Sales Manager Training:10 Things Not To Do With Powerpoint!

July 22, 2008 · Filed Under communication · Comment 

Thought you might like this video I found on You Tube. It achieves an amusing way to deliver what can sometimes be an uncomfortable conversation ! Have a look at the video first it is only just over three minutes.

Over the last few weeks I have been running a series of Presentation skills seminars for a company in the UK. The main focus has been around how to impact the audience through, body language, and voice etc.

Top tip these are the most effect strategies. I am sure many of you will be aware that ony 7% of your presentation impact comes from the words you use.

Anyhow as an additional session I was asked to give some top tips on how to utilise powerpoint to best effect. I think the video above demonstrates it much better than words ever could.

The summary is below. An often missed part of sales manager training is presentation skills. The assumption being you learnt this ages ago so of course you know what you are doing.
Hope you enjoy it!

1. To much writing on a slide is wordy and boring.

2. Your audience will be able to read the slide as well as you do. So let them do it.

3. Spell check. We all make mistakes. Just re read through a couple of times and the most obvious
ones will jump out.

4. No more than 7 bullet points. The brain cannot remember more than this in one go

5. Think of the colur schemes you use. Though boring white backgrounds are best.
With black writing.

6. Two many slides spoil the broth! On average one slide every 4-5 mins of presentation work best.

7. To much data on a slide can be confusing for the audience. I know. I am a scientist and love data.

8. Powerpoint as the name suggests is powerful. You don’t have to use all the builds. Think about
your audience and what works best

9. Ditto animation and sound. It might have felt amusing to you when you where putting it together.
Yet in the cold light of day does it appeal to your audience?

10. Fonts do matter. The brain likes order and structure. If you start with one font stick to it.
Where possible use the same size as well.

All comments gladly received,

Best Wishes

Sharon

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