Dot Connector Blog

Nothing happens until something gets sold. If you’re a project manager, you’re a salesperson. You’re a story teller. And if you don’t tell your story (ESPECIALLY on your own projects, to ANYONE who will listen), someone WILL tell your story for you.

So, effective presentations are a key to successful projects. I have given hundreds (maybe thousands?) of presentations: in person, on the phone, on video conferences, and via tools like “LiveMeeting.”

Here are my top 4 Presentation Tips to help you with your presentations:

1. Only put one idea per slide. That’s it. Seriously. Vary your slide background colors and text colors to keep interest, but always keep them high contrast (see this example)
2. Create your slides, then cut HALF the words and DOUBLE the pictures. Don’t describe things (like numbers, data, metrics, etc.) you can show. Also, it’s great to start your presentation with a BIG statement or quote (even if it’s not in the slides) to get your audience’s attention.
   
3. Don’t assume – EVER – that people know what you are presenting or the words you are using. But, always make sure you have actionable ideas in your slides, supported by real data (whenever possible).
4. Always put supporting data in an Appendix, so you have it ready in your “back pocket” in case questions come up that might derail your presentation.

Whether you think it or not, you have a Brand. Each interaction you have, with every person you come into contact with, creates an emotional reaction and/or memory. What’s a Brand? An emotional reaction and/or memory associated with a product or company. How do people perceive “Brand you”?
Fine Tune Your Brand Today!

Below is something called the Brand Equity Checklist, borrowed and revised from Tom Peters (you’ll see more references to Tom later in this blog).

I recommend completing this checklist every 3 months to help stay focused on developing your personal Brand (as Tom says, Brand You).

Brand Equity Checklist (copy and paste!)

I am known for 3 things:
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD

By this time next year, I will be known for 2 additional:
1. TBD
2. TBD

My current projects are provocative and challenging me in the following 4 ways:
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD
4. TBD

New learning in the last 90 days included 3 items.
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD

My public visibility program consists of 3 items.
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD

The latest additions to my network in the last 90 days are (4 names)…
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD
4. TBD

Important relationships nurtured in the last 90 days include (3 names)…
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD

My principle resume enhancement activity for the next 90 days is
• TBD

My resume/portfolio is specifically and substantially different than last year in the following 3 ways.
1. TBD
2. TBD

I have a very simple, but very effective technique for determining priorities on a daily basis. This “philosophy” has been tested over 7 years in a variety of projects and 3 different companies. It’s especially useful if you manage multiple projects and have to juggle multiple priorities.

Here it is! Just group all of your “to-dos” this way, and you’ll always do things in the “right” order:

PRIORITY #1: Your Crew

(Examples: people who report to you, members of a project team you rely on, etc.)

Always, ALWAYS tend to Your Crew first. Leadership is about serving the team you lead. Project Management (at any level, and who DOESN’T manage projects?) is about leadership. Your Crew takes care of you, so you should always take care of them first. No matter what.

PRIORITY#2: Your Clients

(Examples: your actual clients if you are a consultant, the executive who sponsored a project you are doing, the people who use your website, etc.)

I see common “wisdom” practiced every day where project managers serve their Clients first, then their Crew. This makes no sense to me. Here’s why: if you serve your Crew first, they’ll help you serve your Clients in ways you didn’t even imagine! Plus, they’ll have your back whenever times get tough with your Clients (and they will), because your Crew knows you’ve got their back (and best interests) in mind.

PRIORITY#3: Your Company

(Examples: a request from the HR team to do some mandatory training, filing your invoices for payment by your Accounting team, etc.)

You’d be surprise at how long you can push off “mandatory” company stuff that bogs you down. It’s especially useful to report to someone who can take care of these things, or at least buy you time. Now, I know this might be an unpopular one (“But Regis, I want to be a team player”), but think about it: if you’re not doing #1 and #2 first, there is no need for an HR team or Accounting team. #1 and #2 grow your business and support all of those other “company” things. If you’re leading the way for your Crew and your Clients, everything else becomes secondary.

Next Steps

1. Sit down and look across your to-do list.
2. Who is YOUR Crew? Who are YOUR Clients? What Company stuff is on there?
3. Reprioritize using this new method you just learned, and reap the rewards!