PowerPoint is a popular and powerful tool for creating and delivering presentations. But how can it help you stay on track during your public speaking presentation? In this article, you will learn how to use PowerPoint to plan, practice, and perform your speech with confidence and clarity.
The first step to using PowerPoint effectively is to plan your content. You need to have a clear and coherent message that you want to convey to your audience. PowerPoint can help you organize your ideas into a logical structure, using slides as visual aids to support your main points. You can use the outline view to create a hierarchy of headings and subheadings, and then fill in the details with text, images, charts, or other elements. You can also use the slide sorter view to rearrange, delete, or add slides as needed.
Most people, when developing a presentation, start in single-slide view, and just proceed from the first slide to the last. The very serious problem with this approach is that you never seen the presentation as a whole (the "30,000 foot view") -- which is the essential purpose of the outline view. That's why I always start with the outline view, ignoring the questions of backgrounds, fonts, formatting, etc, while I focus on the content and the story I am trying to tell. Later, as I've added substantial content, I often use the Slide Sorter view (Light Table in Keynote) to see my slides as a whole, including images, and make sure they flow logically from one to the next.
PowerPoint has the ability to visually heighten the words you say and, with Presenter mode, give you a visual prompt of where you want to go next. If you plan your presentation and design it to include presenter notes, it will tell you where you planned to go next, keeping you on track.
The second step to using PowerPoint effectively is to practice your delivery. You need to rehearse your speech several times, using PowerPoint as a guide and a cue. You can use the notes pane to write down some key words or phrases that you want to remember, or use the speaker notes feature to print out a script that you can refer to. You can also use the rehearsal mode to time your presentation, and adjust the duration or pace of your slides accordingly. Practicing your delivery will help you become more familiar with your content, improve your fluency and expression, and reduce your anxiety.
The third step to using PowerPoint effectively is to perform your presentation. You need to engage your audience, maintain eye contact, and use your voice and body language to enhance your message. PowerPoint can help you stay on track during your presentation, but it should not distract or dominate your speech. You can use the presenter view to see your current slide, your next slide, and your notes on your screen, while your audience only sees your current slide on the projector. You can also use the slide show options to control the transition and animation effects, or use the pen or highlighter tools to draw attention to certain points.
Using the presenter view (whether in Powerpoint or Keynote) is critical to achieving a smooth presentation with good pacing. This will allow you to see any notes you may have, along with a countdown or countup timer, along with the next slide. I run through every presentation "in real time" several times, using presenter view, before ever getting near the stage. It's the only way, I believe, to really know if your content and timing make sense -- and to ensure that you won't run over or under your allocated time.
The fourth step to using PowerPoint effectively is to design your slides. You need to make sure that your slides are clear, consistent, and appealing. PowerPoint can help you create and customize your slides, using themes, templates, layouts, fonts, colors, and backgrounds. You can also use the design ideas feature to get some suggestions on how to improve your slide design. However, you should avoid overloading your slides with too much text, graphics, or sound, as this can confuse or bore your audience. You should also follow some basic design principles, such as contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity.
The fifth step to using PowerPoint effectively is to test your equipment. You need to ensure that your PowerPoint file, your laptop, and your projector are compatible and working properly. PowerPoint can help you check and resolve any potential issues, such as missing fonts, broken links, or incompatible formats. You can use the compatibility checker feature to identify and fix any problems that might affect the quality or functionality of your presentation. You can also use the optimize media compatibility feature to reduce the file size and improve the performance of your presentation. You should also test your equipment before your presentation, and have a backup plan in case of any technical difficulties.
The sixth and final step to using PowerPoint effectively is to get feedback. You need to evaluate your presentation, and learn from your strengths and weaknesses. PowerPoint can help you collect and analyze feedback, using surveys, polls, or quizzes. You can use the forms feature to create and embed interactive questions in your presentation, and then view the responses and results online. You can also use the record slide show feature to record your presentation, and then review it yourself or share it with others for feedback. Getting feedback will help you improve your public speaking skills, and prepare for your next presentation.