Standards have risen sharply in recent years when it comes to making intriguing presentations. The days of boring slides and droning speakers are over. With the widespread use of PowerPoint and the ease of making colorful, with slides and movement, it is expected that you will make a fabulously engaging presentation in a classroom, a boardroom, or a trade show.
Here are some tips on how to make a terrific slide presentation.
First, be prepared. Make sure you have a laptop, a projector, and a projector cart ready to go. We recommend the Fusion Laptop Projector Cart from Versatables. Many hotels, universities, and businesses have not done so well. The Fusion Laptop Projector Cart allows for easy projection and control of the laptop from one mobile unit. If they do not have one, you may need to make other arrangements. If you are not using your own laptop, bring your presentation to a flash drive and email it to yourself as well. Just in case the flash drive does not work, you'll be able to access your email on the laptop and you'll be working from there.
Second, bring your slides just in case. I know a woman who went to give a power point presentation and the university was not working. Luckily, she handed out the handouts she brought and the show went on. She looked like a star for being prepared when the university was not.
Third, do not overdo it. Too many graphics, too much color, and too much sound. You want the power of the presentation to enhance the subject you're presentingnot overpower it. Pick one color scheme and stick to it. Avoid the swirling graphics and stick to simpler ones. Do not include a million examples of decorative gold clip art. As you create the slides, make sure the information is presented in a clear, logical way. Then look at each other and see if there is anything that can be added to the understanding of the material. A chart? A graphic? A photo? If the answer is no, do not include one. If it's yes, think long and hard about which graphic achieves your goal of enhancing understanding before adding it. The problem with many presentations is that they seem to be overheated.
Fourth, pay attention to time. If you could convey the same information in eight minutes instead of twelve, why would not you? Everyone's time is precious and careful spans are short. If you're clear and concise about what you want to get across, there is a need to give lots of convoluted information and scenarios. Stick to one clear example
Getting an audience interested in your presentation is a challenge. No matter what technology you use, whether it's PowerPoint, whiteboard, graphics, or any other visual medium, it's your delivery, preparation, or absence that will affect your performance.
The buzz is in the sayingIf you have attended many seminars or webinars, you can count in your hand the few who stood out. Ask yourself what you liked in these concerts. These are probably the strong points:
1. Good presentation material.
2. Good report.
3. Great speakers.
4. Animated participants.
With hindsight, you will realize that what made the activity outstanding is your active participation in almost all activities. You asked a lot of questions and were satisfied with the answers. You probably liked what you saw in almost every PowerPoint presentation.
But it was not the PowerPoint presentations that were interesting, but what you understood. The discussion taught you something, while PowerPoint was only a visual aid. You have been an active participant like the others. Nobody was ready to rush to the door. People wanted to know more and discuss more.
You understood that the successful presentation was to show the ideas and talk about them. The approach was successful in attracting or engaging participants. Some of them remember the discussion and not the PowerPoint presentations.
Number of repetitions and anecdotes
You noticed that the speaker was putting the participants at ease. He did not need to make ugly jokes. Just asking how people felt or if they were ready for the next round of discussion pushed people to action.
The speaker (already introduced) begins by telling the audience what he is going to discuss. During his discussion, he guides the audience by saying that he is now ready to embark on the second, third or last part of his presentation. All the while, he invites people to ask questions.
He repeats what he said as if it was the idea and integrated it into their minds. It does not only say, but shows how things are done. To find out if people are on the wavelength, he asks questions, not only to test their understanding, but also to gauge the level of public interest. He follows the course of his discussion, but makes sure that before moving on to the next step, his audience has learned something.
He added stories and parables to his repertoire, or provided analogies. These are subtle techniques used to repeat one's theme and purpose. At this point, he has already grasped the dynamics of the group and reacted accordingly.
Make your report dynamic
This does not mean that you do not have to improve your PowerPoint presentations. Do not make the mistake of stuffing all the contents of your slides. Your slide should be a clue to what you are going to develop. Do you remember the guy who read his slides without looking in his eyes? He was boring.
Preview your PowerPoint presentations by never losing sight of your goal. Guided by your plan and careful preparation (even a series of tests to get an estimate of the time you will present your ideas), you can be sure to engage your audience.
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