar companies) can help you with closing on a house as well as the numerous other steps that are involved in the home buying process. Using a real estate agent is highly recommended throughout the entire process of closing on a house as they have access to unlimited resources and are trained in home negotiation and getting the best deal for the buyer.

Overcoming the obstacles is easier when you realize you must turn this part of the home buying process into something that’s profitable not only for you but beneficial to the seller as well. This kind of give-and-take when you’re closing on a house will ensure the seller concedes to a great deal of your requests willingly – and maybe even with a smile.

The fundamentals of a great speech stay the same. (Develop one strong idea. Focus on the audience. Be authentic, clear, and committed.) But styles change with time. These are the latest trends in speeches and presentations.

1. Keep it Short

People want information, but they’re already overwhelmed by too much information. If you give them what they need to know in a way they can quickly understand and apply, they’ll love you. Get to the heart of the matter in as few words as possible. Say what you have to say. And stop speaking — even if you haven’t spoken for the allotted time.

2. Let’s Get Personal.

In this age of Oprah, interactive websites, and blogs, formal presentations are out. Instead, savvy speakers are speaking conversationally. They’re less likely to “make a speech,” more likely to talk to their audiences. They move away from podiums. They use personal stories and anecdotes. They say I and you, we and us. They encourage audience interaction.

3. Simple Is Chic.

Sophisticated technology is simple — at least for the end user. A point-and-shoot camera takes in all sorts of data and makes innumerable, complex calculations so you don’t have to. Successful speakers do the same thing. They do their research. They decide what’s important. And they present what the audience needs to know in a way the audience gets.

4. The Love Affair with PowerPoint(TM) Is Over.

Audiences are no longer wowed by PowerPoint(TM). They take it for granted, and if anything they’re a little bored by it. Use it as a tool, a way of presenting information. But don’t let it upstage you. Keep yourself up front and personal.

5. Recycling Is Good for What Ails You.

Creating a good speech takes a lot of time. So once you’ve created a presentation, reuse it. Don’t think you have to come up with something new for each occasion. You can give the exact same speech word for word to a different audience, and it becomes a different speech. Take bits and pieces from one presentation and repackage them. Trim a 45-minute in-depth presentation into a 15-minute overview of your topic. Or use your 15-minute overview as an outline for a longer presentation.

6. Mark your Territory.

It’s almost impossible to come up with something brand new and original to talk about. After all, how many news ways are there to make a sales, a speech, or a successful relationship? Winning speakers take the best of what’s already known and make it new by making it their own. They put their own spin on it, using a unique (and consistent) choice of words and phrasing. Think Chicken Soup for the Soul, the One-Minute Manager, and Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. New stuff or clever packaging?

7. Everyone Wants a Security Blanket.

It’s a scary world, and people are afraid of losing what they have. They want something or someone who will make them feel safe. If you’re going to challenge them to change, you need to show them why. And you need to reassure them that what they get will be better than what they leave behind. Threats — implied or explicit — will make people react in the moment, but they won’t sustain people’s long-term efforts.