Welcome to another episode of People Play Story, where we delve into the art of storytelling and impactful communication. Today, we explore the world of presentations, a crucial element in the modern workplace, often dominated by PowerPoint. Drawing insights from my book, 'People Play Story,' we discuss how to make your message resonate with your audience.
We begin by examining the importance of font size, advocating for a minimum of 18-point font to ensure your message is noticed and remembered. This approach is rooted in the psychology of how our brains perceive size and importance. We also challenge the norm by suggesting a bold, image-free first slide to create intrigue and engage your audience from the start.
Our discussion then shifts to the power of language, emphasizing the use of emotional triggers and verbal pictures to evoke vivid imagery and emotions in your audience's minds. This technique allows for a deeper connection, as it encourages the audience to engage their imagination and personal experiences.
We also tackle the often-overlooked aspect of color in presentations, recommending a simple palette of just three colors to maintain visual harmony and focus. This minimalist approach supports the message rather than distracting from it.
Finally, we highlight the importance of authenticity and finding your own voice as a presenter. A memorable presentation is one that reflects your passion and personality, creating a genuine connection with your audience. We conclude with the significance of a strong closing, ensuring your message leaves a lasting impact. Remember, the most vital ingredient in any presentation is you. Your unique insights and passion are what truly make your presentation stand out.
[00:00:08]
Martin Kloss:
Hi, and welcome to People Play Story, a podcast about storytelling and how to communicate with impact. My name is Martin Kloss, and I'm a professional story coach and speaker trainer. I recently wrote a book. It's called People Play Story, but it's only available in German for now. So to help me reach a wider audience and spread the word about the power of stories, I created this podcast. Full disclosure, what you're about to hear is generated by an AI, courtesy of Google's notebook LM. And each episode is based on a different chapter of my book. I hope you enjoy it and that I can give you something to think about today. Have fun.
[00:00:53] Unknown:
Hey, everyone. Welcome back. Ready for a deep dive into something I think we all struggle with sometimes?
[00:00:59] Unknown:
Let me guess.
[00:01:00] Unknown:
Crafting the perfect elevator pitch. Not this time, though. Today, we're tackling presentations.
[00:01:07] Unknown:
Presentations. The staple of the modern workplace. Exactly.
[00:01:11] Unknown:
Because PowerPoint seems to be the universal language of presentations,
[00:01:15] Unknown:
well, that's where we're focusing our attention today. Sounds good to me. So what's on the docket? Are we talking about slide transitions,
[00:01:21] Unknown:
animations, that sort of thing? We'll try to sprinkle in some of that fun stuff later, but we are actually going back to the basis a little bit today. Taking a deep dive into a book called People Play Story. Okay. People Play Story. Intriguing title. What's the book all about? Well, it's not just about slides. It's about the psychology of making your message stick, which, let's face it, is what we all want. Right? Absolutely. Getting your message to resonate with your audience is key. Right. And one of the things that really struck me when prepping for this deep dive was how specific this book gets with its PowerPoint advice. Really?
How so? For example, it stresses using a minimum 18 point font. 18 point. Wow. That seems awfully large. I know. I had the same thought. When was the last time you saw a presentation with 18 point font? It's been a while. Most people seem to be going in the other direction trying to to cram as much information as possible onto a single slide. Right. It feels almost counterintuitive. Yeah. But the book argues there's a reason for it. Okay. I'm intrigued. What's the rationale behind going so big with the font? It's all about how our brains work, I guess. Our brains are hardwired to notice size.
[00:02:29] Unknown:
So a larger font subconsciously signals to the audience,
[00:02:32] Unknown:
hey. This is important. Pay attention. Exactly. It's about guiding their focus, making it easier for them to absorb the information.
[00:02:41] Unknown:
That's fascinating. So it's not just about making it readable for the people on the back row. It's about emphasizing key points.
[00:02:47] Unknown:
Yes. And it's almost like we've been conditioned to equate size with importance.
[00:02:53] Unknown:
It's true. Think about newspaper headlines or billboards. They use large, bold fonts to instantly grab your attention. Makes sense that the same principle would apply to presentations.
[00:03:04] Unknown:
It does. And speaking of bold moves, the book also suggests going completely image free on your first slide. It really no images at all, just the title of your presentation. Yep. Just your pitch and text.
[00:03:15] Unknown:
What do you think? I mean, it feels, I don't know, a little counterintuitive,
[00:03:19] Unknown:
especially in our visually driven world. It does, doesn't it? Yeah. But that's precisely why it can be so effective. Think about it like this. Have you ever seen one of those captivating movie trailers? The ones that leave you wanting more? Oh, absolutely. All the time. So those trailers, they don't reveal the entire plot upfront, do they? They give you glimpses, pique your curiosity, leave you wanting to see what happens next. It's like they're creating intrigue right from the start. Exactly. And that's what this technique is all about. By holding back on the visuals initially, you create a sense of anticipation.
You draw the audience in, make them active participants in uncovering your message. Promising something compelling without giving it all away up front. I like it. Okay. So we've hooked our audience with a strong opening, a bold text only slide, But how do we keep that momentum going? Right. Because we don't wanna lose them after that first slide. Exactly. And that's where people play story dives into some really interesting stuff. Like, they talk about these things called, get this, emotional triggers and verbal pictures. Emotional triggers and verbal pictures. Okay. Now I'm really curious. What exactly does that mean? Well, it's kind of about have you ever thought about how powerful language can be in creating vivid images in your mind? Oh, absolutely. A well written sentence can transport you to another world, evoke all sorts of emotions. Exactly. And the book argues that, well, relying solely on generic visuals can actually be limiting. Interesting point. I can see how a generic
[00:04:48] Unknown:
stock photo might not have the same impact as a more evocative description.
[00:04:53] Unknown:
Right. So instead of just showing a picture, they suggest using descriptive language.
[00:04:58] Unknown:
Language that lets the audience paint their own mental pictures. You know? So instead of me putting up a slide that literally shows a stressed out employee drowning in paperwork. You would use words to paint that picture for them. Exactly. Something like, imagine feeling the weight of a 1,000 unread emails on your shoulders.
[00:05:16] Unknown:
Oh, yeah. I can feel the tension just hearing you say that. Right. Because you're not just seeing an image. You're engaging your imagination.
[00:05:24] Unknown:
You're drawing on your own experiences.
[00:05:26] Unknown:
Which creates a much stronger connection.
[00:05:29] Unknown:
Powerful stuff. It is. And, you know, the book actually gives another example I thought was really interesting. It says, instead of showing a picture of a tranquil beach, try this. Picture the sun warming your skin as gentle waves lap at your feet. See, now I'm relaxed.
[00:05:44] Unknown:
I can practically smell the salt air. It really does make a difference.
[00:05:49] Unknown:
It does. And, you know, everyone processes information differently, so the same image might evoke different emotions or memories for each person in your audience. That's a really good point. Right. But by using evocative language, you kind of allow them to connect with the message on a deeper, more personal level. Okay. So we've talked about font size, no images on the first slide, and now using really descriptive language to paint a picture for your audience.
[00:06:15] Unknown:
What else does this book have in store for us? Well, next up is something that I think a lot of people struggle with, color. Oh, color. Yes. I've definitely seen some presentations where the color choices were, shall we say, questionable.
[00:06:29] Unknown:
It's a common pitfall, and, you know, it can be tempting to go crazy with the color palette, especially with all the options available in PowerPoint these days. Right. But in People Play story,
[00:06:40] Unknown:
they actually recommend sticking to a simple palette of just 3 colors.
[00:06:44] Unknown:
3. Really? Just 3. Just 3. What do you think about that? I mean, I can see how using too many colors could be distracting. It's like, where should your eye even go? What are you supposed to be focusing on? Right. It's like that sensory overload you get when you walk into a store with a 1,000,000 different things
[00:07:00] Unknown:
vying for your attention. Exactly.
[00:07:03] Unknown:
And when your brain is trying to process all those colors, it's not really absorbing the information you're trying to convey. So by using a limited color palette, you're essentially creating visual harmony,
[00:07:13] Unknown:
which makes the information easier to process. Right. And a clean, consistent design
[00:07:19] Unknown:
allows the content to really take center stage.
[00:07:22] Unknown:
Makes sense. So less is more, at least when it comes to color.
[00:07:26] Unknown:
Exactly. It's about making conscious choices that support your message rather than distracting from it. And this idea of visual clarity, you know, I think it connects to a larger point that people play story makes about finding your own voice as a presenter.
[00:07:41] Unknown:
Finding your own voice. I like that because it's true. We can get so caught up in the technical aspects of presentations. Right. You know, the slides and the fonts and the colors that we forget about the human element. Exactly. And a good presentation, it's like a conversation. Right? It's about connecting with your audience, sharing your passion, and letting your personality shine through. Yeah. And when I think about the presentations that have really stuck with me over the years, the ones I still remember, they always had that, that strong sense of the presenter's personality woven through it. Absolutely. People play story is really big on that. It emphasizes that even
[00:08:17] Unknown:
the most visually stunning presentation will fall flat if it lacks heart. If it doesn't have that genuine connection. Right. Because at the end of the day, people connect with people, not just slides.
[00:08:27] Unknown:
So true. So how do we do that? How do we bring more of ourselves into our presentations?
[00:08:32] Unknown:
Well, the book talks about this idea of authenticity. It encourages us to, you know, let go of trying to be someone we're not. Be yourself. Exactly. Embrace what makes you unique because that's what will make your presentation
[00:08:45] Unknown:
memorable. I love that. And it makes me think about something else this book stresses, the ending. It talks a lot about the importance of a strong closing, one that leaves a lasting impact.
[00:08:56] Unknown:
Yeah. You don't wanna just trail off. It's like you've done all this work to build up to this point. You've taken them on a journey, and then you just kinda let them down. Yeah. A strong closing is like, I don't know, the bow on a present. It ties everything together. It's the final thought that sticks with them as they're walking out the door. Exactly.
[00:09:15] Unknown:
And people play story reminds us that a good closing, it should mirror your overall message. And give the audience something to ponder. Right. Like a call to action Right. Or even just a new perspective on something. So as we wrap up this deep dive on People Play Story, any final thoughts you wanna leave our listeners with? You know, this book offers a lot of really great tips and techniques, practical stuff you can actually use in your next presentation. For sure. But I think the most important takeaway is this. The most important ingredient in any presentation is you.
Your passion, your insights, your unique way of seeing the world, that's what will make your presentation stand out. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss our future explorations.
[00:09:58] Unknown:
Until next time. Happy listening.
[00:10:09] Martin Kloss:
Hi, everyone. It's me again. Just a quick note before I let you go. I hope you found today's episode entertaining, engaging, and maybe even inspiring. If you did, please spread the word. And if you didn't, please keep it to yourself. And if you wanna know more, have any questions, or wanna work with me, please get in touch with me on martinklaus.com or on LinkedIn. Now have a great day. Go out and do something fun.
Hi, and welcome to People Play Story, a podcast about storytelling and how to communicate with impact. My name is Martin Kloss, and I'm a professional story coach and speaker trainer. I recently wrote a book. It's called People Play Story, but it's only available in German for now. So to help me reach a wider audience and spread the word about the power of stories, I created this podcast. Full disclosure, what you're about to hear is generated by an AI, courtesy of Google's notebook LM. And each episode is based on a different chapter of my book. I hope you enjoy it and that I can give you something to think about today. Have fun.
[00:00:53] Unknown:
Hey, everyone. Welcome back. Ready for a deep dive into something I think we all struggle with sometimes?
[00:00:59] Unknown:
Let me guess.
[00:01:00] Unknown:
Crafting the perfect elevator pitch. Not this time, though. Today, we're tackling presentations.
[00:01:07] Unknown:
Presentations. The staple of the modern workplace. Exactly.
[00:01:11] Unknown:
Because PowerPoint seems to be the universal language of presentations,
[00:01:15] Unknown:
well, that's where we're focusing our attention today. Sounds good to me. So what's on the docket? Are we talking about slide transitions,
[00:01:21] Unknown:
animations, that sort of thing? We'll try to sprinkle in some of that fun stuff later, but we are actually going back to the basis a little bit today. Taking a deep dive into a book called People Play Story. Okay. People Play Story. Intriguing title. What's the book all about? Well, it's not just about slides. It's about the psychology of making your message stick, which, let's face it, is what we all want. Right? Absolutely. Getting your message to resonate with your audience is key. Right. And one of the things that really struck me when prepping for this deep dive was how specific this book gets with its PowerPoint advice. Really?
How so? For example, it stresses using a minimum 18 point font. 18 point. Wow. That seems awfully large. I know. I had the same thought. When was the last time you saw a presentation with 18 point font? It's been a while. Most people seem to be going in the other direction trying to to cram as much information as possible onto a single slide. Right. It feels almost counterintuitive. Yeah. But the book argues there's a reason for it. Okay. I'm intrigued. What's the rationale behind going so big with the font? It's all about how our brains work, I guess. Our brains are hardwired to notice size.
[00:02:29] Unknown:
So a larger font subconsciously signals to the audience,
[00:02:32] Unknown:
hey. This is important. Pay attention. Exactly. It's about guiding their focus, making it easier for them to absorb the information.
[00:02:41] Unknown:
That's fascinating. So it's not just about making it readable for the people on the back row. It's about emphasizing key points.
[00:02:47] Unknown:
Yes. And it's almost like we've been conditioned to equate size with importance.
[00:02:53] Unknown:
It's true. Think about newspaper headlines or billboards. They use large, bold fonts to instantly grab your attention. Makes sense that the same principle would apply to presentations.
[00:03:04] Unknown:
It does. And speaking of bold moves, the book also suggests going completely image free on your first slide. It really no images at all, just the title of your presentation. Yep. Just your pitch and text.
[00:03:15] Unknown:
What do you think? I mean, it feels, I don't know, a little counterintuitive,
[00:03:19] Unknown:
especially in our visually driven world. It does, doesn't it? Yeah. But that's precisely why it can be so effective. Think about it like this. Have you ever seen one of those captivating movie trailers? The ones that leave you wanting more? Oh, absolutely. All the time. So those trailers, they don't reveal the entire plot upfront, do they? They give you glimpses, pique your curiosity, leave you wanting to see what happens next. It's like they're creating intrigue right from the start. Exactly. And that's what this technique is all about. By holding back on the visuals initially, you create a sense of anticipation.
You draw the audience in, make them active participants in uncovering your message. Promising something compelling without giving it all away up front. I like it. Okay. So we've hooked our audience with a strong opening, a bold text only slide, But how do we keep that momentum going? Right. Because we don't wanna lose them after that first slide. Exactly. And that's where people play story dives into some really interesting stuff. Like, they talk about these things called, get this, emotional triggers and verbal pictures. Emotional triggers and verbal pictures. Okay. Now I'm really curious. What exactly does that mean? Well, it's kind of about have you ever thought about how powerful language can be in creating vivid images in your mind? Oh, absolutely. A well written sentence can transport you to another world, evoke all sorts of emotions. Exactly. And the book argues that, well, relying solely on generic visuals can actually be limiting. Interesting point. I can see how a generic
[00:04:48] Unknown:
stock photo might not have the same impact as a more evocative description.
[00:04:53] Unknown:
Right. So instead of just showing a picture, they suggest using descriptive language.
[00:04:58] Unknown:
Language that lets the audience paint their own mental pictures. You know? So instead of me putting up a slide that literally shows a stressed out employee drowning in paperwork. You would use words to paint that picture for them. Exactly. Something like, imagine feeling the weight of a 1,000 unread emails on your shoulders.
[00:05:16] Unknown:
Oh, yeah. I can feel the tension just hearing you say that. Right. Because you're not just seeing an image. You're engaging your imagination.
[00:05:24] Unknown:
You're drawing on your own experiences.
[00:05:26] Unknown:
Which creates a much stronger connection.
[00:05:29] Unknown:
Powerful stuff. It is. And, you know, the book actually gives another example I thought was really interesting. It says, instead of showing a picture of a tranquil beach, try this. Picture the sun warming your skin as gentle waves lap at your feet. See, now I'm relaxed.
[00:05:44] Unknown:
I can practically smell the salt air. It really does make a difference.
[00:05:49] Unknown:
It does. And, you know, everyone processes information differently, so the same image might evoke different emotions or memories for each person in your audience. That's a really good point. Right. But by using evocative language, you kind of allow them to connect with the message on a deeper, more personal level. Okay. So we've talked about font size, no images on the first slide, and now using really descriptive language to paint a picture for your audience.
[00:06:15] Unknown:
What else does this book have in store for us? Well, next up is something that I think a lot of people struggle with, color. Oh, color. Yes. I've definitely seen some presentations where the color choices were, shall we say, questionable.
[00:06:29] Unknown:
It's a common pitfall, and, you know, it can be tempting to go crazy with the color palette, especially with all the options available in PowerPoint these days. Right. But in People Play story,
[00:06:40] Unknown:
they actually recommend sticking to a simple palette of just 3 colors.
[00:06:44] Unknown:
3. Really? Just 3. Just 3. What do you think about that? I mean, I can see how using too many colors could be distracting. It's like, where should your eye even go? What are you supposed to be focusing on? Right. It's like that sensory overload you get when you walk into a store with a 1,000,000 different things
[00:07:00] Unknown:
vying for your attention. Exactly.
[00:07:03] Unknown:
And when your brain is trying to process all those colors, it's not really absorbing the information you're trying to convey. So by using a limited color palette, you're essentially creating visual harmony,
[00:07:13] Unknown:
which makes the information easier to process. Right. And a clean, consistent design
[00:07:19] Unknown:
allows the content to really take center stage.
[00:07:22] Unknown:
Makes sense. So less is more, at least when it comes to color.
[00:07:26] Unknown:
Exactly. It's about making conscious choices that support your message rather than distracting from it. And this idea of visual clarity, you know, I think it connects to a larger point that people play story makes about finding your own voice as a presenter.
[00:07:41] Unknown:
Finding your own voice. I like that because it's true. We can get so caught up in the technical aspects of presentations. Right. You know, the slides and the fonts and the colors that we forget about the human element. Exactly. And a good presentation, it's like a conversation. Right? It's about connecting with your audience, sharing your passion, and letting your personality shine through. Yeah. And when I think about the presentations that have really stuck with me over the years, the ones I still remember, they always had that, that strong sense of the presenter's personality woven through it. Absolutely. People play story is really big on that. It emphasizes that even
[00:08:17] Unknown:
the most visually stunning presentation will fall flat if it lacks heart. If it doesn't have that genuine connection. Right. Because at the end of the day, people connect with people, not just slides.
[00:08:27] Unknown:
So true. So how do we do that? How do we bring more of ourselves into our presentations?
[00:08:32] Unknown:
Well, the book talks about this idea of authenticity. It encourages us to, you know, let go of trying to be someone we're not. Be yourself. Exactly. Embrace what makes you unique because that's what will make your presentation
[00:08:45] Unknown:
memorable. I love that. And it makes me think about something else this book stresses, the ending. It talks a lot about the importance of a strong closing, one that leaves a lasting impact.
[00:08:56] Unknown:
Yeah. You don't wanna just trail off. It's like you've done all this work to build up to this point. You've taken them on a journey, and then you just kinda let them down. Yeah. A strong closing is like, I don't know, the bow on a present. It ties everything together. It's the final thought that sticks with them as they're walking out the door. Exactly.
[00:09:15] Unknown:
And people play story reminds us that a good closing, it should mirror your overall message. And give the audience something to ponder. Right. Like a call to action Right. Or even just a new perspective on something. So as we wrap up this deep dive on People Play Story, any final thoughts you wanna leave our listeners with? You know, this book offers a lot of really great tips and techniques, practical stuff you can actually use in your next presentation. For sure. But I think the most important takeaway is this. The most important ingredient in any presentation is you.
Your passion, your insights, your unique way of seeing the world, that's what will make your presentation stand out. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss our future explorations.
[00:09:58] Unknown:
Until next time. Happy listening.
[00:10:09] Martin Kloss:
Hi, everyone. It's me again. Just a quick note before I let you go. I hope you found today's episode entertaining, engaging, and maybe even inspiring. If you did, please spread the word. And if you didn't, please keep it to yourself. And if you wanna know more, have any questions, or wanna work with me, please get in touch with me on martinklaus.com or on LinkedIn. Now have a great day. Go out and do something fun.
