|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Presentation Disasters:
Conference Style
©
by Glen Millar
This article was originally published on:
I thought: "Here we go again".
As the presenter rose to the podium, I stifled a yawn, and tried to focus on the program in front of me. The speaker promised sustainability on a national scale. While the story looked potentially good, its value was disguised in mediocrity, screaming to get out. I wondered how many years had been spent on the research, and what possible gains could be made if only he could work out what he was trying to say.
Room 204 beckoned, offering a new future (what, a better presenter). And in 315, a new way forward, without spending millions of dollars.
In room 204, the presenter was playing with her hair, and clicking a pen at the same time. While I agreed that this took rare talent, I soon lost interest in her story.
Room 315 was no better. I had heard of people who had mastered the talent of mumbling in their sleep, why witness it from someone awake?
Back in the first room; the presentation now involved the full project proposal on the screen. By the time I had counted 50+ words, the slide changed to a new one. I estimated there were about ten more words on this one than on the previous one.
The lady in room 204 had dropped her pen, and was now fiddling with the lapel microphone. The man in 315 was mumbling about something I couldn't even read on the screen.
My final conclusion? There was millions of dollars of research answers on offer, and no money spent on the presentation of them.
Ever been there? Well it can be even worse from the presenters' side. Sadly, if you have sat through a bad presentation, many of us presenters have given them.
Perhaps the most valuable feature of PowerPoint is the ease of its use. It is also its biggest trap. Sadly, the ease of using the software has also engendered some of the inherent faults. Common mistakes are:
-
I love my data. I spent $500,000 researching this over ten
years. The world needs to see it.
-
The software allows me to animate the text, as well as hide
it, as well as move it, as well as have a screaming aeroplane
fly over from an attached sound file as it moves. If it wasn't
good, why would it be there?
-
When I sit at my personal computer, I can see the white text
on the light blue background. Can't everyone else?
- If I talk to a crowd, I'll forget what my talk is about. Don't I need something to read? If it's on the slide, I won't forget something.
The fundamental problem is, I believe, that we sometimes forget about the most important part of the presentation process: the audience. Software such as PowerPoint is a tool, like a wrench in our toolbox. It is very powerful for what it can achieve, but in the wrong hands, can be woeful. However, fortunately, there are some simple rules that we can all follow to help improve the design and enhance the message.
-
The story. Ever seen animated movies on the big
screen? The really good ones (and most of the others) all start
with a wall. That is, a wall full of pictures. Good designers
start with the story, and particularly with the end in mind. It
is called a "story board". Or another way of looking at it is to
liken your presentation to yourself standing in court giving
testimony. And the audience is your jury. You have to build a
clear story that will take your audience to your predetermined
conclusion. I know someone who has spent so much time on the
story, he rarely gets questions. After years of practice, he
knows what they are already, and they are covered in his talk.
-
Text. This can really be you worst enemy. You
wouldn't let an influenza virus multiply in your throat if you
could stop it, so don't let text multiply in your presentation.
I have a few simple rules about text:
a) The first slide is where your text is most important. The title should be relevant, and there should be short dot points to let the audience know where you are taking them. If you need more than six dot points, you should be in Microsoft Word and not PowerPoint.
b) Those dot points on your first slide should appear somewhere later, in the same order, as slide titles. After all, you told the audience that that was where they were going; be honest and take them there.
c) If you use text elsewhere, keep it to two or three words, or short phrases. I only ever use text for two reasons. One is to summarize key points, either about to be covered, or where we have been. The other reason is if I really need a written prompt to say something. It's a bit like a mind trigger. I see the word or phrase, and it lets me take the audience to a new point. However, I would rather use a picture as a mind trigger if it can replace words. That way, people aren't confused between what I am saying and what they are trying to read. Not convinced? Next time you see someone give a presentation with more than twenty words on a slide, watch the audience closely. The audience will stop listening as soon as they see the text revealed (assuming they even bother to read it, in which case it is still a waste of time having it there). It is natural to be curious. Show an audience a full page of text, and they may naturally ignore you to see what they are supposed to be reading (unless they give up immediately). They aren't silly!
d) The last slide is also as important. It is your last opportunity to tell them what you told them, but it doesn't always have to be text.
- Animations. Many people look at animations from the wrong angle. They see them as a way to make something appear. I see animations another way; as a powerful technique to hide something. Remember the old overhead projector. You had a page of something with a piece of paper to hide your next point. It was very clumsy, and didn't work well. The magic of PowerPoint is not in how it allows something to animate objects in, but how it allows you to hide your next point. You have a complex story? Break it down into sections. Hide the relevant parts, until like a skilled magician, you reveal it. PowerPoint is more powerful for what it hides than what it animates. Think about it this way:
An old trick was for
someone to stand outside looking at the sky. After a few minutes,
many had joined to look as well. Was there something to see? Who
knows? But, it got peoples attention. A good trick in your
presentation is to identify one thing you really need your audience
to notice. In the lead up, don't animate much at all. At the crucial
time, before you animate your object or text, pause. Actually wait,
turn and look to the screen. Like in the days of the old show
people, everyone will turn to see what you are looking at. Then hit
them with it!
- Color. I don't believe most people really care whether you have a dark background or a light one. What they will always care about is visual clarity. The human brain tells the eyes how to function. The eyes really have an easy job when things are clear. A way to enhance this is with contrast. That is, whatever your background color is, the more important feature is how your background is different in contrast to other objects on the screen. 5. Get a professional. By all means do the hard work yourself. That is the best way to learn to use the software. But if your story really counts (and if it doesn't, why are you trying to present it?), get someone trained to know how to communicate with PowerPoint. Expert advice should not be expensive.
Back at the venue, we were in between sessions. Time for a quick break and a chance to look at the program for the next session. I bumped into a colleague, and we spent a few moments over coffee discussing the presentations on offer. I mentioned to him the presenter who had 50+ words on his slides.
"Oh", he remarked. "I saw that one about three weeks ago. He obviously hasn't fixed his presentation up".
We all make mistakes. We don't have to make the same mistakes twice.
Top
Visited
© Glen Millar
Last Updated:
April 02, 2005
|
|
||