Recently, I've become aware of some emerging trends regarding presentation styles and have recognized some individuals who seem to be at the forefront of these trends.  Stylistically, these trends often involve rapid, compact presentations spoken over carefully chosen words and imagery to punctuate the points being made. These 'cut the crap' style presentations can be surprisingly informational and quite entertaining if delivered well. It's something that personally gets me motivated to attend events and makes me hopeful for the future of visual storytelling.

As humankind has evolved from telling stories on cave walls to seeing world leaders use PowerPoint (for better or worse) we've also evolved how narrative takes place. Here are some emerging trends I've been able to identify:    http://adjix.com/428

by Joanna C. Dunlap, CPT, PhD

I attend numerous conferences, symposia, and workshops each year—both as a participant and a contributor. I am increasingly frustrated with my colleagues’ and my own performance. In general, the issue is our misuse and overuse of the standard presentation format: bulleted slide after bulleted slide.

... more

The inimitable Guy Kawasaki - we cannot hope to imitate, but we can learn from his style.

How would you have handled the time problem?

Make Any Presentation or Speech as Persuasive as a One-on-One Conversation

by
Jeanette and Roy Henderson
Whether addressing a few colleagues or a packed auditorium, readers will find practical and simple techniques for inspiring every listener. It's a wonderful blend of solid concepts, practical applications, and invaluable techniques. It takes the speaker from the planning stage through to the execution stage of any presentation. It addresses not only speaking in front of a crowd, but also one on one and small group interactions.
plus how to get the book for free
or pay $15 and get three bonuses

.... dedicated to uncovering innovative mapping solutions and fresh design ideas. ... the best maps are capable of displaying a stunning depth of geographic information, quickly and easily, in a way no other infographic can match. http://adjix.com/6j65

Has a guy ever told you something, and you just had to go, "Really?  That's what you thought.  Really?"

I had one of those thoughts when reading Guy Kawasaki's Reality Check.  (a must read for every entrepreneur and marketer)

Guy gives tips about public speaking, and one of the tips was to overdress - never dress beneath the level of the audience.  I totally agree.   But it was Guy's reason not to underdress that made me go, "Really?  That's the signal it sends?"

http://marketingtowomenonline.typepad.com/blog/2008/12/underdressing-for-public-speaking.html

MC’ing events and conferences at the top professional level is a real blast. The fundamental key is to make everyone else look like stars…then you’ll shine along with them.

http://publicspeakingtipsguides.com/speaking/speaking-tools-and-resources/7-tips-for-the-master-of-ceremonies-116

It’s very important that your speech have an intrinsic rhythm or “flow”; otherwise, it may come across to listeners as staccato, dull and/or uninspiring. But how do you ensure that your next presentation has a natural cadence that adds to the clarity and energy of the information being conveyed?

Though some people do have a natural gift for writing and delivering speeches that keep audience members spellbound from beginning to end, it’s absolutely fine if you didn’t receive that talent at birth. The ability to create a “flowing” presentation can be learned, and it’s probably much easier than you think.

To begin, try these top seven suggestions for maximum results during your next public speaking engagement:

http://www.publicspeakingexpert.co.uk/how-make-sure-your-speech-flows.html

Out of all the things I do these days it is SPEAKING that gets me "off" more then anything else.
Gary Vaynerchuk has captured national attention as a businessman and Internet celebrity. Gary’s fame can be attributed to his pioneering, multi-faceted approach to personal branding and business building.

Delivering an effective presentation is difficult. With the Internet, listeners have access to more information that ever before and have higher expectations for content from speakers today. In addition, because most people are saturated with entertainment, audiences want a presentation that is entertaining.

Here is a quick guide to giving an effective and interesting presentation:

Read the guide here ... It's basic but comprehensive and sometimes we need a reminder to pay attention to a particular aspect of our presentations.