The most common error was simply reading the information on the slide, even though everyone knows humans read quicker than they speak (so the audience is always ahead of the game). Second was using font sizes so small that 90% of the over 50s audience found it impossible to read and third was the usual array of nervous mumbling, lack of clarity and simply straying off the point of the slide.
There are many great articles about how to use the ubiquitous PPT, none in my opinion more relevant and on point than the one written by former Apple and now Enchantment evangelist, Guy Kawasaki.
Kawasaki's 10, 20, 30 rule is simple
10 - No more than 10 slides.
20 - No more than 20 minutes.
30 - Font size no smaller than 30 points.
The poor chap has sat though literally thousands of pitches, so he know what he's talking about.
Watch Guy Kawasaki's 2 minute video here - the investment will pay dividends and yes, when we present, we stick to his guidelines. There's also a great book on the subject, which you can get at amazon called Presentation Zen. You can buy it here.
Nick - Great post. I recently presented at a conference in Phoenix and used Guy's 10, 20, 30 rule. I'm glad I did as most of the other presenters crammed so much text onto each slide it was like trying to read a blackboard at MIT.
ReplyDeletePowerpoint is like a bottle of good Scotch; enlightening and warming in the right hands confusing and dangerous in the wrong.
Keep it up, I enjoy your blogs.
Steven Tingle