Power Point Presentations – Good or Bad?

It´s customary nowadays for information to be delivered to an audience using a Power Point presentation or similar program.

This can be good! Delivering your message with visual imagery and well chosen words can increase the impact. And, critically, retain the interest of your audience.

This can be bad! Remember, the presenter is the key element in any presentation so it´s essential the screen does not become the most important part of it. It´s difficult to influence an audience when there´s just a script to read.

The first rule for any presenter is to learn how to project their energy and enthusiasm before introducing any form of technical aids. In other words any visual aid should be there to complement the presenter not to take over from him.

A confident and influential presentation can be achieved with rehearsal and wholehearted belief in your project. Once you´re comfortable with your performance, then you must decide how best to deliver the Power Point by determining the key points you want to put over. The layout of these key points must then be carefully considered in order to achieve the desired impact.

Grab your audience from the beginning with your own personal presentation and then gradually introduce the visual imagery to reinforce the message. Remember also that each point should be presented by you followed by the technical aid in order to take the audience with you through the process.

Be disciplined, learn your presenting skills and hone them to perfection. Only then can you successfully introduce technical aids satisfactorily. Your audience needs to be carried along by your personality and at the same time given visual aids to help them to remember. This two-pronged approach will help to validate your program.

Don´t overdo it! It´s a big mistake to make your presentation too long. In other words don´t succumb to rambling on--keep the audience´ attention focussed at all times.

Before you face your audience, go over the whole presentation and make sure that a) there are no spelling mistakes, b) there are not too many words per page, and finally use images where possible as they are much more memorable for the recipient.

The whole purpose of a Power Point Presentations is to get everyone´s attention from the beginning and keep them keen and interested throughout.

Make your presentation an enjoyable and memorable experience for all concerned. Hopefully they will then leave the meeting in a very positive frame of mind.

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