Say It With Charts: The Executive's Guide to Visual Communication

Step-by-step guide to creating compelling, memorable presentations

A chart that once took ten hours to prepare can now be produced by anyone with ten minutes and a computer keyboard. What hasn't changed, however, are the basics behind creating a powerful visual - what to say, why to say it, and how to say it for the most impact. In Say It With Charts, Fourth Edition --the latest, cutting-edge edition of his best-selling presentation guide -- Gene Zelazny reveals time-tested tips for preparing effective presentations. Then, this presentation guru shows you how to combine those tips with today's hottest technologies for sharper, stronger visuals. Look to this comprehensive presentation encyclopedia for information on:


* How to prepare different types of charts -- pie, bar, column, line, or dot -- and when to use each 
* Lettering size, color choice, appropriate chart types, and more 
* Techniques for producing dramatic eVisuals using animation, scanned images, sound, video, and links to pertinent websites


Review:

Getting the point across

As an equity analyst, consultant, and communication specialist, I saw - and made - dozens of colorful presentations with the best charts that excel can draw that simply didn't work.

After the failed presentation, a consultant or analyst who knows how to get his point across will draw a simple diagram or chart on a white board that will be far more convincing and effective than the entire PowerPoint presentation.

This book is for the person who wants to get point across.


Review:

Consider it part of a broad business education

When one considers the amount of time/money they spend on improving their job skills, it would seem obvious that a high-value read like 'Say it with Charts' would be worth some consideration. It provides a framework for using charts to your advantage- and not just within oral presentations. If anything, this book will increase your willingness to use charts to your advantage when selling an opinion. It forces the user to think about exactly what it is they are trying to say - and then produce a professional looking chart to relay that message.

Any edition will do - the content will not change with the times. The underlying principles can be quite powerful and can be the difference between a simple presentation and one which elicites praise.


Review:

helpful - nothing more need be said

Full disclosure - I used to work at IBM and as an entry level consultant with an MBA there the first thing you are is the .ppt whipping post. That being said, the IBM training program covers many of the concepts from this book. Why?? Simple, they work. Is it the be all and end all? No. The only thing that can help you assemble good content is practice, practice, practice - with a healthy dose of constructive criticism from someone that knows what they are talking about. I just got through a days worth of presentations last Friday to one of the most senior technology people at a major government agency. All I can say is that I really, really, really wish that the people presenting before and after me had taken 5 mintues to review this book before getting in front of that crowd - it would have prevented some spectacular flamouts.

http://englishtips.org/1150810666-say-it-with-charts-the-executives-guide-to-visual.html