The Presentation Fix

5: Getting Your Point Across With PowerPoint

PowerPoint gets a bad rap. That’s unsurprising given how poorly this presentation tool has been used and abused by executives in South Africa, and indeed all around the world. I can assure you that I’ve experienced my fair share of “death by PowerPoint” moments throughout my 30-year career as an executive presentation coach. That said, I’ve seen PowerPoint applied well often enough to know that when harnessed sensibly, it can be used to great effect. Listen in to the latest instalment of The Presentation Fix as Andile Masuku and I chat about how best to get your point across using PowerPoint. We share useful tips on how you can use PowerPoint to enhance your message rather than detract from it, and let you in on some of the more common mistakes executives make when trying to use what has to be one of the most ubiquitous presentation software applications on the planet. Music: The Lounge - Bensound.com

4: The Perfect Pitch feat. Dave Duarte

With only a few weeks to go before the Easter break, and with budget close being imminent for many companies, we thought we might explore the science of the perfect pitch. Whether you’re a sales exec looking to win a client over, a board member needing to persuade your fellow directors to adopt a new plan, or even a general manager tasked with convincing subordinates of the merits of a new workflow managment system, you’ll do well to polish up on your pitching skills. Joining Beth-Ann Galvin and Andile Masuku on the latest instalment of The Presentation Fix is Dave Duarte. Thanks to Dave’s solid personal brand and extensive network he rarely has to pitch for business these days-- nonetheless he certainly knows a little more than a thing or two about what it takes to craft and deliver the perfect pitch. Many thanks to Dave for taking a little time out of a busy schedule that includes sitting on several boards including that of the Mail & Guardian and Endeavor’s Venture Corps, collaborating with the Ogilvy Digital Marketing Academy (which he founded), and running a successful consulting business called TreeShake. Be sure to listen right through for practical pro-tips from Beth-Ann Galvin that are sure to help you make the most of what’s left of pitch season. Music: The Lounge - Bensound.com

3: The Power of Storytelling feat. Musa Kalenga

Stories are powerful, and storytelling is easily one of the most important business skills one can acquire. Narratives have been told through out the ages in every culture as a means of entertaining, educating and transferring values. On the latest episode of The Presentation Fix, Beth-Ann Galvin and Andile Masuku have drawn inspiration from a fairly well-known TED Talk by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, entitled The Danger of a Single Story. They unpack some key elements demonstrated in Chimamanda’s talk, and chat about how stories can be used to communicate complex ideas and illicit the buy-in of an audience. The show also features the insights of Musa Kalenga— who is currently Africa Client Partner at Facebook, as well as Head of Brand for the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) South Africa. Over the last twelve years or so, Musa’s made quite name for himself through crafting messaging for leading multi-national firms and even governments. His current role at Facebook sees him apply himself to promoting the efforts of arguably the most prolific story-telling medium of the modern age. Be sure to listen right through because in the Your Presentation Fix segment Beth shares practical advice you can use to immediately start improving your storytelling game. Music: The Lounge - Bensound.com

2: Do You Have The X Factor? Here's How To Get It

Beth-Ann Galvin and Andile Masuku have produced an episode of The Presentation Fix that will inspire you to think about what kind of personal “maintenance” you might engage in over the holidays so that 2016 finds you poised to kill it. Thus, in this episode they discuss the “Power of Personal Presence”— also known as the the “X Factor”, and try to determine whether it’s something one is born with, or an quality one can acquire. The challenge is that many of the attributes of this so-called ‘presence’ are non-tangible, and difficult to describe. Beth is convinced that even the most naturally gifted personalities often harness a cultivated ability or skill set they might not even realise they possess, which they use to project a confident and deeply affecting image. She really does believe that is something anyone willing to put in the time and effort can acquire and master over time. Listen in to hear Beth share a shocking let-down she encountered on YouTube, and to hear she and Andile reference one of South Africa’s finest exports— a young man who is the epitome of how to harness the power of presence. (Hint: He’s incredibly funny.) Most importantly, Beth will share three useful tips that, if followed, are sure to help you develop and hone your own personal presence. Music: The Lounge - Bensound.com

1: The Importance Of A Winning Mindset feat. Deshun Deysel

There’s nothing more critical to becoming an effective speaker than having a winning mindset. That’s why we’ve chosen to discuss that very topic in the first episode of The Presentation Fix podcast. This is the first of many podcasts (which we will be publishing once a month) in which my co-host Andile Masuku and I will be teaming up to empower you with the knowledge and skills to make an impact every time you speak or present in public. I intend to tap my on-going experience as an executive presentation coach, trainer and speaker to offer you practical guidance on how to become the best speaker possible— distilling everything I’ve learnt during the last 30 years of working in this industry. You can also expect to learn a lot from Andile. He is a respected broadcaster and entrepreneur with nearly 15 years of experience writing, producing and presenting for television, radio, and live events, as well as working in new media— blog, social, online video and podcasting. He no doubt knows a thing or two about communicating effectively. That said, Andile and I are both active professionals who are keen on upping our game. And so, the learning never stops. We look forward to sharing notes with some of South Africa’s leading communicators who we’ll invite to join us on the show from time to time to deliver insights. Joining us to get the show on the road is master climber, speaker and businesswoman, Deshun Deysel— who will share, among other things, how she’s channeled her love of climbing very tall mountains into a thriving business and speaking career. Music: The Lounge - Bensound.com