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Developing a Presentation
Business is built on relationships and relationships are built on communication.
Effective communication, therefore, is critical to success
in today’s
business environment. Microsoft PowerPoint is the premier presentation
software. A well-done presentation enhances your communication
in several ways:
- Provides a textual outline
- Creates a flow from one idea to another
- Gives structure to a concept
- Emphasizes details
- Provides visuals when words can't capture what needs to be conveyed
Effective slides are easy to read:
- Font stands out against the background
- Use phrases or short sentences
- Are well-timed
Effective slides are attractive:
- No more than two types of font
- Use complimentary colors
- Niether too crowed nor too sparse
Material needs to be presented in a logical, easy to follow approach.
Here are some tips:
- After the title slide, provide an overview of the presentation.
- When comparing lists, bring in the first list in its entirety, then
the other list.
- When making a point-counterpoint, bring them in an alternating approach.
Use individual textboxes for this.
- Put text to the left of a graphic if the graphic enhances the text.
- Put the text to the right of the graphic if the graphic needs explanation.
- Use a blank slide to put all attention on the speaker.
- Bring up bullet points individually if discussion accompanies each
one.
- When going deep into details, bullet points on one slide can become
titles for subsequent slides.
- Don't overdo spinning, flashing, sparkling animation. Use sounds sparingly.
- Never end with a blank or black screen. Pleasantly bid them ado.
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Delivering a Presentation
Position yourself on the left side of the screen when the language on
the screen is read left to right. Position yourself on the
right side of the screen when the language is
read right to left.
Stay in the Triangle:
All speaking is done from within an imaginary right triangle.
The long side of the triangle is a line from the eyes of
the left most audience member (audience's left) to the left
edge of the screen. (This is assuming a left-to-right language
is being presented.) Do not cross this line. This prevents
the speaker from obscuring anyone's view of the screen.
The other two lines of the triangle meet to form a corner
behind the presenter.
Stand at a 45 degree angle to the audience when discussing the screen.
Face them directly to make an important point.
Use movement. Move close to the screen if the content is complex. Move
closer to the audience to connect with them more directly. Move deliberately
but comfortably. Do not move constantly. Use arm and hand movement naturally.
Avoid stiffness but don't flail.
Limit looking at the screen. When the presenter looks at the screen the
eyes in the audience will typically follow. Do this to intentionally
draw their attention to a point of interest.
The other time to look at the screen is to point at a particular
spot on the slide. Always use the arm closest to the
screen to point at the screen.
Move your eyes to make eye contact with each audience member. Don't pick
just one or two. If looking them in the eyes makes you nervous, try looking at their foreheads.
Don't read the screen to the audience. Ideally, you will have a laptop
in front of you as a monitor. Take your cues from there. The
bullet points provide an outline. The presenter is there to
fill in the details.
Presentation software is simply a tool to enhance communication.
It may be the visual focus but it is not the primary focus.
People go to a presentation to hear what the presenter has
to say.
Two things to remember about technology. First, know the hardware and
software well enough to use it confidently. Secondly, it may
not work. Be ready to deliver the presentation without it.
Is That All There Is to It?
These are just some of details to remember when developing
and delivering a presentation. These areas will be developed
further in the near future. |
