No, not that kind of stripping. This blog is still all about presentation skills, presentation development, and overall enhancement of communication.
But “stripping” … or, at least, “stripping away” … does play a role in all of this. Let me explain.
Over the holiday break, had a chance to catch up on some movies, one of which was “Funny People” with Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen. A comedy with dark overtones, it certainly had its share of comedic one-liners. But the one line that resonated more than any other was, interestingly, not comic in the least. To paraphrase:
“Often, beneath anger … is hurt; and beneath hurt … is love.”
There’s a great lesson here, i.e. – understand not only what’s being stated; but beyond that, strip away what’s stated, and attempt to discern intent.
So, what does any of this have to do with making a more effective presentation?
A lot.
Too often, what presenters “state” doesn’t align with their “intent.” Words or images may address a “surface issue” – but miss explaining or addressing the core of what’s “underneath.” And the consequence of not addressing “what’s underneath” is an audience that remains unmoved.
So when creating a presentation, take care to “strip away” the surface issues. Get focused on what the underlying issue is, the subtext, the intent. Then, and only then, begin to build the messaging, words, and images that address these points.
This process is easier said than done. It requires a healthy measure of objectivity (always in short supply). But that’s why “objectivity” remains a fundamental and essential “value add” of our presentation development services.