stop the powerpoint abuse
DESCRIPTION
Created by Anders Lindgren. PowerPoint presentations are a major communications tool, but like any tool it can be used wisely or poorly. Some presentations would actually have been much better if the PowerPoint presentation (or abuse thereof) didn’t get in the way. Here is how to avoid the eight most common mistakes.TRANSCRIPT
www.steria.no
20/11/2013
Stop the PowerPoint abuse
Here’s how to avoid the eight most common mistakes
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www.steria.noLearn to use PowerPoint wisely
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PowerPoint presentations are a major communications tool, but like any tool it can be used wisely or poorly
Some presentations would actually have been much better if the PowerPoint presentation (or abuse thereof) didn’t get in the way
www.steria.noThe eight most common mistakes
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1. Too little connection with the audience2. Too many irrelevant messages3. Too many things on the screen4. Too many bad slide designs5. Too many boring headlines6. Too many words7. Too many fonts8. No imagination
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20/11/2013
1. Too little connection with the audience
Here’s how to engage your listeners
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www.steria.noNever turn your back on the audience
It is a cardinal sin. Let me repeat. Do not turn your back on the audience and read your slides.There is no quicker route to an audience that will ignore you.If you need notes, keep them in front of you.
www.steria.noUse emotions
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Emotions are contagious: If you engage and connect with the audience, they will connect and engage with you.
www.steria.noUse eye-contact
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It is your most powerful tool for influencing people.To connect with someone, simply meet their eyes.It is the same between you and audience.If you need to point at the slides behind you, do it in such a way that you maintain contact with the audience.
www.steria.noUse the power of your voice
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It is the second most important tool you possess.Vary both the volume, depth, tone and speed. Pauses of silence can be very dramatic – use them.Variations in your voice help to create interest.Listening to a continuous flat tone works like a sleeping pill.
www.steria.noRead the audience
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Their body language will show you if you have their interest or not. If you see they are ready for a break, take it.
>50%of communication
is non-verbal [1]
1. Source: Mehrabian, Albert (1981). Silent Messages: Implicit Communication of Emotions and Attitudes (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. ISBN 0-534-00910-7.
www.steria.noUse stories and anecdotes
Master the ancient art of storytelling. Learn to intertwine personal stories and anecdotes into your presentation.They are more captivating than any slide you can ever make.
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2. Too many irrelevant messages
Here’s how to create interest and be meaningful
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www.steria.noPeople’s bullshit meters are hypersensitive
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We live in the age of information overload. There is just too much information for us to absorb. To cope, people’s bullshit meters have become hypersensitive. It takes them only ½ second to decide if something is relevant or not.
www.steria.noHow do you arouse and keep people’s interest?
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There is one simple answer: BE RELEVANTLearn about their needs and wants. Relate the messages to their needs.Tell stories about real people.Especially people they can relate to,and do it in a personal, warm and human way.
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“Personally relevant information which is communicated in a credible, clear, warm and human manner, is most effective.”
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20/11/2013
3. Too many things on the screen
Here’s how to be crystal clear
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www.steria.noKeep your slides simple
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Don’t let the slides get in your way.Focus on key points and facts.Too much information on the screenis difficult to process.If you have a complex Excel tableput it in a handout or simplify the information.
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Simplicity is about subtracting the obviousand adding the meaningful- John Maeda
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4. Too many bad slide designs
Here’s how to create stunning slides
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www.steria.noNo excuses for bad slides
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Audiences have little respect for presenters that lack design skills or don’t use resources to help them create better looking slides.
www.steria.noHow do you create aesthetically pleasing slides?
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Apply the Rule of Thirds.It is a simplified version of Fibonacci’s Golden Ratio.It is used everywhere by artists and designers.If you look closely , you will also discover it everywhere in nature.
www.steria.noThere are two key points to the Rule of Thirds
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1. Make the slide appear dynamic by placing your main subject close to the four powerpoints.2. Avoid placing subjects in the center rectangle –it tend to make the slide uninteresting.
www.steria.noApplying the “Rule of Thirds”
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Notice how the picture and the text avoid the middle and centre rectangle. Subjects and text are placed directly on or in proximity of the powerpoints.
Most cameras come equipped with a grid system based on the Rule of Thirds to help you compose better pictures.
www.steria.noApplying the “Rule of Thirds”
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Subjects placed exactly in the middle often make a layout look less dynamic and uninteresting.
Placing subjects by any of the four powerpoints simply improves the dynamics of the slide layout.
www.steria.noApplying the “Rule of Thirds”
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Subjects, figures and points are placed directly on powerpointsto create a dynamic layout
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Copy them into your presentation to test if your slides fulfills the “Rule of Thirds”
Ready made Grid
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Try to place subjects at one of these four
circles. Avoid the center rectangle
www.steria.noLearn to work with images
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The crop-function in PowerPoint is especially useful. Use it to trim and remove unwanted portions of pictures or isolate a specific part.
www.steria.noStay away from animations, clipart or cartoons
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Only use simple slide transitions such as cut or fade.Animations distract attention and should be avoided.Avoid using generic clipart. It will make your presentation look outdated.Do not use cartoons for jokes – they’re fun, but can easily be misunderstood.
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5. Too many boring headlines
Here’s how to write headlines that get’s the point across
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www.steria.noShy away from the common boring headlines
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They don’t help your audience understand your slides and get your key messages.
www.steria.noSay what you want to say in the headline
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People should be able to get all key messages by just reading the headlines.They should provide people with the highlights of your messages.If you follow this fundamental rule your ideas will come across so clearly, that they almost jump off the slide.
WEAK STRONG
www.steria.noTake the “Filter Test” used by professionals
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Go through your presentation and pretend you can’t read or see anything except for your headlines as shown here.Where you able to get the main ideas and messages? If not, rewrite the headlines.Try to make them fit on one line.
www.steria.no6. Too many words
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Here’s how to wow them with fewer words
www.steria.noHere is a typical blah blah slide
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The goal of a presentation is communicate effectively with an audience in whatever means is appropriate for the situation.If your slides look like this, you are abusing Powerpoint, because your are changing a speech to a reading exercise.Audiences will read this as soon as it appears on the screen.Because audiences can’t read and listen at the same time, they will read the slide first and then come back to listening to you.Because you’re still on bullet number one and your audience has read the entire thing, the need for you as a presenter is gone.You’ll never catch up what your audience already knows by reading ahead.
www.steria.noEach slide should have one main point
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Make it even stronger by stating it in the headline.Use images to reinforce your main point. But only use images that are relevant.
www.steria.noIf you must use bullets, follow the 6 x 6 rule
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1. That means six bullet points 2. And six words pr. bullet3. No need to write all you want to say 4. Your slides are not your notes5. Try to write about 36 words6. This text is 36 words
www.steria.noThe best slides have no bullets – only pictures
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www.steria.no7. Too many fonts
Here’s how to get the fonts working for you
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www.steria.noMixing too many fonts is distracting
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It makes it difficult for the audience to process.Stick with only one font family. For instance Ariel.In general stick to two variations of the font, like Arial and Ariel Bold.Use a third font for emphasis. For instance Ariel (in blue).
Use a thirdfont for:
www.steria.noUsing too small point size
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Use large font sizes. For instance: Point size 24, 18 and 16.Use bold and italics sparingly.Never use shadows.
12 point size is not readable
www.steria.no8. No imagination
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Here’s how to really captivate your audience
www.steria.noBreak the rules
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But to break the rules with grace, you must first master them.
www.steria.noDo something unexpected
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Never be a slave to your slides or notes.Break up the talk by utilizing other visuals or tools.Walk to a different part of the room.Use a whiteboard and draw something Do something that people will remember Usually it is something completely unexpected
www.steria.noTo sum it all up
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Use emotions, eye-contact and your voice.Talk about their interest, less about yours.Use the “Rule of Thirds” in your design.Use the “Filter Test” for headlines.Keep your slides simple.
Stick to one idea pr. slide.Use the 6x6 rule for bullets.Use large font sizes.Be imaginative and memorable.
www.steria.noThank you for your attention
www.steria.noRecommended books
www.steria.noRecommended short films
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STOP! You’re killing me with PowerPointhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JU48-FVqvQ
Bill Gates/mosquitoes @ TEDhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppDWD3VwxVg
SCREEN_Japonesas_de_motivacinhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOEge-WqdBM
The Greatest Speech Ever Made - Charlie Chaplin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAd1WJ9gXo0
Five things every presenter needs to know about peoplehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJUblvGfW6w