Customized training to create persuasive PowerPoint presentations that effectively communicate your message

Have you identified presentation skills as a key development area for your team? If so, it’s probably not because they are nervous and stumbling over themselves when they speak. More likely it’s because their slides and delivery are cluttered, confusing and unclear, perhaps even boring… and as a result, their message is not nearly as effective as it could be.

So a traditional public speaking course and a runthrough on the basics of PowerPoint is NOT going to solve the problem.

What is going to solve the problem is a training session that:

• Is highly customized to the type of presentations your team makes
• Features practical ideas they can apply immediately
• Won’t take them out of the office for days
• Is cost effective.

My customized sessions do just that.

“Dave helped give my sales team a new perspective on how to deliver effective business presentations. He is a true expert in the field and is a very strong communicator.”
Vic Klassen, Sales Management, Toronto, ON

My customized sessions provide practical ideas that participants say changed the way they look at presentations forever. Presenting effectively is more than just PowerPoint. These workshops integrate proven communication principles with specific techniques to create persuasive PowerPoint presentations that get the message across effectively.

“When David Paradi says that you will not look at a PowerPoint presentation the same again- he means it. I attended a full day session of his workshop on how to present financial data effectively using PowerPoint and the following day I was able to make several changes to my current PowerPoint presentation that improved the overall quality of my end product. David delivered a well thought out session covering the kind of topics most relevant to presenters of financial data. He tailored his session to his audience, provided relevant examples and gave simple to implement solutions to many common mistakes/challenges that users face. His RAPIDS approach is a clear road map to help you deliver your message clearly and set you apart. David practices what he teaches and throughout the session pointed out how he implemented his own recommendations. David demonstrated deep understating of the subject he teaches and is truly an expert in the field of visual communication. His concise and easy to implement guide on financial data presentation is a valuable tool to any professional who faces the challenge of presenting large amounts of data. A must session to professionals using PowerPoint today.”
Maria Klyuev, Director, Investor Relations and Marketing, Toronto, ON

What we cover and how deep we go into the topic is up to you. if you want me to speak for an hour and share some quick tips that your conference attendees can apply immediately, I can create a session customized for your group. If you want your team to spend two days going into all aspects of planning their message, creating effective slides, and practicing PowerPoint techniques that will make them more efficient using the tool to create slides, I can take them that deep into the topics. Click here to see a list of all the topics we can cover. Select the ones you think your team needs. Email me and we will set up a phone appointment so together we can decide on the topics and length of the session. When you bring me in to work with your group, you are hiring an expert who will tailor the session to the specific situation. While many of my clients choose a one-day session, each of those sessions is different, depending on the needs of the group.

The attendees at my sessions walk out with practical ideas they can use to improve their presentations. Participants often tell me that I have just made so much work for them to do on their presentations. This is the best indication that what I am sharing is going to be used. They see the value, know that they can do it, and are motivated to improve. This is a strategic view of presentations that is very different from technical courses or public speaking classes. These customized sessions are focused on the areas that will help your team improve the most. There is no filler or wasted time during the session.

“If you want to use PowerPoint as a powerful communications tool, get Dave’s advice. He knows how to tell a story with a presentation and create the “ah ha!” moments with visuals, and how to share those insights in a very helpful way with clients.”
Debra Silimeo, VP, Communications Consulting Firm, Washington, DC

Every session includes customized slide makeovers of slides the participants are currently using. Every group tells me that this is the highlight of the day. They get to see the ideas I am sharing applied to their own slides and they instantly see the improvement that is possible. This strengthens their commitment to implement the ideas. Almost every group wants me to send them the makeovers so they can start using them right away. I am happy to send them the entire set of makeovers so they can review them, discover how the new slides were created, and start using the ideas in their next presentation. I can now also give instant advice to slides the group brings to the session. I take a photo of the slide on my iPad, connect the iPad to the projector, and draw on the screen to show them how to improve their slides. This “instant makeover” provides the ideas they can use immediately.

While you have seen in the topic list that I can cover PowerPoint techniques, this is definitely not a PowerPoint 101 or beginner’s course. I expect the participants to have used the software before. I show them the tips, tricks, and techniques that technical courses don’t show them. When I demonstrate these in a session, the common reaction is, “Why hasn’t anyone showed me that before? That will save me so much time!” and “I had no idea you could do that in PowerPoint, that is going to make my job so much easier!” We can structure any technical discussions as a demonstration or go deeper by having participants try the techniques on their own laptops. As support for them in the future, they have access to over 30 video tutorials on my website.

My name is Dave Paradi and I am one of North America’s acknowledged experts in the presentation community. I am the author or co-author of seven books and my book, The Visual Slide Revolution, was named as one of the Top 10 Business Books of 2008 by Canada’s leading national business newspaper. I have presented keynotes at two Presentation Summit conferences, I have spoken all over North America and I consulted on a presentation used to brief one of President Obama’s cabinet ministers. I am the only Canadian, and one of only eleven people in North America to be recognized by Microsoft with the PowerPoint Most Valuable Professional Award for my contributions to the PowerPoint presentation community. You won’t be hearing from a techie who has never walked in your shoes. I make my living presenting, so you know my ideas are based on real-world experience and I demonstrate them in how I present.

Play the 13 minute video below to see my presentation style during a live session.

The ideas are also backed up by academic research. These aren’t just ideas I thought up. I was an adjunct faculty member at Rush University, I have read the academic research and I have presented at two conferences of Business Communications professors. I also do my own research that has been published in major newspapers and other author’s books. My articles are regularly on the reading list for college and university courses. There is a solid foundation behind what I present, so you are assured that it is not just theory and pie-in-the-sky thinking.

“We had Dave come in for a day of training. He was able to customize the training to what was requested and did a great job. Dave has a way of breaking things down and making everything doable. His teaching is incredibly practical. He is connected to the latest thinking, resources and leaders in the world of presentations.”
Donna Sparkes, CBC, Toronto, ON

In addition to my books, I have written more than 100 articles. I have produced over 270 issues of my bi-weekly tips newsletter that is sent to over 8,200 people around the world. My slide makeover videos have been viewed over 100,000 times on my YouTube channeland Brainshark site. I have a deep well of knowledge and experience to draw upon, so I can respond to the questions or situations that come up.

I ensure that your team will be able to apply the ideas I share by presenting with only plain vanilla PowerPoint. I don’t use any add-ins or plug-ins so that everything the participants see me do, they can do as well. I don’t use Photoshop or image software to create the visuals. I know your team won’t have any extra software other than PowerPoint for their presentations and I want them to see the incredible hidden power they already have with the software they use every day. And if you have an existing template, we’ll show how to make the most of it so the participants see that we can create persuasive PowerPoint visuals while adhering to the corporate design standards.

I have worked with organizations in many different industries and people in many different roles. I’ve worked in sectors such as financial services, distribution, construction, manufacturing, non-profit, government, travel, academic and others. Participants have been analysts, managers, executives, engineers, sales professionals, marketing professionals, and support staff. You can see a full client list here. I am comfortable with the unique challenges you face in your presentations because I have seen so many perspectives and situations. And since I have helped people make more effective PowerPoint presentations when they are presenting in-person, via the web or by e-mail, I have the experience to discuss any delivery vehicle with the group.

My background enables me to understand a wide variety of presentation topics, such as technical, financial, sales, operational and organizational. I have a strong technical background, with a degree in Chemical Engineering and over 25 years of applying technology to solve business problems. My extensive business background includes an MBA, over 8 years of work in the operations and industry committees of the mutual fund industry, and more than 12 years of running my own company. I am not a graphic designer, I am a business professional who understands the demands placed on business presenters today. No matter what the topic of your presentations, I will be able to understand them and give advice on how to make them more effective.  Read this page to make sure I am the right expert to help your team.

I ensure that participants are able to implement the ideas by providing a detailed handout before I speak. This handout contains almost every slide I use so that they are not spending time copying down everything I say. They have the space and time to capture how they will apply the ideas to their own presentations. By the end of the day, they have an action plan to take back to the office of how they will improve their presentations.

“I was able to think of situations where every point would be used in my job. I have never been to a session such as this where I am able to use such a high percentage of the content.”
Denise D., Change Agent, Engineering Company

“Numerous fundamental presentation approaches, rules, etc., along with insightful technical guidance for utilizing PowerPoint.”
Dave M., Director of Finance

I also offer web based resources for the participants to use. My online Color Contrast Calculator helps them select colors that will be easily seen when projected. The Font Size table makes it easy to select the correct size of font based on the room size and screen size. I’ve even created a special site that they can access over a mobile device that gives them quick solutions to 26 of the most common problems they may run into when out presenting. I also offer numerous “how-to” video tutorials on using PowerPoint and links to the best tutorials from PowerPoint experts. Add on my newsletter, blog, and slide makeover videos on YouTube or Brainshark, and your team will have a continuing stream of new ideas that will help them after the workshop day is done.

You can take the learning even deeper and make it continue longer by providing some of my learning resources for each participant. This is completely optional, but organizations who have done this see participants leave with tools that help them remember what they learned and take the knowledge further. It also allows you to eliminate the excuse of “I couldn’t remember what he said” as a reason why someone has not made positive changes to their presentations. We can talk about this when we discuss your session.

“The KWICK method will help me develop and deliver concise and persuasive presentations in less time with fewer revisions.”
Denny S., Specialist – Design Engineering

“The important principles were very clearly presented; lots of practical ideas on how to use different techniques.”
Judy W., Manager, Financial Reporting

You need this training to be cost effective, so I have a very simple fee structure. There is a flat fee for me to be with your group for the day. There are no per person charges, so you can gather up to 25 of the team members who would benefit from these ideas and know your cost is the same. If you compare this to the cost of sending staff to public training sessions, you’ll find a great cost savings. And with a customized workshop, the focus is on exactly what they need for their presentations. Public workshops deal with general topics that are not tailored to the specific type of presentations your team delivers.

If you haven’t already noticed, I live in Canada. This may be a concern if you are in the U.S., but you don’t need to worry. I hold an E-1 visa that gives me full access to deliver workshops with no issues at the border and no letters or forms for you to fill out. I am familiar with the forms your accounting department will ask for, like the W-8BEN, so I’ll make sure that this is smooth and easy for you. I know you want the least hassles possible, so I’ve done the work to make sure that booking a workshop is simple and easy.

“I will now use PowerPoint for visuals rather than a data dump.”
Ian G., CFO

“The presentation structure and sequence section was the most useful. I will develop better presentations that are more focused and leave a message behind.”
Theresa D., Supervisor, Engineering

Next Step? E-mail me to let me know this is what you are looking for and we’ll set up a call to discuss the details. Or you can call me at 905-510-4911 (Eastern Time zone). I look forward to speaking with you and helping your team create persuasive PowerPoint presentations that effectively communicate their message.