PowerPoint is a wonderful tool, but it has ruined a whole load of presentations. So when people start asking for PowerPoint training because they want to be able to use all the fancy tools I start to worry. We did some PowerPoint training this week, but it was accompanied by me talking more generally about presentations.

Here are the notes:

How to become a better presenter

1. Tell them what you are going to say. 2. Tell them. 3. Tell them what you just told them.

1. Prepare

• Know your subject matter
• Know who you are talking to
• Know the key points you need to communicate
• Decide on the best method of communication / illustration
  • You can use, your voice, flip charts, overhead projectors, PowerPoint, music, film, and other tools, for making your presentation more interesting.
• Aim to keep it as short as possible. 20 minutes is roughly the maximum attention span without changing styles.
• Practice your presentation.
• Get someone else to listen, video yourself, or stand in front of a mirror if it helps.

2. The Presentation

• Arrive early and check everything – computers, sound, stage, lights, audience, etc.
• Keep calm
• Speak to the audience, don’t read, don’t turn your back.
• SMILE!!

3. Review

• Review what you have done
• Get feedback
• Make the next presentation even better.

Other resources

PDF guide on how to put presentations together and deliver them from the University of Bolton.

Most presentations (and I’ve seen a lot) are absolutely horrible. They’re not horrible because they weren’t designed by a professional, they’re horrible because they are delivered by someone who is hiding what they came to say. The new trend of tweaking your slides with expensive graphic design doesn’t solve this problem, it makes it worse. Give me an earnest amateur any day, please. Seth Godin

A presentation is a precious opportunity. It’s a powerful arrangement… one speaker, an attentive audience, all in their seats, all paying attention (at least at first). Don’t waste it.

The purpose of a presentation is to change minds. That’s the only reason I can think of to spend the time and resources. If your goal isn’t to change minds, perhaps you should consider a different approach. Seth Godin

The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint – Guy Kawasaki