In this Strategyzer webinar we aim to share with you the mistakes to avoid and the best practices for delivering a compelling business model presentation, using our well-known tool the Business Model Canvas. Your host is Benson Garner, a seasoned business design consultant and a member of the Strategyzer content team.

In the following article, we'll delve into the valuable insights shared by Benson in the webinar, unraveling the art of delivering a compelling business model presentation while sidestepping common pitfalls. We will dissect the key takeaways, mistakes to avoid, and best practices that can transform your business model presentation into a powerful tool for securing investment, garnering support, and propelling your venture toward success.

Presentation killers: mistakes to avoid

Here we unveil presentation killers – the blunders that can cast a shadow over your business model presentation, obstructing the effective delivery of your message. These pitfalls, though common, can derail your audience's understanding and engagement. In this section, we'll dissect each of these presentation killers and shed light on their impact.

Mistake 1
Cognitive Murder: Revealing the entire canvas at once

One of the most significant blunders that Benson highlighted is the tendency to expose the entire canvas upfront. He coined this mishap as "cognitive murder." Our brains can't handle all of that information all at once. Overwhelming the audience with an entire canvas instantly can lead your audience to disregard your spoken words and focus solely on the canvas.

For example, consider Ivan, the fictional presenter, and his dental clinic-focused business model canvas. Had Ivan displayed the entire canvas at the start of his presentation, the audience might have struggled to absorb the myriad of details, failing to grasp the interconnectedness of the elements. Instead, Benson advocated for a step-by-step approach, layering in elements of the story as you narrate, using visual cues like Post-it notes for a cohesive, comprehensible narrative.

Mistake 2
Excessive detail and granularity

Benson cautioned against delving too deep into the nitty-gritty of your canvas during the presentation. While acknowledging the importance of detailed documentation, he stressed that strategic presentations require a concise focus on key elements. An overdose of granularity can obfuscate your central message and lead to confusion among your audience.

To illustrate, imagine Ivan inundating his canvas with exhaustive bullet points and minutiae regarding dental procedures, caseworker interactions, and billing intricacies. Such an approach could alienate the audience, overshadowing the core narrative. Benson's advice was to maintain a balance between depth and clarity, saving intricate details for separate documents or appendices, while your presentation remains a beacon of clarity.

Mistake 3
Cramming multiple ideas into one canvas

Ivan's predicament also showcases another common error: trying to fit multiple unrelated ideas into a single canvas. As Benson pointed out, "Separate those ideas out into completely separate canvases." Whether it's divergent customer segments or distinct value propositions, Benson urged the audience to avoid cluttering the canvas with an overload of ideas.

Envision Ivan struggling to showcase dental clinics, indigent populations, and revenue streams all in one canvas. Such a presentation would undoubtedly confuse the audience, making it challenging to grasp the essence of each idea. Instead, keep your message crystal clear by dedicating separate canvases to each idea, offering a concise and coherent narrative.

Mistake 4
Orphan elements: neglecting to connect all elements

"Orphan elements" emerged as another pitfall that can mar your presentation. As described by Benson, these are elements within the canvas that lack connections to the rest, resulting in a disjointed narrative. 

For instance, if Ivan's dental clinic business model featured customer segments and value propositions but omitted the corresponding revenue streams, the canvas would suffer from orphan elements.These disconnected components disrupt the canvas's overarching story, causing confusion among the audience. 

Instead, ensure that every element on the canvas contributes to a holistic narrative, weaving an interconnected story that captures the audience's attention and understanding.

Mistake 5
Mixing present and future states

Blending present and future states within the same canvas can also hinder your presentation's efficacy. Benson emphasized the need to distinguish between current and future aspects clearly. He advocated for colour coding or employing separate canvases for each state to prevent audience confusion.

Imagine Ivan's canvas depicting both his current dental clinic operations and his future plans to expand into new markets. Without visual differentiation, the audience might struggle to discern the temporal context of each element. 

Instead, employ visual cues or separate canvases to maintain a cohesive narrative while clearly delineating present and future states.

Mistake 6
Blah blah blah: Engaging in irrelevant or excessive detail

Benson humorously labeled the tendency to stray off-topic or delve excessively into details as "blah blah blah." This pitfall often arises when presenters become sidetracked or succumb to the urge to share too much information, eclipsing the canvas and diluting the central message.

Imagine Ivan rambling about tangential dental industry statistics or lengthy billing processes without visual support. Such a monologue can alienate the audience, leaving them disoriented and disconnected. 

Instead, stay aligned with the canvas, ensuring that your verbal narrative seamlessly complements the visuals, creating a clear and synchronized message.

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Best practices for creating a killer presentation

Benson Garner's webinar not only exposed the pitfalls to evade but also illuminated the path toward delivering a compelling business model presentation. In this section, we'll explore the best practices Garner outlined, offering a roadmap to crafting a presentation that resonates with your audience, captures attention, and effectively communicates your business model.

Best practice 1
Tell your story one step at a time

One of the cornerstones of a killer presentation, as emphasized by Benson, is the art of sequential storytelling. He stressed that unraveling the canvas's elements one at a time, while narrating the story, significantly enhances comprehension. "Layering in these elements one at a time," he said, using visual cues like Post-it notes, creates a cohesive, easily understandable narrative.

Imagine Ivan, the fictional presenter, guiding the audience through his dental clinic business model story step by step. As he unfolds each element, the audience is introduced to the indigent population, their needs, value propositions, and revenue streams. 

This methodical approach ensures that the canvas elements are not overwhelming, and the narrative seamlessly connects with the visuals, leading to a clearer understanding.

Best practice 2
Use effective colour coding for clarity

Benson underscored the power of colour coding as a tool to distinguish different elements of the business model. By doing so, presenters can convey messages about customer segments, value propositions, and more. His guidance was simple: "You want to use an effective colour code to tell different elements of the story."

Returning to Ivan's dental clinic canvas, consider the use of colour to differentiate between customer segments and their corresponding value propositions. This visual distinction aids the audience in comprehending the narrative at a glance, enhancing clarity and aiding memory recall.

Best practice 3
Add visual enhancement and simplify

The importance of visual enhancement cannot be overstated. Benson urged presenters to use simple visuals alongside short, descriptive words to communicate effectively. "Better smiles" paired with a visual of a smiley face, he noted, creates a more lasting impact on the audience's understanding.

Imagine Ivan's canvas transforming from a cluttered arrangement of text to a streamlined version where simple visuals accompany descriptive phrases. The inclusion of these visuals simplifies complex ideas, making them more relatable and memorable for the audience.

Best practice 4
Be concise and omit unnecessary granularity

To maintain audience engagement, Benson urged presenters to avoid excessive granularity and detail during the presentation. He cautioned against the temptation to share irrelevant or overly intricate information. "All that granularity, all that detail is just going to confuse your audience," he warned.

Consider Ivan's hypothetical tendency to over explain dental procedures, caseworker interactions, and billing mechanisms. Such an approach could lead to audience detachment. Instead, streamline the presentation, providing the necessary information without overwhelming the audience with minutiae.

Best practice 5
Distinguishing assumptions from facts

In his presentation, Benson emphasized distinguishing between assumptions and evidence-based elements. He suggested verbally conveying which elements are established facts and which are assumptions. "You want to distinguish between what you know today are facts and which ideas are simply assumptions that you're going to have to test," he said.

Imagine Ivan's canvas clearly marking elements supported by evidence with checkmarks and assumptions with question marks. This differentiation ensures that the audience understands the degree of certainty associated with each element, fostering a more informed engagement with the content.

Best practice 6
Engage your audience with relevant multimedia content

Garner advocated for the strategic use of multimedia content to enhance the presentation's dynamism. Incorporating videos, images, charts, and graphs can engage the audience and bolster the understanding of complex concepts.

Envision Ivan embedding a video showcasing dental procedures, reinforcing his value proposition. The visual aid not only captures the audience's attention but also adds depth to his narrative, making it more immersive and memorable.

Best practice 7
Apply effective plot structure

Finally, Benson urged presenters to embrace effective plot structure in their presentations. He compared the presentation to a story, complete with a beginning, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion. "You want to create suspense that's going to pull your audience from one idea to the next," he advised.

Imagine Ivan crafting his presentation with the strategic plot structure in mind. As he gradually unveils the canvas elements, he builds anticipation, leading the audience through the narrative's twists and turns. This suspenseful approach not only captures attention but also ensures that the audience remains engaged and attentive throughout.

Incorporating these best practices into your business model presentation can elevate it from mere information sharing to an impactful storytelling experience.

In conclusion

In the world of business, presentation isn't just about sharing information; it's about crafting a compelling narrative that captivates, convinces, and catalyzes action. This webinar, fueled by Strategyzer's experience of delivering such presentation and coaching others to present, provided an illuminating journey through the dos and don'ts of delivering a business model presentation that truly resonates.

We explored the perils of presentation killers, learning to avoid revealing the entire canvas at once, steering clear of excessive detail, and sidestepping the trap of cramming unrelated ideas into one canvas. We discovered the importance of connecting all elements cohesively, steering clear of the confusion that arises from mixing present and future states, and resisting the urge to ramble on with irrelevant information.

On the flip side, we unveiled a treasure trove of best practices to transform your presentation game. From the power of sequential storytelling, effective colour coding, and visual enhancement, to the virtues of conciseness, distinguishing assumptions from facts, and embracing a strategic plot structure – each practice serves as a stepping stone toward delivering a killer presentation that leaves a lasting impact.

As you prepare for your next business model presentation, remember that success lies not just in the content you share but in the way you share it. Remember that every canvas element, every word spoken, and every visual aid should weave together a narrative that engages, educates, and energizes your audience.

To continue on this path of innovation, we invite you to join our upcoming webinars, where industry experts will delve even deeper into the topics of business design, strategy, and innovation. 

So, whether you're preparing to address investors, stakeholders, or your internal team, remember the lessons of this webinar – and let your next presentation be a testament to the power of strategy, storytelling, and the Strategyzer approach to innovation.