PowerPoint Presentation Advice: Do One Thing At A Time - TJ Walker Video
''Do one thing at a time.'' So says speaking expert TJ Walker in today's PowerPoint presentation advice video.
Too often, when giving a presentation, we are trying to do too much, and asking too much at our audience. Speaking, flicking through slides, doling out notes and hand outs and trying to keep everything up and running in the heat of the moment can feel like juggling in front of a crowd. It makes you tense, and the tension doesn't help the smooth delivery of your presentation at all.
If you're speaking, do the unthinkable and put the slideshow on hold. Otherwise you are inviting the audience into confusion. Where are they supposed to look? At you? At the handout? At the slide? While they're deciding, your presentation is losing its momentum and the impact it could have if you had just let them focus on one thing at a time, simultaneously taking the pressure off yourself.
TJ Walker says:
''Most speakers fail because they set themselves up for failure. They say 'listen to me, now look at what's going on over here, now read this handout, all at the same time.
It doesn't work that way. We all think we can multi-task, we all think we can do ten things at once. Guess what? We can't!
''
By not forcing your audience to make tough choices, and allowing them to digest one thing at a time, you can be sure that your presentation will be well received and understood. Walker explains:
''If you're speaking - don't have any distractions. If there's something for them to look at - shut your mouth. If you want them to read something, and I'm a big believer in reading, I'm a big believer in text and data - give it to them after the presentation, or email it to them the day before the presentation, or give it to them after a section, but don't give it to them at the same time, because then you're begging them to tune you out.''
Key to a good presentation is being in control of the information you're presenting. If you're desperately trying to keep three or four plates spinning, sooner or later you're going to lose control and find that they come crashing down on you at the most unfortunate moment. Do one thing at a time, and that never needs to be the case.
posted by
Michael Pick
on Tuesday, November 21 2006
Tuesday, January 15 2008
URL of this article:
http://masterview.ikonosnewmedia.com/2006/11/21/powerpoint_presentation_advice_do_one.htm
