All of us have been the victim of mind-numbing, god-awful presentations. Here are some tips to make your next presentations great:

• Know your subject
• Know the audience
• Know the A/V equipment
• Know the time constraints
• Have a “plan B”‘ be prepared to adjust on the fly
• Have a “hook” to start . . . get their attention (See Knockout Presentations, DiResta (1998))
• Keep it simple
• Engage the audience: use eye contact, questions, etc.
• PowerPoint tips:
  • Use the “Rule of 6″
    • 6 lines per slide
    • 6 words per line
    • No more than 6 slides without a graphic
  • Use minimal animation and effects
  • Rarely use sound effects
  • Use a big font (230 pt.)
  • Graphics and sound effects must be relevant to the topic and not distracting
  • Allow 1 minute per slide; more if you expect a lot of discussion
  • Beware of colors: dark background vs. light; yellow
• Use humor, but be careful!
• Use voice inflection
• Be aware of your gestures
• Know when to use charts
• Know yourself
• When appropriate cover:
  • The purpose
  • Background
  • Relevant issues
  • Recommendations / actions
• Always tell ‘em, tell ‘em, and tell ‘em again

Good luck!

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• PowerPoint, Keep it Simple
• GIFT OF THE GAB
• Give Better PowerPoint Presentations with a Tablet PC

Your response: