Presentation Tips Using PowerPoint

1.    Channel any nervousness to deliver a more stimulating presentation

A totally relaxed presenter may lack energy in his/her presentation.  Focused nervous energy will make your presentation more lively and interesting.

2.    Make eye contact with individual audience members

Connect with one individual for a complete thought; then establish eye contact with another individual for your next complete thought and so forth throughout your presentation.  This accomplishes two things.  First, it helps you control any nervousness since you feel that you are talking to that one individual and not the entire audience.  Secondly, the entire audience feels that you are connecting with each of them.

3.    Present to the audience and not to the screen

If you need to call attention to an item on the screen, walk to the screen, point to the item, then turn to the audience before you resume speaking. This technique can be remembered as Touch – Turn - Talk.

4.    Use few words in your slides

You are the presenter, not PowerPointTM.  Your slides should be limited to just a few words to remind you what you want to cover next, and to help your audience follow your presentation.  When you use too many words the audience finds it difficult to follow your message, and you are tempted to read from the screen rather than connect with your audience.

5.    Use a “Build Technique” to focus your audience’s attention

Do not show all your talking points when you advance to a new slide.  While you are covering your first point, your audience will be reading ahead rather than focusing on what you are saying.  To avoid this, animate your slides so that only one point is shown until you are ready to discuss the next point.

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFepeF10RPg  for a YouTube video which demonstrates the above tips.