Terri Sjodin, presentation skills expert, discusses key insights on impactful communication, top presentation mistakes, virtual connection tips, and balancing creativity and informativeness in a lively podcast chat with Tiffani Bova.
Recognizing and correcting presentation mistakes is crucial for impactful communication.
Establishing connection in virtual presentations requires creativity and attention to audience engagement.
Deep dives
Terri Shodin Discusses Training and Presentation Skills
Terri Shodin, founder of Shodin Communications, shares insights on the efficiency of virtual reality training, expressing enthusiasm for its scalability while also highlighting the irreplaceable value of personal interaction in teaching presentation skills. Additionally, she expresses a bearish view on AI-generated presentations due to personal preference. Shodin humorously supports the concept of flying taxis, relating to her own experience with traditional taxis. The conversation shifts to her latest book, 'Presentation Ready,' where she outlines the elevator speech concept and emphasizes brevity and the ability to engage and pique curiosity in a short time frame.
Impact of Presentation Mistakes on Professional Success
Shodin delves into the significant impact of sales presentation mistakes, emphasizing that even minor missteps can lead to lost opportunities based on research findings. Despite the lack of formal training in presentation skills for a majority of professionals, Shodin stresses the importance of self-awareness and course correction. With over 5,000 participants surveyed across different presentation scenarios, the focus lies on recognizing and rectifying key mistakes such as 'winging it,' lack of closure, and being overly informative to enhance presentation effectiveness.
Adapting to Virtual and Hybrid Presentation Challenges
The discussion extends to the challenges posed by virtual and hybrid presentations, revealing the participants' struggles in managing time effectively and establishing rapport in these settings. Shodin highlights the need for creativity in virtual backgrounds to foster connection, contrasting the forgiving nature of in-person interactions with the strict time constraints and disconnect prevalent in virtual and hybrid presentation formats. The podcast sheds light on the nuances of engaging in virtual and hybrid environments, emphasizing the value of personal touch in communication.
Recommendations for Enhancing Presentation Skills
Shodin offers practical advice for improving presentation skills, advocating self-evaluation through recording practice sessions and utilizing free resources on her website for presentation assessment. She underscores the importance of time management in balancing content delivery and encourages individuals to focus on creating engaging presentations while ensuring alignment with audience preferences. Lastly, she emphasizes the significance of enjoying the presentation process to establish genuine connections and leave a memorable impact on the audience.
Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.
I have the pleasure of welcoming Terri Sjodin to the show. Terri is the Principal and Founder of Sjodin Communications where she specializes in advancing the persuasive presentation skills of professionals. She is the author of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller Small Message, Big Impact: The Elevator Speech Effect and her latest book, Presentation Ready, which was published earlier this year.
THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who wants to improve their presentation skills.
TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE… the way we deliver information matters. It can make or break the decisions people make but frankly it’s a skill that few of us are taught. In this conversation, Terri unpacks critical insights and practical strategies for leaders - but really anyone - to be a more impactful communicator.
Key takeaways:
Top mistakes people self-identify in their presentation skills
The importance of awareness and course-correction
How to establish connection in a virtual setting
Striking the balance between being creative and being informative
WHAT I LOVE MOST… there is no boring material, only boring presentations.