When PowerPoint was launched onto the market 20 years ago it was sold in as a ‘freebie’ – buy Microsoft office and along with Word and Excel we will throw in PowerPoint! Today it has infiltrated everything from law courts to business and every level of education. When you are asked to do a ’20 minute talk’ the first thing you do is open your laptop and start typing… it’s so easy! Before you know it you have 40 slides crammed full of text but
no structure and no point.

The scary thing is this: Using PowerPoint can do more harm than good. Recent research by Professor John Sweller at the University of NSW shows that showing text on a slide, even in dot point, while talking at the same time actually reduces retention. Your key messages are diluted and you become less effective in influencing the audience.

So what can we do? We need to go back to the basics of communication – people talking to people. PowerPoint kills communication because it forces us into a one way lecture rather than an interactive exchange of ideas and information.

10 ways to beat PowerPoint into submission

Start with the basics...

0. Set your objectives – What do you want your audience to do say think or feel as a result of this presentation?
0. Research your audience – what is it they need/want to know about this topic?
0. Develop your topic – use mind mapping to flesh out your topic and tailor it to your audience
0. Structure your presentation – Develop an introduction, cover 3 main points in the body and conclude with a summary and a call to action
0. Decide what is the best way for delivering your message? – Do I need to use PowerPoint? Would a workshop, discussion or role-play work best?

...then focus on your delivery

0. Stories sell facts tell – Include anecdotes, metaphors and stories so people can visualise your message
0. Reduce text – never use text when a graph or photo will do
0. Reduce slides – With every slide ask your self ‘is this adding to or detracting from my message?’
0. Passionate people persuade - ensure you take centre stage and allow your body, and face to speak.
0. Use the ‘B’ key frequently – By blacking out the screen you bring the focus back on what’s important… you.

So be brave… get your PowerPoint slides back to what they should be – a visual tool only. Step out from behind the screen, take a big breath, smile and engage your audience - after all they have come to see you the speaker not the PowerPoint computer show.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sharon Ferrier, through her business ‘Persuasive Presentations’ consults to organisations and individuals who have a need to improve their communication, presentation skills and confidence in public speaking.

This article is offered on a non-exclusive basis and may be reproduced provided that the contact details listed below are included.

© Sharon Ferrier - 2008            sharon@persuasivepresentations.com.au            P: 0438 831 877