Take Your Power Back from PowerPoint

Expert tells how to ‘go beyond the slide’ to keep your audiences’ interest and attention
 

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

Dana Bristol-Smith, President of “Speak for Success,” a San Diego-based business communications expert, says PowerPoint can still be an effective tool, as long as you stay in control and avoid the temptation to simply read slides word for word to your adult audience. 

“The biggest mistake presenters make is not making themselves the feature attraction,” said Bristol-Smith. “Too often, it’s the other way around and this leads to dull and boring slide shows instead of lively presentations and a conversation with an audience.” 

In her High Impact Presentations workshops, Bristol-Smith encourages participants to try something new. She asks them to start their presentations without the slide on the screen – with a black screen. 

They begin presentations by being with their audience. Their introduction might be a story, a current, relevant event or a situation they describe. As they move into the “meat” of their presentation, they bring up their first slide on the screen and use the slide to illustrate what they are speaking about.

Bristol-Smith explains how this technique can be used 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, advises Bristol-Smith. 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,” said Bristol-Smith. “So it makes sense to turn off the PowerPoint and take your power back by turning that last bit of attention to you!”

About Speak for Success
Based in San Diego, California, Speak for Success provides training and coaching services to help professionals in executive, management, sales and technical roles be more effective and successful in their business communications, both verbally and in writing. Speak for Success’s clientele includes some of Southern California’s largest biotech, high-tech, financial services, health care, telecommunications and professional services businesses and organizations. To learn more, call 760-726-5272, email info@speakforsuccess.com, or log on to www.speakforsuccess.com  

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