Brevity is the Soul of PowerPoint

ritabarber — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:19:15 +0000

Have you ever felt handcuffed to your chair during a PowerPoint presentation? Of course you have – we ALL have – and it excruciating! Don’t allow yourself to be guilty of handcuffing your audience.

Here are a couple of quick tips to keep your audience engaged:

NEVER read your slides to your audience – unless they are kindergarteners or younger.
Wherever possible, use images to underscore you message – it’s much more engaging for your audience.
When using text, make sure it’s easy for your audience to read – never smaller than 20 pt.

Most importantly, remember that PowerPoint (or any visual presentation product), is there to support you, not the other way around.

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?

ritabarber — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 06:28:07 +0000

Some people understand the value in preparation before presenting to a group, while it eclipses others. Take Joan. She’s a brilliant high tech budget analyst, who thinks her value lies in her being able to extrapolate data and forecast what the next financial do’s and don’ts are.

Then it happened – She was requested to present her recent findings at an A list executive meeting. It was a white-knuckle ride she’ll never forget. “I stuttered and stammered through the whole thing like a frightened child talking her way through a horror movie. I didn’t prepare so, to put it bluntly, I blew it.”

What would she have done differently? “ I would have looked at my data, asked what the executives were hoping to find out, and created an outline on what I would say, and, as you would say, Practice, Practice, Practice!”

She’s right! That’s what I would have said.

Rita Barber

Brevity is the Soul of PowerPoint

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?