1. How to Give a PowerPoint Presentation
By Michael Wood
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2. Introduction Most of us PowerPoint Here are some suggestions
Interest waning
Attention wandering
PowerPoint
Easy to use
Can be effective
Here are some suggestions

3. Don't Overload Common mistake – trying to include everything
You collected the information
You want to use it
You are interested in your presentation
Your audience is more interested in you
Edit ruthlessly

4. Keep the Word Count Down
Take words out
Don't write in sentences
Verbalize the subjective and adjectives
Technical presentations with lots of graphs, bar charts and spider diagrams
Don't have too much data on any single chart

5. Use Images Use images Easier on the audience
Focus the audience's attention on you

6. 12 is Better than 24 No magic number
General rule – 12 is better than 24
36 is asking a lot from the audience
Depends on what is on the slides
Presenting research results vs a sales presentation

7. Know your Audience Some people want minutiae Some don't
Senior business people are disinterested in the fine detail
Keep to the key points
There are always exceptions to the rule
Conclusion - know your audience

8. Vary the Format Too much repetition is dull Change it around a lot
Bullet points
Graphs
Bar charts
Change it around a lot

9. Use an Appendix for Details
The presentation as a document
Includes more information than you need to present
Put extra information in an appendix
Sits at the back of your presentation
Available if a tough question arises

10. Make it Easy to Read Should be easy to read at the back of the room
Use color contrast between text and background
White and yellow - difficult to read together
Play safe
Colors that look ok on your computer screen will not necessarily be displayed as clearly through a projector

11. Make it Easy to Read Use large easy to read fonts Avoid the weird ones
Verdana
Arial
Tahoma
Avoid the weird ones
Avoid type that is close together
Times New Roman

12. Practice Makes Perfect
Practice your delivery
Speak the presentation out loud
Sound like the spoken word and not the written word
Many speakers work from a written script
It is hard to relax in a formal environment

13. Don't Read the Slide Find something new to say that isn't on the slide
Don't read the slide out loud
The audience will have read it for themselves long before you finish

14. Think about Tone Depends on presenter comfort level
Some presentations are improved by humor and informality
Helps the audience relax
Gives them a reason to pay attention
Exceptions – delivering bad news to the boss

15. Narrative Link slides together with cues and connecting words However
Because
Nevertheless
Add sense of narrative
Brings continuity to your presentation

16. Narrative Not uncommon "this chart shows" Dull and forgettable
A child can tell you the 500 or so words of the Goldilocks story
Most adults struggle to recall 10 items on a grocery shopping list
Goldilocks is broken down into digestible chunks (8 scenes) and connected by narrative

17. Your Audience as Guests
Presentation slides are a prop
you master, slide servant.
Do not defer to the slide
Look at your audience
Look at the screen briefly to remind yourself what is showing
Punishable sin to turn your back on the audience

18. Your Audience as Guests
Smile at the audience
Be warm in words and body language
Make eye contact
You can give the appearance of eye contact by looking at your audience and sweeping the room with your eyes

19. Conclusion - Discussion - Source
You are the master
PowerPoint is the tool
You can give an effective presentation
By Michael Wood