The Presentation Team - PowerPoint Design & Training + Coaching

10/18/2022

Public Speaking: Dealing with Distractions Tip #1: Physical Distractions: Be prepared and be comfortable.

One of the last things I do before taking the stage is to take a quick trip to the restroom to empty my bladder. It’s a habit learned from having to do the pee-pee dance on stage once following a hearty breakfast rich with water and orange juice. I raced through my presentation and ended five minutes early, clearly in a state of discomfort.

If you’re presenting, aim to be as physically prepared and comfortable as possible to eliminate any distractions. What can you do to minimize your discomfort and distraction to your audience? Too hot? Too cold? Too sleepy? Not feeling well? These worries and distractions can all throw a curveball into your delivery. Ahead of the show, take some preparations:

Make sure the room is the right temperature and that you’re comfortable.
Make sure you have some water nearby; many meeting planners set up several water bottles at the podium for the speaker.
Eat a good meal at least an hour before speaking, and ensure that your body is well-fed and nourished. Aim to eat foods that won’t cause gas or cause you to feel bloated or tired.
Take some deep breaths beforehand (or meditate) to quiet your mind and oxygenate your brain.
Use the restroom – even if you don’t feel it’s critical – before your talk.
Make sure you’ve taken your medication.
Your mind and body are reflecting your thoughts and actions. Consequently, they should be as prepared as possible. During my pre-talk restroom break, I often check my appearance in the mirror and give myself a quick self-affirming message that everything will be okay. Attitude makes the difference.

https://loom.ly/_r_2lEQ

10/17/2022

Public Speaking Tips: Dealing with Distractions when the unexpected strikes

Distractions are everywhere, and to amplify your skills as a speaker and presenter, it’s helpful to know how to prepare for and deal with the unexpected.

I was recently watching a well-known speaker giving a captivating motivational presentation when she looked down at her stage-right confidence monitor and lost her confidence. Distracted, she stopped mid-sentence and made a comment, and the audio-visual team came to her rescue to adjust the image on the monitor. She joked about the distraction, and the audience laughed it off, and within a few minutes, she was back on her game. But the distraction – for both her and for the audience – drastically diminished her delivery. If Speaking and Presenting was an Olympic Sport, this distraction-induced fumble would have knocked several points off an otherwise near-perfect score.

This week I'll be sharing some distractions (Physical, Venue, Technical/Visual, Audience, and Delivery) and how to deal with them – to make your next presentation more successful. Full article at https://loom.ly/sUeCmyY

10/14/2022

#10. The enemy is…PowerPoint

Featured in the New York Times (https://loom.ly/yAkD4p8), this PowerPoint slide became a catalyst for change in the presentation industry. Designed to portray the complexity of the American military strategy in Kabul, Afghanistan, this scary PowerPoint slide prompted General Stanley McChrystal to wryly remark to laughter and applause, “When we understand that slide, we’ll have won the war.”

The slide demonstrated the mind-numbing strategy of PowerPoint, encouraging many to think outside the box and create more dynamic and compelling messages. So the next time you see an ugly presentation, consider these opportunities to rise it from the dead. Details at https://loom.ly/uRjs2r0

10/13/2022

Makeovers: Ugly Halloween Slides #9: Simply complex

This PowerPoint slide is the winner of the InFocus Worst Slide Contest. It features a mix of text, headlines, arrows, schematics, and directions. Normally, a viewer can grasp the core message of a slide, but this complex and convoluted message spooks the audience.

Even if we could even understand what this slide’s core message was about, the slide could be split into at least 3 or 4 separate pages. A textured background, a clean and simple headline and plenty of white space would help simplify the core message and make this presentation more pleasing. More out at https://loom.ly/oQ8STt4

10/13/2022

Makeovers: Ugly Halloween Slides #8: NSA Security Breach reveals holes in PowerPoint design

There were many harrowing things about the National Security Association PRISM leak – but to Paris-based designer Emiland De Cubber, the most horrible revelation was how awful their PowerPoint design was. Breaking nearly every fundamental rule of presentation design blended pastel colors, tiny type, and overwhelming amounts of information on its plain white background.

DeCubber stepped up and redesigned several PRISM slides. His philanthropic feat was showcased in Fast Company, as well at https://loom.ly/Wr-y8SI

10/12/2022

Makeovers: Ugly Halloween Slides #7: Scary surgery…and slides

Blood tests and surgery can be frightening…and so is the uninspired layout of this slide. Five unequally-sized rectangles all linked by anemic arrows to an oval in the middle showcase the role of diagnostic testing. The images are busy and hard to see, as are the tiny Arial subheadlines. The flat blue background may put the audience into a trance.

Our redesigned PowerPoint slide features five equally sized rounded-rectangles with clear dominant images, defined by Larger-sized subheadlines in Calibri. A transparent clipped PNG graphic of a scientist on the bottom left sends a message for the entire slide of science and medicine. The background is a textured blue angled-line image from Crystal Graphics and edited in Photoshop. A White rectangle block at the top adds contrast and provides space for a concise title and logo. See our redesign at https://loom.ly/KPLv_AY

10/11/2022

Scary Slide #6: As boring as the subject

This insurance company’s gloomy slide might as well feature a decrepit homeless person. The ominous navy background with its heavy black text against a fuzzy pie-chart does little to inspire someone to purchase their plan. The red title sends a subconscious message of warning!

The presentation’s redesign is a breath of fresh air. A light and flowing light green and white background features a green subtle element from the company’s logo. All four major bullets have been converted to iconic graphics featuring bold white text with a black border and shadow. Check out our Redesign at https://loom.ly/36C9KT4

10/10/2022

Makeovers: Ugly Halloween Slides #5: Toxic Snake. Toxic Slide.

Like the venomous Viper snake, this slide the Veterans In Pursuit of Educational Readiness (VIPER) program for Warren County Community College is also toxic. Teeming with text and pouring over with patriotism, the three key bullets on this slide are little more than a script for the speaker or a handout for the audience.

A refreshing redesign of the slide splits the three bullets into three separate pages. The patriotic flair is conveyed in a subdued, red and blue bottom arc created in Photoshop and set against a sandy-white textured gradient background. The VIPER logo is integrated in the top right, and three square academic images carry the iconic military-academic theme. The three slides each feature a prominent image of a student or service member, providing an ardent amount of breathing space. See the makeover at https://loom.ly/ps6a0D4

10/07/2022

Makeovers: Ugly Halloween Slides #4: Bombs bursting in air.

This speaker was hell-bent on grabbing his audience’s attention. His stark black background was juxtaposed against a fireworks explosion and an outdated restaurant. The blood red text with yellow shadows made the audience feel as if they were in a McDonald’s war-zone. See how we tamed this terror of a slide with our PowerPoint makeover at https://loom.ly/Y0K0HDs

10/06/2022

Makeovers: Ugly Halloween Slides #3. A Potpourri of Praise https://loom.ly/_dsI0Xw

This potpourri of praise may turn a few heads…away! Letters of reference can be helpful in winning a project…but cramming them all one slide is hardly helpful when showcasing success. This construction company’s slide features a mauve/purple gradient background blended with a faded group of schoolgirls. Two recommendation letters in opposite corners are impossible to read…so they’re transcribed in text. But the Times New Roman font is hard to read, even with key words emphasized in yellow. The skinny arrows are meaningless in connecting the letters to the text.

In the redesign of this reference slide, we scanned the actual letters and placed them on two separate pages, angled for depth and improved positioning. A magnified section of the letter showcased the key phrase or message, eliminating the need for manually-entered text.

10/05/2022

Tip: Ugly Halloween Slides + Makeovers
#2. Strong Brand…Scary Slide! https://loom.ly/-oROlfM

Hopefully, this company’s business strategy is a lot better than their presentations. In the early days of PowerPoint, someone created this curdling mix of arrows, text and a target to explain how 10 elements could target 6 key audiences.

Granted, this image is nearly 15 years old, created long before the ease of Smart-Art graphics. This was one of my very first slide redesigns…and I saw the immediate need to simplify and minimize. I started by creating a simple template using the company’s brand colors of red and black. In the center, I placed a photo of an actual bullseye. And around the bullseye- instead of angry arrows- I worked in Photoshop to create iconic ovals with superimposed text. The slide’s text and message remained the same.

10/04/2022

Scary Presentations: 10 Ugly PowerPoint Slides
#1. Is it a car? Or is it an essay?

This full-screen muted photo of a Lamborghini is cluttered by five sentences of text explaining the definition of a car. The audience doesn’t know whether to look at the car, the text, or the speaker, Or simply look away in fright.

Our makeover is to eliminate the text completely- let the speaker talk about it- and create two slides. Slide 1 features a simpler image of the car (a Lamborghini) while the speaker shares a basic definition, as explained in paragraph one. Slide 2 features an illustration of the basic components of the car, as explained in paragraph two. If the speaker didn’t want to eliminate the text entirely, the photos could be offset to the left, with the text offset on the right.

https://loom.ly/MR0ul5k

10/03/2022

Scary Presentations: 10 Ugly PowerPoint Slides

Scary Presentations: 10 Ugly PowerPoint Slides
https://loom.ly/iki_DXE

10 of the world’s scariest slides and pathetically bad PowerPoint presentations…and a few PowerPoint makeovers and redesigns just in time for Halloween.

Bullets kill. And so do bullet points…sucking the life out of audiences, who stare like zombies into the abyss of the grey and heartless projection screen while a mummy-like speaker recites mind-numbing paragraphs of text. So as the cool autumn winds blow, let’s open the crypt of ten of the world’s scariest presentations…and share a few magical potions to bring them back to life.

10 of the world's scariest slides and pathetically bad PowerPoint presentations. and a few PowerPoint makeovers and redesigns perfect for Halloween.

09/12/2022

Top Visual Tips for Amazing Web Meetings and Presentations

Tip > Effective Time and Cost Management. Tip 1: NEGOTIATE.

Often a designer or presentation design firm will be open to price negotiation, especially on a new project in order to win your business.

Aim to work toward a middle-ground that’s fair to your budget, yet respectful of the designer’s time and outside costs.

Some designers will even work on traded services. It’s rare that I do this, but several years ago, I designed a narrated video and PowerPoint presentation for a cruise affiliate. My compensation: A free cruise for two to Alaska."

10 ideas for delivering a web meeting that keeps your audience engaged, focused, and entertained.

11/12/2021

Tip > Top Technical Tips for Amazing Web-based Meetings and Presentations: Arrive early and send out invites at least ten minutes ahead.

Make sure everyone knows about - and remembers - your meeting. If you're the meeting organizer, send meeting invites with links well-ahead of the meeting. An additional email at least 10 minutes ahead of the meeting is helpful to remind people to join. Just as if you were in a physical meeting room, arrive early to preview the digital 'room', ensure everything is functioning well, prepare and plan, and welcome your guests as they start arriving. http://ow.ly/Pyxb30rsnBu

11/11/2021

Tip > Top Technical Tips for Amazing Web-based Meetings and Presentations: Consider a backup plan, a fill-in person, and be a leader.

Don't let your audience suffer because of your technology troubles. It's best to have a backup plan with a goal of keeping the meeting on schedule. If you're having tech troubles during the meeting, consider tossing your program to another presenter, or someone can speak on your behalf while you troubleshoot your tech issue. If it's someone else's tech issue, suggest some of these bandwidth-saving ideas if they're having trouble.

Ultimately, the show must go on. In times of technical troubles, think fast, communicate clearly, and be a leader. Your job is to talk- not troubleshoot.

More at http://ow.ly/8uEV30rsnBv

11/10/2021

Tip > Top Technical Tips for Amazing Web-based Meetings and Presentations: If bandwidth is an issue, shut off video for audio only. Or dial-in.

Video conferences have made the Covid quarantine a bit more tolerable, adding a sense of connection and reality to most online meetings. But two-way video consumes far more bandwidth than most residential areas are designed to handle.

If your meetings are looking fuzzy and sounding sloppy, consider turning off your video or screen sharing for an audio-only experience. For most meetings, video is just a cool added bonus. Audio through your phone or laptop is usually all you need to cover most points of a meeting, especially when you're there just to listen.

If your audio is still a sore spot for your call, try another service like Skype, GoToMeeting, or Team which will allow users to connect to the conference call with a standard dial-up phone number. http://ow.ly/82zp30rsnBw

11/09/2021

Tip > Top Technical Tips for Amazing Web-based Meetings and Presentations: Store your files locally and have your links ready

Storing your files (graphics, documents, presentations) locally rather than a network or the cloud reduces the amount of online data transfer, providing a faster and smoother connection to your web meeting.

It's best practice to keep your files (or shortcuts) in a single local folder for fast and easy access. Also, if you plan to share websites and other links, copy the links into a separate easy-to-access list file so you don't have to hunt for them when presenting. Keeping everything local, organized, and easily accessible will give you the upper edge when presenting.

More at http://ow.ly/Xjif30rsnBx

11/08/2021

Tip > Stay near your router or connect via ethernet

Your router is your lifeline to the internet. For the strongest signal, keep your router close to your working computer. http://ow.ly/tvgf30rsoZj

11/05/2021

Tip > Mute your audience

If you're the presenter or key speaker, it's best practice to keep your audience muted. This will reduce errant noises (babies crying, car horns, etc.) that could distract from the focus of your meeting. http://ow.ly/vRHT30rsoZk

11/05/2021

Tip > Dealing with Distractions: Audience Distractions.

Audiences can be the leading element of distraction in any presentation. From ringing cell phones, to crying babies, your ability to prepare for and deal with the unpredictability and annoyance of audience distractions can the major determinant of your professionalism and poise as a speaker.

When preparing for a presentation, it's vital to consider the role that your audience plays in the energy and dynamics of your talk. Their excitement can be infectious, supporting you and amplifying your talk you with a rich vigor and enthusiasm. Conversely, their disengagement or downright rudeness can be a dramatic distraction of enormous proportion.

It's important to realize that not everyone will agree with what you have to say or share. They may be attending because it's required.

Discover tips on dealing with these distractions...

Cell Phones
Children
Protesters
Doors and Dinner
Unbearable Audience Distractions

...all in this valuable article @ http://ow.ly/qfZ730rWu95

11/04/2021

Tip > Position your camera correctly; not too close and not too far.

A distance of one to two feet between you and your web camera is best to provide a comfortable view of your head and upper torso. http://ow.ly/NcUi30rsoZl

11/04/2021

Tip > Eliminating Crutch Words - Tip 6: Avoid them in Conversation.

You speak all the time. Watch your crutch words when chatting with friends and family. If it helps on stage it will help in a conversation. Plus you'll get far more practice. http://ow.ly/z0bn30rWu98

11/03/2021

Tip > Audio matters: Invest in a headset or professional microphone.

A headset microphone also cultivates a more relaxed and conversational narrative experience compared to a built-in we**am microphone, where people often talk louder. http://ow.ly/gV2i30rsoZm

11/03/2021

Tip > & Short on Time - Tip 6: Just the Facts.

Stories, photos/videos, statistics, and examples can be the spice of a speech, adding depth and dimension. But when Time - is tight, we must eliminate this speech spicing. Talk to the meat of the matter, presenting just the facts to your audience. Like a journalist, focus on Who, What, When, Why, Where, and How. Maintain your persona, but stay brief, and make sure your points support the key message, and fit in with the general tone and style of your meeting or venue. http://ow.ly/JxDM30rWu97