Surviving PowerPoint and Keynote
Apr 14
|15:18
Human beings remain unparalleled communications platforms. Touchable screens, 3-D presentations, and virtual worlds present information in ways humans cannot, but when it comes to bandwidth, meaningful attention capture, and the ability to trigger action, the gold medal always goes to the human.
Being human, we like to take perfectly exceptional systems and flood them with mediocrity. Slideware like PowerPoint and Keynote are a great tools for presenting, discussing, and annotating visual information. They are also great tools for diluting your message and placing unnecessary barriers between you and your audience.
Here are seven ways to save your next presentation.
1. Tell a Story
Yes, tell a beginning-middle-end story. We remember stories, pass them on, and they influence everything we do. We are story machines. Don’t get trapped inside the slide. Stories are bigger than that. Slides are only there to make your stories richer and deeper. Create a good story first, then use slides to make it better.
Yes, tell a beginning-middle-end story. We remember stories, pass them on, and they influence everything we do. We are story machines. Don’t get trapped inside the slide. Stories are bigger than that. Slides are only there to make your stories richer and deeper. Create a good story first, then use slides to make it better.
2. Gist Only
If you can’t flash a slide on the screen briefly and understand what it is about, there’s too much detail. Slides aren’t your story; they add to it and enrich it. Keeping your slides at a digestible, gist level lets people focus on you and the story you’re telling.
If you can’t flash a slide on the screen briefly and understand what it is about, there’s too much detail. Slides aren’t your story; they add to it and enrich it. Keeping your slides at a digestible, gist level lets people focus on you and the story you’re telling.
3. Images Trump Text
Use diagrams, sketches, maps, pictures, and charts to show your ideas and how the big picture connects to the details. Use text to call out key information. The image anchors ideas and creates a place to explore them. Use text to highlight the gist, but give the details with your voice. Save long sentences for the notes or report that accompanies your talk.
Use diagrams, sketches, maps, pictures, and charts to show your ideas and how the big picture connects to the details. Use text to call out key information. The image anchors ideas and creates a place to explore them. Use text to highlight the gist, but give the details with your voice. Save long sentences for the notes or report that accompanies your talk.
4. Voice Trumps Images
Live human communication delivers unbeatable information density and clarity. It’s how we’re designed. Images can create pathways and pools for the voice’s information flow. Images support the voice’s ability to generate emotional response, spark interest, and exchange ideas. Text = Sprinkles. Image = Icing. Voice = Cake.
Live human communication delivers unbeatable information density and clarity. It’s how we’re designed. Images can create pathways and pools for the voice’s information flow. Images support the voice’s ability to generate emotional response, spark interest, and exchange ideas. Text = Sprinkles. Image = Icing. Voice = Cake.
5. Use Blank Slides
Your voice, gestures, and expression convey more information per second than any slide can. Whatever is on the screen distracts people by dividing their attention. If you’re not pointing out how ideas connect in a chart, image or map, the slide is no longer useful. A solid black or white slide, makes sure everyone’s attention is on you, the ideas you have to share, and the conversation you’re creating.
Your voice, gestures, and expression convey more information per second than any slide can. Whatever is on the screen distracts people by dividing their attention. If you’re not pointing out how ideas connect in a chart, image or map, the slide is no longer useful. A solid black or white slide, makes sure everyone’s attention is on you, the ideas you have to share, and the conversation you’re creating.
6. One Idea Per Slide
The art of the presentation involves focusing and guiding your audience’s attention. Present one idea per slide so that people can focus on understanding and remembering one concept at a time. Your commentary will expand the concept beyond the gist by adding detail and examples. You can introduce groups or clusters of ideas and should periodically pull back and show (visually and orally) how what you’ve discussed fits into your overall topic. Just make sure each idea has its moment in the spotlight.
The art of the presentation involves focusing and guiding your audience’s attention. Present one idea per slide so that people can focus on understanding and remembering one concept at a time. Your commentary will expand the concept beyond the gist by adding detail and examples. You can introduce groups or clusters of ideas and should periodically pull back and show (visually and orally) how what you’ve discussed fits into your overall topic. Just make sure each idea has its moment in the spotlight.
7. The Three/Seven Minimum
Before the presentation, practice three times and revise seven times. This is the minimum, and it’s easier than you think. Once you have a complete presentation, you’ll do your first revision and your second. Now, alternate practice and revision two times. You’ll feel and hear where to edit while you practice so the revisions should be natural. Do your fifth and sixth revisions collaboratively with a colleague or friend. Practice once more and capture those revisions. Good presenters meet this standard, excellent presenters double it, and the stars of the presentation world triple it.
Before the presentation, practice three times and revise seven times. This is the minimum, and it’s easier than you think. Once you have a complete presentation, you’ll do your first revision and your second. Now, alternate practice and revision two times. You’ll feel and hear where to edit while you practice so the revisions should be natural. Do your fifth and sixth revisions collaboratively with a colleague or friend. Practice once more and capture those revisions. Good presenters meet this standard, excellent presenters double it, and the stars of the presentation world triple it.
