There’s much to love about Larry Lessig, the Stanford University law professor who has become the namesake for a method of presenting characterized by vast slide counts that break concepts into neat, digestible fragments of information. Watching a Lessig presentation is engaging to say the least: with decks at over 200 slides, but each slide deliciously adorned with a single, compelling word, phrase, or image, you become entranced in the rhythmic progression. The man himself so seamlessly integrates his statements with the slides that the effect is one of absolute mastery on stage. What’s not to love about that?
Perhaps my favorite characteristic of the so-called Lessig method, though, is its origins: Larry Lessig, as aforementioned, is a law professor. Apart from the simple fact that he delivers lectures and presentations as part of his job, he is not of the presentation and public speaking realm, so to speak. He’s like you: a person faced with a real career need to address and influence the thoughts of a large group of people. While most other “methods” have been developed by individuals in the presentation business, Lessig just went out, took the bull by the horns, and made a name for himself.
This, I love. I wish more presenters would be so brazen as to create their own styles and approaches. So many public speakers treat it as an obligation with a rigid structure they have to submit to: bullet points, memorization, suit, tie, blah, blah, blah. So few individuals look at the presentation opportunity as a branding opportunity and exercise the freedom to make that direct connection with the audience. Lessig had the courage to be different, to be unexpected. Do you?
Question: How can you step outside of accepted formulas to deliver a seriously groundbreaking presentation? Have you ever seen someone get out of the box like that in business?
