Today I am teaching a group of people how to create dynamic PowerPoint presentations. So I arrived at my client's office at 8:15 and went to the conference room to set up. With the help of the IT guy, I made sure that my Macbook would play nicely with the projector. I set handouts and business cards … [Read more...] about Smart public speakers show up early
Create an awesome Ignite in 6 steps
What if you only had 5 minutes and 20 slides to wow a roomful of people? That's the premise of an Ignite talk. Your slides auto-advance every 15 seconds. That means that you have to choose your words carefully, create slides with a lot of visual impact and be very entertaining. Think of it as an … [Read more...] about Create an awesome Ignite in 6 steps
5 ways to amp up your presentations
A forgettable presentation is delivered by a low-energy guy. He may fidget or fumble. He reads from his slides in a monotone and expects you to just sit there and listen. He's boring. But some presenters are exciting! What they say sticks with you for years to come. An exciting presenter moves … [Read more...] about 5 ways to amp up your presentations
The BLUF Statement: Your secret PowerPoint weapon
How many presentations have you attended where the presenter took forever to get to the point? I'm betting it's probably quite a few. The problem is that presenters can often be so close to their material that they can clearly see the benefits of what they're talking about and they forget to tell … [Read more...] about The BLUF Statement: Your secret PowerPoint weapon
Hate PowerPoint? Ditch the slides.
Today I persuaded someone not to hire me. And it didn't bother me one bit, because I knew I was doing him a favor. Sometimes we're asked to communicate in ways in which we're not comfortable. When that happens, people can tell you're not at your best. In the case of my client, maybe he really … [Read more...] about Hate PowerPoint? Ditch the slides.
How long do you have to present? It makes all the difference in the world.
Public speakers are teachers. We research our topics, come up with ways to explain them, and present them in a way that we hope is exciting. Energetic, prepared presenters can motivate an audience like crazy! On the other hand, unprepared presenters can look like they lack confidence and, by … [Read more...] about How long do you have to present? It makes all the difference in the world.
Making the best of a bad room setup
Have you ever had to present in a room that looked like it was designed by somebody who has never given a presentation? When you have to deal with a less-than-optimal presenter setup, there are ways to make the best of this bad situation. Portrait of a really bad layout The above photograph was … [Read more...] about Making the best of a bad room setup
How to attribute photographs in PowerPoint
I've written about about sources for free photos. You've gotten this far, now it's time to learn how to correctly attribute all of those great images! Since there doesn't seem to be a consensus, I'll write about how I attribute photographs in the presentations I create for myself and my … [Read more...] about How to attribute photographs in PowerPoint