Stand and Deliver

Book excerpt: David Michaels is afraid. His palms sweat. His knees threaten to buckle. And his tongue, like his stomach, seems to be tied in knots. For David is due to give a series of presentations. Fortunately, help is at hand in the person of Demosthenes, the ancient Greek orator. Under his tutelage David overcomes his fears and learns how to create a powerful presentation. His objective is to win support for his project to save sick children in Amazonia. By following David as he gradually masters the techniques involved, the reader will acquire the knowledge and the skills necessary to define the audience; determine what to say; organize the content; control nervousness; deliver in style; use visual aids; and deal with questions. The fictional treatment makes this an entertaining as well as informative guide, and as an additional aid to learning the key points are summarized in checklist form at the end of the book. Stand and Deliver will be valued by all managers, and others, faced with the need to give effective presentations.