INSEAD Library

Includes bibliographical references and index

Digitized

The Seven Slide Solution Telling Your Business Story Effectively in Seven Slides or Less Contents Introduction 1 CHAPTER 1 5 The Marketplace of Ideas Leaner organizations demand concise communications. Information passes through a complex "supply chain" where it is manufactured, warehoused, edited, and delivered. Competing for share of mind is often the difference between success and failure in achieving what you want. Five principles for winning in the marketplace of ideas. CHAPTER 2 11 "Reading" the Minds of Your Audience Cognitive science has taught us a lot about how people think and process information. Our brains are marvels of engineering but they are not without shortcomings -- including the tendency to become easily overloaded. Six bad things that happen when people get overloaded. "Chunking." Using cognitive science to improve your business presentations. CHAPTER 3 19 People Think In Ideas, Not Facts Four tools that you can use to influence people. How to make a compelling case. Achieving resonance in a presentation. How exactly do we communicate ideas? CHAPTER 4 29 Stories; A Powerful Platform The really big ideas and how they got so big. The most powerful communication device ever conceived. A new communication platform. CHAPTER 5 33 Every Good Story Has the Exact Same Structure The structure of stories. How do good storytellers do it? The desire to see "what happens next." The story of the 7--Slide SolutionTM. CHAPTER 6 39 Storyboarding The Presentation "Displayed thinking." Making a scene. Choosing a perspective. How to "board" your ideas. CHAPTER 7 45 What's Your Premise? The essential question -- What's it about? Profiling the audience. How to develop a compelling premise. "Framing" the argument. The "tell me more" test. CHAPTER 8 55 Conflict: The "Hook" That Every Presenter Looks For Conflict as an "organizing scheme." We are irresistibly drawn to conflict. The "yeah but..." protocol. The core conflict. CHAPTER 9 63 Using Suspense And Tension To Hold Interest "Stretching" the truth -- ethically. Danger on the horizon. Time and urgency. A surprise event. A rapidly closing environment. CHAPTER 10 The Turning Point The presentation "tranquilizer." Decision = relief. Offer a choice. 67 CHAPTER 11 71 Resolution: Closing The Loop Resolve the core conflict. The difference between resolution and solution. Rest your case. CHAPTER 12 79 What About The Facts? What to put in, what to leave out. "Satisficing." The understanding hierarchy. The keystone data point. CHAPTER 13 Building the "Scenes" of the Presentation Each slide has a unique role. Show, don't tell. Plan to finish early. 85 CHAPTER 14 91 Some Do's and Don't's for PowerPoint® Treat each slide like prime real estate. The "eye track." Content and design conventions. The tyranny of white space. Bullets and builds. What about handouts? CHAPTER 15 103 Slide 1: Engagement Create dramatic impact before the meeting starts. Example 1: Demonstrate the core conflict. Example 2: State your premise. Principles of slide 1. CHAPTER 16 109 Slide 2: Backstory How much backstory is enough? The one and only backstory question. Example 1: Source review. Example 2: Methodology and key data. Principles of slide 2. CHAPTER 17 115 Slide 3: Build Tension It's all about consequences. Example 1: Insistence vs. resistance. Example 2: The problem is bigger than you think. Example 3: The "drill down." Principles of slide 3. CHAPTER 18 Slide 4: Bring It To A Boil The do's and don't's of creating pressure. Example 1: The summary of consequences. Example 2: The "killer" statistic. Example 3: No escape -- or is there? Principles of Slide 4. CHAPTER 19 127 Slide 5: Offer Choice(s) Frame the decision. Limit the choices. Example 1: The fork in the road. Example 2: Multiple-choice. Example 3: The emotional appeal. Principles of slide 5 CHAPTER 20 133 Slide 6: Provide Resolution One rule for the resolution slide -- resolve the core conflict. Focus on "what," let them ask "how." Example 1: Mirror the engagement slide. Example 2: "Happily ever after." Example 3: QandA. Principles of slide 6. CHAPTER 21 139 Slide 7: Set Up The Sequel Let the audience take control, sort of. Fill in the blanks. Put the lid on the can of worms. Principles of slide 7. CHAPTER 22 145 Putting It All Together Each slide can be used to elicit an intellectual and emotional response. Engagement. Backstory. Build tension. Bring it to a Boil. Offer choice(s). Provide resolution. Set up the sequel. CHAPTER 23 149 Using the 7-Slide SolutionTM for Review and Update Meetings Every review or update is a story waiting to be told. Resonance, not recaps. Finding a premise. Ten questions that can help you find conflict and tension. The universal resolution. CHAPTER 24 159 Using the 7--Slide SolutionTM with Contractors, Agencies, Service Providers and Other Third Parties It's all about "we." Pride carries heavy resonance. Focus on the end user. Collaborative resolutions. CHAPTER 25 169 Selling with the 7-Slide SolutionTM Every company has a story to tell. Competing = adding value. Looking at conflict and tension from the other side of the desk. Resolution--the "conditional close." CHAPTER 26 179 Making the 7-Slide SolutionTM Part of Your Routine Think in stories. Overcoming personal and professional hesitations. A personal "persuasiveness" scorecard.