Compelling Presentations
Compelling Presentations: Deck Design
What is a PowerPoint deck for?
Standalone Decks not a presentation
Similar to a memo, but more visual
Convey the full argument without presenter
Presentation Decks
Support the presenter
Emphasize key points
Provide visual evidence or explanation
Presentation Mantra You are the presentation
Focus is on you, not only the slide
PowerPoint Design Tips
Deliver 1 key point per slide
Balance text & images
Use color strategically
Aim for legibility
Balance Text and Images
Limit text
Your audience CANNOT both read what you have on slides AND listen to you
DON’T USE POWERPOINT LIKE DR. COMAN
Imagine text/image size= weight
The larger the text, the heavier it is
The large the image, the heavier it is
Balance the slide around its center point
39273374323500The Communication Process:
5470497159937use this slide design for a presentation deck
Visual with smart art boxes connected by arrows
Icons of thought bubbles for the abstract idea that being sent to the receiver
Colors contrast to emphasize the message
The center point of the slide creates a balance around the center point
What is Tone in Writing?
Ex emojis as a metaphor for tone ????
Use midpoint!
Avoid “I” strain too many “I” in the conversation
Where Can You Find Images?
Insert:
Icon, Smart Art recommended for lists! And/or Chart
Free HQ (high-quality) images:
Unsplash, Pexels, Burst.shopify
Use Color Strategically
Use company colors or relevant color schemes
Keep colors to a minimum
Use a minimum number of colors on slide design & keep those colors consistent
Aim for high contrast (think: emphasis)
24320505143500Contrast
44204567172700Contrast for Active Voice
Draw emphasis
Active voice maintains cause-effect chronology
Aim for Legibility
Use easily readable fonts
Sans-serif is best [Verdana, Arial]
Easier to read when projected
Serif can work, but is better for standalone decks [Times New Roman, Georgia]
Avoid hard to read fonts or unprofessional fonts
458724019113500Choosing a font size
Presentation deck must have larger fonts
Standalone deck smaller fonts
Virtual or in-person?
In-person larger fonts
Virtual you can get away with slightly smaller fonts
Small or large gathering?
500 people bigger font; small gathering smaller fonts
How much text? Any images?
Create a weight with the text to balance image
Compelling Presentations: Structuring Your Presentation
Tips for structuring your presentation:
Open with the One-Minute (or less)
Cups of TEA
Conclude (close) with a recommendation
The One-Minute Introduction
Open with Importance or relevance
Hook with an anecdote, question, or surprise
Establish context/Goal and recommendation
Overview of why your presenting & what you’re presenting
Include an Agenda
What are the points you’re going to cover throughout the presentationFor Each Point: A Cup of TEA
Takeaway: your key point
Lead each key point with a takeaway
Evidence or explanation
Then support the key point with evidence or an explanation
Action: transition to next main point
And conclude that point with an action step
Can be a transition to the next key point
Or a transition to the overall recommendation
43487849213100Example or TEA
The action helps transition to the next main takeaway
Next main takeaway: introducing measures that reach all client classes to reduce churn
3. Closing Recommendation (one minute or less)
Summary of key points
Repeated recommendation (if necessary)
Action from audience (if necessary) must be specific: what do you want your audience exactly to do next
Presentation Mantra Deliver only one Takeaway per slide
Note: work in steps
Avoid data-dump
Use the TEA method to allow your presentation to build
Use transitions & signposts to guide your audience
Signpost Slide titles
Helps the reader understand where we are & where we’re going
The secret to Delivering Compelling Presentation
The Secret Practice
Prepare:
Know the place and setup know the layout of the room and space
If zoom setup your place well before practicing: know where you’re going to stand, the lighting, what your backdrop will be like, how you’re going to get the camera up to your eye level, how you’re going to get the angle right
Memorize your key points (not a script)
DON’T MEMORIZE A SCRIPT:
If you’re off script, you’re fucked, Memorizing & reciting the script you sound like a robot
Plan out your transitions
Transition from one slide to the next is tricky & very important to figure out
Anticipate questions
Create extra slides at the end of your presentation you’ll have them to go to b/c it’s certain a question will come up
Practice
Stand up & present
Speak out loud
Practice eye contact
Practice connecting with people in the room & get their feedback so you can improve the presentation before you give the presentation to the decision makers you present to
Practice Again… And Again… And Again… And Again
Compelling Presentations: Poise
Poise: Graceful and elegant bearing in a person; composure and dignity of manner
How you are perceived by your audience
Poise- Your GoalConfidence & connection
Project your confidence and connect with everyone in the room
Poise- Confidence and Connection
Eye Contact
Make meaningful connection With all participants
Follow the 3-second rule:
as you’re looking eyes to eyes, looking at the people you’re talking to do a 3-count
too little contactcomes off as nervous
too intense eye contactcomes off as intimidating or overbearing
Avoid:
Looking down, Looking off in the distance, Quick glances/scanning, Staring at a screen or monitor
Need to Check the slide?
That’s OK
Follow these 3 steps If you need to check the slide:
1. Target take moment to look at the slide & remember where you are or what your next point is
2. Turn back to the audience and make eye contact
3. Talkthen begin talking again
Voice
Project your voice one to two levels above normal speaking
Vary inflection and pace strategically
You can get louder for your key points
Or speak slowly and lower voice for emphasis or key point
Aim for conversational tone
Varying inflection & pace creates a conversational tone to your delivery
Avoid:
Speaking too fast
Speaking too quietly
Using fillers: um, uh, y’know, right?
Compelling Presentations: Presence
Presence: the impressive manner or appearance of a person
Presence- Your Goal Confidence & Composure
Presence
Stance
Feet shoulder width apart
Weight evenly distributed
Feet & shoulders facing the audience
Arms relaxed at your side
NO BARRIER between you & your audience
Avoid:
Rocking
Slouching
Blocking
Arms crossed, hands crossed “the monk”, “fig leaf”, robot (two armed or one armed), popping your hip (leads to rocking), hands at your hip
Situationally Appropriate:
Hands at your hips “the enforcer” if you REALLY need to make a powerful point
Hands behind the back indicates openness & willingness to listen
Great for your Q&A portion of the presentation
ONE Hand in the pocket creates a relaxed confidence; but no slouching, or shifting too much weight
Gestures
Natural gesture
Dynamic gesture when aligned with your speech, NOT repetitious
Emphatic gesture for key points
ALL gestures in the gesture box shoulder height, close to the body, above the waist
Avoid:
Low gestures
Hand waiving
Awkward movements
Compelling Presentations: Adapting to Virtual
Practice
Adapting Practice to Virtual
Connect with friends to practice
Use the same program (skype, zoom) as you will for the presentation
Test camera, microphone, lighting about an hour before you present
Poise- Confidence & Connection
Eye contact
Voice
Adapting Poise to Virtual
Less projection necessary
Test your mic setting in advance
Speak with animated inflection
“eye contact” is with your camera
Make consistent eye contact
Looks away (to people on the screen) are welcomed breaks the eye contact so you’re not intensely looking into the camera
Presence: Stance and Gesture
Adapting Presence to Virtual
Stand up, with camera at eye-level
Avoid angling your camera up or down, either adds distortion
Keep gestures high and in frame
“Gesture box” is higher and smaller due to framing
Use facial expressions for emphasis
In a virtual presentation, you’re always in close-up
Setting Up Your Space
Ensure bright, even lighting
Raise your camera to eye-level with square framing
Use a natural, but minimal background
Outside is OK
Better blank wall w. minimal distractions
