When you are presenting with another person, coordination is key. Otherwise the other guy might get the spotlight while you get the hook. A presenter gets the shaft Here's the sad story of a friend of mine whose well-prepared speech was overwhelmed by her co-presenter's lack of preparation: So … [Read more...] about How do you deal with a bad co-presenter?
How to make a terrible first impression
How often have you heard that first impressions are important? Only about a bazillion times, right? People tend to form judgments on others within the first few seconds of meeting them. If you make a good first impression as a presenter, then you will have a more positive impact on your audience. … [Read more...] about How to make a terrible first impression
How do I know if I need a PowerPoint?
As a professional presentation designer, I love talking to people who want presentations designed. But sometimes I'll talk to a person who'd really be better off if they presented without a PowerPoint. When that happens, I turn the dollar signs off in my eyes and talk rationally about why they … [Read more...] about How do I know if I need a PowerPoint?
The only four PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts that matter
At Toastmasters the other day, I watched as one of my colleagues fumbled with the setup of her PowerPoint presentation. She struggled to get the deck in slide show mode. When she finally managed that, she lamented that she'd forgotten to include a black slide. Two simple keyboard shortcuts could've … [Read more...] about The only four PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts that matter
How to avoid four common presenter problems
While it's not possible to anticipate everything that could go wrong during your presentation, there are things you can do to ahead of time to stop problems before they start. Here are four events that could derail your whole presentation and what you can do to avoid them. Problem #1: No place to … [Read more...] about How to avoid four common presenter problems
The best way to make a PowerPoint? You have 5 jobs.
I'll bet you thought you only had one job! But if you want to design an effective presentation, you actually have five jobs as a presenter: writer, editor, graphic designer, teacher, and audience member. Don't focus on one job. You need all five. Designing a presentation from scratch can be a … [Read more...] about The best way to make a PowerPoint? You have 5 jobs.
Presenting at trade shows: problems and solutions
The Small Business Expo—a business networking event, trade show, and conference for business professionals—was held in mid-October in Boston, Massachusetts. Among the many offerings at the SBE were numerous workshops designed to provide valuable business skills. The workshop I attended was being … [Read more...] about Presenting at trade shows: problems and solutions
How to steal from Steve Jobs and make millions of dollars
When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, the company was unfocused and sliding into bankruptcy. It had close to 300 products, none of which was doing exceptionally well in the marketplace. You could pick up Apple shares for about $22 back then. Jobs streamlined Apple's product offerings to just … [Read more...] about How to steal from Steve Jobs and make millions of dollars