Some recent presentations I attended inspired me to share these thoughts and reminders from the audience perspective:
1. Visuals, such as photos, in a presentation can add a great deal to the impact of the presentation. The visuals however, must have context and relevance. Photos on a slide with no context, no relevance and no explanation add very little to the presentation. Adding stock, cheesy images to slides just because someone said you need to have visuals is useless and distracting. Images that are too small to be seen and stuck in the corner of a slide filled with text are a waste. Get rid of the text, use quality images and tell a story.
2. People cannot read what is on your slide and listen to you at the same time. Reading word for word what is on your slide is distracting and insulting to the audience. Talking about something completely different from what’s on the slide while people are trying to read the ‘important’ information (I assume it is important or it would not be there) on your slide is distracting, frustrating and takes away from the potential learning.
3. Talk instead of reading a prepared script. If you need to read a quote or excerpt from a book or document that is fine, but to simply read your speech takes away from the message, especially if it is your story. Allow yourself to be human and have a conversation with the audience. They want you to be genuine, not perfect. They want you to succeed. They want to connect with you and take the journey with you, so know what you want to say and then just tell the story.
Remember, the audience is the reason for the presentation.
Take care.
Brian Willis – Committed to excellence in training and excellence through training.
Think Differently About Training.
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