Getting To The Power Of Your Point Without PowerPoint^®: Presentation Tips For The Speaker

Contributed by Jay Schroyer

Even if you learn everything there is to know about Microsoft® PowerPoint, when it comes down to it, it is nothing more than an extremely effective prop. The heart and soul of your presentation is you and what you say. I’ve seen too many presentations that showcase a presenter’s PowerPoint design talents rather than the actual substance of their presentation. And anyone that has used PowerPoint knows that there are premade designs and templates that people often use anyway. So if your PowerPoint is unoriginal, you’ve got nothing else but the substance of your presentation. Here are a few things to keep in mind during the planning and execution of your next presentation.

Speech
Your speech should be slow and unhurried. Hurried speech is not only harder for the audience to process, but gives the impression that you are in a hurry or attempting to expedite your presentation. Speak clearly and simply. There’s no need to show off your thousand-dollar vocabulary right now. It can actually turn off most listeners if they have no idea what you are saying. Practice your speech in front of a mirror or an audience at home. Feel free to use hand gestures as they will help emphasize important points. Make random eye contact with people throughout the room and smile. It can be serious business, but there’s always room for a smile. A gentle nodding is also a good gesture to use as it is catching. You will soon find members of the audience nodding at agreeable points that you convey.

Appearance
Since you’re going to be at the front of the room for the majority of the time and not relying on your audience watching a slideshow, make sure you are impeccably dressed. Be tasteful in your dress selection; nothing too revealing or outrageous. Your lime green zoot suit might be great for swing dancing, but probably won’t do the trick here. Keep your jewelry selections conservative and to a minimum. There are numerous studies concerning “power colors” and the ways in which people react to certain shades and patterns. You should stick with what you feel the most comfortable in. If you’ve always had good luck with your black suit and cornflower blue tie, then by all means, wear that suit that day. Hair should be clean and recently cut or styled. A fresh shaven face is always an innocent and believable face. Profuse facial hair may suggest a hidden appearance or purpose. Be careful not to overlook your shoes. Some feel that they’ll be behind a podium and often forget the importance of clean, polished shoes. If there is a podium, don’t even use it except to store your notes. By standing behind a podium the whole time, you are creating a barrier between you and your audience.

Posture
Your body language speaks volumes. Stand up straight, keep your chest out, and hold your head high. Even if this is a presentation you could care less about or you’re running a fever, you want to exude confidence and control of the room. Don’t slouch and keep your hands out of your pockets. Crossed arms are no good either as they will make you appear guarded and unsure. Keep your body open and forward. This will make the audience feel as though you are welcoming them. Walk about the front of the room as you speak and watch the eyes of the audience follow you. You will know you have their attention when they follow your movements across the front of the room.

Knowledge
You should be well rehearsed and knowledgeable in your presentation. Don’t let your audience think for a second that they’ve wasted their time by coming to hear your presentation. It does make sense to use a PowerPoint slide show of some sort. You will invariably have a chart that would be much easier to display visually than describe. Make sure you know how to use PowerPoint correctly. If you don’t, take a crash course or some sort of Microsoft PowerPoint training. Nothing is faster at killing the momentum of your presentation than fumbling around with an uncooperative machine or software. Often, it is a situation that could have been completely avoided had you some previous experience with the program.

As technology weaves its way into every aspect of our work and personal lives, you must never forget that the heart and soul of any business transaction is human interaction. By relying on a machine or program to successfully execute your presentation, you are removing the most important element of persuasion from the equation. Only your presence within your presentation can fully and completely convince your listeners that what you’re saying is not only believable, but correct.

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About the Author:
Jay Schroyer has worked in the client and customer service end of business for over five years in retail, advertising, and printing. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English writing and communication.

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