Knock Their Socks OffIn Person & On Camera

A Tutorial Written & Presented By:Marie Ackerman AIFD PFCI AAF

NOTICE Of RESTRICTED USE

This tutorial is intended for your private and personal use only. It cannot be used in classroom settings, sold for monetary gain, posted online, copied to any information storage or retrieval device or redistributed without prior permission from its author,  Marie Ackerman.  

If you do  any of these things we will find out and hunt you down. 

A question for you…

We see a lot of presenters…

But, WHAT MAKES A GOOD PRESENTER… GREAT?

Good to GREAT?

Here are some answers some folks often say…

• Relaxed…. not nervous at all.

• Funny… a regular Jerry Seinfeld.

• Entertaining… easy to follow.

• Attractive … physically appealing.

• Smart…  knows a lot about a lot.

Another question…

What makes a presenter 

less than effective?

What makes a good presenter less effective?

Here are some answers some folks often say…

• Bragging – about who they know, what they do, where they have been.

• Rambles/mumbles – never really saysanything – can’t understand them.

• Unorganized – seems like they have no clue about what’s coming next.

• Inaccurate – gives wrong information.

What Makes a Presenter Great?

Marie’s Five P’s of Presenting…

1. Passion for the subject

2. Point of view (and supporting reasons)

3. Presence – Polished & Professional

4. Personality – to engage the audience

5. Progression of thought

1st P ‐ Passion

• Passion creates excitement which translates to your words, face and body language.

• When you love something, you love to talk about it – almost to excess!

• When passions are shared by your audience –they relate to you easily.

• When you are passionate about something its easy to sell it.

2nd P – Point of View

• To have a point of view you have to know your subject VERY well. (Study all angles.)

• A point of view should be provocative – but not controversial. (Sponsor sensitivity)

• You have to stand for something – or your audience will never engage.

• You need to know the opposing points as well as your own.

3rd P‐ Presence

• Dress for comfort – but also to look professional. Dress a bit nicer than your audience – all the way down to your shoes!

• Great grooming – Appropriate makeup, 

hair cuts, hand/nails.

• Confidence – especially non‐verbal types ‐eye contact, posture, smiles

• Knowledge is where the power starts.

4th P ‐ Personality 

• Self Awareness is essential to being a great presenter. 

– Strengths and Weaknesses

• Tell stories that relate to the subject at hand‐things that actually happened to you.

• Be gracious – no one likes to work for a diva!

• Balance ‐ Fun enough to keep it light, 

serious enough to be educational.

5th P ‐ Progression 

• Organize your points on paper first ‐ using logic.

• Start with simple things, end with complex ones. 

• Build to the big finish.

• Explain to the audience the roadmap for your program so they can follow easily.

What PFCI Evaluates in PotentialMembers…

• Clear articulate speech –– Voice control, enunciation, proper pitch

• Exhibits Professionalism– Attire, Transitions, Accuracy, Sponsor representation

• Vocabulary– Definitions, accuracy, product ID, – Non‐words out

• Stage presence‐ eye contact, body language, rapport, use of microphone

• Construction – An outline w/ beginning, end, 3 major points!

Your PFCI Audition DVD 

• Must include… • Opening• Closing • 3 Main Points

• Must be in English

• Must be in Front of Live audience

• 8 copies of DVD

• Name on the face of the DVD

Some Hints

• Give the trustees a break  ‐ edit the DVD.

• Don’t just go for it ‐ practice before taping.

• Slow down your rate of delivery – it will increase how others comprehend what you are saying. (The average presenter speaks 125‐150 words per minute. The average listener can comprehend almost 3 times that.)

…more hints

• Add lighting – especially in the area of your face. (So we can see your smile!)

• Limit ambient sound (traffic, music, coolers)

• Plan & Rehearse

• Relax and Be yourself

Planning a Program

Successful Program Begin with Great Planning!

• Plan the END first. » Where do you want to end up?» This is what they will remember most!» Should be dramatic and surprising.

• Plan the Opening next. » Should introduce the subject.» Should get to the point FAST.» Should be followed by a road map of where you are going.

• Plan the middle last.» The guts of the program is where the real content is!» Strategically place educational content and inspiring visuals.» Create a time budget to keep on track.

How to really wow them 

• Do your homework. • Really study up on the subject to become the SME!

(Subject Matter Expert)

• TALK about the work!• As crazy as it sounds, people get nervous and forget to talk about the designs/subject.

• Create a printed handout to provide details and sources.

• Give out at the END of the program!• Provides real value to the audience.

Final Big Thought

“The very best part of being a speaker is afterwards.”

“People coming up – what they say and what they don’t. Connecting. Looking into their eyes and seeing that they used me as a mirror… looked inside themselves and tuned in to some part of themselves they had turned off for awhile – or discovered some things they have not been in touch with.”

‐ W Mitchell

About the Program’s Author

Marie Ackerman AIFD AAF PFCITeleflora’s Vice President Education

With more than 30 years experience as a floral designer, including ten years in retail, Marie’s had a remarkable national career as a spokesperson, educator and wire service professional. She is an accomplished author, photo stylist and trainer who appears frequently on stage in North America. She is a past chairperson of the PFCI Trustee Board and was the youngest recipient of the PFCI Tommy Bright award for Lifetime Achievement in speaking.

Marie has appeared on “Dinner Impossible” on the Food Network and as a guest host on the Home Shopping Network (HSN) promoting the sale and use of flowers. She was the floral consultant and floral trainer for the 2009 movie “Love Happens” starring Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart.

Marie has pioneered many innovative seminar formats for retail florists – always seeking the newest techniques to share with eager learners. She organizes and directs Teleflora’s Education Center in Oklahoma City – a school where new and established retail florists come to expand their knowledge in business and hands­on design training.

To contact SAF/PFCI

Society of American Florists

1601 Duke StreetAlexandria, VA 22314Phone: 800‐851‐9495

www.safnow.org