If you have ever sat through a Power Point presentation and felt well rested at its conclusion I can completely empathize with you. Why are most visual presentations so incredible boring? How do presenters of the "Death by Power Point" really think their audiences are getting anything out their presentation? Why must we suffer?
To answer these questions I took a closer look at why most business presentations are horrible. Gary Reynolds discusses the "Power Point Culture" in his article Presentation Zen. He describes a disconnect between audience and presenter when the presentation lacks creativity. It is not Power Points fault! PP is a useful tool to create a slide show. The blame lies with the creator (or lack there of). he points out some very basic concepts that can make a boring presentation into something memorable.
First, Reynolds touches on the misuse of multimedia tools. The Internet is full of tools a presenter can use to build a solid visual display of information. But what is the best way to use all these tools? Understanding how the audience processes information is a good step. Taking a gander at who you are presenting to is another. And, keeping it simple is probably the most important. His research shows that narration with visuals is better than narration alone, and people learn better when words are narrated rather than text. Too much visual can detract from the process and the delivery must be presented in an organized and integrated way.
Second, planning is vital for a presentation to be well received. Inputting some thought into the material, organizing, creating a story, and rehearsing are keys to success in preparing a great product. Gary suggests to start with the end in mind and gain an understanding of the overall purpose of the presentation. People don't plan to fail, they just fail to plan. Sketching out the presentation from start to finish before ever opening up Power Point (or any other tool to build a slide show) is the only way to inject creativity into a final product.
Finally, good old fashioned showman-ship helps to round out a solid performance. Making eye contact and stepping away from the podium can help build a connection with your audience. Using a remote control clicker to move through the slides is another great idea. But most importantly, pace throughout the presentation is vital. Keeping the information moving at a steady pace will keep the audience engaged. Subtle pauses can help to allow ideas to sink in, and gives you a pulse check on your audience.
Delivering a great presentation does not have to be difficult. using online tools like Prezi.com can really impact a slide show. Keeping it simple yet entertaining will help to keep the focus. Rehearsing your material will build confidence in your abilities and knowledge of the subject matter. Being creative in a building a presentation takes a little work and time, but we will all be better off for it!
Remember... The best way to get to Carnegie Hall is with PRACTICE!
JP
To answer these questions I took a closer look at why most business presentations are horrible. Gary Reynolds discusses the "Power Point Culture" in his article Presentation Zen. He describes a disconnect between audience and presenter when the presentation lacks creativity. It is not Power Points fault! PP is a useful tool to create a slide show. The blame lies with the creator (or lack there of). he points out some very basic concepts that can make a boring presentation into something memorable.
First, Reynolds touches on the misuse of multimedia tools. The Internet is full of tools a presenter can use to build a solid visual display of information. But what is the best way to use all these tools? Understanding how the audience processes information is a good step. Taking a gander at who you are presenting to is another. And, keeping it simple is probably the most important. His research shows that narration with visuals is better than narration alone, and people learn better when words are narrated rather than text. Too much visual can detract from the process and the delivery must be presented in an organized and integrated way.
Second, planning is vital for a presentation to be well received. Inputting some thought into the material, organizing, creating a story, and rehearsing are keys to success in preparing a great product. Gary suggests to start with the end in mind and gain an understanding of the overall purpose of the presentation. People don't plan to fail, they just fail to plan. Sketching out the presentation from start to finish before ever opening up Power Point (or any other tool to build a slide show) is the only way to inject creativity into a final product.
Finally, good old fashioned showman-ship helps to round out a solid performance. Making eye contact and stepping away from the podium can help build a connection with your audience. Using a remote control clicker to move through the slides is another great idea. But most importantly, pace throughout the presentation is vital. Keeping the information moving at a steady pace will keep the audience engaged. Subtle pauses can help to allow ideas to sink in, and gives you a pulse check on your audience.
Delivering a great presentation does not have to be difficult. using online tools like Prezi.com can really impact a slide show. Keeping it simple yet entertaining will help to keep the focus. Rehearsing your material will build confidence in your abilities and knowledge of the subject matter. Being creative in a building a presentation takes a little work and time, but we will all be better off for it!
Remember... The best way to get to Carnegie Hall is with PRACTICE!
JP
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