The Principles of PowerPoint It‘s all about support

Points to remember  PowerPoint is (only) a tool  PowerPoint does not give the presentation  You are the ‚master‘, PowerPoint is the ‚slave‘  A good presentation is more than PowerPoint  Bad PowerPoint can kill a good presentation

Principles – Part I: Visuals  Visuals (pictures, graphs, diagrams) are more powerful than words  Always show the visuals first: Click‘n‘talk  Powerful visuals  no texts  Work with the visuals, i.e. explain them  Use a laser pointer

Principles – Part II: Texts  Use meaningful phrases – no single words, no sentences  If you use a short text – read it out loud  Follow the 6 x 6 principle (6 lines à 6 words)  Never use a serif font (like Times New Roman)  Font size (32 pts) and contrast are critical  Only use ONE font family

Principles – Part III: Animation  A must for lists and slide transitions  They must not detract from your presentation  They must fit the character of the presentation  Do not animate the heading  Do you really need sound?!  First show – then talk

Principles – Part IV: Design  Choose adequate design (colours, font, etc.)  Who am I talking to (audience)?  What am I talking about (topic)?  Where am I presenting (light conditions)?  Use the same design for every slide!  Corporate identity (footer, page numbers, etc)

Principles – Part V: Content  Structure your ideas (chronologically, logically, etc.)  Keep to the relevant points  Details, names and numbers are killers  Names should be part of a story  Numbers should be explained/compared  Details should be interesting (‚spices‘)

Presentation – Part VI: Presenting  NEVER read from prompts etc.  Always tell an interesting story  Eye contact is essential in communication  Speak loudly and clearly  Know how to say the foreign words  Captivate your audience!  Intros and endings are ‚hot spots‘