Changing My Powerpoint Ways
DH | Nov 08, 2009 | Comments 6
I was giving a lecture the other day, and I turned to look at the screen where my Powerpoint was displayed … and, I realized that I was committing some of the most common mistakes of using Powerpoint.
I had too many slides with too many words. Gad! I’ve coached groups against doing what I was doing. What a pedestrian mistake and so easy to make … but I admit it.
Now … example of contrasts: Check out these presentations given by Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer (top) and Apple’s Steve Jobs. Ballmer is a wordy snore while Jobs is charismatic. Darth Vader versus Yoda.
My new rules for a Powerpoint:
- Use great pictures or graphics. An audience can look at a picture and still listen to what I’m saying.
- Use no more than about 8 words per slide. The goal as a speaker is to engage audiences, not give them a reading test.
- Use minimalistic yet elegant-looking slide design.
- Limit the number of slides to 8 to 10, even if giving a 45 minute address.
The idea is to engage and connect with audiences – just you and me, babe. A busy Powerpoint makes it like “3′s a crowd,” and I’m not sharing my audiences with anyone.
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This is one of my favorite presentations out there that was given by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita at TED Talks, http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/bruce_bueno_de_mesquita_predicts_iran_s_future.html. I think he used Keynote though…
Right on!
“Death by Powerpoint” has been the cry by many students in university classes. That’s why our Business Communication course at San Francisco State was both required and RELEVANT to help young professionals be “professional.”
In addition to your great basic tips [starting with an image is a great attention-getter], I have suggested that the presentation have a consistent header & footer to show professional consistency AND add a summary slide with the THREE most important “takeaway’s” from the presentation.
But, as you have said, LESS is DEFINITELY more when it comes to PPT presentations.