Internal Communications: Presentations July 25, 2011, by Peter Mirus in Internal Communications
Most companies use presentations in some way. If you have a two-person landscaping business, you need to be able to make design concept presentation to the customer. If you are large a technology firm, you might need to be able to present research findings to an executive committee.
An acquaintance (and former client), Dr. Andrew Abela, has developed the Extreme Presentation™ method to designing presentations. It “integrates the five essential elements of an effective presentation: logic, rhetoric, graphics, politics, and metrics”. The related book is recommended reading.
However, some people have the tools to follow this blueprint, and others do not. Communications experts are prepared to understand and execute the concepts expressed by Dr. Abela. They are also prepared to provide communications training to staff, which helps to improve presentation preparation.
Why does this matter? What difference do effective presentations make to the corporate culture?
Successful organizations are by no means built through perpetual accord between its leaders (see Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't
However, successful organizations are built through disciplined thinking. Because of the five essential elements that it takes into consideration (again: logic, rhetoric, graphics, politics, and metrics), a well-developed presentation both requires and exhibits disciplined thinking.
Every individual who presents in this manner helps to build a disciplined corporate culture—one of the hallmarks of a great company.
In addition, a greater level of communications/marketing awareness across the company staff leads to superior growth and profitability. A recent study by the Hinge Research Institute shows that the most successful professional service firms make marketing training a priority. This training would logically include how to make effective presentations both within the company and to its customers.