Live With (not by) PowerPoint

Went to a conference recently where the speaker--like scads of others--had a PowerPoint presentation to augment his remarks.

Trouble was, they didn't really augment what he was saying--rather, through a variety of ways, they replaced him. And, that only led the audience to consider the size of the rest room window--and whether it was large enough to let them slip out unobtrusively.

PowerPoint can, in fact, be a terrific complement to any presentation, provided we all live by a few simple rules. Here are a few, suggested by those far wiser than I:

* Simplicity. The most effective PowerPoint presentations are simple — charts that are easy to understand, and graphics that reflect what the speaker is saying.

* Don't parrot. Alex the wonder parrot, who amassed an enormous vocabulary, is no longer with us. Honor his memory by using PowerPoint along with spoken remarks that augment and discuss, rather than mimic, what's on the screen.

* Time accordingly. A well-orchestrated PowerPoint program brings up a new slide, gives the audience a chance to read and digest it, then follows up with remarks that broaden and amplify what's on the screen.

*Edit heartlessly. Once you're finished drafting your PowerPoint slides, assume you're just one of the folks listening to your remarks as you review them. If something is unappealing, distracting or confusing, edit ruthlessly. Chances are good your overall presentation will be the better for it.

Jeff