Tips
on Using Overheads, Multimedia and PowerPoint in Your Presentations or Speeches
By Brian Norris, Copyright 2000, Phone: 414-899-1905
Email: info@briannorris.com
Over the years, a growing battle has raged amongst people who speak in front of audiences for a living or as a way to build new contacts within their community. At the apex of that battle is a singular question: Should we use overheads or multimedia projectors in our presentations or should we go solo?
My own experience has been a love/hate relationship.
The purist in me says that as speakers (whether a full-time or part-time vocation), we ARE the message and that visuals can blur/detract from that message. In the past, I've often advised my clients, business owners, sales and marketing pro and entrepreneurs alike, to beware of what I call PowerPoint Syndrome. My greatest concern here is that virtually every business professional has seen the now overused collection of Microsoft clipart, backgrounds and prescribed templates. Using these images (and their corresponding sounds and animations) in your presentation may, in the minds of your audience, denote a lack of originality/creativity/value.
Furthermore, I've seen too many scenarios where the presenter becomes a faceless voice in a dark room, again making the overhead presentation the epicenter of the training. I have also seen speakers/trainers over-depend on their visuals as a virtual crutch. You've probably had to sit through a presentation where the speaker was obviously unqualified or ill-prepared. No amount of visual support can mask these shortcomings … So don’t even try it!
The techie in me, however, can't imagine having to teach a web design seminar without my trusty Boxlight projector and customized PowerPoint presentation. Given the medium, which is a predominantly visual one, it becomes difficult to teach FrontPage or identify what constitutes good web design or to demonstrate innovative web marketing without a visual tool. I can also show "live examples" of other web sites seamlessly. There is no debating the fact that we are a visual society. In fact, research shows that a growing percentage of the population retains more information through visual reinforcement.
If your sessions are high-content, and most of your presentations are, I heartily recommend the use of overheads and projectors. Clients and audiences have grown to expect it. If your presentation is more soft-skill, I find that less is more, because you can demonstrate these skills more aptly through group exercises.
A few suggestions:
1. Don't reprint every word of your presentation on screen or in your notes. The medium merely plays a supporting role; Why give the audience the temptation to tune you out?
2. Use your overheads and electronic presentations to present new information that may not be available or clearly spelled out in your workbooks or manuals.
3. Create your own templates and locate new sources for backdrops and graphics. I use Digital Juice, and enjoy it so much that I now offer it on my site (http://www.briannorris.com/digitaljuice/ ). If you have the time or inclination, learn PhotoShop. This is the best image editing program available and great for creating custom graphics, manipulating images and enhancing your existing presentations.
4. If you're concerned that your audiences may be spending too much time writing notes and too little time listening and participating then offer attendees an opportunity to get your notes online (It'll save you tons of paper and printing costs). My notes are so often requested that I offer attendees a special link on my web site where they access a PDF file. This enhances the training experience, gives attendees something professional to take back to their employers and generates a new stream of income in the form of repeat business.
5. If you're presenting a keynote, consider 86ing the overheads completely (when you're getting $5000.00 to speak for 45 minutes, you are the focus and catalyst!).
To access resources that move your presentations to the cutting-edge go to:
http://www.briannorris.com/digitaljuice/
Brian Norris is an expert who, speaks, writes and consults on marketing, positioning and communications. If you or your organization wants to integrate the power of passion into your online or off-line communications strategies call 414-899-1905 or email info@briannorris.com.
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