Happy CEO

Each situation has its own presentation, especially at international level. When the stakes are high, know how to use the right sentences, the strong words to lead to new opportunities. Often, due to the diversity of your audience, often of non-English mother tongue, it is important to simplify the message.

You can use “ready-to-use” sentences that will image your arguments, give more weight to your communication, clearly highlight your strategy and illuminate your vision.

The art of Rhetoric

1- It is essential to learn to master a simple, uncluttered, concise, precise presentation format, going straight to the point.

All export experts, managers who are experienced in speaking English will tell you: “The impact of a convincing presentation is considerable and certainly the fastest way to sell your ideas, your concepts or your products. »

Remember that your listeners are not in their native language and they are going the extra mile to fully capture the interest of your message.

2- Sit down. Think.

• You need to know exactly what you want to achieve with your pitch.
• Think about the most effective way to get your message across.
• Plan your presentation logically and articulately, idea after idea.
• Get right to the heart of the matter right from the start.
• Use a note of enthusiasm from the start.
• Flatter your interlocutors by telling them how beautiful they are and how much you appreciate them.
• The objective of your presentation must be clear and understood by everyone right away.
• Announce the structure.

A picture. An idea.
An objective. A result.

Include between each module of your presentation a key sentence or quote that has impact, that people will remember. Associate this idea with a strong image.

Here is a series of idiomatic expressions in English used to start a meeting, which will allow you to introduce your presentation;

Perfect your pitch : The most useful phrases for the beginning of meetings

3 – Interaction

• Interactivity with your type of audience is essential. Adapt.
• Engage listeners at the beginning, middle, and end.
• Use “human” language. Banish professional “business” jargon.
• Your speech must be understandable by all.
• Animate your presentation, play, have fun.
• Use humor as much as possible throughout.
• Humor brings a lot of value to the image that people will remember of you.
• The link and a quick relationship with them are the basis of your success.
• Use interactivity and authenticity.
• Your body language is important. So move…
• People will analyze your first 20 moves. Work them

4- The conclusion must be memorable

Above all, work on and correct your presentation, especially its conclusion.
This is the part that people will remember above all, therefore the strongest to prepare. Make sure your value add is approved.
Suggest to your audience to share a bright future… with you.

• Work hard to deliver great presentations.
• Write down all ideas.
• Classify your ideas.
• Set yourself a specific goal.
• Write a first draft.
• Choose the simplest mode.
• Use UNDERSTANDABLE words.
• The details make the difference. You need to be in control of your content.
• Make sure all the infos are needed.
• Be ORIGINAL.
• Adapt it, correct it and test it again.
• Test before final tune-up

The 4×20 rule

Remember the 4×20 rule of presentation success

• First 20 seconds
• First 20 words
• First 20 gestures
• First 20 centimeters (if face to face) or key ideas (if PowerPoint or canva).

Presentation Zen

Garr Reynolds’ work is an incredible source of inspiration and his books are a must read.

Take inspiration from contemporary design to create your presentations.

“More simplicity means communicating more clearly.” Garr Reynolds

From my travels in Japan, I would remember above all the absolute perfectionism of the Japanese to combine simplicity and aesthetics in everything; In cooking, architecture, calligraphy, martial arts, gardening and of course business.

Directly inspired by the principles of the Japanese ZEN philosophy, contemporary design respects certain rules that are easy to apply to its presentations to make them more convincing.

By simplifying the design of your PowerPoint presentations or other documents, you will gain in professional quality and will capture the attention of your audience longer and better.

Two ZEN-inspired concepts that have influenced Japanese design.

Wabi: Veiled beauty is inherent in simplicity and serenity.
Sabi: Refined elegance is the way objects age and beautify over time, arousing a deep sense of respect in the viewer.

The feeling of natural simplicity and simple enjoyment of life generates the desire to renounce the material world for the wonders of nature and contemplation.

Whether in the organization, development and flow of your presentation, the layout of each document must be visually effective and respect a precise balance and general harmony.

Key principles

Approach to apply in the design of your presentations.

• Cultivate minimalism.
• Strip your entire visual of anything non-essential.
• The frame that must please the eye arouses reflection and highlights the content.
• Create an orderly, aesthetic, sensual space where “good humor” reigns…
• Harmonious interaction between the space with simple lines and the highlighted isolated content.
• The gaze instinctively stops on the particular, excluding the general.
• Generally rectilinear sensation opposite but in connection with rounded shapes.
• Bring a sense of space and light as a backdrop to your message.
• Your visual should inspire a feeling of serenity and simplicity.
• Use natural elements to highlight your visual

Wood, stone, plants, trees and flowers exert a calming influence on your audience. Contemporary Zen Design attaches great significance to the relationship with nature. The harmonious and calm flow of information allows the mind to regenerate. We eliminate ostentation and cultivate simplicity.
The austerity which consists in suppressing the superfluous conforms to aesthetic and spiritual pleasure. Nothing is immortal in life. Each slide is unique, temporary, constantly renewed to manifest the transience of all things.
Life can be more intense and peace of mind more easily achieved in a calm environment.

Your presentation by its good mood and its aesthetics should allow your listeners to rest from the stresses of modern professional life and maintain calm and joy.