Real Leaders Don't Do PowerPoint: How to Sell Yourself and Your Ideas

Before you buy the book, you could think it's about was of doing a presentation, without using powerpoint.This book changes your mind about presentations. It says that you have to be a good leader to say good speeches, to give presentations the way you want, without boring your audience. And this book will teach you all the secrets of public speaking, so after reading it you'll be more keen to giving that presentation (it could be for study and for work).And don't worry, it will say all the pitfalls of using powerpoint and teach you how not to use it but also say that leaders sometimes break the rules, and it will teach you how to use it when you really need.If you think that speaking and communicating is key in life, you need this book.

This is a terrific book about how to present yourself and your ideas. I teach leadership and also do presentation coaching, so the material in Witt's book was right on point.If you're looking for good, basic, how-to information on how to present yourself better, this is a great resource. It's packed with useful tips, and reads very quickly.

I bought this book for my boyfriend and he absolutely loves this book. He will not put this book down. Best thing I’ve ever bought him!

Great advice and tools setup to deliver speeches and become a better and skilled orator.Now to put in practice!!

Witt doesn't break any new ground, but his extensive use of anecdotes and personal experiences brings to life the essentials of persuasion and presentation skills. It's a helpful primer for the beginner and an enjoyable reminder for the more experienced.

This is a great book on leadership and communication. I must read it again because of the value that is within these pages. If you want to lead and communicate your ideas with authenticity and success, do not hesitate, get this book NOW!Alexander Mobley, MBAFounder & CEOAlexander Mobley International

This is a small book packed with good nuggets of information. And the book arrived very fast

It's my job to market & sell PowerPoint, every day in Australia for Microsoft - so the title got my attention.The principal concept of the book is VERY simpleGreat speakers change the mind of their audience and get them to act.Almost 2,500 years ago Demosthenes, the father of Greek oratory, cited four elements of great speech 1) a great person 2) a noteworthy event 3) a compelling message 4) a masterful deliveryLeaders speak to make a difference, and unsettled times are when their words have the biggest impactA great speech is not to inspire - a great speech is to inspire and make the audience want to actMilitary leaders before battle, political leaders in time of crisis, coaches at half time, preachers all the time - they know that what people often need is not more instruction, but more inspiration, not more "how to" but more "you can".Those speeches allow you to remind your audiences who they are or can be, to show them a new way of seeing the world, or even a world they haven't yet imagines and to stir them up by speaking not just to their heads but to their hearts and their imaginations.A commanding presence1) Be yourself2) Be in the moment3) Be interested4) Be unafraid5) Be connected6) Be groundedPeople tend to discount whatever is plentiful and readily available. So parcel out your thoughts carefully. Speak less often and have a bigger impact."If you can't put the bottom line message on the inside of a matchbox, you're not doing your job" Eisenhower or Write the idea for their speech on the backside of their business card.To communicate "Big ideas" use "Small words"The truth is any fool can complicate something. But it takes skill and effort to clarify a complex subject. Being unclear is a sure to make them resist what you want. Confusing people shuts them down. So the first rule of speaking is to be clear.If you want your listeners' co-operation - if you want them to say yes to your idea, initiative, project or pitch - then you've got to be clear about what you want them to do and why they should careThe signature story - It's unique to the story teller and no one else can tell itA thoroughly developed signature story will take two to seven minutes to tell and will include a beginning, a middle and end; at least one character who undergoes some change; and a satisfying and multilayered application.In a good signature story you are the main character, which isn't to say you are its hero. Because of what happens or because of what some other character in the story does or says, you change in some significant way: You change your attitude, outlook, or basic beliefs. You learn an important life lesson. And it's this new insight that you want to share.Stories are like movies in your listeners' imagination. "Vivid images are like a beautiful melody that speaks to you on an emotional level. They bypass your logic centers and even your intellect to go to a different part of your brain" said TV producer Steven Bochco. And that part of the brain is where your audience can most easily be influenced and inspired.Many speakers need to introduction. What they need are conclusions.Write down your closing and memorise it. It's a good idea to write out the last few sentences word for word.Chris has written a great companion book for people who speak often or people who are just starting.Chris's book made me think about my speaking style and has changed the way I speak in public.His book has done for me what the book says is the purpose of a great speech - not just to inspire but to create change.

The subject matter alone means that this book is never going to worth more than four stars. Essentially Christopher Witt has written a text book for public speakers and I would say he's done a fairly decent job. There is lots of useful and practical advice, and Witt's main point is if you want to move people with your speech or presentation then focus on conveying your message with conviction and passion using stories and imagery that your audience can relate to. Relying on slides or visual aids only tends to distract your audience's attention away from you the speaker, which is not what you want.Other reviewers have commented that the book is aimed at high-flying execs or regular public speakers, and is therefore not as useful for the average office Joe Bloggs like you and me who need to present to small or medium sized audiences on a regular basis. I agree that the author seems to be writing for the aspiring TED talkers among us, but in fact I think there is lots in here that is applicable to everyday office life. Indeed I highlighted lots of wise words that I shall review next time I prepare a talk.The great shame is that Witt didn't aim his book more towards the masses. In my view he has missed an opportunity to really take a stand against the scourge of bad, dull, bullet-laden Powerpoint presentations that pervades the corporate culture of today. A real leader would have used his passion and insight to inspire a widespread popular movement against the use of Powerpoint in the office. (Surely someone must have done a TED talk on that by now?!)Instead he wrote a text book, and a slightly padded out text book at that. There's nothing wrong with that, and there's plenty of value to be found in Witt's writing. However, for an equally useful, and slightly better written book on the subject of presentations, I would also urge a look at the first half of Life's a Pitch by Bayley and Mavity.

This book has good advice on giving speeches (as opposed to lectures), with words of wisdom peppered with illustrative anecdotes. Because a speech is about getting across a single vision, it is more about emotion, and less about the recitation of dry facts. So, be yourself, be passionate, be focussed, and don’t use Power Point!

This book keep the story simple and gives usable examples of why you should follow it's principles.I do a lot of powerpoints , and will continue to do so, but I think I do them better now.

Basically ok book that requires a bit of thought from the reader.More like na action plan to raise your business profile ,not a book to read and forget more of a workbook for success.

I would like to give this zero stars. Maybe I should have researched the book better first, but it came as part of a deal with some far better books. This was totally uninspiring, took pages to explain simple concepts, and every single example was American. A noddy book of presentation skills.