PowerPoint for Public Speaking
How to Use PowerPoint Slides in a Speech or Presentation
Jul 29, 2007 Naomi Rockler-Gladen
Is a PowerPoint presentation the best way to work visual aids into your speech? Maybe-- but you need to use it correctly. Here are some tips to using PowerPoint.
Since PowerPoint presentations came on the scene, public speaking classes have changed quite a bit. PowerPoint is a wonderful piece of technology that can help you deliver an effective speech, and college students just love it. Unfortunately, if it's used badly, it can make a speech very difficult to follow. When you use PowerPoint, don't forget the basic points you need to know about how to use a visual aid effectively. And be sure to follow these basic tips about using PowerPoint in a presentation.
- Make sure the audience can read each slide easily. This may sound obvious, but it's a common mistake during presentations. Use large fonts with black letters that are easy to read, and avoid using colored backgrounds that are too dark or that obscure the writing. Keep the background simple. Beige or light pastel colored backgrounds are a good bet because they add a nice touch without making your slide difficult to read.
- Make sure each slide looks professional. Remember, when it comes to visual aids, professional does not necessarily mean fancy. What it does mean is neat and organized. Make sure the contents of each slide are neatly organized on each page.
- Make sure the information on each slide is spelled correctly and is accurate. Failure to do so can ruin your credibility and embarrass you painfully.
- Limit the amount of text on each slide. When it comes to a presentation, written words are a distraction. Your audience will start reading the slide and will stop listening to you. Never include information on a slide that isn't covered in your speech.
- Limit the amount of information on each side. Keep it simple. A visual aid should make one point, and that's it.
- Resist the urge to pimp your presentation. There's all kinds of cool things you can do with backgrounds and graphics on PowerPoint, but you probably don't want to use them because they will distract your audience from the content of the presentation. Use graphics only if they help you emphasize a point in your presentation.
- Don't hide behind your PowerPoint slides. PowerPoint slides can create a psychological barrier between the speaker and the audience, which can be great if you have a fear of public speaking. Unfortunately, an effective speaker needs to create a sense of dialog with the audience, and you can't do that if you hide in a corner and let your slides speak for you. Stand in full view of your audience and make eye contact with them throughout the presentation.
- Don't read the slides word for word. This is very unprofessional and awkward, and may be confusing to the audience.
- Make sure the technology is working. You should always leave yourself plenty of time to make sure the PowerPoint setup is functioning properly. And if this is for a class presentation, make sure the instructor knows you're going to be using PowerPoint so he or she can make any necessary preparations. Whenever you give a PowerPoint presentation, you should always have a back up plan in case the technology fails you. Print out your sides ahead of time and be prepared to use them as your speaking guide if necessary.
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The copyright of the article PowerPoint for Public Speaking in Campus Life is owned by Naomi Rockler-Gladen. Permission to republish PowerPoint for Public Speaking in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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