WHAT BOND MOVIES MEAN FOR YOUR NEXT PRESENTATION

When I was in the high school debating team in Sydney, there was one topic on the list which our team always hoped we would get: "That every man thinks he's James Bond." Alas, under the system where our team and the opposition had to jointly agree on the question, this was one debating topic that never happened. But whether you're for or against the Bond everyman theory, there's something that the start of the latest 007 - Skyfall - can teach us all when it comes to giving hugely more gripping presentations. I'm not giving too much away here for those yet to see it by telling you that Skyfall starts with a truly amazing - albeit ridiculously incredible - action sequence.  Bond chases a villain through the market places of Istanbul causing mayhem on an almost nuclear scale, fights on top of a train as it goes through tunnels and demonstrates a hitherto unknown talent for driving a bulldozer with murderous intent after he runs out of bullets. As you can see it's pretty much like the start of the previous 22 Bond films over the past fifty years - only more so. I can assure you that no one walked out of the cinema...and I don't think anyone drifted off either. So what does this mean for your next presentation? Lots!

HIT YOUR AUDIENCE FROM THE START The consistent success of Bond openings means you should start your presentation with a bang...that is, something that will grab and hold your audience.    This sounds logical, but most presentations don't achieve it. Too many presentations start with speakers wasting those vital opening seconds and  minutes by talking about something the audience is probably not all that interested in... usually themselves. "Let me just tell you some background about myself and my organisation..." Or they start with an unnecessary apology. "I'm sorry this won't be very good because it was Fred who was meant to do it and unfortunately he can't be here..." There are no clearer signals to an audience that this is time for them to drift off. The thing is that unless you are somebody the world is desperate to hear about, starting with background about yourself - or why you were roped in to do it instead of someone else - is not what the audience wants. What they do like is energy and excitement. This is why Skyfall took a record amount of takings in the first seven days of its opening week in the UK. And why 007 movies, under the never-ending parade of Bond acting stars, have consistently performed so well at the box office.    When you start your next presentation, make your opening line something which grabs from the start. If you provide enough oomph, you're well on your way to holding your audience for the entirety of your presentation. After that you can make a decision about whether every man thinks he's James Bond.  Picture Credit: Lucinda Dodd And for those with eagle eyes, do be assured that the red spot near the collar of this would-be 007 isn't blood. It's actually a Professional Speaking Association badge...a license to speak, if not to kill! But if it weren't for this, only a close relative would be able to identify the difference between this picture and the other Bond stars in the newsletter. MAKING YOUR PRESENTATIONS AS GRIPPING AS 007 Communications skills are improvable skills - whether you're seeking a major overhaul or just a touch of Bond stardust. There's an opportunity to throw yourselves into the challenge in the next open communications-boosting master classes in Central London. "Giving Great Answers To Tough Questions" and "Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch" run on Friday 30 November 2012. And "Presenting with Confidence, Impact and Pizzazz" runs on Wednesday 5 December 2012. There's an early bird offer for each which expires on 19 November. Places can be booked by emailing michael@michaeldoddcommunications.com or phoning UK 07944 952835. Or you can book through paypal at: http://www.michaeldoddcommunications.com/presentation_training.php Each session will start with a bang. Your communications skills will jump Bond-like from one plane to a higher plane. You can expect to come out with your performances shaken and your audiences stirred. My mission to save the universe from dull, nervous communications attempts continues...  FORTHCOMING MIDDLE EAST MISSIONS November looks like being as exciting as a series of Bond assignments...but hopefully a touch safer. There's a mission in Iraq which is hopefully less dangerous than it sounds...as it's taking place in Erbil in the supposedly calmer, northern part of the country. And the planned mission to Beruit has been switched to safer territory, which is nice...though I was keen see the so-called Paris of the Middle East. This follows latest car bomb and subsequent threats to Lebanese stability. The assignment has been shifted to Jordan which - while being close to Syria - isn't as troubled. So for those who have Dodd bookings for your events in later November, December and in 2013, I have every intention of returning in one piece to fulfill these commitments ("Inshallah - or "God willing" - as they constantly say in the Middle East).  AND FOR THE BOND WOMEN... Meanwhile after deciding whether every man thinks he's James Bond, you might also like to consider the parallel female question. Does every woman think she's a Bond girl...or a powerful Judi Dench-like female M?    Looking forward to your answers to these big questions. Keep smiling, Michael