Master Persuasive Business Presentations: The McKinsey Method

This introductory section sets the stage for the course. You'll receive an introduction to the course and its objectives ('Introduction'), understand prerequisites and expectations ('What you should know before watching this course'), explore the prevalence of PowerPoint in consulting ('Why do consultants use PPT so much'), learn how to utilize the course exercises ('Using exercises'), lay a foundation of presentation principles ('Preparation: learning principles'), get acquainted with different presentation applications ('Explore presentation apps'), access example presentations from leading firms ('Download the presentations from McKinsey, BCG and Accenture'), and receive a valuable free gift ('Free gift worth $199').

This section focuses on the strategic planning phase of presentation development. You’ll gain a solid understanding of management consulting ('What is management consulting'), the nature of consulting projects ('What’s consulting project'), the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle ('Understand PDCA (Plan Do Check Act)'), and identify core presentation building blocks ('Identify main building blocks', 'The basic building blocks'). Learn about creating effective headlines ('Headline'), maintaining logical consistency (MECE principle) ('Keep vertical and horizontal logic MECE'), and utilizing storyboarding ('Storyboard'). You’ll then dive into crafting compelling storylines, utilizing the dot-dash method ('Build dot-dash version of storyline'), understanding the importance of writing before formatting ('Write first, format later'), employing the Pyramid Principle for logical structure ('The Pyramid Principle: logic in writing and thinking'), and gaining insights into McKinsey's thought processes ('Bonus: The thought process in McKinsey reports and presentations'). The section concludes by emphasizing audience analysis ('Analyze your audience’s knowledge level', 'Audience checklist').

This highly practical section guides you through the creation of your presentation. You'll learn to blend written and oral presentation skills ('Combine the best of written and oral presentation skills'), understand the importance of clear communication ('Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and the plain English test'), and master the creation of key presentation elements such as cover pages ('Cover page'), agendas ('Agenda', 'Agenda checklist'), and executive summaries ('Executive summary', 'Communicate the main message in < 2 lines'). The section also covers using clear and concise language ('Use down-to-earth language', 'Remember why you are paid to be there'), providing effective information display ('Checklist to display information effectively', 'Headline checklist'), maintaining logical flow ('Maintain the logic flow', 'Using active phrasing examples', 'Use ellipsis to support the flow'), supporting headlines with crucial data ('Produce the most important data to support headlines'), detailing information clearly ('Body is a more detailed explanation of the headline'), avoiding dense text ('Avoid lengthy and dense bullets of text'), and utilizing columns ('Using columns'). Furthermore, it covers effective data visualization, including choosing appropriate chart types ('How to choose among words, tables, graphics', 'Main types of charts', 'Other types of charts', 'Key graph elements', 'Each chart form is best equipped to illustrate one of five comparisons', '5 basic kinds of comparisons', 'Component comparison', 'Item comparison', 'Time series comparison', 'Frequency distribution comparison', 'Correlation comparison', 'Typical amount in a consulting presentation'), handling advanced chart features ('Secondary y axis', '3D chart'), and checklist for effective charts ('Review chart checklist', 'Chart checklist'). The section also covers diagrams ('Diagram', 'Bonus: Editable PowerPoint diagrams'), tables ('Tables', 'Table checklist', 'Table vs. Chart', 'Bonus: IBCS STANDARDS for free (Worth $49)'), word choice ('Words'), efficient data retrieval ('Find the right data quickly'), kickers ('Kicker', 'Kick checklist'), version control ('Version management'), prioritizing findings ('Prioritize findings from many analyses'), appendixes ('Appendix'), legal disclaimers ('Legal disclaimer'), and design elements such as themes ('Theme'), colors ('Color'), fonts ('Font', 'Font size'), images ('Image'), videos ('Video'), backgrounds ('Background'), and animations ('Animation'). It concludes by covering pacing information flow ('Pace information flow'), presenting data effectively ('Present the data in tables and charts'), and using slide chooser tool ('Slide chooser').

This section emphasizes thorough review and preparation. It begins with a summary of key guiding principles when working under deadlines ('In summary, when faced with a deadline, remember the following guiding principle'), and includes comprehensive presentation checklists ('Presentation checklist', 'Use these questions to review your slides'). It then covers the crucial aspects of setting up the presentation room ('How to choose meeting room', 'Minimum legible font size', 'Set up your room for presentation', 'Location checklist'), the importance of practice ('Practice'), pre-meeting preparations ('Pre-meeting'), and access to additional resources ('More management consulting presentations that are publicly available').

This final section focuses on effective presentation delivery and post-presentation follow-up. Key areas covered include establishing audience connection ('Quickly establish a link with your audience'), building credibility ('Build credibility'), avoiding hedging language ('Avoid hedgers'), maintaining a positive attitude ('Attitude'), mastering body language ('Eye contact and body language', 'Three techniques to improve body language'), controlling vocal delivery ('Voice control and how to improve yours'), avoiding reading slides ('Don't read your slides'), delivering presentations without notes ('How to talk without notes'), taking notes effectively ('Taking notes'), using names ('Call participants by name'), utilizing microphones ('Using a microphone'), managing presentation space ('Managing space'), applying time management techniques ('Apply 10-minute rule'), incorporating humor ('Humor'), handling disruptions ('Handle disruption'), appropriate attire ('How to dress for a client meeting'), presentation wrap-up ('Wrap up'), creating meeting minutes ('Meeting minutes', 'Meeting minutes template'), handling Q&A sessions ('Q&A'), and conducting post-presentation reviews ('Debrief your presentation').

This concluding section provides next steps ('Next steps') and summarizes key takeaways ('Course keynotes') from the course.