In this video about starting a presentation, I interview Gavin McMahon, co-founder of fassforward consulting group and blogger on the topics of PowerPoint, presenting, communication and message discipline at http://makeapowerfulpoint.com. Gavin shares some excellent tips, ideas, and insight on what presentations really are and how to make sure you start a presentation on the right foot. I learned a lot and I’m sure you will, too.
Powerful Takeaways

One of the most powerful takeaways was how Gavin talked about when you only consider what you want to say and not what the audience wants to hear, you automagically create a monologue. Yep, it’s magic and it’s automatic… Instant monologue in a poof of PowerPoint pixels. But that’s exactly what happens to most presenters.

Most presenters are so concerned with what they want to say, that they completely forget that it’s the audience that will sit and listen. And if what you’re saying doesn’t matter to them, then they’re gone, both emotionally and mentally. That means they’ve stopped paying attention and stopped caring. Don’t let it happen to you!

A Client’s Tale

In fact, it did happen to a client. He gave a presentation to over 100 officials from around the world, assuming that what he wanted to say was what the audience wanted to hear. After talking to him about it, the light came on… But it was too late. He had already given the presentation. Live and learn. Anyway…

There are a couple other gems in the interview. I don’t want to ruin the moment by putting them all down here. Watch the video and find out for yourself.

Thanks to Gavin for taking the time to talk to me.

You can find Gavin at:

• http://www.fassforward.com
• http://makeapowerfulpoint.com
• https://twitter.com/powerfulpoint

Technical stuff:

• Video recorded via Skype
• Edited in FCPX

Additional footage from the Internet Archive:

• http://archive.org/details/basic_typing_1
• http://archive.org/details/safety_in_offices
• http://archive.org/details/BrightYo1958