The Seven Strategies of Master Presenters
Book

The Seven Strategies of Master Presenters

Dr. Brad McRae and David Brooks
Career Press, 2004

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

If you get nervous before speaking in public, if you hear snores coming from the audience, if people keep leaving the room to "take a call" and don’t come back, if your few remaining listeners are focused on their Blackberries, you definitely need this book. Authors Brad McRae and David Brooks have long, varied experience in public speaking and offer a concise, well-organized, straightforward guide for the perplexed. The book covers everything you need to know about making an excellent public presentation: how to meet deadlines, how to organize your slides, what to do when construction workers start hammering in the next room, even how to handle hecklers and pests. The authors provide a wealth of anecdotes and illustrations. As a bonus, much of their counsel about public speaking equally applies to other kinds of communication, so the principles in this book can help you improve not only your speaking but your writing, website design and more. getAbstract.com recommends it highly.

Summary

Seven in Sum

Although North Americans spend about $6 billion a year on presentations, they do not get a commensurate return on that investment. But Master Presenters are worth top billing. Their seven strategies are:

  1. Talk to the audience (to do this right, you have to know who they are).
  2. Have something important to say to them.
  3. Organize your presentation well.
  4. Deliver it powerfully.
  5. Give the audience something to remember, act on and pass along.
  6. Control yourself, manage difficult people and cope with bad circumstances.
  7. Keep improving.

Impressive speakers are:

  • Able — They convince you of their competence quickly and hold your attention.
  • Believable — They are honest and modest, not puffed up or egotistical.
  • Connected — They establish a connection, a compatibility, with the audience.
  • Dedicated — They care and you know it.
  • Energetic — They deliver like dynamos.

Are You Talking to Me?

You must know what kind of an audience you are addressing...

About the Authors

Brad McRae has a doctoral degree in psychology from the University of British Columbia, has earned the Platinum Level Speaker designation from Meeting Professionals International, and is the author of four books. David Brooks is the 1990 World Champion of Public Speaking. He has coached, advised and mentored five subsequent World Champions and dozens of finalists.

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