If you are using slides as part of your in-person presentation, here are 8 tips for delivering them effectively:
1. Use a
PowerPoint remote control so you can advance the slides without having to be
tethered to the computer.
2. Black
out the screen when you don’t need the slides (for example, during audience
exercises or Q&A) so you can stand front and center in the room without standing
in the light of the projector.
3. Stand
to the left of the screen so the audience, which reads left to right, will see
you and then your slides. (This also
applies even if the screen is above you).
4. Decide
what you want to say for each slide – what is the message? If there is more
than one message, considering splitting the material into two slides).
5. Focus
on how to begin your voiceover of the slide and how to end it.
6. Practice
a clear transition to the next slide so you don’t end up saying “um,” “ah,” etc. A simple phrase is enough for a clear
transition; for example, “now that we have looked at x (past performance), let’s
look at y (forecasted performance)” or, “the second reason we recommend z (moving
forward with this project) is…”
7. Decide
ahead of time if you want to give copies of your slides to the audience (they
will read ahead), provide a separate document with the same content rather than
slide copies or provide no materials at all. Then communicate your decision
(and the rationale for it) clearly to the audience.
8. Face
the audience and make eye contact with them.
Position your computer so you can use the computer screen as a “confidence
monitor” to see your slides, as you look at the audience, rather than having to
turn away from the audience and face the big screen to see what’s coming next.
© 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