How Top Leaders Deliver Presentations - Part 4

Product Presentation Basic Powerpoint Tips for Newbies

Let's assume you are using Powerpoint as your chosen media to present with. Here are some powerful tips for the best use of this media and in presenting to make your desired impact.

1. Don't use powerpoint as your notes and DO NOT read from the screen. There is a tendency today for people to misuse powerpoint. In-fact there are people who use it as a media to write everything in. Instead of too much text in each slide, my suggestion is to hand out a document, brochure, white paper or include notes within the presentation. Even if you are a new product manger know your presentation and maximize powerpoint wisely and correctly.

If you're meeting for a discussion with the Development Team, that is not a presentation. Have the relevant design document at the meeting. You may find that you will not use Powerpoint in this situation and that you may bring up your design document. This is NOT the same as a product presentation in the sense of presenting the product and benefits and using Powerpoint as your media.

2. Don't overpopulate the screen. Each slide should have a clear message.

3. Keep text to a minimum. Your audience can read faster than you can speak. This may be a challenge when creating a detailed presentation. When presenting to development, the idea is not to make powerpoint your detailed design document.

• Don't use paragraphs;
• Not more than 5-7 lines of text;
• Use around 30 point font size – depending on the room size.

4. Include images that enhance the issue you are presenting, so your audience will understand and identify with it.

5. There is much to be learnt about using the media effectively in respect of color, images, text, font size, transition, and sound. Learn more and find the style that suits you best. Don't reinvent the wheel as there are statistics out there of what works best.

Some basics for Newbies or those of you that want to improve your basic presentation skills

1. Read up and watch videos on effective presentation skills.

2. Practice by yourself and also ask someone to watch you and give you feedback – this point is valid for everyone.

3. Video yourself. Watch your body language, speech and tone of voice. How do you hold yourself? How do you look and what are you wearing? Do you look comfortable? Do you use of words like “um” for example or other words that you tend to repeat every few sentences?

4. Be open to learn and receive feedback – its the best way to learn as we all have ways we can improve. You may want to ask for help or feedback from a colleague that has done similar presentations and present to him/her beforehand.

In Summary

There is a wealth of information out there depending on what your area of improvement may be. Learn from others and create a presentation where the message is clear, focused and interesting.

• Who is your target audience?
• What is your story?
• How would you define your most desired outcome?
• What is your area of improvement in presenting? (the media, your own presentation skills? what?)

Use Powerpoint correctly and deliver a presentation that will be remembered and that has a successful outcome.

Finally believe in yourself and also choose your attitude of who you want to be when standing up their and presenting to your audience.

• See How Top Leaders Deliver Presentations - Part 1: Delivering your Story
• See How Top Leaders Deliver Presentations - Part 2: Product Presentation Design Tips
• See How Top Leaders Deliver Presentation - Part 3: Time Management Tips for Effective Product Presentations

Samantha Amit is founder for the Center for Development and Leadership. Samantha believes that we are all leaders and to be the best version of ourselves, we should continually develop ourselves on all levels. Samantha coaches and trains managers to be conscious, to choose their intent and to make an impact. In this article Samantha brings tips from her years of experience in Product Management - in delivering webinars and presentations to strategic customers, and at user groups at conferences. The Product Management role is so huge and there are so many challenges in being more productive, effective, efficient and less stressed.