Management Tip of the Day: Create Dramatic Tension to Persuade Your Audience

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile JANUARY 4, 2013 Create Dramatic Tension to Persuade Your Audience All good presentations — like all good stories — convey and resolve some kind of conflict. The sense of discord is what makes audiences care. Create conflict by juxtaposing what is with what could be. Begin by describing life as the audience knows it. People should be nodding their heads in recognition. This creates a bond and opens them up to hear your ideas for change. After you set that baseline, introduce your ideas of what could be. The gap between the two will throw the audience a bit off balance, and that's a good thing — it creates tension that needs to be resolved. Continue to alternately build tension and provide release by toggling back and forth between the status quo and a better way — finally arriving at the "new bliss" people will discover by adopting your proposal. Today's Management Tip was adapted from the HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations. Buy the book and learn what it takes to be an effective speaker » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study TAKE THE PAIN OUT OF PRESENTATIONS. Terrified of speaking in front of a group? Or simply looking to polish your skills? No matter where you are on the spectrum, this guide will give you the confidence and the tools you need to get results. Written by presentation expert Nancy Duarte, the "HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations" will help you: (1) Win over tough crowds, (2) Organize a coherent narrative, (3) Create powerful messages and visuals, (4) Connect with and engage your audience, (5) Show people why your ideas matter to them, and (6) Strike the right tone, in any situation. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Put Mundane Decisions on Autopilot Know the Impression Your Body Language Makes Proactively Manage Your Digital Reputation Help Your Team Mind Their Manners Make the Job More Like a Game Keep Your Network Active Don't Hurt Your Own Cause Spark Innovation with These 3 Words Get Ahead Without the Corporate Ladder Start Persuading Your Audience Before the Presentation All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's 10 Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)