Forget slides: Tell me a story
Forget slides: Tell me a story
It’s 2011. We’ve got smartphones, hybrids and laptops as thin as “air.” So why are we still doing the same old presentations when pitching our innovations?
Everyone has seen great PowerPoint presentations, but how many of us remember them? Today, it’s no longer about numbers, charts and statistics. Entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers need skills that go beyond the projector to solicit the support and funding they need to bring their ideas and innovations to fruition.
So on April 15, 2011, swissnex Boston hosted renowned author, CEO and leadership coach John Sadowsky for a breakfast lecture on “Storytelling.” In front of 30 students, entrepreneurs and young start-ups, Sadowsky said “people often use slides instead of using their bodies to express their feelings. By doing that, they add an intermediate between them and their audience.”
Presenting, therefore, needs to involve authentic storytelling of experiences or possibilities. In this way, a connection that engages, captivates and, ultimately, persuades the audience.
Following the hour-long lecture, guests discussed their storytelling techniques with Mr. Sadowsky, who emphasized the need for more practice.
Mr. Sadowsky’s latest book Email, Social Marketing and the Art of Storytelling will soon be available.
