Little (cultural) differences

More and more people understand the power of personal stories in presentation design. One of the easiest sources of stories are things you are passionate about. Many people are passionate about sports, and as a result, sport analogies often are used to give a more personal flavor to a presentation.

That is great, but only for a national audience. There are little cultural differences.

People in Europe have never seen the 2006 Super Bowl finale, and do not know who the coach of the New York Yankees is. And vice-versa, very few people in the U.S. will remember European sports stars.

If your presentation travels across borders, think of other ways to connect to your audience.

1 comment

Blogsman2011-12-12 17:54:06

So very true. That is why it is important to work with a speech coach when you have to present to an international audience in a language not your native language. It is important to find a coach who is not only fluent in the English (spoken) language and who also understands the American or English culture and English usage so she can protect you from making silly or embarrassing mistakes. For example the minister of foreign affairs thank the 'preparators' for their help in getting the conference ready.