Power Points for Powerpoints

It still surprises me how so many people take their Powerpoint presentations so lightly. As part of my work, I have to sit in to quite a few presentations by subordinates, peers, project members, consultants, sales people, vendors, etc. and a large percentage of these people presenting clearly show me that they have not done enough homework on their skills with powerpoint presentations.

Let me get to one thing straight – public presentations are what I call “career defining moments”. It doesn’t matter the content or audience. At any point in time you are asked to present in public, it means that your entire image and personal brand (whatever you call it) will be subjected to review. This review will in turn influence their perception of your competence. I know this is unfair, but that’s just how it works.

So… in order for us deliver better powerpoint presentations (or any form of public presentations), you may want to take note of the following…

For Presentations in General:
1. Handouts – you have pass out Handouts according to Protocol. Meaning…the first person receiving it should be the highest ranking person in the room (usually the Chairperson), followed by the next highest ranking, and so on.
2. Powerpoint skills – learn everything you can about operating and manipulating the powerpoint program. I have seen so many presenters embarrass themselves by showing how incompetent they are with a powerpoint program when something goes wrong. To me, it’s just plain laziness for not being an expert in powerpoint programs.
3. Handouts 2 – Powerpoint slides are used for highlighting main points. DO NOT (NEVER) cut-and-paste detailed stuff on slides such as charts, excel tables, etc. No one can see it and it makes you look dumb. The detailed items should always be given as handouts.
4. Details – How detailed your presentation should be must always correlate with the audience. I don’t care how clever you are or how many PhDs you have. If you are presenting to Top Management, or to an audience outside your realm of expertise (eg. IT presenting to Marketing), avoid using technical terms, jargons, and abbreviations. No one understands you.
5. Always give a copy of your presentation to the Chairperson/Boss/Client at least a day BEFORE the presentation.
6. In any presentation, you have to TALK to the audience, not read or make a speech. We don’t want speeches. We want conversation.
7. The order of presentation should be: Summary-Content-Q&A-Action/Summary-Thank You. Never start with a “Thank You for inviting me…”. End with it.
8. NEVER switch off the lights for a powerpoint presentation. If you have to switch off the lights in order to read your slides, then there is something wrong with your slides (font, color, layout).
9. YOU are the Star, not the slides. Remember that.

OK…now something more specific on Powerpoint Slides:
1. Use as little words as possible
2. Use Large Fonts (min. Arial, size 18 for small rooms, min. Arial size 22 for big rooms)
3. Learn how to expertly operate and manipulate the LCD projector
4. Use numbered or bulleted lists
5. DO NOT talk to the slides when presenting. Face the audience and maintain eye contact.
6. DO NOT fit many things into one page
7. DO NOT get fancy with slide transitions, builds and other custom animations


Go ahead. Do something.

-TURD-