Happy Friday!
Have you ever sat through a presentation where the speaker used a PowerPoint and seriously just read off the slides? Droning on and on.
You felt like Charlie Brown with the WAH WAH WAH teacher – the words don’t compute and you are now lost, bored, and looking at your watch.
Speaking FAIL.
(sigh)
I’m not a fan of the above scenario but slide presentations can be useful if they are done correctly.
Here are my rules – they’ve served me well!
- Slide presentations should be complimentary, include your brand, and should never distract from you speaking
- Bag the words – focus on the pictures. A good visual that compliments the point you are trying to get across is what you want! Having perhaps a title is fine – but lists, paragraphs, or anything that someone has to READ is a hard NO
- Photos should be fun – if you need to use a graph or something to make a point – that’s fine, but don’t expect people to read the fine print – you’ll need to explain that
- Less is more. The more you flip through slides – the more distracting it is
- Use the PPT as a guide to keep you on task versus notes in your hand
- End your slide presentation with how to connect with you – and leave that slide up there while you are doing a Q&A
Once you create your slide presentation – practice your speech and the timing. How did you do?
It’s ok to look at a slide – or reference it while you do your presentation, but you don’t want to use it like a novel you are reading.
During your presentation – move around the stage or room, make eye contact with people so they feel you are speaking to them directly.
Stop, pause – ask questions if appropriate.
You’ve totally got this!!