Originally posted in flickr by Zach Graham, his photo of a presentation slide symbolizes what not to do with presentation slide software. I can only imagine the painful looks on the faces of the audience. The presenter’s use of a microphone indicates either a large room or a large crowd. Imagine how far back you sat, trying to squint at the slides. Continue reading
Why do some creative teams run brainstorming sessions like futbol instead of paintball?
I first thought of this analogy while channel surfing between a futbol match and a paintball game on TV. Both were at world-class competitive levels. In both sports, you could argue that, to win, you must score more goals than the other team.
Surfing to the futbol match, the score was 0-0. On the paintball channel, a quick win, I saw hundreds of paintball splats all over the field (missed shots), and several shots that hit the intended targets, wiping out the opposing team of seven players. Back at futbol, the score was still 0-0.
So how does this relate to brainstorming?
Bored by 50-slide presentations that drone on, bullet by bullet, slide by slide? Having a hard time keeping audience interest in your point. Then start practicing these five research-based techniques for reducing PowerPoint overload: Continue reading
On the best sellers list for two years, David Allen’s “Getting Things Done-The Art of Stress-Free Productivity” goes beyond typical self-help books on time management and priorities.
I picked up the book recently, in hopes of fixing some major symptoms in my life of unproductivity:
I have not been disappointed by the book and its evidence in my life: Continue reading
Questions posted on a whiteboard in a high traffic area at work intentionally stimulate discussion and whiteboard posting from passing coworkers.
Recently, the whiteboard displayed the following statement:
You know you’re a technical communicator when…
Check out these technical writer responses: Continue reading
Tired of error messages that don't make sense?
Then create your own at atomsmashers error message gallery.
View messages that other people created. Then, create your own.
You want your audience to read your blog (duh).
Because you don't want your blogging to go unread, be sure to include the two most important words, eloquently summarized in the copyblogger's post:
When presenting information to persuade, how many of the 14 core practices used by persuasive speakers do you use? As blogged in FastCompany:
"Josh Gordon, author, has identified 14 core practices used by persuasive speakers in conference and meeting settings. Additional research shows that the top five practices are used by only half of business leaders surveyed.
The top five persuasive strategies:
- Sharing facts: 73.5%
- Offering a solution: 62.1%
- Sharing a new idea: 52.8%
- Telling a story: 51.6%
- Changing a perception: 50.9%
The remaining practices include humor, creating excitement, audience involvement, building trust, inspiration, building a financial case, creating an emotional appeal, getting competitive, and overcoming hostility."
Buy the book.
What is the first application open on your PC? Mine is not one of the usual suspects (Infernal Exploder, MS Weird, LookOut, Exile, PowerPointless).
It’s MindManager by Mindjet. I mind map everything. My work demands that I brainstorm, analyze, organize, re-arrange, outline, categorize, or present information. MindManager does all of that.
With this tool I can: Continue reading
To take mind mapping beyond personal use and integrate it into business, collaboration, and project productivity, see Beyond Crayons by Nick Duffill. Man, he’s taken mindmapping with MindManager to some interestingly advanced levels.
I have some success stories, but he’s really on the ball. Read his two part series “Putting an edge on your maps.”
Most information is not linearly related.
Now check out LivePlasma‘s visual search engine, cleverly connecting music, artists, and movies in visual relationships.
Suppose you enjoy Darlene Zschech, Hillsongs. What other artists might you connect with?
…another example of non-linear thinking.
In my business, my writing must be accurate, brief, clear, minimalist.
Creativity must wait another dawn.
So, once in a while, I enjoy finding a blog like The Darth Side: Memoirs of a Monster
"geeWHIZ" 
