xxi
Invest Your Time
Be forewarned: A high-quality in-person presentation
takes time and planning, yet pressure on our time pre-
vents us from preparing high-quality communications.
It takes discipline to be a great communicator—it’s a
skill that will bring a big payoff to you personally and
to your organization.
But a recent survey conducted by Distinction had some
startling findings. Of the executives surveyed, over 86
percent said that communicating clearly impacts their
careers and incomes yet only 25 percent put more than
two hours into preparing for very high-stakes presenta-
tions. That’s a big gap.
The result of investing in an important presentation
is unparalleled in any other medium. When an idea is
communicated effectively, people follow and change.
Words that are carefully framed and spoken are the
most powerful means of communication there is. The
lifework of the communicators featured in this book
are proof.
Hope you enjoy,
DISTINCTION COMMUNICATION EXECUTIVE SURVEY RESULTS
©www.distinction-services.com
How would you
rank the impor-
tance of personal
presentation skills
in what you do?
86.1%
Communicating
with clarity directly
impacts my career
and income.
13.8%
I present from
time to time but
the stakes don’t
seem all that high.
0%
I don’t do
any formal
presentations.
1
What do you
find the most
challenging part
of creating a
presentation?
35.7%
Putting together
a good message.
8.9%
Creating
quality slides.
13.8%
Delivering the
presentation with
confident skills.
41.1%
All of the above!
2
How much time
do you spend
practicing for a
“high-stakes”
presentation?
12.1%
I seldom have time
to practice at all.
16.2%
5–30 minutes.
17.0%
30 minutes
to one hour.
29.2%
One to two hours.
25.2%
More than
two hours!
3
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