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The Short Road to Great Presentations:
How to Reach Any Audience Through Focused Preparation,
Inspired Delivery, and Smart Use of Technology

Peter and Cheryl Reimold

John Wiley & Sons/IEEE Press, 2003, 342 pages.

 

A complete, practical, easy-to-read guide to presentation skills. The only book you need to improve
your presentations!

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REVIEWS OF THIS PRACTICAL GUIDE TO PRESENTATIONS:

A User review:

"This is a COMPLETE guide to effective public speaking. From preparation to final delivery, from overcoming stage fright to managing Power Point, this wonderfully engaging and easy-to-read book takes you through every aspect of giving a presentation -- and makes it easy! By the time I had finished it, I felt able to give just about any presentation to any size or type of group. I went out and did it, using the Reimolds' methods, and it worked. I got my message across, and I think I did it persuasively. Anyone who has to give a presentation must take 'The Short Road' to success."
(Amazon.com, August 9, 2003)

Editorial Reviews:

"...an excellent resource for presenters. The layout provides quick access to material and each lesson is supported by many examples and exercises." (Professional Safety, August 2005)


"This guide demystifies the art of public speaking as it shows you how to master the critical principles to make this skill an invaluable asset of your life and career." (Careers & the Disabled, August 2004)


"The key to developing sound presentation skills need not remain hidden. This volume attempts to demystify the art of public speaking. Drawing on two decades of experience...authors Peter and Cheryl Reimold focus on two principles: (1) to find a message that is meaningful and accessible to one's audience, and (2) to connect strongly with the audience through the presentation." (Mechanical Engineering, April 2004)


"...chapters are easy to read and the tips that are presented throughout are really useful...one of the top tow or three books I have seen on effective communications...a useful place to start if someone wants guidance on how to speak and give presentations in public..." (Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 20, No. 12, December 2003)

 "Quite a collection of information and guidelines to make those presentations 'great'! This volume will be one that all professionals and others...will be referring to continually as they develop the organization, style, format, and visuals for their talks..." (Journal of Veterinary and Human Toxicology, Vol. 45, No. 5, October 2003)

"The Short Road to Great Presentations is a step-by-step guide for preparing effective presentations. The authors clearly prepared the book using the same principles they recommend that readers use to prepare presentations. They focus on the audience, address prior audience knowledge and answer common questions…. "
(Dianne Tobias, Professional Safety, August 2005.)

MORE REVIEWS:

Effective presentation skills are essential for personal and career success. Many have said that impressions are made during the first minute of an interaction, and those impressions are difficult to change. By following guidelines that Cheryl and Peter Reimold have developed during their 20 years of experience helping engineers, scientists and business people develop communication skills, you can master the presentation skills that will be an invaluable asset to your life and career. Good Preparation is Key The seven chapters comprising Part 1 of the book deal with the importance of preparation. Topics include analyzing and understanding the audience; a simple and effective universal presentation template; developing an effective introduction using the RAMP formula; creating an understandable message that forms the body of the presentation; the importance of and how to summarize your presentation; preparing effective visuals and preparing your speaking notes and audience handouts. Be Persuasive The chapters comprising Part 2 focus on persuasive delivery - how do you develop an uninterrupted connection with your audience? Topics include how to connect with your audience through attitude, body talk, voice, language, and eye contact; and how to use speaking notes and visuals effectively. A critically important skill is being able to handle audience questions and deal assertively and calmly with unexpected surprises that often occur. Part 2 concludes with tips and strategies on how to moderate a conference session through preparation, meeting with the speakers, keeping the session lively but under control and stimulating discussion through good questions. Use Technology Effectively Technology is becoming an increasingly important part of presentations. Part 3 provides readers with valuable tips on incorporating visual and audio technology effectively into presentations. In addition, with the increasing cost and inconvenience of travel, companies are using web presentations and virtual meetings more frequently; the authors provide information on how to conduct effective virtual meetings. In addition, the book's five appendices provide examples, worksheets and checklists to help you create your presentation. This 342-page book serves as a one-stop resource that will eliminate the stress and anxiety associated with preparing and delivering presentations. Cheryl and Peter Reimold provide the "real story" and practical advice that will benefit you whether you are a novice or an experienced presenter. (Terrance Malkinson, IEEE-USA Today's Engineer, November 2003.)

ANOTHER EDITORIAL REVIEW:

Audience members may not remember the presentation, but they're likely to recall the sideshow: Every time the speaker leaned over the projector to change transparencies, his tie dangled in the light, casting its waggling shadow over the screen. [illustration] That tie strangled his presentation. While communications consultants Peter Reimold and Cheryl Reimold offer it as an example of what not to do, they offer far more examples of how to do presentations right in The Short Road to Great Presentations. Their book is not a short cut, they warn, but a detailed, step-by-step approach to giving informative, relaxed presentations--in person or over the Internet, with planning or on the fly. With exercises and examples, the book shows how to: Create a presentation that strips away unnecessary details, employs powerful examples and ends with an effective summary before you've outstayed your welcome. Prepare effective visuals, using everything from bar charts to pie charts to video clips appropriately. Prepare and use notes and handouts and prepare for potential troubles such as equipment failures. Deliver a talk persuasively, eliminating problems such as the dangling necktie and getting over stage fright by focusing on individuals and on the message. Use body language effectively, crossing the invisible "line of terror" that runs in front of the projector and keeps speakers lurking in the shadows when they should be gesturing and making a physical connection with the audience. Use the voice clearly and expressively by practicing the many speaking exercises provided and getting rid of distracting speech habits such as saying "um" and "you know." Handle questions, including how to set rules for question-and-answer sessions, how to use body language while listening to questions and how to rephrase questions. Use presentation technologies, including software, effectively. Moderate a conference session, opening and closing strongly and keeping control in between. (HR Magazine, November 2003.)

 

From the Back Cover

A practical, readable guide to delivering superior presentations Speakers bear the responsibility for communicating effectively with their audience: presenting a clear message, supporting it with well-structured explanations and examples, and delivering it with ease, grace, and good visuals. Unfortunately, this rarely happens, as anyone who has endured a substandard presentation knows only too well. The key for developing sound presentation skills need not, however, remain hidden. The Short Road to Great Presentations demystifies the art of public speaking as it shows you how to master the critical principles to make this skill an invaluable asset of your life and career. Drawing on twenty years of experience in helping engineers, scientists, and business people develop powerful communication skills, PERC Communications founders Peter and Cheryl Reimold present an easy-to-follow program for crafting winning presentations. They focus on two principles: 1) find a message that is clearly meaningful and accessible to your audience, and 2) connect strongly with your audience throughout your presentation. In applying these principles to a series of step-by-step preparations and on-stage actions, the authors help speakers focus on their most vital content, strengthen their structure and delivery, and -- perhaps most important -- eliminate stress and aggravation. Chapter topics in this reader-friendly guide include: Structuring your message for maximum effect · Preparing effective visuals · Understanding and using body language and eye contact · Handling tough questions and surprises · Making smart use of slide shows and presentation software · Conducting Web presentations and Web meetings Timeless speaking tips are combined with up-to-date primers on the latest technology throughout. The Short Road to Great Presentations is a one-stop resource for learning and practicing superior professional communication. About the Authors Previous books on communication and leadership skills by PETER REIMOLD, PhD, and CHERYL REIMOLD, MA, include The Language of Business, Volumes I and II; How to Write What People Like to Read; How to Write a Million-Dollar Memo; and Being a Boss. The Reimolds are cofounders of PERC Communications, an international consulting and training firm. They are authors of more than 200 articles, a syndicated column on communication, and the home-study course Effective Writing. An Instructor Support FTP site is available from the Wiley editorial department:ftp://ftp.ieee.org/uploads/press/reimold

 

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