Category: Presentation

Crafting Compelling Presentations: A Guide to Using the Assertion-Evidence Framework

assertion-evidence framework

Jun 22, 2014

It’s a bit of a mouthful. It also sounds like a complex scientific theory. But the Assertion-Evidence Framework isn’t as complicated as it sounds. You use it a lot when communicating in the workplace. It’s also an effective way to gauge if your PowerPoint presentation design is conveying the key messages you want your audience to receive.

A group of five professionals, four seated and one standing, discuss a market share slide for tech investors around a table with laptops, papers, and coffee cups, smiling and engaged in conversation in a modern office.

What is the Assertion-Evidence Framework?

You might not realize it, but you use the assertion-evidence framework in plenty of everyday situations. For example, you’re in a meeting and you say something like, “The marketing campaign we launched for the new product is effective.” You make an assertion. When you follow that with, “the proof is in these documents that detail our positive ROI” – you are backing up your statement with evidence. Simply put, you’re using the assertion-evidence framework every time you make a statement supplemented by words or statements like “because”, “it can be proven by”, and “the reason is”.

How does the framework apply to PowerPoint presentation design?

This is how the assertion-evidence framework should guide your PowerPoint presentation design: Effective presentation design moves the audience into action. This action is a result of a series of small decisions they make throughout your presentation. These small decisions are made from assertions throughout your speech, which you should visualize in your PowerPoint slides. And as we’ve learned, all assertions in the assertion-evidence framework must be back up by data. Consider this PowerPoint slide from our portfolio:

Assertion: “NextImage Direct is Everywhere You Are”Evidence: A map of the U.S. with pins in every stateLike in this sample slide, assertions are usually made in the title of the slide. Evidence is laid out in the body through data, illustrations, or diagrams. While this is a rule you can bend, keep in mind to keep one assertion per slide. This way, all the evidence in the slide answers only one statement. It will also limit the amount of text, making room for visuals. Another thing to remember is that all assertions you make should be stated in clear sentences. Ask yourself if the assertion makes sense by itself. This will allow you to trim unnecessary data from your evidence, including only what answers your assertions. Featured Image: Paul Hudson via Flickr

Captivating Presentations: Tailoring Your PowerPoint to Engage and Inspire Your Audience

audience

Powerpoint

Jun 20, 2014

When it comes to live presentations, connecting with your audience is everything. Apart from providing you with the right push to carry on, being able to engage your audience means you have somehow earned their trust. Whether you are pitching an idea, selling a product, or sharing a lesson, that connection will make it possible for your call to action to get the appropriate response. So how do you connect with your audience? Try tailoring your message to them.

Know Your Audience

It pays to learn some information about your audience in advance. If you have access to such info, take note of the following:Do the members of the audience belong to the same age bracket? Are children going to be present?Is your potential audience a formal or informal crowd?What are their levels of education?What are their common interests (business, recreational activities, political belief, etc.)?Most importantly: Why are they attending the presentation? Did they volunteer or their bosses sent them?Take into consideration the answers to these questions so you’ll be prepared to adjust to any scenario.

Use Visuals That Appeal to Them

Make use of images, diagrams, and chart designs are familiar to your audience. (This is where the info you have of them would be very useful). If majority of the audience members is composed of business executives, for example, then it is safe to say that you won’t be using images of Pokemon or Little Pony. The point is, select images that your audience will be able to relate to.You may also want to use the colors that is most associated with your audience. If you’re pitching to a company, incorporate the colors of their logo. Or if you are presenting to a group of students, make use of their school colors.

Watch Your Language

Certain groups of people have their language or jargon. Techies have their own and so as business professionals. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to speak like them. Just be mindful of your choice of words and make sure that they fit your audience.Designing your PowerPoint for your audience gives you the edge you need to establish rapport with them. It allows you to sort of condition their mind before you go in for the kill.

Four Elements of a Successful Presentation

content

delivery

design

elements of a successful presentation

venue

Jun 17, 2014

What makes a successful presentation? When delivering a presentation, being a strong and confident speaker can help in engaging the audience.The quality of your slides – the content and overall design – is another matter. You also have to consider other elements such as the venue and its effect on your delivery.If it’s your first time to deliver a presentation, it’s okay to feel nervous. To help you overcome the jitters and ensure the success of your presentation, here are some tips that you may want to keep in mind:

Quality Content

Regardless of your topic, avoid making its scope too broad. Try to be specific by focusing on three or four important points. It would be great to tackle them in such a way that the first point flows logically to the next and so on.Make sure that your information is clear and logical. Present what your audience is expecting to learn and stick to your agenda. In case they want to know more about your topic, they will ask for sure. Just be prepared for their questions, though.

Engaging Slide Design

Use appropriate colors when designing your slides. Avoid too many color combinations to maintain a clean and professional look.The same goes for the text. Keep it to a minimum by aiming for one point for each slide. Be sure that the text is large enough to be read even by people at the back of the room.To enhance readability, the slide’s background color and the text should have great contrast. Resist the urge to use fancy fonts. Plain and simple font types would do for better readability.Don’t forget to use images. You can always use pictures or graphics to enhance your presentations, not to decorate the slides but to support your points. So make sure to use relevant and high-quality images.

Prepared Venue

When it comes to the venue, some variables can either enhance or reduce the impact of your presentation. If possible, visit the place in advance and check for the following:Is the presentation going to be held indoors?Will it be in a hall or a boardroom?Will it be darkened?Is the room carpeted? Or will the sound bounce off bare floors, instead?To further get the feel of the place and be more confident on the big day, you may want to rehearse your presentation in the actual venue.

Impressive Delivery

Your delivery can make or break your presentation. Make sure you have practiced your speech and the timing of your slides.If possible, practice in front of a colleague and ask them to give genuine feedback. Recording your presentation using the record function in PowerPoint is also a great idea.It can help you hear how you actually sound. If you notice anything off with your pitch or enunciation, make the necessary adjustments.

Mastering the Art of Healthcare Presentations: 3 Practical Tips for Captivating Audiences

healthcare presentations

powerpoint presentation for healthcare

Jun 16, 2014

Effective and engaging presentations can be a challenging achievement to attain. But the challenge doubles with healthcare presentations, when details of the topic at hand sound alien to the general public.Whether you’re about to give a lecture in a seminar, inform the market about a new medical breakthrough, or pitch to potential investors, you can prevent your audience from nodding off to sleep. Here are three practical tips to make your healthcare presentations engaging.Here are three practical tips to make your healthcare presentations engaging.

Be accessible

It’s easy to lose your audience to technical terms and concepts, so it’s important to keep your healthcare presentations accessible. You can do this in three simple ways:

1.) Use PowerPoint slides

Well-designed PowerPoint slides can help your audience visualize the structure of your presentation, preventing them from feeling lost or confused. Use large font sizes (at least 30 points, according to keynote speaker and renowned venture capitalist, Guy Kawasaki) and keep the number of slides to a minimum. Create an attractive but simple PowerPoint design by using color schemes, backgrounds, and fonts consistently.

2.) Explain difficult concepts with illustrations, stories, and metaphors 

Healthcare presentations are informative in nature, so it’s impossible to completely eradicate the use of technical terms. Illustrate difficult concepts with flowcharts or graphs. You can also try to relate these concepts through stories from your own experience or clever metaphors.

3.) Explain jargon in layman’s terms

Similarly, try your to avoid using jargon. If you have to, explain them in a language that’s easy to understand.

Get straight to the point 

Condense your talk into concise points that are pertinent to your audience’s needs. Don’t waste your time explaining a complicated concept, because it can easily lead you off tangent.Keep your talking points short but significant by answering What’s, Why’s, and How’s.

Prepare a complete handout

Presenters often make the crucial mistake of giving out printed copies of their slides as handouts. While this may work sometimes, remember that there is a difference between the two:Your PowerPoint slides are visual aids that help enhance your presentation. Handouts are for your audience to refer back to after your presentation.A complete handout has all the information you discussed organized into neat sections, plus the handy illustrations you used to explain complicated concepts.You can also use it as a ‘footnote’ section by expounding on some details you edited out of your pitch.

Conclusion

Each presentation type is unique. Healthcare presentations may be more technical and specific than others, but that doesn’t mean it should be less engaging.Make your pitch and your deck more accessible to your audience, be as straightforward as possible to keep your content compact, and don’t forget to prepare a handout that delineates each key point.Deliver an effective healthcare presentation with these tips!

Captivating Comeback: Reigniting Your Audience’s Interest

audience

body language

nonverbal communication

presentation

Jun 12, 2014

Presenters wouldn’t want to bore the audience with a winding speech with innumerable slides to match. There are times, however, when you just have to face an indifferent audience.Teachers and lecturers especially encounter this type of problem most of the time. You may have prepared a 20-minute presentation, but if it feels like your target is indifferent to you from the start, then your preparation is all for naught.If you’ve been in such situation, it might not be your fault after all. The next time you encounter that type of audience, here are some things you can do:

Be Aware of Warning Signs

When you get caught up in your presentation, you might end up rambling. This can cause you to be oblivious to the fact that your audience is tuning out.In your next pitch, take note of the signs that people’s eyes are wandering off. They could be fidgeting or shifting in their seats. Some may even be squirming.Those who are truly bored may be checking their watches and surreptitiously looking for the exit signs. To save your presentation, you need to be aware of such signals so you can react accordingly.

Connect Using the Right Body Language

According to body language expert Carol Kinsey Goman, when audience attention falters, non-verbal communication can play a significant part in keeping them engaged.A strong eye contact, for example, can help jolt an audience member into paying attention. You may also use your voice to project and maintain control. In your spare time, try to learn how to vary the pitch and loudness of your voice.Additionally, make sure to maintain the right stance. This will help you convey confidence and authority.

Break your Pattern

If you’ve been droning on for a few minutes, think about pausing for about 10 seconds. Doing so will surely get everyone to pay attention.They’ll be surprised that you stopped. This will create anticipation on what you are going to say next.

Practice your Opener

Your slides won’t do everything for you. You can’t just show them to your audience while you go on reading from your notes.You may not notice it but how well you prepare can affect how you hold your audience’s attention. Speech coach Sims Wyeth suggests that one of the most important parts you should master is delivering a great opener.When you’re successful with your opener, you will be able to create a framework that prepares your audience for what they are about to hear.

Conclusion

Even the best presenters have difficulty commanding audience attention 100% of the time. It’s inevitable that people’s attention spans will stray from you.However, there are ways to reel them back in. Surprise them by breaking your speech pattern, or starting off on the right foot. Impress them with a good pitch, and guarantee all eyes trained on you for the rest of your speech.

References

Goman, Carol Kinsey. “10 Simple and Powerful Body Language Tips for 2013.” Forbes. Accessed June 12, 2014.Wyeth, Sims. “10 Ways Great Speakers Capture People’s Attention.” Inc.com. March 05, 2014. Accessed June 12, 2014.

Basic Preparation Techniques for a Successful Presentation

powerpoint preparation

presentation

Jun 09, 2014

Preparation is the key to a great presentation. Being prepared wouldn’t just help you deliver your message in exactly the way that you planned it. This can also boost your confidence as you stand in front of a live audience. To help you out, you may want to follow these three basic preparation techniques for a successful presentation:

Two women sit across from each other at a desk in an office, engaged in a friendly conversation about insurance presentations. One woman is smiling, holding a pen, while the other listens attentively. A plant and blinds are visible in the background.

Consider Your Audience

As you prepare your material, don’t forget to take your prospective audience into account. According to software expert, Wendy Russell, tailoring your presentation to your audience can make it easy for you to build rapport with them. Apart from the age, gender, and professional background, here are the things that you should consider:

  • The schedule of the presentation – Will you be presenting during work hours or their free time?
  • Their familiarity with your topic – Do they know anything about your subject matter, or is this the first time they are hearing about it?
  • Your general purpose and tone – Are you going to educate, inform, or inspire? Would it be alright to use humor, or will they find it inappropriate?

Thinking about these things can also help you write your speech better.

Memorize and Time Your Speech

Reading from your notes the whole time will make you sound boring and insincere. Use your notes (and to some extent, the slides) to guide you, but don’t rely on them as a crutch. When you know your speech by heart, you will be able to exude confidence and leave a better impression. It also opens up an opportunity for you to ad lib and create a more spontaneous and relaxed atmosphere.It helps to know how long you have to present. Remember that not all people can maintain concentration in a meeting that takes too long to finish. Apart from making it interesting, keep your presentation concise and structured. Keynote speaker Guy Kawasaki recommends that speakers present for only 20 minutes and use 10 slides at the most. If you are able to wrap up your speech with still a few minutes to spare, use it for a quick Q and A.

Get the Feel of the Place

Try gathering as much information as possible about the place where you’re going to make your presentation. If time permits, arrange to see the place before the actual event. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Visualizing the place can help subdue any anxieties or edginess that you’ll feel. This also provides you with the opportunity to practice your speech and test the room’s acoustics. While you’re at it, you may also want to check some technical details such as the availability of microphones, the quality of the projector, etc.

These are just some of the preparation techniques that you can do to ensure a successful presentation. Whatever you do, just keep in mind that if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.

References

“The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint.” Guy Kawasaki. December 30, 2005. Accessed June 9, 2014.Russell, Wendy. “Who Is Your Audience? Did You Bother to Check?“ About.com Tech. Accessed June 9, 2014.

About SlideGenius: SlideGenius.com is your business PowerPoint guru. Based in San Diego, California, SlideGenius has enhanced the presentations of more than 5,000 clients all over the world, including J.P. Morgan, Harley-Davidson, Pfizer, Verizon, and Nike. Let SlideGenius help you with your presentation needs! Call us at 1.858.217.5144 today.

Words and Music: The Different Types of Audios for PowerPoint

background music

transition sound

voice narration

Jun 05, 2014

When talking about designing a PowerPoint presentation that stands out from the rest, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the inclusion of graphics.While there’s no denying that graphics can indeed make an impact, there are other tools available that you can use to improve a presentation. Audio is one such tool.

Background music

Adding background music can inject life to your slides. Use it properly in combination with engaging graphics and you won’t just deliver a presentation, you’d also create a memorable sight and sound experience for your audience. Keep in mind, though, that “properly” is the operative word. Choose the right music that is appropriate for your presentation. It should reflect the core of your presentation to achieve optimal effect.The trick is to keep it middle-of-the-road. Depending on the audience and subject matter, lively classical music, piano, or acoustic guitar music could work. Screaming guitars or loud drums, however, are definitely out of the question.

Transition sound effects

Adding subtle audio effects whenever you change slides can be beneficial to your audience. Whether they are jotting down notes or answering a text message, the transition sound would act as a cue for them that you have proceeded to the next slide.For added effect, you may add multiple PowerPoint sounds on top of each other and play them in the order in which you have added them. You can make each sound start as you click it by dragging the sound icons off of each other after inserting them. One reminder, though: To keep the program from having problems accessing the sound files, copy those files into the same folder as your presentation before adding them.

Voice narrations

Voice narration is usually used for presentations meant for web publication such as online lectures or tutorials. It is also used for self-running slide shows that don’t have the benefit of having a presenter in attendance. Adding voice narration to existing PowerPoint presentation is also great for turning old slides into stand-alone re-purposed materials.In any case, voice narrations can turn a plain set of slides into a self-contained instructional content that can be used by another batch of audiences to self-teach.

Conclusion

Whatever sound you want to add to your presentation, make sure that PowerPoint supports the file type. File types that it can run include MIDI, WAV, and MP3. Done right, the sound you add to your slides can help boost  your presentation’s impact.Adding audio to your slides can either make or break your presentation. Bare and bland slides are bound to bore an audience, but at the same time, overdoing music on your deck can lead to a sensory overload, which defeats the purpose of engaging your audience. Make sure to balance entertainment with information and get the most out of your deck’s audio properties. 

Reference

“Understanding Information Overload.” Infogineering. Accessed June 5, 2014.

Making Your Slides Less Text-Heavy

bullet points

Powerpoint

presentation

slides

Jun 03, 2014

The main purpose of a PowerPoint presentation is to help a presenter tackle a topic in as few words as possible, without losing the core message.Unfortunately, not all presenters know how to limit the amount of text on their slides. To avoid making your presentation appear too text-heavy, you may want to try the following suggestions:

Use Multiple Slides

The bullet point has been an alternative for many presenters who don’t want to flood their slides with walls of text. However, this solution sometimes proves to be counterintuitive, since many presenters make the mistake of fitting as many bullet points as they can – on a single slide.Just like paragraphs, this practice makes a slide look confusing. To avoid this, do away with bullets and give each point their own slide. Doing so will let you increase the font size as well as improve your slides’ layout.

Think Visually

Instead of describing things with words, consider using images to represent your points. Don’t worry about your audience not getting the reference at first glance. It’s up to you as the presenter to fill them in on the missing pieces, just make sure the connection is evident after you’ve given the explanation. If it’s still not obvious after that, you may want to reconsider your choice of words.This works for you since their attention will come back to you after viewing the slides. If you put text on your slide, their focus will stay on the slide – they’d just read everything instead of paying attention to you.

Keep it Short

While images are a great shorthand for your points, not all slides can contain only one image. Some slides may still require a few words to be effective. If you really need to add text, make sure to keep it to a minimum. Highlighting your main points can help organize your slides. Choose contrasting colors to enhance readability. If you’re going to use a bright background, for example, then choose a darker shade for your text.A good rule of thumb would be: If you can express something in one image, then do it. If you can’t, use as little text as possible. The audience is there to hear your talk, not to read the slides with you (or even ahead of you).

Conclusion

The presenter’s bane has always been walls of text that bore the audience and ineffectively relate key points. You can put an end to this information overload on your slides with a few simple steps.Instead of going for plenty of bullet points that defeat the point of breaking down text, try using multiple slides to get your point across. You can get even more creative and put images instead of text. But if you really can’t help using words in your slides, make sure to always keep them as short as possible.Your deck should complement your pitch, but in order to do that, it first needs to take be visually appealing, not off-putting. 

Reference

Contrast Rebellion. Accessed June 3, 2014.

Using PowerPoint as a Learning Tool

learning tool

lecture

presentation

training

Jun 01, 2014

Nowadays, many lecturers, trainers, and educators use PowerPoint as a learning tool. However, critics of the software have pointed out the way it disrupts the learning process rather than helps people understand complex concepts.The famously quoted Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, for instance, declared in 2010 his stance on PowerPoint — the way it oversimplifies things yet confuses the audience with elaborate diagrams does more harm than good, in the general’s eyes.But when done right, a presentation can make a lecture less boring while helping the presenter explain things more clearly.Designing a PowerPoint presentation as training or learning aid may seem simple enough. But still, there are things that you should keep in mind to make the most of this tool:

1. Leave out the unnecessary elements

Your audience will easily understand what you are saying if your presentation is coherent. This means anything that isn’t relevant should not be included.Check your slides for graphics, animation, or sound effects that are not directly related to the material on your slide. Too much of these will only cause cognitive overload and undermine your purpose.

2. Use texts wisely

Presentations work best when visual elements are used. Words can still have their place on your slide, though.For example, graphs are more comprehensible if they are accompanied by labels. Captions next to images can also help clear any potential confusion.

3. Add cues to guide your audience

Following your presentation is much easier if you will use a cue whenever you make a transition. This is a slide that acts as an outline of your presentation, telling the audience where you are in the topic.You may use graphics or photos to highlight your cues. With this technique, your audience will be able easily organize information in their minds and retain more of them effectively.

4. Tell a story

Slide decks are primarily composed of pictures with one or two sentences, allow your audience to have a few seconds to read and look at each slide. Then, proceed to tell a relevant story that supports your point.They are more likely to remember your message when you present your points this way. When they need to review your topic, all they have to do is recall your story.

Final Words

One final reminder: Use the “no show” or blank screen button. This rarely used button can help you veer everyone’s attention away from the PowerPoint and towards you.By using the blank screen function, you can discuss a matter in greater detail or facilitate a short exercise without having anyone distracted by a slide in the background. More importantly, it underscores the idea that a PowerPoint presentation is a tool for lecturers, not a crutch.More importantly, it underscores the idea that a PowerPoint presentation is a tool for lecturers, not a crutch.

Reference

Bumiller, Elisabeth. “We Have Met the Enemy and He Is PowerPoint.” The New York Times. April 26, 2010. Accessed June 1, 2014.

The Perks of Having the Right PowerPoint Background

Powerpoint

powerpoint background

May 30, 2014

The ideal PowerPoint background is something that looks simple and clear. This helps your audience focus on key points on the slide rather than get distracted by an over-embellished deck. An effective background often utilizes design principles like white space to avoid drawing attention to itself and instead highlight the real objective of your presentation.Ill-designed backgrounds are often those that have too much clutter on it. These present elements on the deck that aren’t necessary to your core message. While an occasional frame or color might actually boost he audience’s interest in your slides, reserve the design for the points that matter.To help give you an idea, the right PowerPoint background has these two qualities:

1. Right Contrast

Your audience should be able to read your text clearly. This is why you should use colors that provide a nice contrast between the slide’s background and foreground. By using dark text against a lightly colored background, you would be able to enhance your presentation’s readability.Just a word of caution: If you are presenting in a room that is not well lit, do the opposite of the advice above. Choose a dark background and make your texts light-colored.It would help to run through a test of the presentation in the designated venue beforehand. Apart from gauging the venue’s lighting, you will also be able to also check the projector’s settings. If you fail to make the necessary adjustments, the impact of the colors may be diminished by the projector.

2. Consistent Look

Consistency is important as it tells the audience that they are still viewing the same presentation during your entire talk. Being consistent with the design of your slides, however, doesn’t have to limit your creativity. It is just that you are eliminating unnecessary details or distractions from the slides.One cause of inconsistency is the use of multiple colored slides. A presentation with multiple colored slides would be an assault to anyone’s retina. According to Creative Content Expert‘s Tara Hornor, poor color choices are among the things that hamper a design. Make sure to limit the number of colors to just two or three. This way, your PowerPoint presentation would look more professional and a lot less ridiculous.A corporate logo on each slide can also contribute to your slide’s consistency. If you don’t feel like adding a logo on every slide as it could look obtrusive, you may choose to place it on first and last slides instead.

Conclusion

Ultimately, as you work on your PowerPoint presentation, your choice of background is always an important consideration. It may seem like a minor detail but the right background can make a whole lot of difference between an impressive, professional-looking presentation and a mediocre one.It may seem like a minor detail but the right background can make a whole lot of difference between an impressive, professional-looking presentation and an ill-designed one. 

Reference

“10 Troublesome Colors to Avoid In Your Advertising.” Site Point. May 08, 2013. Accessed May 30, 2014.