Have Australian researchers put a stake through the heart of the infamous PowerPoint presentation? Research from the University of North South Wales revealed that the human brain retains more information if it is presented either in verbal or written form, but not both at the same time, the method common to PowerPoint presentations. 

UNSW education professor John Sweller calls it “cognitive load theory,” and says PowerPoint presentations are “a disaster” and “should be ditched.” 

PowerPoint can still be an effective tool as long as YOU stay in control and don't read your slides word for word to your adult audiences.

In a recent High Impact Presentations workshop, I encouraged my participants to try something new. I asked them to start their presentations without the slide on the screen – with a black screen (did I just hear you gasp?).

They started their presentations by BEING WITH their audience. Their introduction might have been a story, a current, relevant event or a situation they described. As they moved into the “meat” of their presentation – they brought up their first slide on the screen, then used the slide to illustrate what they were speaking about.

But here’s the big thing

The slide was in the background and the presenter was the
in the foreground as the expert. 

In movie lingo, the speaker was the main (feature) attraction. Too often, it’s the other way around, and that leads to dull and boring slide shows rather than enlivening and interesting presentations.

Here’s how you can use that technique in your next presentation

1. Turn on your computer and projector before your presentation and test that they are working.
2. Open PowerPoint, go into the Slideshow mode to bring up your first slide.
3. Press the “B” key on the keyboard which will give you a black screen.
4. When you’ve finished your introduction, hit the “B” key once again and your first slide will come to life!

Another technique is to build black slides into your presentation so that you create pauses in predetermined places.

Finish with a black screen and connect with your audience

As you give your presentation's conclusion, hit the “B” key to black the screen and leave your audience with your key points or call to action. Studies have shown that your audience will typically remember what you say at the start of your presentation and your ending more than the middle. So it makes sense to turn off the PowerPoint and take your power back!

About the Author
Dana Bristol-Smith is the founder of Speak for Success, an organization that works with companies that want their people to communicate with confidence and credibility. You can email Dana at:dana@speakforsuccess.net

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