What’s a Speaker/Trainer without PowerPoint?

by Linda Farley on September 21, 2009

My answer:  a real one.

Can you imagine that training and learning actually occurred in previous decades without PowerPoint?  It’s true!

 If you want to use PowerPoint effectively in speaking or training, here are a few essential tips:

  • Never, never, never have slides that your audience can’t read. 
  • Have a back up plan in case technology fails– Be able to present without slides.
  • Apologize only once for the technology failure—More than that over emphasizes the problem
  • Imbed movies into the slides- don’t depend on an internet connection to link to the videos; it may not work when you need it.
  • Put your entire presentation, including sound and video, on a memory stick and/or CD.
  • No matter how attractive they are, don’t put graphics behind text that overpower or blur the text.
  • Use a remote control to advance slides – Avoid being tied to a computer.
  • Remember YOU are the presenter.  Slides are not a substitute for your knowledge and expertise.
  • Practice, practice, practice.

P.S. I had to add another one that I experienced today (9/25). Don’t just run the same 3 slides automatically while multiple presenters speak on totally different topics. What is the point??

 What would you add to these tips?

 ©  Linda M. Farley  www.LMFarley.com  LMF@onr.com 

Follow Me on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/LindaFarley

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{ 1 comment }

1 Roslyn Shafer October 2, 2009 at 12:40 pm

Yes, yes, yes! I agree with you, Linda, 100 percent! Nicely said.

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