Why is my message important?
This week Garr Reynolds wrote about the importance of asking the question “Why?” and it got me thinking.
“Why is my message important?” This question over looked far too often.
What usually happens is that our boss comes along to our desk, and tells us (not asks!) to prepare a presentation for a sales meeting he or she has in a few days time (usually less than 2 days!) You, as a loyal company person obey the command.
What you do not do is ask the boss “why?” You just fill the slides with too much information and with over complex charts and graphs. You think about your boss and not the audience.
Please do not do this!
Firstly, a presentation prepared by someone else, without any input from the presenter is going to fail. It will fail because the presenter will read the slides. They will be no coherent message and there will be a lack of relationship between the visuals and the words the presenter speaks.
When you prepare your next presentation, the first question has to be “Why is my message important?” not “What will impress my boss?” or “How can I impress my boss?” Write the word “Why?” in big letters in the middle of the preparation sheet you are using. Then for every slide that you make, check that the question “why is this important?” is answered.
Please do this for the sake of the audience. They deserve to be treated with more respect than your boss. And remember, if your audience is impressed, they will tell your boss and then your boss will be really impressed with you!
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