Claudio Perrone

Outstanding

PresentationsStorytelling

techniques for

crafting

How relevant are presentations to

your career?

In late 2007, I was leading a happy life

One day, my phone rang…

I was offered to speak at a

BIG conference

On the one hand,it was a fantastic opportunity

On the other hand, public speakingscared me to death

Year: 1997Location: C.E.R.N.

I trained 15 scientists for a week

They skinned me alive

I’ll never forget that experience…

There was no way I was going face another possible humiliation

Besides, I could brain-damage people with PowerPoint

What would you do?

1Move BeyondBullet Points

In Feb 2008, I joined the revolution

--- Leonardo Da Vinci

Simplicity is the ultimatesophistication“

Despite my efforts, my firstdry-run was a disaster

I had strong images, but lack of structure confused the audience

At first, I created a “logical” outline

Main Point: Agility + Communication + Creativity lead to success 1. Supporting detail: Agility 2. Supporting detail: Communication 3. Supporting detail: Creativity Summary: Agility + Communication + Creativity lead to success

Then, I discovered BBP!

Let’s “script” the first 5 slides

Let’s see how they “play”

Action!

The downturn threatens

the future of many individuals and

organizations

You are an entrepreneur, meeting an investor

for the first time

Investors can be so

HARD to persuade

You’d love them to invest in your great idea

Move beyond bullet pointsUnleash the Power of Story

Tame your story to persuade

I suggest...

…And Cut. Well done! (you’ll add the cool pictures another time)

What if Spielberg showed up?

But wait…

Dude, you are telegraphing.

Your “story” has no drama.

How about this?telegraphing

vs.dramatic irony

vs.dramatic tension

Unleash the Power of Story

2

Enter a new world

People make choices based on emotions

(and use data to justify them)

Why Story?

What’s a good story idea?

Someonewants something badlyand goes after it against great odds

[character]

[desire]

[obstacles]

Story revolves around conflict

AntagonistNatureSocietySelf

Protagonist vs.

Story has good structure

Outer journey

Often, there is a character inner journey

WA=CW: Weakness (psychological and moral)A: Action (and struggle to accomplish it)C: Changed Person

Let’s see the “highlights” of a past presentation

Action!

Most IT projects failWill yours?

Once upon a time I was a successful software developer…

My technical skills made me feel invincible

Until one day…

…I entered a world of deception

It was Hell from day 1

What would you do?

I choked

…but then, I decided to fight back

This is what I tried:

Agility

Effective Communication

DeliberateCreativity1

23

Agility1

…but the project was still at risk

Effective Communication

2

Deliberate Creativity

3

So, what happened to the project?

Amazingly, it succeeded

Lessons learned...

“We moved from the Flintstones era to the future.--- an end user“I was part of something. I belonged.

--- a developer

…And Cut!

Agile Tales Walk-through (1/3)Setup

Setting (+Hook)

Setup(ordinary world)

Character flaw (“naivety”)

Inciting incident

Enter special world

Complication Dilemma Refusal of the call

Action / Resolution

Turning point (will he succeed?)

Action /Resolution

New complication

Agile Tales Walk-through (2/3) Development

Agile Tales Walk-through (3/3) Resolution

Dramatic question (restated)

Climax Aftermath Theme

How do you craft your own story?

Tame Your Story

3

I used to rewrite a story ~30 times

Not anymore

I use a 7-steps process

Step 1: Research (Create a Data Dump)

POV

Subject

Listeners

Action Benefit

Step 2: Prepare

Step 3: Fill and cluster content

Step 4: Identify Story Ideas

Features Steel NibBodyCapBlue ink...

BenefitsDoes not leakProvides physical pleasureThoughts flow on paperCan write beautiful poetry…

Reversed BenefitsLeaksInflicts physical tortureThoughts don’t flow on paperWrites terrible poetry…

E.g.: Candidate Scenario 1A poet struggles to leave her mark on this earth. She writes terrible poetry, her thoughts don’t flow on paper, all the pens she tries are physical torture for her hand.Until one day…

Reverse Benefits

(what, how) (why, WIIFY) (lead-to why)

Step 5: Create a dramatic outline

Complication: Claudio fears public speakingDevelopment:

1. Claudio moves beyond bullet points

2. Claudio unleashes stories3. Claudio tames stories

Resolution: Claudio conquers fear

Step 5. Dramatic outline II (saga)Major Complication: Claudio fears public speakingSemi-Major Complication: Claudio kills with PowerPoint

Development 1,2,3Interlinked Complication: Spielberg challenges ClaudioSemi-Major Resolution: Claudio moves Beyond Bullet Points

Semi-Major Complication: Spielberg challenges ClaudioDevelopment 1,2,3

Interlinked Complication: Stories consume ClaudioSemi-Major Resolution: Claudio embraces stories

Semi-Major Complication: Stories consume ClaudioDevelopment 1,2,3

Semi-Major Resolution: Claudio tames storiesInterlinked Complication: Claudio fears public speaking

Semi-Major Complication: Claudio fears public speaking (restated)

Development 1. Claudio pursues emotionDevelopment 2. Claudio welcomes obstacles (carpe

diem)Development 3. Claudio finds own voice

Major Resolution: Claudio conquers fear

Final Thoughts

“--- Oscar Wilde

Everyone else is already taken.

Be yourself.

Thank you!

Claudio Perrone

claudio@agilesensei.comwww.agilesensei.comwww.twitter.com/agilesensei