20 CityLight.org
june 2012
NEWTON'S LAWS OF INFLUENCE
C H A K I S S E N E W T O N ' S
Tools and Tips to Improve Professional and Personal Success
of your preconceptions and see if there is a better
way to organize your presentation. And, change the
structure if you need to. It's better to have an out-
dated outline than a presentation you feel terrible
giving. If nothing comes to you, use a simple struc-
ture to organize your presentation like, "10 Things
You Need to Know About" or "Frequently Asked
Questions About."
You're Writing Someone's Else's Speech
There's a lot of advice out there about how to pre-
pare a presentation. (You're reading some now.) But
sometimes, adhering to someone else's model just
doesn't work. Remember a time that you were able
to easily write a speech and try that process again.
Also, remember that there are many ways to "write."
Some people sit at a computer and write word for
word. Other people, like me, "talk out" a speech and
then write it down later. You may need to imagine
giving the speech in your mind. Find the process
that works for YOU.
You Need to Burn Your Bridges
Eventually, you'll reach the point where you've got
to decide what you're going to say. Instead of ago-
nizing over it, do a "speed round." Set a timer for
15-30 minutes and just hash out the presentation
outline. It might not be pretty, but it will be done.
Then commit to your outline without looking back.
Sometimes, just picking something specific gives
you more freedom and creativity than pondering all
the millions of options that exist in the universe.
Good luck curing your writer's block. Please let me
know which of these tips works best for you, or if
there's another suggestion you have for moving
from a blank page to a finished presentation. And, if
you need more tips, download my free special report
10 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills Today
at CardinalConsulting.net
Chakisse Newton
Cardinal Consulting
803.753.1311 | CardinalConsulting.net
I
t's one of the worst feelings in the world. You have
to stand up before a group of people and give a
talk, but you have no idea what you're going to say
and nothing is working. Sooner or later, we all face
that situation. In my experience as a speaker and ex-
ecutive speech coach, there are a few key roadblocks
that cause writer's block.
Review this list to diagnose your problem and find
a solution that pulls your presentation out of your
mind so you can share it with your audience.
You Don't Know Your Audience
This is the number one problem that stymies pre-
senters. You either don't know enough about your
audience or you aren't clear about their objectives
for the presentation. Solve this problem by getting
more information about who will be in the crowd.
The best choice is to speak to someone who rep-
resents the audience. If that's not possible, research
associations or groups that market to your audience
and see how they position themselves. Or, sit and try
to identify their goals, challenges and needs.
You've Got Too Much Information
Sometimes you know your audience and your
topic so well, that it's hard to limit the information
you want to share. While it's great to have a lot of
knowledge, it can be overwhelming. Put aside your
thoughts and ask, "What does my audience re-
ally need to know? What are the essential tips they
need to know to perform the task that I'm speaking
about?" Leave everything else out. You can always
provide additional resources later or do a Q&A.
There's never going to be enough time to tell some-
one everything you know.
You're Using the Wrong Structure
You get it in your mind that your presentation needs
to be structured a certain way. Or, perhaps someone
else submitted an agenda and you're stuck follow-
ing an outline that doesn't flow logically to you. The
problem isn't what you want to say, but how you're
trying to say it. Go back to question one and review
what your audience really needs to know. Let go
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