Beyond Bullet Points, 3rd Edition

Book description

Unlock the amazing story buried in your presentation—and forget boring, bullet-point-riddled slides forever! Guided by communications expert Cliff Atkinson, you’ll walk you through an innovative, three-step methodology for increasing the impact of your presentation. Discover how to combine classic storytelling techniques with the power of visual media to create a rich, engaging experience with your audience. Fully updated for PowerPoint 2010, and featuring compelling presentation examples from classroom to boardroom, this book will help transform your presentations—and your business impact!

Table of contents

  1. Acknowledgments
  2. Dedication
  3. Introduction
    1. How this Book Is Organized
    2. Where to Get the Companion Content
    3. How to Access Your Online Edition Hosted by Safari
      1. How to Download the Online Edition to Your Computer
    4. How to Get Support & Provide Feedback
      1. Errata & Book Support
      2. We Want to Hear from You
      3. Stay in Touch
  4. 1. The Perfect PowerPoint Storm
    1. Stepping onto the Media Stage
    2. A Singular Story
    3. The Heart of the Problem
    4. Distilling the Essence
    5. Mixing Mediums
    6. Fade to Gray
    7. Stark Choices
    8. Winds of Change
    9. The Power of BBP in Your Hands
  5. 2. Realigning Our PowerPoint Approach with the Research
    1. Three Bedrock Tools of PowerPoint
    2. Realignment 1: Use Slide Sorter View to Manage the Volume of Information in Your Presentation
      1. In Search of “Research Reality”
      2. Research Reality 1: You Have to Respect the Limits of Working Memory
      3. BBP Respects the Limits of Working Memory
      4. The Old Way Ignores the Limits of Working Memory
    3. Realignment 2: Use Notes Page View to Synchronize What You Show and What You Say
      1. Research Reality 2: You Have to Address the Two Channels
      2. BBP Addresses the Two Channels
      3. The Old Way Addresses Only One Channel
    4. Realignment 3: Use Normal View to Guide Attention on the Screen
      1. Research Reality 3: You Have to Guide Attention
      2. BBP Guides Attention
      3. The Old Way Does Not Guide Attention
    5. A Well-Trained Tool
  6. 3. Building a Foundation with the BBP Story Template
    1. What Does the Road Ahead Look Like?
    2. Sewing Up Understanding with BBP
      1. The Heart and Brain of BBP: The Story Template
      2. The Built-in Story Structure
      3. Theory Becomes Practical
    3. Step 1: Choose a Story Thread and a Pattern to Follow
    4. Step 2: Pull Through What’s Most Important First
    5. Step 3: Guide the Visual and Verbal Strands with Your Storyboard
      1. Sketching the First Five Slides
      2. Sketching the Rest of the Slides
      3. Applying Custom Layouts
      4. Adding Graphics to the First Five Slides
      5. Adding Graphics to the Rest of the Slides
      6. Stepping into the Screen
      7. Presenting in Multiple Views
      8. Presenting with a Tablet PC
      9. Presenting Online
      10. Documenting the Experience
    6. Getting Started with the BBP Story Template
    7. Writing Headlines Using Three Ground Rules
      1. Rule 1: Write Concise, Complete Sentences with a Subject and a Verb in Active Voice
      2. Rule 2: Be Clear, Direct, Specific, and Conversational
      3. Rule 3: Link Your Ideas Across Cells
  7. 4. Planning Your First Five Slides
    1. What Will You Show, Say, and Do in the First Five Slides?
    2. Starting with the Title and Byline
    3. Choosing a Story Thread
      1. Orienting the Audience with the Setting Headline
      2. Interesting the Audience with the Role Headline
      3. Engaging the Audience with the “Point A” Headline
      4. Motivating the Audience with the “Point B” Headline
      5. Creating Dramatic Tension Between the Point A and Point B Headlines
      6. Focusing the Audience with the “Call to Action” Headline
    4. Choosing a Pattern to Follow
    5. Closing the Curtain on Act I
      1. Reviewing the Five Headlines
      2. Appealing to Your Audience’s Emotions
      3. Focusing Your Ideas
    6. 10 Tips for Enhancing Act I
      1. Tip 1: Inspiration from the Screenwriters
      2. Tip 2: Varying your Story
      3. Tip 3: Your Act I Screen Test
      4. Tip 4: Multiple Stories, Multiple Templates
      5. Tip 5: Visualize Your Audience
      6. Tip 6: What Problem Is Your Audience Facing?
      7. Tip 7: Strategic Collage
      8. Tip 8: The Story of Advertising
      9. Tip 9: Persuasive Education
      10. Tip 10: Get the Writing Right
  8. 5. Planning the Rest of Your Slides
    1. And Now Presenting…Act II
      1. A Special Type of Outline
      2. Built-in Scalability
    2. Threading the Eye of the Needle Using a Hierarchy
    3. Prioritizing Your Slides
      1. Justifying the Call to Action Headline with the Key Point Headlines
      2. Improving Your Key Points
      3. Clarifying Each Key Point Headline with Its Explanation Headlines
      4. Backing Up Each Explanation Headline with Its Detail Headlines
      5. Fleshing Out the Rest of Act II
    4. Pulling Through What’s Most Important First
    5. Lowering the Curtain on Your Story Template
    6. 10 Tips for Enhancing Your Story Template
      1. Tip 1: The Power of Three
      2. Tip 2: Make Room for Four
      3. Tip 3: Tailor Your Act II Column Headings to Your Profession
      4. Tip 4: Story Templates for Teams
      5. Tip 5: The Story Nugget
      6. Tip 6: BBP Beyond PowerPoint
      7. Tip 7: Build an Outline in a Brainstorm
      8. Tip 8: Tap Your Team’s Talents
      9. Tip 9: Take the Express Elevator
      10. Tip 10: The Hierarchy in Your Mind
  9. 6. Setting Up Your Storyboard and Narration
    1. What Will You Show, Say, and Do During Every Slide?
    2. Preparing the Storyboard
      1. Reformatting Your Story Template Manually
      2. Using the BBP Storyboard Formatter
      3. Cuing Working Memory with Preliminary Slide Backgrounds
      4. Practicing Scaling to Time
      5. Editing Your Headlines If Needed
      6. Reviewing the Storyboard
    3. Planning for the Verbal Channel by Writing Down What You’ll Say
    4. Planning for the Visual Channel by Sketching Your Storyboard
    5. Storyboarding Using Three Ground Rules
      1. Rule 1: Be Visually Concise, Clear, Direct, and Specific
      2. Rule 2: In Act II, Sketch Consistency Within Columns and Variety Across Columns
      3. Rule 3: Sketch Outside the Screen Too
    6. 10 Tips for Enhancing Your Storyboard
      1. Tip 1: Set Up the Slide Master Manually
      2. Tip 2: Set Up the Notes Master Manually
      3. Tip 3: Install the Storyboard Formatter on Your Local Computer
      4. Tip 4: Edit the Headlines
      5. Tip 5: Apply Slide Backgrounds Manually
      6. Tip 6: Set Up Custom Layouts and Themes Manually
      7. Tip 7: The BBP Storyboard Sketchpad
      8. Tip 8: Print Full-Page Storyboards
      9. Tip 9: Create Nested Storyboards
      10. Tip 10: Rehearse with Only Your Headlines
  10. 7. Sketching Your Storyboard
    1. What Do I Sketch on Each Slide?
    2. Sketching the Act I Slides
      1. Sketching the Title Slide
      2. Adding and Sketching a Speaker Introduction Slide
      3. Sketching the Setting Slide
        1. Picture a Strong Start
        2. Start with an Anecdote
        3. Start with a Chart
        4. Start with a Simple Line
        5. Start with a Video
      4. Sketching the Role Slide
        1. Create a Simple Visual Prompt with a Photo
        2. Hide the Headlines
        3. Tap into the Power of Paper
      5. Sketching the Point A and Point B Slides
        1. Use an “Emotional” Chart
        2. Double Your Impact by Splitting the Screen
        3. Interact at Points A and B
        4. Take a Poll
        5. Introduce the Motif
        6. Unlock Information with a Visual Prompt
        7. Link the Act I Slides with a Single Chart or Photograph
    3. Sketching the Call to Action and Key Point Slides
      1. Tripling Your Impact with Three Panels
      2. Adding It Up with Icons
      3. Propping It Up
      4. Using Video, Sound, or Motion Graphics (Carefully)
      5. Blacking Out the Screen
      6. Raising Interest with Your Layouts
      7. Keeping the Motif Flowing
      8. Pausing at the End of Each Key Point Section
      9. Presenting with More than One Speaker
    4. Sketching an Optional Navigation Bar
    5. Sketching the Explanation Slides
      1. Sketching a Visual Organizer
      2. Sketching Headline-Only Explanation Slides
      3. Using a Screen Capture
    6. Sketching the Detail Slides
      1. Explaining Ideas by Building a Diagram
      2. Building a Chart Across a Series of Slides
      3. Completing the Explanation Slides
      4. Switching to Other Media
      5. Adapting Your Sketches to Your Profession
    7. Sketching Your Story Template
    8. Ready, Set, Sketch!
  11. 8. Adding Graphics to Your Slides
    1. Which Graphics Do I Add to Each Slide?
    2. Defining Your Design Constraints
    3. Adding Graphics Using Three Ground Rules
      1. Rule 1: See It in Seconds
      2. Rule 2: Align the Aesthetics with the Audience
      3. Rule 3: Defend Your Foundation!
    4. Starting the Production Flow
      1. Delegating the Graphics Tasks
      2. Getting the Graphics You Already Have
      3. Getting Graphics at Stock Photography Web Sites
      4. Creating the Graphics You Can
    5. Applying Final Slide Layouts to Your Storyboard
      1. Applying, Reviewing, and Refining the Layouts
    6. Adding Graphics to the Call To Action and Key Point Slides
    7. Preparing Slides That Don’t Require Graphics
    8. Adding Graphics to the Act I Slides
    9. Adding Graphics to the Explanation Slides
    10. Adding Graphics to the Detail Slides
    11. Creating the Act III Slides
    12. Fine-Tuning and Finishing Up
      1. Adding Graphics to the Title and Closing Credits Slides
      2. Reviewing and Adding Graphics to the Notes Pages
    13. Reviewing and Finalizing the Storyboard
    14. 10 Tips for Enhancing Your Storyboard
      1. Tip 1: Clip Your Ideas
      2. Tip 2: The Photo Basics—Size, Crop, and Compress
      3. Tip 3: Try Three Treatments
      4. Tip 4: Design for Your Designer
      5. Tip 5: Build a BBP Layout Library
      6. Tip 6: Build a BBP Charts Library
      7. Tip 7: Consider Color
      8. Tip 8: Call Out Additional Information
      9. Tip 9: Sketch It All, Live!
      10. Tip 10: Develop a Single Illustration, Slide by Slide
  12. 9. Delivering Your BBP Presentation
    1. Delivering Your Presentation Using Three Ground Rules
      1. Ground Rule 1: Step into the Screen
      2. Ground Rule 2: Remove the Distractions
      3. Ground Rule 3: Manage the Flow
    2. Removing Distractions
      1. Preparing the Environment
      2. Checking the Technology
      3. Planning for Problems
      4. Rehearsing Away Distractions
      5. Using Notes
    3. Prompting a Dialog
      1. Being Authentic
      2. Working Confidently with Your Slides
      3. Handling Q & A
    4. Improvising Within Constraints
      1. Keeping Control of Your Story
      2. Preparing for Different Contexts
      3. Handing Out Handouts
    5. Presenting Without Being Present
      1. Sending Your Notes Pages (Not Your Slides)
      2. Producing an Online Presentation
    6. And Now, Presenting…
    7. 10 Tips for Enhancing Your Delivery
      1. Tip 1: The Living Brand
      2. Tip 2: Toastmasters
      3. Tip 3: Stretch Yourself
      4. Tip 4: Innovative Handouts
      5. Tip 5: Got Gobo?
      6. Tip 6: Visual Mnemonics
      7. Tip 7: Make the Conversation High Voltage
      8. Tip 8: Magnify Intimacy
      9. Tip 9: Flip Through Flip Charts
      10. Tip 10: Predesign Your Media Tools
  13. 10. Reviewing a Range of BBP Examples
    1. What Other Examples Can I See?
    2. Introducing a Case with The Trial
      1. Act I: The Classical Storytelling Foundation
      2. A Photographic Setting Slide
      3. Reviewing the Act I Slides for The Trial
      4. Reviewing the Call to Action and Key Point Slides for The Trial
    3. Keeping on Track with The Plan
      1. Writing Act I of the Story Template
      2. Researching and Adding Available Graphics for The Plan
      3. Reviewing the Act I Slides for The Plan
      4. Reviewing the Call to Action and Key Point Slides for The Plan
      5. Delivering The Plan Remotely
    4. Presenting Results with The Analysis
      1. Researching and Adding Available Graphics for The Analysis
      2. Reviewing the Act I Slides for The Analysis
      3. Reviewing the Call to Action and Key Point Slides for The Analysis
    5. Making Information Meaningful with The Report
      1. Researching and Adding Available Graphics for The Report
      2. Reviewing the Act I Slides for The Report
      3. Reviewing the Call to Action and Key Point Slides for The Report
    6. Engaging Students with The Class
      1. Researching and Adding Available Graphics for The Class
      2. Reviewing the Act I Slides for The Class
      3. Reviewing the Call to Action and Key Point Slides for The Class
    7. Putting Your Clients at the Center in The Pitch
      1. Researching and Adding Available Graphics for The Pitch
      2. Reviewing the Act I Slides for The Pitch
      3. Reviewing the Call to Action and Key Point Slides for The Pitch
    8. Handling Objections to BBP
  14. A. BBP Ground Rules and Checklists
    1. The BBP Ground Rules
      1. Three Ground Rules for Writing Headlines
      2. Three Ground Rules for Storyboarding
      3. Three Ground Rules for Adding Graphics
      4. Three Ground Rules for Delivering Your Presentation
    2. The BBP Checklists
      1. Checklist: Planning Your First Five Slides
      2. Checklist: Planning the Rest of Your Slides
      3. Checklist: Preparing the Storyboard
      4. Checklist: Sketching the Storyboard
      5. Checklist: Adding Graphics to the Storyboard
      6. Checklist: Delivering Your Presentation
  15. B. Presenting BBP with Two Views
    1. Using Slide Show View and Tools
    2. Using Presenter View and Tools
      1. Delivering a Presentation Using Presenter View
  16. C. Starting Your Point A and B Headlines
  17. D. Starting Your Call to Action Headlines
  18. E. Creating Custom BBP Layouts
    1. Creating the Key Point Slide Layout Manually
    2. Creating the Explanation Slide Layout Manually
    3. Creating the Detail Slide Layout Manually
    4. Adding an Optional Navigation Bar Manually
    5. Adding Automated Animation
    6. Adjusting the Notes Master Layout
  19. Index
  20. About the Author
  21. Copyright

Product information

  • Title: Beyond Bullet Points, 3rd Edition
  • Author(s): Cliff Atkinson
  • Release date: April 2011
  • Publisher(s): Microsoft Press
  • ISBN: 9780735660052