1 Jump start presentation

A Discuss these questions.

1 What do you think ‘jump start’ means?
2 Why do you think a jump start is effective?
3 Can you think of any examples of a jump start?

B Read this text. Write the techniques from the box below in gaps (1–7) in the text.

What’s in it for me? (WIIFM) Question and answer Expert testimony or historical evidence
Quotations Meet the people Shocking statement or startling statistic Enrolment questions

Hot tips to • raise expectations (5) ......................................................

jump start your • build rapport Say something which is short and
presentation GOOD FOR: sales pitches or simple but unusual, surprising and/or
presentations where you need to provocative. Clarify your source. This
Sharpen focus, boost attention and raise persuade or convince technique helps to:
expectations. Get sparks flying with a • get a high level of attention with
jump start. So, how can you jump start (3) ...................................................... a shock effect
your presentation? Here are some ideas: Question the audience directly and get • give another voice
(1) ...................................................... them to respond to you by answering GOOD FOR: most presentations but take
‘yes’ or ‘no’ or by raising hands. This care the shock effect does not alienate
Make your audience feel welcome as technique helps to: the audience
they arrive. Smile, make introductions, • focus the audience on the subject
say a few words about yourself and • generate an interactive relationship (6) ......................................................
ask some questions. Offer some • create dialogue
refreshments. This technique helps to: Give objective evidence or facts from
• build interest an authoritative source. This technique
• break the ice
• calm your nerves GOOD FOR: small to medium-sized helps to:
• build a relationship audiences • give another voice
• initiate dialogue • be convincing
(4) ...................................................... • build credibility
• create interaction
Find something original or exciting GOOD FOR: specialist presentations
GOOD FOR: presentations to small in newspapers, magazines, books,
groups in-house literature, press releases or (7) ......................................................
(2) ...................................................... on the internet. Make it clear that you Ask something and then answer it
are using somebody else’s words. This yourself. This technique helps to:
Address the audience’s needs and technique helps to:
concerns by telling them what benefits • raise expectations
• give another voice • engage the audience in problem-
they will gain from listening to your • build credibility
presentation and use the word ‘you’ solving thinking
• create interest • make the audience want to see
when you do this. This technique helps
to: GOOD FOR: all types of presentation ‘what’s on the next page’
• focus on the needs of your audience GOOD FOR: presenting
• focus on benefits and not features recommendations / solutions
• create desire and anticipation

8 Step 2
C Now match examples of jump starts (a–g) below with the techniques.
1 What’s in it for me? (WIIFM) ....................
2 Question and answer ....................
3 Expert testimony or historical evidence ....................
4 Quotations ....................
5 Meet the people ....................
6 Shocking statement or startling statistic ....................
7 Enrolment questions ....................

a The benefit to you is that you will have a better product that will do a
better job.

b In today’s newspaper, our CEO stated ‘The Internet is the aggressive

revolutionary army of our age. It will kill our children’ and I’m going to show
you why we need to rationalise our business before we lose it completely.

c We often talk about creativity and promoting a culture of creativity. But what
do we mean exactly? I’m sure each of you here today would give a different
answer. So, I’m here today to let you know exactly what our strategy is so that
you can communicate this clearly to our clients.

d Hi my name’s Svitlana Grytsenko. Please help yourself to coffee or tea while

we’re waiting for everyone to arrive.

e I’m holding the latest government health report in my hands. It states that the
chance of getting some cancers has actually risen from one in twelve to one in
nine in the last few years. The report goes on to link this to household products
and says that more than 500 – more than 500 – manufactured chemicals found
in the everyday environment are believed to mimic and disrupt hormones.
Today, I’m going to examine what this means for us in our business sector.

f How many of you have pitched for new business and failed to get it? How
many of you here hate giving presentations? How many of you think your
presentations are boring and uninspiring? Well, this afternoon we will be
exploring …

g Young girls between the ages of nine and fourteen stated that their number one
fear is getting fat. They are more afraid of becoming fat than they are of nuclear
war, climate change or losing their parents. Our new wellness product range is
all about sensible diet and changing attitudes and what I’d like to do is …

Step 2 9
 2 Jump start practice
Meet the people
A Get into small groups.
Presenter
• Greet the other members of the group as they come into the room.
• Walk to the front of the room and make your Step 1 presentation ‘start’ again.
Rest of group
• Come into the room on your own or with another member of the group.
• Sit down and watch the ‘start’ of the presenter’s Step 1 presentation again.
Change roles and do the activity again.
Discuss these questions.
1 How did ‘meeting the people’ help you as a presenter?
2 How did ‘meeting the people’ help you as a member of the audience?

WIIFM
B Look at these two examples of WIIFM?:
1 We’ll take a look at health and safety. If you know the procedures, you’ll know exactly what to do
in the case of an accident or emergency here in the company.
2 We’ll take a look a health and safety. This is important to you because you need to know
something about legal requirements when you deliver to the chemical industry.

What audience do you think each is targeted at? Match examples 1 and 2 with two of the audiences
(a–d) below.
a suppliers b customers c employees d delegates at an international conference

Look at the ‘why’ sentences (1–3) below.

1 What I would like to do is give you an overview of the restructuring programme.
2 My goal in this presentation is to give you three alternatives for marketing strategy.
3 It is our intention to fill you in on our latest product portfolio.

Choose one audience (a–d) above and prepare a follow-on WIIFM sentence for each ‘why’ sentence
(1–3). Use the phrases below to help you.
This is important to you because … What you will gain from this is …
I am telling you this because … The benefit to you is …
The reason you need to hear this … If you …, you’ll …

Present your three WIIFMs. Can the rest of the group identify your target audience?

10 Step 2
 Quotations
C 1 Watch the ‘start’ of Svitlana’s presentation of the Orange Revolution in the Ukraine to the
Oxford Ukrainian Society and answer the questions below.
1 Have you ever heard quotations used in a presentation before?
2 Do you find her use of this technique effective?

Read the quotations below.

‘Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.’ Gucci
‘The harder you work, the luckier you get.’ Gary Player
‘I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.’ Oscar Wilde
Choose one of the quotations and build it into the ‘start’ you presented in Step 1. Stand up and
present your ‘start’.

Now, find an original quotation about your organisation or a quotation that was given by somebody
from your organisation. Build this into a full presentation ‘start’. Present this.

Discuss these questions:

1 Do you find the first or the second ‘start’ more effective?
2 Why do you find this ‘start’ more effective?
3 What in-house resources can you use in your organisation to find original quotations?
4 Do you think it is possible to make up a quotation or change a quotation?

Step 2 11