Prepare and present a topic in front of an audience is a part Unfortunately, this art is mastered only by very few people, if I trust what I see for years. This is not because you know how to use PowerPoint that you know how to make a presentation. Make a presentation, is to enter into contact with his audience, to convey a message and not read aloud what is written on the screen !
Here are a few tips that I have translated and adapted the site of Garr Reynolds with his permission (© Garr Reynolds, 2006). In the hope that they will be useful to you.
The 10 best tips for preparation
1. Start by bearing in mind the end of your presentation
Before you even start up PowerPoint, sit down and take the time to think about the day of your presentation. What is the reason you are doing this presentation ? Why did you asked to speak ? What is expected of the audience ? What do you want the audience to remember from your presentation ? Don't forget that a presentation is not just a simple reading of slides. It's much more than that. Otherwise, the audience might happen to you by reading a book (a book, report, etc) dealing with the subject of your presentation to get the same information.
2. Know your audience the best possible
Before developing the content of your presentation, you need to ask yourself several questions in order to become the best presenter possible for that audience. You must, at a minimum, meet the classics That ?, What ?, Why ?, Where ? and When ?
Who will attend the presentation ? What is their background ? What level of knowledge do they have of the topic presented ? What is the purpose of this event ? Is it to inspire ? Are they in search of factual information and practices ? They prefer the theory or best practices ? Why did you asked to speak ? What are their expectations of you ? Where does it take place ? Learn as much as you can about the location and logistics. What time is your presentation ? Do you have enough time to prepare properly ? If there are other presenters, what is the order (by the way, I recommend you volunteer to go first or last) ? What day of the week ? All these questions are important.
3. The content, the content and the content
Regardless of your performance, or the quality and professionalism of your PowerPoint presentation, if your subject is not sitting on a solid content, you will fail. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that only good content and cannot guarantee the success of your presentation. Great content is a sine qua non, but this is not enough. That said, the preparation of your presentation begins with a solid content specific to your audience. It is this content that you will develop a story that will touch your audience.
Attention ! Even if I have stressed the importance of the content, please avoid to your audience with an overload of information. The overload of information, a phenomenon that is unfortunately common, occurs when a presenter incorporates too much information in a presentation without making the effort to make it relevant for the audience. Sometimes, it is as if the presenter wanted to show that he knows a lot, or more often, that he was afraid that if he does not tell "the whole story" in detail, the public will not understand.
4. Promote simplicity
"Simple" does not mean " simplistic ". Think that the simplification is simplistic is... simplistic ! The simplicity is a goal difficult to achieve, but your audience will appreciate it. Simplicity requires more thought and planning on your part, because you have to decide what should be part of your presentation... and what should be excluded. Here's a simple exercise :
If your audience could remember only three things from your presentation, what would they be ?
Here are a few tips that I have translated and adapted the site of Garr Reynolds with his permission (© Garr Reynolds, 2006). In the hope that they will be useful to you.
The 10 best tips for preparation
1. Start by bearing in mind the end of your presentation
Before you even start up PowerPoint, sit down and take the time to think about the day of your presentation. What is the reason you are doing this presentation ? Why did you asked to speak ? What is expected of the audience ? What do you want the audience to remember from your presentation ? Don't forget that a presentation is not just a simple reading of slides. It's much more than that. Otherwise, the audience might happen to you by reading a book (a book, report, etc) dealing with the subject of your presentation to get the same information.
2. Know your audience the best possible
Before developing the content of your presentation, you need to ask yourself several questions in order to become the best presenter possible for that audience. You must, at a minimum, meet the classics That ?, What ?, Why ?, Where ? and When ?
Who will attend the presentation ? What is their background ? What level of knowledge do they have of the topic presented ? What is the purpose of this event ? Is it to inspire ? Are they in search of factual information and practices ? They prefer the theory or best practices ? Why did you asked to speak ? What are their expectations of you ? Where does it take place ? Learn as much as you can about the location and logistics. What time is your presentation ? Do you have enough time to prepare properly ? If there are other presenters, what is the order (by the way, I recommend you volunteer to go first or last) ? What day of the week ? All these questions are important.
3. The content, the content and the content
Regardless of your performance, or the quality and professionalism of your PowerPoint presentation, if your subject is not sitting on a solid content, you will fail. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that only good content and cannot guarantee the success of your presentation. Great content is a sine qua non, but this is not enough. That said, the preparation of your presentation begins with a solid content specific to your audience. It is this content that you will develop a story that will touch your audience.
Attention ! Even if I have stressed the importance of the content, please avoid to your audience with an overload of information. The overload of information, a phenomenon that is unfortunately common, occurs when a presenter incorporates too much information in a presentation without making the effort to make it relevant for the audience. Sometimes, it is as if the presenter wanted to show that he knows a lot, or more often, that he was afraid that if he does not tell "the whole story" in detail, the public will not understand.
4. Promote simplicity
"Simple" does not mean " simplistic ". Think that the simplification is simplistic is... simplistic ! The simplicity is a goal difficult to achieve, but your audience will appreciate it. Simplicity requires more thought and planning on your part, because you have to decide what should be part of your presentation... and what should be excluded. Here's a simple exercise :
If your audience could remember only three things from your presentation, what would they be ?
- (1)__________
- (2)__________
- (3)__________
5. An outline on the
I suggest starting your thinking on paper and not in PowerPoint. Personally, I use a large whiteboard to sketch out my ideas. This allows me to be more creative. I can also take a backseat, literally, and imagine the sequence of my presentation in PowerPoint. I can also write the important points and develop a certain structure. I can quickly draw some graphics or photos that will be incorporated later in PowerPoint. Don't lose sight of that even if you use technology during your presentation, talking to an audience and get in touch with it to persuade, sell or inform, is far from being technology, but rather human.
6. Have a clear structure and strong
Take a page from the book presentation of McKinsey : the structure of presentation predominates. Without this structure, your personal style, your speech and your visual material will not have any impact. If you have taken the time to clarify and organize your ideas, then your thinking should be clear. You can see the logic of your content and sequence of the presentation. If your ideas are not clear at the beginning, it will be impossible to design an adequate structure when you create the visual elements to support your words. Your audience must know where you're going. This is not sufficient to have a slide "Agenda" or " Plan of the presentation ". If you do not have a clear plan and a solid, then such a slide will be useless. In addition, the audience can become even more irritated if you omit a topic that you had announced in the beginning of the presentation.
7. And then ?
In japanese, I often say "dakara nani ?" or "sore... ?" which is roughly translated by " And then ? ". I constantly ask myself this question as I am preparing for my presentation. When you build the content of a presentation, you should always be in the shoes of your audience and ask yourself " so what ? ". It is important to ask these questions during the planning process. For example, is what you bring that is relevant ? Is it just "cool" ? Is it that important ? Is it helps to get your message across or is it just the air ? You have already been part of an audience. You've ever wondered what a about had to do with the topic of the presentation ? You said " And then ? ". Ask yourself constantly with this important issue. If you can't answer, cut this part of your presentation.
8. Can you pass the test of the elevator ?
Check the clarity of your message with the testing of the elevator. This exercise forces you to "sell" your message in 30-45 seconds. Imagine the following situation : you have an appointment with the president of your company to introduce the concept of a new product. When you arrive at his office at the scheduled time, the president informs you unexpectedly that he has to leave and asks you to make your presentation as he went to his car. Imagine this scenario. Could you "sell" during the journey that leads him to his car ? Of course, this situation is unusual, but it is nevertheless potential. Having said that, what is more likely, it is that we ask you to shorten your presentation, say, half. Would you be able to present your about anyway ? This will only happen maybe ever, but the fact that you prepare yourself for this event is an exercise that will allow you to tighten up your speech and go to the essential.
The author of the book "I Can See You Naked" by Ron Hoff, reminds us that a presentation should pass the "test of David Belasco" when you are at the stage of its development. David Belasco was a producer who insisted that the main idea of any successful play that he produced can be described in a few sentences on the back of a business card. Give it a try. Can you summarise the key points of your presentation and write on the back of a business card ? If it is too difficult, you should probably rethink your speech. This test is a good thing to do before you open PowerPoint.
9. The art of telling a story
A good presentation includes stories. The best presenters illustrate their concepts with the help of stories, most often personal. The best way to explain complex ideas is to use examples or share an experience. The stories are easier to remember for an audience. If you want an audience to remember your presentation, find a way to make it memorable. You should try to tell stories that are short and interesting to support your words.
In addition, it is a good idea to think of your 30-minute presentation as an opportunity to tell a story. A good story speaks to you at the beginning, keeps your interest by following and ends with a punch. I have already seen good presentations which, without being extraordinary, have been very effective due to the fact that the presenter has told stories relevant clear and concise manner in order to support his speech.
I suggest starting your thinking on paper and not in PowerPoint. Personally, I use a large whiteboard to sketch out my ideas. This allows me to be more creative. I can also take a backseat, literally, and imagine the sequence of my presentation in PowerPoint. I can also write the important points and develop a certain structure. I can quickly draw some graphics or photos that will be incorporated later in PowerPoint. Don't lose sight of that even if you use technology during your presentation, talking to an audience and get in touch with it to persuade, sell or inform, is far from being technology, but rather human.
6. Have a clear structure and strong
Take a page from the book presentation of McKinsey : the structure of presentation predominates. Without this structure, your personal style, your speech and your visual material will not have any impact. If you have taken the time to clarify and organize your ideas, then your thinking should be clear. You can see the logic of your content and sequence of the presentation. If your ideas are not clear at the beginning, it will be impossible to design an adequate structure when you create the visual elements to support your words. Your audience must know where you're going. This is not sufficient to have a slide "Agenda" or " Plan of the presentation ". If you do not have a clear plan and a solid, then such a slide will be useless. In addition, the audience can become even more irritated if you omit a topic that you had announced in the beginning of the presentation.
7. And then ?
In japanese, I often say "dakara nani ?" or "sore... ?" which is roughly translated by " And then ? ". I constantly ask myself this question as I am preparing for my presentation. When you build the content of a presentation, you should always be in the shoes of your audience and ask yourself " so what ? ". It is important to ask these questions during the planning process. For example, is what you bring that is relevant ? Is it just "cool" ? Is it that important ? Is it helps to get your message across or is it just the air ? You have already been part of an audience. You've ever wondered what a about had to do with the topic of the presentation ? You said " And then ? ". Ask yourself constantly with this important issue. If you can't answer, cut this part of your presentation.
8. Can you pass the test of the elevator ?
Check the clarity of your message with the testing of the elevator. This exercise forces you to "sell" your message in 30-45 seconds. Imagine the following situation : you have an appointment with the president of your company to introduce the concept of a new product. When you arrive at his office at the scheduled time, the president informs you unexpectedly that he has to leave and asks you to make your presentation as he went to his car. Imagine this scenario. Could you "sell" during the journey that leads him to his car ? Of course, this situation is unusual, but it is nevertheless potential. Having said that, what is more likely, it is that we ask you to shorten your presentation, say, half. Would you be able to present your about anyway ? This will only happen maybe ever, but the fact that you prepare yourself for this event is an exercise that will allow you to tighten up your speech and go to the essential.
The author of the book "I Can See You Naked" by Ron Hoff, reminds us that a presentation should pass the "test of David Belasco" when you are at the stage of its development. David Belasco was a producer who insisted that the main idea of any successful play that he produced can be described in a few sentences on the back of a business card. Give it a try. Can you summarise the key points of your presentation and write on the back of a business card ? If it is too difficult, you should probably rethink your speech. This test is a good thing to do before you open PowerPoint.
9. The art of telling a story
A good presentation includes stories. The best presenters illustrate their concepts with the help of stories, most often personal. The best way to explain complex ideas is to use examples or share an experience. The stories are easier to remember for an audience. If you want an audience to remember your presentation, find a way to make it memorable. You should try to tell stories that are short and interesting to support your words.
In addition, it is a good idea to think of your 30-minute presentation as an opportunity to tell a story. A good story speaks to you at the beginning, keeps your interest by following and ends with a punch. I have already seen good presentations which, without being extraordinary, have been very effective due to the fact that the presenter has told stories relevant clear and concise manner in order to support his speech.
10. How to be confident
The more you know about your subject, the less you will be nervous. If you've taken the time to develop meticulously the sequence of your presentation, thought, images, and graphics that best support your speech, there is no reason to be nervous. What's more, if you have repeated several times in your presentation using a computer and a projector, your nervousness should have melted like snow in the sun. We fear what we do not know. If we master our subject and have repeated it, if we know what slide is next, and that we anticipated the questions, then we have eliminated a good part of the unknown. When you eliminate the unknown and reduce the anxiety and nervousness, then the confidence will come back naturally.
The 10 best tips presentation
1. Express your passion
If I had something to give you, it would be passionate. Of course, you must have great content. Of course, your presentation should have a professional look. But all this is useless if you don't believe passionately in what you have to say. The main element that separates the poor presenters of those world-class is the ability to interact with the audience so exciting and honest. Don't hold back. Have self-confidence. And let your passion flow !
2. New lion
You have already said : the first impressions are very important... and it's true ! The first 2-3 minutes of your presentation are crucial. The audience does not demand that you love. In this regard, the audience will give you a few minutes in the beginning of the presentation to be seduced. Don't miss your chance ! Most speakers fail at this stage because they simply lose too much time to show up... and to brag about their exploits. (REVIVAL You can prevent this situation by asking someone to introduce you very briefly).
3. Be brief
Human beings have a capacity for attention is limited when it comes time to sit passively and listen to a presenter. The attention of an audience is at the highest at the beginning... and at the end of the presentation when you say something like, " In conclusion... ". It is simply human. This is even more true for today's workers who are very busy and often tired. So, if you have 30 minutes for your presentation, finish in 25 minutes. It is better to feel that the audience wants more than to feel that he has had enough ! The professionals of the entertainment are on to something.
4. Keep away from the podium
Get closer to your audience when you walk away from the podium. This last acts as a barrier between you and the audience, and this is harmful since the purpose of your presentation is to establish a contact with the audience.
5. Using a remote control
To move from one slide to another, using a remote control. This way, you will not be "attached" to the stage. It is a requirement. I highly recommend the remote Presentation Remote from Keyspan. Many people also like the remote control of the company Interlink.
6. Don't forget the " B "key
If you press the " B " key during a PowerPoint presentation (or Keynote), the screen will go blank. This is particularly useful if you need to "get out" of the topic presented on the current slide. By emptying the screen, now you can have all the attention. When you are ready to resume, simply press the " B " key to bring back the slide previously displayed.
7. Establish good eye contact
Make eye contact with the people in your audience instead of just sweeping the group of the next. Never look into the projection screen (however, you can use your computer screen as a monitor). The best way to lose contact with the audience is to turn your back. Also, as long as you keep a good eye contact, don't forget to smile. Unless your subject is severe, even austere, a smile can be a very powerful element.
8. Keep the lights on
If you speak in a meeting room or in a classroom, it can be tempting to turn off the lights so as to make the presentation more readable, and the colors are more beautiful. Instead, opt for a compromise between a bright picture on the projection screen and the room is too dark. Turn off the lights focus all attention on the screen, not to mention the effect sleeping pill. It is you who should have the attention of the audience, not the projection screen. Note that the newer projectors are bright enough that you can leave the lights on.
9. Using a tv for small groups
If you are talking to a small group, you can connect your computer to a tv with a large screen (in the middle of the video input). When you use a tv screen, you can leave most, if not all of the lights on. Make sure that the text and graphics are large enough to be seen on a small screen. You will probably have to enlarge the size of your text in a significant way.
10. At any time, be courteous, personable and professional
When someone from the audience asks a question or makes a comment, be gracious and thank him for his contribution to the presentation. Even if someone is difficult, always act as a gentleman or lady. A true professional keeps his composure. Don't forget that it is your reputation. Always stay friendly, even with the most difficult of audiences.
The more you know about your subject, the less you will be nervous. If you've taken the time to develop meticulously the sequence of your presentation, thought, images, and graphics that best support your speech, there is no reason to be nervous. What's more, if you have repeated several times in your presentation using a computer and a projector, your nervousness should have melted like snow in the sun. We fear what we do not know. If we master our subject and have repeated it, if we know what slide is next, and that we anticipated the questions, then we have eliminated a good part of the unknown. When you eliminate the unknown and reduce the anxiety and nervousness, then the confidence will come back naturally.
The 10 best tips presentation
1. Express your passion
If I had something to give you, it would be passionate. Of course, you must have great content. Of course, your presentation should have a professional look. But all this is useless if you don't believe passionately in what you have to say. The main element that separates the poor presenters of those world-class is the ability to interact with the audience so exciting and honest. Don't hold back. Have self-confidence. And let your passion flow !
2. New lion
You have already said : the first impressions are very important... and it's true ! The first 2-3 minutes of your presentation are crucial. The audience does not demand that you love. In this regard, the audience will give you a few minutes in the beginning of the presentation to be seduced. Don't miss your chance ! Most speakers fail at this stage because they simply lose too much time to show up... and to brag about their exploits. (REVIVAL You can prevent this situation by asking someone to introduce you very briefly).
3. Be brief
Human beings have a capacity for attention is limited when it comes time to sit passively and listen to a presenter. The attention of an audience is at the highest at the beginning... and at the end of the presentation when you say something like, " In conclusion... ". It is simply human. This is even more true for today's workers who are very busy and often tired. So, if you have 30 minutes for your presentation, finish in 25 minutes. It is better to feel that the audience wants more than to feel that he has had enough ! The professionals of the entertainment are on to something.
4. Keep away from the podium
Get closer to your audience when you walk away from the podium. This last acts as a barrier between you and the audience, and this is harmful since the purpose of your presentation is to establish a contact with the audience.
5. Using a remote control
To move from one slide to another, using a remote control. This way, you will not be "attached" to the stage. It is a requirement. I highly recommend the remote Presentation Remote from Keyspan. Many people also like the remote control of the company Interlink.
6. Don't forget the " B "key
If you press the " B " key during a PowerPoint presentation (or Keynote), the screen will go blank. This is particularly useful if you need to "get out" of the topic presented on the current slide. By emptying the screen, now you can have all the attention. When you are ready to resume, simply press the " B " key to bring back the slide previously displayed.
7. Establish good eye contact
Make eye contact with the people in your audience instead of just sweeping the group of the next. Never look into the projection screen (however, you can use your computer screen as a monitor). The best way to lose contact with the audience is to turn your back. Also, as long as you keep a good eye contact, don't forget to smile. Unless your subject is severe, even austere, a smile can be a very powerful element.
8. Keep the lights on
If you speak in a meeting room or in a classroom, it can be tempting to turn off the lights so as to make the presentation more readable, and the colors are more beautiful. Instead, opt for a compromise between a bright picture on the projection screen and the room is too dark. Turn off the lights focus all attention on the screen, not to mention the effect sleeping pill. It is you who should have the attention of the audience, not the projection screen. Note that the newer projectors are bright enough that you can leave the lights on.
9. Using a tv for small groups
If you are talking to a small group, you can connect your computer to a tv with a large screen (in the middle of the video input). When you use a tv screen, you can leave most, if not all of the lights on. Make sure that the text and graphics are large enough to be seen on a small screen. You will probably have to enlarge the size of your text in a significant way.
10. At any time, be courteous, personable and professional
When someone from the audience asks a question or makes a comment, be gracious and thank him for his contribution to the presentation. Even if someone is difficult, always act as a gentleman or lady. A true professional keeps his composure. Don't forget that it is your reputation. Always stay friendly, even with the most difficult of audiences.
The 10 best tricks of composition of slides
1. Promote simplicity
PowerPoint has been designed to present visual information to support the remarks of the speaker. The slides per se were never intended to be the "star of the show" (the star, of course, it is the public). The people came to listen to you and be affected or informed (or both). Don't derail your about because of slides that are unnecessarily complicated or overloaded by the "visual pollution" in the words of Edward Tufte. Nothing in your slide should only be superfluous, nothing.
Your slides should include lots of white space. Don't feel obliged to fill every free space of your slide. Banish the logos as well as any other visual element or text that is not in your speech. Unless your slide is cluttered, the more your visual message will be powerful.
2. Limit the use of bulleted lists
Your presentation is for your audience's interest. Boring an audience with bullet points does not bring much. This brings us to the question of the text. The best slides have no text at all. This may sound insane given the dependency to the slides text today, but the best PowerPoint slides will be virtually useless without the narration (that is to say, you). Remember, the slides are designed to support the speech of the speaker, not to make it useless.
Many people often say something like : "Sorry, I missed your presentation. I was told that it was great. Could you send me your PowerPoint file ? ". If it is of good slides, they will not be of much use without you. It is better to write a paper summarizing your presentation. The audience will be better served by such a document in your PowerPoint presentation. If you have a detailed document or a publication to your audience that you can give after your presentation, you will not feel obliged to fill your PowerPoint slides with lots of text.
Anyway, if there is a lot of text on your slides, never turn your back to your audience and never read the text of your slide word for word.
1. Promote simplicity
PowerPoint has been designed to present visual information to support the remarks of the speaker. The slides per se were never intended to be the "star of the show" (the star, of course, it is the public). The people came to listen to you and be affected or informed (or both). Don't derail your about because of slides that are unnecessarily complicated or overloaded by the "visual pollution" in the words of Edward Tufte. Nothing in your slide should only be superfluous, nothing.
Your slides should include lots of white space. Don't feel obliged to fill every free space of your slide. Banish the logos as well as any other visual element or text that is not in your speech. Unless your slide is cluttered, the more your visual message will be powerful.
2. Limit the use of bulleted lists
Your presentation is for your audience's interest. Boring an audience with bullet points does not bring much. This brings us to the question of the text. The best slides have no text at all. This may sound insane given the dependency to the slides text today, but the best PowerPoint slides will be virtually useless without the narration (that is to say, you). Remember, the slides are designed to support the speech of the speaker, not to make it useless.
Many people often say something like : "Sorry, I missed your presentation. I was told that it was great. Could you send me your PowerPoint file ? ". If it is of good slides, they will not be of much use without you. It is better to write a paper summarizing your presentation. The audience will be better served by such a document in your PowerPoint presentation. If you have a detailed document or a publication to your audience that you can give after your presentation, you will not feel obliged to fill your PowerPoint slides with lots of text.
Anyway, if there is a lot of text on your slides, never turn your back to your audience and never read the text of your slide word for word.
3. Use animations and transitions sparingly
Use animations and transitions between slides sparingly. The animations, such as the appearance of the chips should not appear on all the slides. A little animation can be a good thing, but adhere to the approaches more professional, more subtle (similar to what you see during the news bulletin on television). An animation from left to right is correct for a bulleted list, but a trip or a flight, for example, is too boring and slow (and unfortunately, it is still used in a lot of presentations).
4. Use high-quality images
Use of graphics and high-quality photographs. You can take your own pictures using your digital camera, buy professional photos, or use the plethora of high-quality images available on the Web (make sure you respect the authors ' rights, however). There never enlarge a small image of low resolution in order to adapt it to your layout, as this will lead to further degradation of the resolution.
Avoid the use of clip art images included in PowerPoint or any other design-looking comic. If the image comes with the software, your audience has already seen a million times. It may be interesting in 1993, but today, the use of such images undermines the professionalism of the presenter. Of course, there are exceptions. All clip art in PowerPoint are not all awful. That said, use them wisely.
I often use photos of people in my slides in order to promote a more emotional response from the audience. If the photograph is of lesser importance, then I reduce its opacity. Conversely, if the photograph is what I want the audience sees in the first (for example, the image of a product), then the image is highlighted, and little or no text is required.
5. Adopt-a visual theme, but avoid using PowerPoint templates
You must maintain a visual theme consistent throughout your presentation. That said, most templates included in PowerPoint have been repeatedly seen by your audience (what's more, these templates are not all beautiful). Your audience expects a unique presentation with new content (at least in their eyes), otherwise why would they want to attend your presentation ? So avoid the use of common templates PowerPoint giving the impression that your presentation is " prefabricated ".
You can design your own templates that will definitely be most suited to your needs. You save those indicating that the file type is a template.POT). You can also buy templates look professional on the Web.
6. Use appropriate graphics
Ask yourself the question : "what level of detail do I need ? "The presenters often make the mistake of including too many details in their charts. There are several ways to present data in graphic form. Here are a few considerations to this effect :
Chart spikes of pie. Used to illustrate percentages. Limit the number of spikes 4-6, and highlight the tip of the most importance in the coloring, or pointing out of the diagram.
Histogram. Used to illustrate the volume changes in time. Better if you limit the number of bars 4-8.
Horizontal bar chart. Used to compare quantities. For example, comparing sales figures between the four regions of a company.
Curve. Used to illustrate a trend. For example, here is a curve demonstrating that our sales have increased each year. The trend is good. The arrow comes in last to highlight the point : the future looks promising !
As a general rule, the tables are adequate for the comparison of quantitative data side-by-side. However, the tables are not very " attractive ". For example, if you want to demonstrate that your amount of contributions to a charitable organization is much higher than that of other sectors, the use of a horizontal bar chart would be more appropriate. That said, if you do not want to insist on this, a table will illustrate the all the way more neutral.
7. Make a good use of color
The colors evoke emotions. The right color can help you to persuade and motivate your audience. Studies have shown that the use of color increases the interest and facilitates the learning and retention of a message.
You don't have to be an expert in color theory, but it is good to know even a little about it. Grosso modo, the colors are divided into two main categories : cool colors, such as blue and green, and warm colors like orange and red. The cool colors are best for backgrounds as they give the impression of retreat. The warm colors are best suited for objects in the foreground (such as text) because they give the illusion of progress. This is not surprising, therefore, that the combination of colors, the most common is a background in blue with the text in yellow. You do not need to use this color combination. However, you can choose a variation.
If you plan to submit in a dark room, then a dark background (dark blue, grey, etc) with white text will work well. In rooms with quite a lot of ambient light, a slide with a dark background and a light text has a tendency to fade. In this situation, I would recommend the use of a background pale with dark text.
8. Choose your fonts wisely
The fonts used in the presentation should not be chosen lightly, as they have an impact on the message conveyed. Always use the same font in your presentation. Do not use more than two fonts on a complementary basis (e.g. Arial and Arial Bold). Know the difference between a font with serifs (e.g. Times New Roman) and a sans serif (e.g. Arial). Fonts with serifs were designed to be used in documents containing a lot of text (e.g. a journal, a report, a book). Fonts with serifs are easier to read in small sizes. However, in a presentation, the serifs tend to be lost because of the poor resolution of the projectors. Fonts without serifs are often the most appropriate for PowerPoint presentations, , avoid the Helvetica or Arial which are overused. I often picked the fonte Gill Sans because it is somewhere between a cast iron with and without serifs, and that it has a professional look while being " friendly ". Regardless of the font you choose, make sure that the text is legible from the back of the room.
9. Use the video or audio when appropriate
Use the video and the audio, when appropriate. The use of video clips to show concrete examples promotes the process of human learning. You can use video clips directly in PowerPoint without leaving the application. Not only the use of a video clip you can better illustrate your points, it also allows you to change the pace of the presentation, which increases the interest of your audience. You can also use audio clips (e.g. interviews). Note, however, that the use of sound effects included with PowerPoint, linked in particular to transitions (e.g. applause), is to be avoided since this can affect your credibility.
10. Spend time in the slide sorter
In passing mode "Slide" to " slide Sorter ", you can see at a glance the sequence of your presentation. This is so that you can decide whether to fragment a slide into two or three slides so that your presentation follows a sequence more natural, more logical. Also, it is in this mode that you will be able to identify what is too much and remove it in order to improve your speech.
Use animations and transitions between slides sparingly. The animations, such as the appearance of the chips should not appear on all the slides. A little animation can be a good thing, but adhere to the approaches more professional, more subtle (similar to what you see during the news bulletin on television). An animation from left to right is correct for a bulleted list, but a trip or a flight, for example, is too boring and slow (and unfortunately, it is still used in a lot of presentations).
4. Use high-quality images
Use of graphics and high-quality photographs. You can take your own pictures using your digital camera, buy professional photos, or use the plethora of high-quality images available on the Web (make sure you respect the authors ' rights, however). There never enlarge a small image of low resolution in order to adapt it to your layout, as this will lead to further degradation of the resolution.
Avoid the use of clip art images included in PowerPoint or any other design-looking comic. If the image comes with the software, your audience has already seen a million times. It may be interesting in 1993, but today, the use of such images undermines the professionalism of the presenter. Of course, there are exceptions. All clip art in PowerPoint are not all awful. That said, use them wisely.
I often use photos of people in my slides in order to promote a more emotional response from the audience. If the photograph is of lesser importance, then I reduce its opacity. Conversely, if the photograph is what I want the audience sees in the first (for example, the image of a product), then the image is highlighted, and little or no text is required.
5. Adopt-a visual theme, but avoid using PowerPoint templates
You must maintain a visual theme consistent throughout your presentation. That said, most templates included in PowerPoint have been repeatedly seen by your audience (what's more, these templates are not all beautiful). Your audience expects a unique presentation with new content (at least in their eyes), otherwise why would they want to attend your presentation ? So avoid the use of common templates PowerPoint giving the impression that your presentation is " prefabricated ".
You can design your own templates that will definitely be most suited to your needs. You save those indicating that the file type is a template.POT). You can also buy templates look professional on the Web.
6. Use appropriate graphics
Ask yourself the question : "what level of detail do I need ? "The presenters often make the mistake of including too many details in their charts. There are several ways to present data in graphic form. Here are a few considerations to this effect :
Chart spikes of pie. Used to illustrate percentages. Limit the number of spikes 4-6, and highlight the tip of the most importance in the coloring, or pointing out of the diagram.
Histogram. Used to illustrate the volume changes in time. Better if you limit the number of bars 4-8.
Horizontal bar chart. Used to compare quantities. For example, comparing sales figures between the four regions of a company.
Curve. Used to illustrate a trend. For example, here is a curve demonstrating that our sales have increased each year. The trend is good. The arrow comes in last to highlight the point : the future looks promising !
As a general rule, the tables are adequate for the comparison of quantitative data side-by-side. However, the tables are not very " attractive ". For example, if you want to demonstrate that your amount of contributions to a charitable organization is much higher than that of other sectors, the use of a horizontal bar chart would be more appropriate. That said, if you do not want to insist on this, a table will illustrate the all the way more neutral.
7. Make a good use of color
The colors evoke emotions. The right color can help you to persuade and motivate your audience. Studies have shown that the use of color increases the interest and facilitates the learning and retention of a message.
You don't have to be an expert in color theory, but it is good to know even a little about it. Grosso modo, the colors are divided into two main categories : cool colors, such as blue and green, and warm colors like orange and red. The cool colors are best for backgrounds as they give the impression of retreat. The warm colors are best suited for objects in the foreground (such as text) because they give the illusion of progress. This is not surprising, therefore, that the combination of colors, the most common is a background in blue with the text in yellow. You do not need to use this color combination. However, you can choose a variation.
If you plan to submit in a dark room, then a dark background (dark blue, grey, etc) with white text will work well. In rooms with quite a lot of ambient light, a slide with a dark background and a light text has a tendency to fade. In this situation, I would recommend the use of a background pale with dark text.
8. Choose your fonts wisely
The fonts used in the presentation should not be chosen lightly, as they have an impact on the message conveyed. Always use the same font in your presentation. Do not use more than two fonts on a complementary basis (e.g. Arial and Arial Bold). Know the difference between a font with serifs (e.g. Times New Roman) and a sans serif (e.g. Arial). Fonts with serifs were designed to be used in documents containing a lot of text (e.g. a journal, a report, a book). Fonts with serifs are easier to read in small sizes. However, in a presentation, the serifs tend to be lost because of the poor resolution of the projectors. Fonts without serifs are often the most appropriate for PowerPoint presentations, , avoid the Helvetica or Arial which are overused. I often picked the fonte Gill Sans because it is somewhere between a cast iron with and without serifs, and that it has a professional look while being " friendly ". Regardless of the font you choose, make sure that the text is legible from the back of the room.
9. Use the video or audio when appropriate
Use the video and the audio, when appropriate. The use of video clips to show concrete examples promotes the process of human learning. You can use video clips directly in PowerPoint without leaving the application. Not only the use of a video clip you can better illustrate your points, it also allows you to change the pace of the presentation, which increases the interest of your audience. You can also use audio clips (e.g. interviews). Note, however, that the use of sound effects included with PowerPoint, linked in particular to transitions (e.g. applause), is to be avoided since this can affect your credibility.
10. Spend time in the slide sorter
In passing mode "Slide" to " slide Sorter ", you can see at a glance the sequence of your presentation. This is so that you can decide whether to fragment a slide into two or three slides so that your presentation follows a sequence more natural, more logical. Also, it is in this mode that you will be able to identify what is too much and remove it in order to improve your speech.
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