PowerPoint Improv Showcase - Wed. May 28, 3pm, 720 Bathurst St.

by David Raitt - guest facilitator for ‘PowerPoint Improv’

FREE EVENT! Our PowerPoint Improv Showcase is on Wednesday, May 28th, from 3-4pm, at The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI NX, THE GARAGE), 720 Bathurst Street, Toronto. Cheer on our students and Try your Skills at PPT Improv.

------Brand New Exercises Specifically For Training Businesspeople-----

When Brian G. Smith asked me to help develop a new version of his PowerPoint Improv workshop, I jumped at the chance. One big reason was Brian's suggestion that we create some brand new exercises specifically for training businesspeople. Traditional improv exercises, adapted from the theatre, are great for developing spontaneity and creativity. But it's exciting to come up with new ways to help people with specific challenges in modern business communication.

For example, one of these is something we're currently calling "Nutshell/Unpack." 

In our exercise, we ask presenters to explain the steps of a simple household task, while their partner interrupts with prompts such as "What are these steps trying to achieve, in a nutshell?" or "Can you unpack that part about spooning coffee into the drip filter?" Business presentations often involve someone tediously reading the text on slides, with little engagement from the audience. What we’re practicing at PPT Improv is delivering the information in a variety of ways; getting out of the ruts of same old, same old.

-----Presenters Become More Nimble In Their Delivery-----

It's a simple exercise, but for the partners on both sides, it trains the engaged, back-and-forth conversation skills that make for better presentations. Presenters become more nimble in their delivery, summarizing or elaborating on their message as needed by their audience, and listeners learn how to ask questions to better understand the material. Meaningful human conversation is always the most effective way to communicate, in business and otherwise.

Smaller lessons like this emerge while Brian and I prepare the class for the biggest improv challenge — delivering PowerPoint slide presentations on the spot, without having seen the images on the slides beforehand. And for their ultimate test, we're inviting YOU to watch! Come support our brave students, enjoy some laughs, and learn about how PowerPoint Improv can help you and your team.

-------Delivering PPT Presentations Never Having Seen The Slides-------

FREE EVENT! Our PowerPoint Improv Showcase is on Wednesday, May 28th, from 3-4pm, at The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) GARAGE, 720 Bathurst Street, Toronto. Snacks and fresh Lake Ontario water provided.

"After two rounds of Monday night improv classes I really felt a void this week on Monday after work. It had become such a great thing to look forward to on Mondays!"

— Sheyda, Urban Engineer