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100THINGS PRESENTERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE
How ppl think and learn
1. Progressive disclosure (what new chunks of info needed at
that time) help in digesting info.2. Ppl need context, background
info. Advance organisers: summary of whats next.3. Ppl filter msg
to their beliefs. Anticipate filters to know how to connect/
surprise/ challenge4. Ppl defend their beliefs, esp when they doubt
their faith. Ask for a show of hands to force ppl to decide.
Dont attack their beliefs. Assure them of your stand.
5. Ppl have mental models: existing understanding of processes,
expectations. Check audience bg.6. Ppl think more in story mode.
Setting, characters, conflict, solution.7. Ppl learn from example.
Visceral.8. Ppl have limited short term memory. More sensory noise,
less working memory. Help audience focus
with story, examples, exercises. Ppt are short. Pick only
important items.
9. Ppl remember only 4 items at once. Have 4 Chunks/groups with
4 items max.10.
Ppl use info to remember. Repetition sticks. Connect info with
schema: group of info.11. Recognising from handout is easier than
recall.
12. Recalling abstract ideas , middles is hard. Start &
Ending is memorable. Pause more to start & end more.13. Memory
is unreliable. Put impt pts in handout.14. Forgetting is natural15.
Categorising is natural. Organised info matters, not so much who
organises.16. Time is relative. Thinking makes time seem longer.
Smaller chunks help to reduce thinking, thus time.
Time each part consistently so ppl can adjust expectations.
17. 4 kinds of creativity. Deliberate/spontaneous.
Cognitive/emotional. Creative activity needs a lot of time.18. Flow
state: Time passes faster when doing sth fun, in control, focused,
challenging, feedback.19. Culture affects thinking. East Asians
focus on bg, Western on foreground20.20 minute chunks are ideal.
Break in between.21. Cater to Visual(see), auditory(hear),
Kinesthetic(move) styles22. Learn from +/- feedback abt mistake.
Experienced ppl less sensitive to feedback
How to hold ppls attention
23. Sustained attention lasts 7-10 min. 10 min chunks.
Minibreak: 5min stretch, writing exercises, ask qn,
story24.Unconscious desire. Food, sex, danger.25. Predictable gets
numb. Surpise expectations, pause, question, move, story, switch
topic.26.Ppl cant multitask. Ask them to just listen.27.
Mind-wandering is natural. Reduce it by grabbing attention.
How to motivate
28. Illusion of progress: see reward, move faster.29.Variable
rewards, based on different no. tries.30.Shaping: reinforce (smile,
nod at) only the next steps to a desired action, not previous31.
Dopamine makes ppl want info. Want>Like.32. Cues for action:
door=lunch, flip chart=interact33. Intrinsic: connect w/others to
solve problem. Extrinsic: need unexpected34.Mastery, Ctrl,
Reason35.Delaying gratification starts young36.Ppl satisfice:
good-enough
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37. Build habit with small steps. Pick up toys one at a
time.38.Ppl compete more when less competitors39.Autonomy: let ppl
pick case study/action, form own teams
How ppl listen and see
40.Listening competes with Reading41. Be loud, ask for mic, test
mic42. of brain used for seeing. Visuals must be essential43.Ppl
read form Left to Right. Stand on left pt to right.44.Upper case
for highlighting headlines45.Titles give context.Reading,
listening, speaking, generating verbs are different neural
processses46.Readable fonts. Sans serif & serif are
equal.47.Font size: >3048.Peripheral vision is used to get gist
of event. Set the stage so it wont distract49.Faces grab attention
& show emotion50.Red + blue/green = hard to read51. Some ppl
are colour blind52. Coloursmeanings differ among cultures
How ppl react to environment
53.More ppl = more energy54.Dark rooms = sleep more55.Go early.
Arrange the furniture so ppl can see you without turning
around.56.Have ppl sit at a table facing each other for Group
activities57. Online ppt easily lose interest. Engage with video,
keep it short58.Ppl get distracted when tired (keep it short &
entertaining) or hungry (dont talk abt food)59.Too hot/cold
distracts. You feel warmer than audience.60.Settle logistics to
have enough seats, space, air con.61. Have wifi & power
outlet
How ppl react emotionally
62.Anecdotes > Factual data63.Stories: describing ppl/obj,
and relating events. Short, relevant subject, has a point, vivd.
Can recycle.64.Novelty grabs attention: demos, AV, activity. Dont
show everything on outline65.Balance new with safe: confidence,
overview, returning to overview, what happens next66.Ppl need to
feel safe to participate. Start slow, humour not make fun of
ppl.67.Ppl dont like idling. Make them Do sth worthwhile: question,
discuss, compete.68.Pastoral scenes please ppl69.Music pleases ppl,
esp when expecting a good part.70.Ppl want familiarity when
sad/scared71. Rarer=more valuable= better
How ppl react to you
72. Ppl obey authority. Presenter has auto authority, maintain
it73. Ppl size you up instantly. Take your time before starting,
stand straight, tall, eye contact. Send your intro74.Be honest
& authentic abt screw ups.
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75. Face forward + head straight + balanced stance =authority
& confident. Facing 45= collaborating.Lecturn = not confident =
cant trust. Head tilt= submission Dont fidget. Do-feel loop.
76.Hand gestures. Open palms = asking for sth. 45= open, honest
Hands down /90 = confirm+chopTouch face/hair/neck=nervous Fig leaf
hands=nervous Hands on hip=aggressive
77. Tone has meaning. (paralinguistics: meaning separate from
words) Modulate to emote Loud articulateendings pause
78.Practice Facial expressions: slight smile. look at someone
for 2-3 sec.79.Ppl imitate you. Be passionate to spread it
.80.Dress like someone to relate, or formal for authority81.
Similarity builds rapport. Talking & dressing like ppl helps
persuade them82.Talking > writing. Brain syncs when
listening.83.Knowing someone makes them pay attention to u84.Ppl
hope someone(you) are in charge. Small actions convey control:
posture,gestures, cues,
starting/ending on time, pacing, controlling Q&A,
breaking.
How ppl decide to act
85.Know personality, habits to fit their style. Decisions are
unconscious, but want logical reasons to justify.86.Fear of
loss> anticipation of gain. Phrase msg in terms of
loss/potential loss87.Choice paralysis, ppl want more choice but
then cant choose. Select a few / limit the options88.Choice = ctrl
environment = survival. Provide 4 diff calls to actions89.Ppl want
time/experience /friends > $$$90.Initial preferences distracts
group from relevant info. Make time for thinking & discussing
disagreements91. Mood changes choice: Higher value if choose
Intuitively when Happy(tourist), Deliberately when
Sad.(global warming). Video changes mood easily
92.Leaders speak first. Dominant ppl want to speak first.93.Ppl
follow others, esp when unsure. Phrasing norms influences
action.94.Ppl think they dont follow the crowd to feel in ctrl.
Appeal to unconscious to follow crowd.95.Bringing the physical pdt
increases value96.Activate the persona specifically: refer to
anecdote. Ppl want to be consistent w/ their peresonas97.Small
steps can change persona: personalising their problems, then larger
commitment at end98.Writing on paper increases
commitment99.Reciprocity is Universal and Unconscious
100.Concession increases commitment. No for 1stbig request, yes
at 2ndsmaller request.
How to craft ppt
1. Researcha. What you know/ assume abt audience (be careful,
may be wrong)b. Host goals. Audience goals.
i. Measurable effects: What will they say/do in their officec.
Design reasonable stretches across gap.
2. Steps to craft ppt (magic ppt formula)a. Start with end: call
to actionb. Problems(qty,qlty), effects(tt matter to big shots),
solutionc. Opening: Summarise problem, effects, solution in under
1min
3. Create contenta. Storyboard: Each panel, 2 box (top:
talk/activity/story. Bottom: media) can be post-it-
notes/outline format.
4. Practice start,end,transitions between topics, sections,
slides. Perform, refine, reuse.
