“Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must first set yourself
on fire.”
Fred Shero

Vol. 7, No. 1 — Resources for High Stakes Presenters — and those who hire them

Traits of High Stakes Presenters

For 2,500 years philosophers, statesmen, and scientists have been asking what is it that makes one person more persuasive and influential than another?

Is it a set of personal characteristics, or are there skills that anyone can acquire to become more effective?

Nature or nurture?

High stakes presenters are made, not born. They have learned how to read an audience, structure a message, and recognize that substance without style fails to persuade.

Most successful people have “failed their way to success.” As speakers, they have frequently skinned their knees at the podium. But, rather than accept defeat, they have done whatever is necessary to develop a powerful platform persona.

Like many high stakes presenters, for example, Bill Clinton and Winston Churchill turned their early platform debacles into international success. High stakes presentation skills can be learned!

Who are these guys?

Leaders who communicate a compelling vision are high stakes presenters. But, you don’t have to be at the top of an organization to be a high stakes presenter.

Analysts and researchers can get a seat at the table when they build and deliver talks that appeal to decision makers. Sales managers, too, are high-stakes presenters when they inspire loyalty.

Consultants are high-stakes presenters when they drive change in resistant environments. Doctors are high stakes presenters when they convince their peers to change treatment paradigms.

The success of professionals of all types, (bankers, architects, lawyers, portfolio managers, accountants, etc.), depends on high stakes presentation skills. Professionals who succeed must win business, make complexity clear, and earn the trust of those they serve.

What do they do?

• High stakes presenters avoid data dumps. They present recommendations and conclusions, not just facts.
• They don’t read slides. They interpret them.
• They are selective in what they present. They don’t put too much information on slides, nor do they create too many slides.
• Their presentations focus on the audience, not themselves.
• They are storytellers. They make their data tell a story.
• They know the power of self-disclosure. Their success comes from their authenticity: their unwillingness to hide behind a wooden, or stiff, façade. But, they refuse to become “performers” or show-offs, either.
• They present from the audience’s point of view. They speak to the audience, in the language of the audience, about what’s most important to the audience.

In short, high stakes presenters earn the trust and respect of their listeners.

The source of power

All of us have probably had negative presenting experiences, i.e., nerves, the intimidating wall between speaker and audience, short audience attention spans, limited message retention, and the audience’s apparent unwillingness to listen to anything that doesn’t appeal to their existing beliefs or primary interests.

What high stakes presenters have in common, however, is that they have encountered these difficulties and have learned from them.

Their motivation for persisting comes from their recognition that the ability to sell themselves and their ideas is the world’s most powerful tool of influence and leadership.

Speak your way to success

We can help you become a high stakes presenter. We offer 1-on-1 executive coaching, and small group seminars. We develop speeches, edit PowerPoint decks, and consult with public figures on message and delivery.

In short, we can help you strengthen your voice, improve your image, and fine-tune your message.
Most successful people get there by speaking. We can help you get there faster.

For more information

Here at Sims Wyeth, we provide training, executive coaching, consulting and keynotes on how to become a high stakes presenter.

To do this, we help experts tell their stories well, connect with others, and strengthen their appeal as speakers.

You are welcome to contact us, request references, speak to our clients, and ask us to design a program that will get the results you are looking for.

High stakes presenters are made, not born

High stakes presenters know past failure is no handicap to future success message.

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Montclair, NJ 07042

Telephone: 973-783-4205

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Email: contactus@simswyeth.com

Website: www.simswyeth.com