Next Slide, Please

I was recently at an association meeting and saw my share of PowerPoint presentations...ranging from engaging and interesting to shockingly bad. I have nothing against PowerPoint; in fact, I am one of the few people who actually likes PowerPoint -- when used correctly. So, what marks the difference between The Good and The Bad? Here are my thoughts on how to deliver memorable messages when presenting.

• Effective presentations begin well before you create that first slide. Do you have an overall objective for your presentation? Is it clear? Do you know your audience? What do you want your audience to do, think or feel after your presentation? If your opening remarks imply that you have an understanding of their challenges and goals, you will have a much more attentive audience throughout your speech.
• Remember, PowerPoint slides are NOT cue cards. Use your slides only to emphasize, illustrate or reinforce. They should not be your speaking notes. If you find yourself writing entire sentences as bullet points, stop. Nobody can, or wants to, read that much text during a presentation.
• Limit your use of clip art. Please don't use the images supplied with PowerPoint. We have all seen them before. Find visuals that relate more closely with your message.
• PowerPoint allows for a variety of slide transitions, animation and sound effects. Use them very sparingly. As your twentieth bullet point zooms, screeches or zaps into view, your audience will be ready to throttle you.

And finally, remember that you are the most important visual aid in your presentation, not your slides. The most effective presentations are memorable and interactive. You may have the most fascinating statistics or innovative product features, but if you can't find a way to connect with and engage your audience, nobody will care.

Poll the audience, issue a challenge, relay a personal anecdote...give the audience an opportunity to participate. The most important advice for any presenter is to know your topic well and use the methods of delivery that are the most comfortable for you. When you go beyond the bullet points and pie charts and let your personality show through, your audience will naturally be more interested and engaged.