There is no shortage of articles lamenting on how tools like PowerPoint have done more harm than good. In my opinion, PowerPoint is not the problem—it’s just a means to an end. The real dilemma is that the “slides” and “presentation” have essentially become the same things.
Your presentation is not your slides. Slides are visual aids meant to emphasize and support your oral arguments. The audience is listening and reacting to your words, not to your laptop. A disconnect has now evolved—presenters now spend the bulk of their energy focusing on the production of their slides and minimal effort on the actual delivery of their presentation. How many presentations have you sat through where the presenter simply read from their slides word for word?
While I am certainly guilty of falling into the PowerPoint trap, I’ve learned a few techniques that can help break the habit. Preparation is critical.
Here are three prep techniques that require you to step away from PowerPoint (for at least a little bit) and can be used to develop compelling presentations.
Write the story
There is an art to effective presentations, and it has nothing to do with slide templates or diagrams—the art is the story you tell. Like any story, a presentation must have meaning. The best stories have an intriguing opening that captures attention, a logical progression, and a killer conclusion. When planning your presentation, take the time to think about the story your telling and what it is about it that will keep the audience interested and engaged.
Instead of organizing your presentation around slides, think about it as chapters in a story. Sales presentations are a great example. There is a formulaic approach—features, benefits, examples. Instead of thinking about that way, try to tell the story of the software: how did it help in a particular instance? Channel Steve Jobs. When he introduces new products, it’s never all about the functions – it’s the story of the product in context to how it can make your life better. Think about this approach and then build the slides to support it.
Treat your presentations as stories and narratives. Stories are far more compelling than lectures.
Do your homework
I recently attended a presentation by a search marketing company pitching its services to a biotech that develops software for managing clinical trials. The presentation went along swimmingly—the firm confidently presented their capabilities and experience, and seemed to know their stuff…until one of the audience members asked a question about their thoughts about the clinical trial process. I was dumfounded when the presenter asked, “What’s a clinical trial?”
End of presentation.
Regardless of how good your presentation is, if you fail to do the necessary research you are simply shooting yourself in the foot. Take the time to learn about your audience’s industry, their competitors, and their needs (both real and assumed). Granted, you cannot expect to know everything about your audience but knowing enough that you can confidently speak their language goes a long way. It also shows that you are committed and took the time to understand their business.
Remember, your audience needs to more than your inherent skills and competencies—they want to know that you have smarts to apply your abilities to their business needs.
Get some sleep
Presentations are often completed at 3:00AM the night before the big meeting (”I have to get my slide builds just right…”). Good work requires time and it often takes up to the last minute to get everything done. Regardless, it is just as important to show up to presentation rested and energized. Looking haggard does not translate as “hard working” to your audience—it makes you appear disorganized and unprepared—usually not traits audiences respond to.
So instead of pulling an all-nighter hovering over your slides, get a good night’s sleep, eat a good meal, and try to relax. Doing so will improve your ability to present much more so those extra five case studies that you worked on until sunrise.
