Although the session was about presenting with PowerPoint, the message was given that presentation is about communication and it is possible to make a great speech without PowerPoint! The key is to present with impact. Steve Jobs is a great example of this - he was regarded as the 'master of presentations.'
"People who know what they are talking about don't need PowerPoint." (Steve Jobs)
Ultimately, the purpose of a presentation is to communicate a message. Ideally you want to inform, motivate and persuade.
Many people use PowerPoint as a defence shield - don't look at me, look at that! They also make the mistake of working on their PowerPoint first, rather than thinking first about what they really want to say. Instead, once you have worked out your message, think about the PowerPoint and how it can be used to enhance what you want to say, because visual images can communicate a message.
Five Top Tips for presenting with PowerPoint
1) Use it as a sword, to communicate your message
2) Keep it clean - don't clutter the slides with lots of words. If people are reading, they are not listening to you. Give the hard information as hand-outs at the end, if necessary.
3) Bullet points don't enhance the value of what is being said - try to avoid them.
4) Save the tricks for the circus
5) Practise, practise, practise - assume that something will go wrong and be prepared to present without any slides, if necessary.
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