presentation

PowerPoint Basics

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Make sure that your slides are not overloaded with information.

Make sure they are readable – font size and right colour.

Make them simple.

Reduce the amount of text on your slides.

Use images – PowerPoint is a visual medium.

Don’t overuse bullet points slides.

Use animation and sound effects very selectively.

Go for more white space.

Create interesting titles for your slides.

Consider when and if to hand out print-outs of your slides.

Remember in slideshow view you can use the B key to get a black screen

and press it again to bring the slide back. The same thing works with the W key

to get a white screen.

 

Remember:

1. The 20 second rule.

 If an audience have not completely understood what the slide is trying to tell them within 20 seconds the slide may need changing!

2.The Squint Test.

If an audience has to squint to read a slide it needs changing.

Grabbing Your Audience

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GRABBERS & ATTENTION UPPERS

This is a list of techniques so you can add interest to your in your one-to many communication. Try sprinkling them throughout your presentations. You should aim for at least one every 2 – 3 minutes.

  • Simple numbers
  • Quotations
  • An amazing fact or statistic
  • A problem or teaser
  • One word as a teaser e.g UNCERTAINTY
  • Asking the audience to do something
  • A gift
  • A prop
  • Personal Anecdotes
  • Stories with a message
  • Parables
  • Humour
  • Word pictures – highly visual description
  • A compelling slide
  • Metaphors
  • Axioms
  • A demonstration
  • Actual dialog
  • Specific examples
  • Slogans
  • Photographs  ( + story )
  • A short video or audio clip

Basic Skills 2 : Virtual Presentation

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Virtual Presentation Checklist

Web meetings, Webinars, Virtual Training…..

You are presenting to people all over the world who are not in the same room as you.

The purpose of this checklist is have a systematic look at the techniques that make virtual presentations more interesting.  As you examine each factor, give it a score from 0 to 3 to indicate how much you use this technique.

0 = not true for me at all
1 = slightly true
2 = moderately true
3 = definitely true.

Attention Factors

Rating
The format of the presentation changes frequently.

0   1   2   3
There are exciting ideas described.

0   1   2   3
Audience is called upon to respond or act frequently – this is made clear at the beginning.

0   1   2   3
My slides are simple & visually interesting.

0   1   2   3

Challenge Factors

Rating
I think a lot about how complex the ideas I am presenting are.

0   1   2   3
I make sure the content does not contain too many facts. There is not a lot to keep track of and remember.

0   1   2   3
The content is not too abstract. It is not too hard to get a handle on the topic.

0   1   2   3
I think a lot how to tie the presentation to the audience’s interests or past experience or future goals.

0   1   2   3

Interpersonal Factors

Rating
I set the rules for expected behavior at the beginning ( I will be asking you for your opinions during this meeting, I will need to hear your views etc).

0   1   2   3
I manage to get a good “connect” with the audience.

0   1   2   3
I provide lots of opportunity for the audience to interact with each other.

0   1   2   3

Basic Skills 1: Presentation

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12 Steps to a Knock-Out Presentation

1. Ask yourself two essential questions:

Question 1:  What do you really want to do  ?

Think of it like this. The audience is at point A and you need to get them to point B.

Question 2: What do you want them to say about you?

2. Ask yourself – What is on the audience’s minds?

3. Remember WIIFY ( What’s in it for you )

Think of the audience as saying “What’s In It For Me?

Consider the audience benefits and make sure you state them.

4. Consider your main message/s. This is essential.

5. Consider audience differences (age, background, culture, knowledge levels)

6. Now collect and collate your material with all of this in mind.

7. Design the opening & ending.

8. Consider the questions you will be asked.

9. NOW, put it all together.

10. Delete the unnecessary parts.

Go through steps 1 -3 again to check you are on track for the whole point of the presentation.

11. Rehearse and time yourself.

12. Prepare for their questions by writing a list of likely questions and your answers. Include the really tricky ones.