Presentation slides are OK if they are well done. Just remember it’s not the slides the audience came to see…..it’s you.
More speaking this year with fewer and simpler slides. It’s interesting that I have done more speaking this year and prepared fewer and simpler slides. It’s not an accident. I have colleagues who have spoken frequently for many years. They all tell me pretty much the same thing. Keep your slides simple with few words or better yet land gigs with no slides. It’s working.
No coincidences. I also find it interesting that one of the few blog posts I found time to read yesterday was Seth Godin’s – The 200 slide solution Here I am focusing this blog on public speaking for the week and Seth jumps right in and offers us all some sage advice. If you do any presenting please take the time to go read the post.
Tried and true. I read Guy Kawasaki’s – The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint years ago. It’s still great advice. I mean you may now use Apple’s Keynote or Google Docs for your software but the concepts still apply.
Chris Brogan – Presentation or Conversation a very interesting read and perspective from Chris before he became a hugely successful keynote speaker.
The point of the links above. I have written once or twice about modeling the success of those around you. Not copying them but instead looking at what they do and applying it to the unique you. That’s why I devour the blogs of people I admire and aspire to be like.
The power of search. I “re-found” the second two links in about 30 seconds with Google. So, if you too want to learn more about public speaking try Googling the name of a public speaker you respect and add “public speaking” or “powerpoint” after their name.
Posts like this don’t generate the comment traffic a blogger likes but they have helped me land two nice speaking gigs. How do you feel about posts asking at the end to contact me if you are interested in having me speak, consult, etc.?
Some really nice tips in here Jim. Thanks. I know I'm always looking to improve my public speaking and this post definitely has resources I'll be looking over. Thanks again.
I don't do any public speaking but when I need to, I know who to come to for advice. All your tips make perfect sense to me, and I know it takes practice. Have you ever been part of that Toastmasters group? Just curious because my brother had recommended it to me to get over my shyness. Great post as usual Jim!
I love sharing the works of other bloggers. It's even better when it's new to you.
You spoke at Spreenkler earlier this year and did a great job. You do more public speaking than you realize perhaps. I've heard nothing but good things about Toastmasters. Probably something I should look into as well. Just not sure where in my schedule that would fit.
The idea that slides should enhance and not detract from the presenter is hugely important. I've discovered that by focusing more on visuals (even when discussing something as nit-picky as web analytics), and use fewer slides, I feel like I connect more with my audience. Speaker evaluations tell me I'm not mistaken!
Have you considered putting together a Pecha Kucha, Jim? You'd be a natural.
Perhaps if Dilbert would have read your blog he could have avoided this situation. http://ow.ly/26KMY.
But seriously, PowerPoint and the like are great tools but they have become a crutch. Too often speakers don't put the time into the content because the want some fancy slides. One thing I have learned while studying social media is that content is king. It seems to me that that rule applies in public speaking as well.
I looked at the Pecha Kucha web-site. Looks interesting. We should discuss it further at the next likemind meting. See you then and looking forward to speaking then.
Always the content first and then the tools to support it when and if needed. The most powerful presentations I saw this year at unGeeked had no slide support. Just awesome speakers sharing awesome content. Pretty simply formula really. Generate great content and work on your skills to present it.
Great stuff. A good speaker who knows their message and is passionate about it doesn't need slides to keep peoples attention.
Preparation and passion make for a good speaker. Great point!
I am late to this party but love the post and that Seth post is great too. I saw him speak a few years ago and it rocked my world and TOTALLY changed how I approach presentations. Visual storytelling with a few words per slide, for the most part. When people don't get what I am doing (eg agency people who are used to endless boring bullet points) I show them Presentation Zen by Guy Kawasaki which has great examples. Now I am looking forward to your Like
Mind preso even more 🙂
Sue, I've never seen you present but I do know how well you convey ideas and concepts both in person and in words. Can't wait to see you and Cindi speak in SF. Going to find a way to be there if it kills me!