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“Uh. Before we get
started let me see if I can get my lap-top working. Can you see
that ok? I never really can get this laser pointer to work right.”
“Thanks for coming
today, I’m delighted to be here to discuss my reasons why you should
consider coming over to the dark side."
“On this first
slide, you can see that, well, Luke, I’m your father.”
And so would go
Darth Vader’s PowerPoint pitch to Luke Skywalker.
For a fun take on
Darth Vader’s PowerPoint, check out the January 31, 2006 post
at
Presentation Zen, a blog that focuses on how to create effective
presentation slides. The blog is the creation of Garr Reynolds, a
talented graphic designer and communication specialist out of Japan.
Reynolds’s ideas
are consistent with what Speechworks has been teaching for years:
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Remember that the
PowerPoint is not the presentation.
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The most
important visual in the room is the presenter, who is there to
move the audience in a direction.
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The slides should
support that goal with simple images and ideas that reinforce the
message.
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That means less
text, fewer bullet points, and more pictures.
I like the way
Reynolds puts it. Ultimately, he feels that slides should be simple,
yet not simplistic. They need to support your ideas powerfully but
not overpower the presentation. His website includes a very helpful
section on
how to create powerful slides. Also, check out his
sample slides.
For another
tutorial on great slides, check out marketing guru Seth Godin’s free
on-line e-book entitled
Really Bad PowerPoint (How to Avoid it). The book has some
great examples of good and bad slides.
At Speechworks we
help our clients learn how to communicate in a way that connects and
persuades. If you’re interested in becoming a great communicator
give us a call at 404-266-0888 or check out our website at
www.speechworks.net |
