Be Amazing in Your Presentations - Patricia Fripp and Shep Hyken Interview
Shep Hyken:
Memorable messages are now more important than ever, especially in today's virtual world. So, what techniques can lead you to the results that you want? Patricia Fripp is one of the world's foremost speech coaches working with executives from the Fortune 100 and the top professional speakers on how to make more powerful presentations, and Patricia joins us now in the studio to talk about how to get amazing results from your next presentation. Welcome to Be Amazing Or Go Home.
I've got a number of questions here, and I just want to, first of all, say that, yes, you are the speech coach to the stars, both in the corporate world as well as the professional speaking world. Hall of fame speakers, speakers that have won awards have come to you to get their coaching, so we truly... including myself, by the way. I'm a proud client. I hope I've done you good service in all of this, but what... I guess let's start with this. Why are good presentation skills so important to business?
Patricia Fripp:Leaders need to inspire action and commitment in their associates, their partners, their customers, and shareholders. That means they need to use powerful, reassuring words. I grew up listening to stories from my parents, tell me how Winston Churchill would get on the radio, and with the power of his words, people would fight in the street and feel inspired in the worst of times. He didn't have a PowerPoint. He used his words.
Powerful words from well-intentioned leaders can change the whole feel of a company.
Shep Hyken:So if you had a secret to share with somebody giving a presentation, any type of a speech, maybe it's an executive, what would that be?
Patricia Fripp:
Focus on who is the audience. For example, if an executive said, "Our new strategy will help the shareholder value," that's great if you're talking to the board of directors or shareholders. Unless your associates are shareholders, that isn't the right message. You need to adapt the message in that case to say, "With our new strategy, we'll increase sales. That means more job security." Same message to different audiences have to focus on who is the audience and why would they care.
Shep Hyken:So the key is to know the audience, and I think perhaps the best way to go about that is to ask, do the research. How do you go about that?
Patricia Fripp:
It's not that complicated. If you are speaking at a conference and there were different disciplines and industries, at least some of your talking points has to allude to the different industries. If it is an executive, then... with my executive clients, I always make sure, who are some of the unsung, everyday heroes that you are going to include in your presentation?
Shep Hyken:Let's talk about stories. Something you're very famous for, telling stories, creating stories, helping speakers write their stories. Is there any tips you can share with us about how to be a better storyteller in business?
Patricia Fripp: Yes. With executives, I'm always trying to find the moments in their earlier lives that can tie to their messages. For example, with one executive, he was talking about the importance of strategy, and I said, "Bernard, when did you realize the importance of strategy?" He said, "I was a 14-year-old ball boy before the French Open, and people came in to see the match."
Yes, and they didn't realize that they were going to have to watch a match of the ball boys first. He said, "I was playing against my best friend. We were equally matched in talent and experience. However, their ball boy was his friend's sister who wanted her brother to win. So she was trying to sabotage me. She threw the balls."
Shep Hyken: Now, that's good strategy.
Patricia Fripp: Yeah. Yes. Bernard said, "I was playing against equally matched talent, and I was at a disadvantage. That is when I realized the importance of strategy." All executives say, and I know they say to you, "Do people really want to hear these simple stories?" Yes, because we will fight in the street for the person. You respect the position.
We like to hear what the characters say. So you deliver the dialogue rather than report on the dialogue. So, for example, the sales manager can say, "I was talking to Shep, and he said, 'John, I couldn't be more pleased with your customer service because,'" rather than, "I was talking to Shep, and he was happy with our service." Deliver the dialogue.
Nothing will position you ahead of the crowd as much as being a powerful, persuasive presenter.
Fripp VT as in Fripp Virtual Training. http:/frippvt.com
FrippVT.com can help you become a great speaker easily, conveniently & quickly. Sales presentation skills expert Patricia Fripp shares her techniques on how you can drive more sales by perfecting your sales conversations and presentations.
Follow public speaking expert Patricia Fripp:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PatriciaFripp/
http://www.frippVT.com
Patricia Fripp Sales Presentation Skills Expert http://www.frippVT.com