My name is Barbara Walters Price and I'm a powerpoint addict.
I'm guessing that many of you are too. My definition of a powerpoint addict is one who automatically clicks open the program when asked to give any type of presentation to a group of more than two people.
I challenge you to break the cycle of addiction! "But how?," you ask. The answer is surprisingly simple:
Think of your audience first and yourself second.
Powerpoint has become a crutch because we think of ourselves first. And then, we stop thinking.
We stop thinking about how best to convey the information we have to impart. We stop thinking about how best our audience might receive it. We stop thinking about how to differentiate ourselves. We just click open powerpoint like pre-programmed Microsoft drones and follow its template.
It's time to take a chance and break free. Here's how ...
Remember that you are teaching, not preaching. When you stop to reconsider your role as a speaker as one who is given the honor and priviledge of instructing a group of people, you begin to focus on how best to convey your message. Powerpoint may not always be the best communications tool.
If your message lends itself best to an old-fashioned overhead projector or flip chart, don't be shy about using it. My boss, Chris Mercer, speaks frequently on topics found in his newest book, The Integrated Theory of Business Valuation. The information can be quite technical. He has found that using a few powerpoint slides to introduce broad concepts and then moving to an overhead projector where he can instruct the members of the audience in the more technical aspects of his presentation, by walking them through the steps, is very useful and extremely well-received.
And dare I suggest it? ... Speak in the nude! Keep your clothes on (please!) but don't use overheads. Just speak. The very thought of it is terrifying for most of us but how liberating as well. Speaking in the nude focuses you on those 3-4 most important pieces of information to convey and forces you to tell stories (because you can remember stories) rather than regurgitating the often mundane information found on most slides. For you to be truly successful, passion for the subject matter is required when speaking in the nude (I know, I know ... no pun intended or implied).
If you just can't give up powerpoint entirely, why don't you use it differently and boldly (see Tom Peters' website for extreme examples). And if you're not ready to take any of this advice, see Michael Hyatt's blog, Working Smart : Working Smart: Five Rules for Better PowerPoint Presentations and live by these five simple rules while you are working to break the powerpoint habit.
[Keep an eye on this blog for future posts/articles on the topic of speaking engagements, including:
- Handouts Matter
- Speaking Engagement Preparation for Dummies
- Leveraging a Speaking Engagement
My first post on the topic, Everything the Professional Needs to Know About Giving a Winning Speech (or How to Get Invited Back), is referenced here.]
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