by Gilda Bonanno
Question: If I'm giving an in-person presentation using slides, should I face the audience or the screen onto which my slides are being projected?
Answer: If your goal is to
communicate effectively to the audience, resist the urge to face the screen and
instead, turn your body to face the people in the room and speak directly to
them. Don’t make the common mistake of
presenting to the screen rather than the audience.
Here are answers to 5 other frequently asked questions about how to present with slides:
1. Why is it important that I look at the audience more than the screen?
Eye
contact helps you determine if the audience is attentive and if they understand
your message. It also expresses your
respect for them and demonstrates your confidence, since you know the information
without having to read it.
2. What if I can't remember my content without reading my slides?
Practice
is the best way to ensure that you remember your content. Practice by standing up and saying the words
out loud as you go through your slides, paying particular attention to how you
transition from one slide to the next.
The goal is not to memorize every word, but to become comfortable enough
with the material that you can say it several different ways without getting
flustered.
In addition to practicing, you can also position your laptop screen in your line of sight as a "confidence monitor" - so you can face the audience and still glance at the slides on your laptop screen, which can help you remember what you want to say next.
3. How much information should go on each slide?
Not
as much as you think. Your slides should
have only a few phrases or high-quality images for you to build on and to
reinforce what you are saying. You are more
important than the slides and you should be viewed as the source of the
information – so you should also seriously consider whether you need slides at
all.
Don't write out your entire presentation on your slides and then read it word for word to the audience; then there would no need for a presentation or a meeting. You could just send out the slides and everyone could read them at their desks.
4. What if when I look at the audience, they're all looking at my slides on the screen?
That's
ok; they need time to read your slides (another reason why your slides
shouldn't be too busy or hard to read) and eventually, when they look at you,
it will be helpful if you are looking back at them.
5. Where should I stand?
Stand
to the side of the screen so you don't block the audience's view. Also be careful not to stand in the way of
the projector light so your silhouette doesn't appear on the screen. Using a remote control will allow you to
advance your slides without having to hover over the laptop. Many remotes now include laser pointers so
you can highlight items on the slide if needed.
Presenting with slides is not necessarily easy, but with preparation and practice, you can deliver an effective presentation even when you use slides.
© Gilda Bonanno LLC - Gilda Bonanno serves as a trusted advisor to executives and entrepreneurs to transform their communication, presentation and leadership skills. She has worked with companies on 4 continents, from Chicago to Shanghai and Rio to Rome. The instructional videos on her YouTube channel have received over 2 million views and her e-newsletter has reached subscribers in over 45 countries since 2008. For other articles or to receive Gilda's e-newsletter, visit www.gildabonanno.com