Hi friend,
I am sure that the answers given to your query by our friends are all worth taking note of. However, making an effective ppt or for that matter any presentation / article is not instant coffee, you would agree. The shortest possible guideline would be "Do unto others as you would want others to do unto you", given from the perspective / position of the person whom you are targeting. That "customer is always right" is a golden rule. it is not outdated since it is the DNA of business. It does not mean that customer is always indeed right, but it is the important core "belief-system". Without this, nothing will be right in the long run. Only people who have clearly understood Peter F. Drucker's purpose of business (creation of a customer) can ever understand the import of the belief system that "customer is always right" even if you notice otherwise. You should also study the concept of "Customer Relationship Marketing" as well as the concept of "firing the customer" to get a good hold of the subject. "Firing the customer", but I would suggest firing him / her with a genuine smile!!! The question is to compare the amount of business (in long term) directly or indirectly caused by a particular customer versus the cost of serving that customer. This makes business sense and there is nothing rude about it if done in a meaningful manner. It makes business sense because the business is always about creating and delivering value higher than the cost of the inputs (resources) that go into creating utility and value for the customer and the society. Not doing so is a disservice to the society in general. However, the costs of doing a business or creating value for a customer is relative to the competition (your competitors)!!!
Firstly, this has to be understood. You have to go into the core of the human psychology and ultimately you will reach a conclusion that truly business is the adoption of the marketing philosophy and its soldiers are the sales men and customer service personnel who carry a genuine smile and are empathetic even to a non-conforming, too demanding and sometimes an arrogant customer!!! If the costs of serving your customer has not been right, re-examine the corporate mission, values and the market segmentation / target market you are serving. Are they in alignment? If so, then do not be afraid to continue to genuinely smile with empathy and lead your customer to another business who can serve them though they be your competitors. That way you earn the authentic appreciation of the non-servicable customers who do not fit your target market. But first exhaust all options. Plastic smiles hurt our own sales / customer support staff much more as it is an emotional drain to act not according to our nature. When we smile, it must be our hearts that are smiling. Hope what I am sharing will compel you to think in the long run and benefit you in making effective presentations. The importance of a smile is directly proportional to its authenticity!!! A genuine smile will always have a positive resonance. Moreover, it transforms and sublimates human personality. As some one said it is essential to create a positive experience. Smile can create the world for you, truly believe this relentlessly.
Also I would suggest you to go through the DVDs "The Secret" and "What the bleep do we know?", two excellent DVDs that show case both from the scientific point of view (quantum physics) and from the Spiritual / philosophic view, how we create our own world. A genuine smile is the focusing element of a clear head and honest heart that projects the world on the invisible matrix of the universe!!!
Regards,
M.A.Ganju