10 errors that spoil any presentation

Error 1. The use of slides without the need

American human rights activist Brian Stevenson has received one million dollars after a 18-minute speech at the TED conference. The money went to the expense of the charitable organization. At the same time, Brian has relied only on the power of stories and did not use a single slide.

Use the slides to speak only when necessary:

1. If you want to explain something. Slide at a slide listener from simple to complex.
2. When the amplification effect is required. For example, turtle picture with a plastic bag in the jaw will strengthen the report on the endangered species of animals.
3. If you need to send a presentation by email. Commercial offers presentation of the investment made by all the rules of presentation of art, will be a good communication tool.

Error 2. Incorrect definition of the target audience

Do not know your target audience your presentation - it's still a lot to offer depilation brutal biker. At best, he will laugh at worst - can and send to hell. Before you open PowerPoint, write on a sheet of paper the answers to the questions:

1. Who is my target audience? They love these people, what dream, what irritated by what inspires them, what they are proud of what they want to learn and to aspire to?
2. What I want to get from them?
3. That they should learn from the presentation? What is the main idea of ​​what they tell you in the evening for dinner to his family?

Error 3. problem in the presentation is not defined

The Internet goes tale about two sellers. One seller to send to Africa and said, "Sell shoes." A week later, he wrote: "Take me out of here! Here, all barefoot, no one does not need our shoes. " We sent a second, more experienced seller. A week later, he wrote: "Send More party shoes - here they all go barefoot!"

The first salesman problem is not found, while the second was obvious to her. Be sure to think about what problem will be solved your presentation. Lay it on the facts and figure out what they can be strengthened.

Error 4. Lack of focus

On a sheet with a description of the target audience write the purpose of your presentation. Collect 20 thousand rubles to protect pigeons from bad or old ladies get $ 5 million to launch a rocket to Mars. The objective should be clearly recorded.

At the presentation can be only one purpose.

Slides operates a simple rule: "One slide - one idea." Feel like a new thought begins, - go to the next slide.

Error 5. lack of structure

Often there are presentations in which no clear structure. First, describe the characteristics of the product, and then talk about the benefits and added at the end of the problems that it solves. Although it is more important to bring the problem to the fore, and only then offer solutions.

In "Show and tell" Dan Roema shows four types of presentation: offer, drama, explanation and report. For each type of Dan offers a clear structure. We can only pick up the facts and to string this structure.

Commercial offer

Obstruction → decision → new level.

Scorching sun → Buy hat.

Drama

This most presentations in style TED: Emotional insight hole → → new level.

I had an accident, I realized how much I love life, reconciled with her mother, who had not spoken for five years.

Explanation

→ step step step → → new level.

How to explain to a child what short circuit? There are two wires through which current flows and nourishes the tool (step 1). If a undermining the integrity and the wires directly connected, the short circuited (Step 2). The wire and the device heats up the (step 3).

Report

Fact → fact → fact → new level.

In June, earned 10 thousand rubles. This is 10% more than last month. The reason - the opening of a new store. Financing in August is not required, the money is there.

Error 6. Presentation without history

Nobody will be surprised beautiful design slides. And here is an interesting story will help catch the attention of the audience.

Signs of a good story:

• the presence of the hero;
• test;
• fight;
• a return to normal life, but with new knowledge;
• conflict.

More than 5 million views on YouTube performance gained Jill Bolt Taylor "The amazing story of enlightenment» (My Stroke of Insight). Jill - brain functions researcher, author, speaker.

December 10, 1996 in the left hemisphere Jill (hero of the story) Burst vessel was bleeding in the brain (test). During the four hours neuroscientist watched as gradually stops working her brain. She could not speak, read, write. Miraculously, Jill managed to get a working phone number, and call for help. Brain surgery was successful, but the recovery took eight long years (fight).

In his speech, Jill talks about the feeling of nirvana, she felt that the right hemisphere has taken a leading position. She speaks of a conscious choice that can make each of us: to switch between right and left hemisphere. Jill hopes that her story will be useful not only to those people who have suffered stroke (return to normal life, but with new knowledge).

conflict in this story, too, is enough. That there is opposition to the right and left hemispheres. Left - all analyzes, right - is responsible for the work. In the history of Gil right hemisphere becomes the master. That is what is changing its perception of the world.

Think of the story illustrates your idea, get your hero. Let him help you go through the presentation and convey your thoughts.

Error 7. Ignorance of the basic principles of Infodesign

How can you mess up a presentation with a clear structure and a great story? Sloppy slides. In order to create a dynamic slides do not have to be a designer. But the basic principles are good to know:

1. Follow a consistent style. A maximum of two fonts. Use colors that blend with each other. Check on our website Adobe.
2. Align. Use the special line - guides, which are visible only in Edit mode. Think of a newspaper article: smooth and bright column headers. Stick to this style in presentations.
3. Shall be made in the title of the basic idea of ​​the slide.
4. Allow slide to "breathe". Do not be afraid of empty space and not try to fill it immediately.
5. Photos look better than any words. If you can use a picture to illustrate the idea, be sure to do it.
6. Icons and pictograms show better ideas featureless white men. can be found here.
7. Use charts to illustrate the process, explaining complex ideas. this will help service.

There is an excellent book "Design. Book for nedizaynerov"Robin Williams. Designer after reading you will not, but your presentation will look more professional and complete.

Error 8. poor preparation

How often do you cook on the eve of the presentation slides? What kind of a rehearsal in this case can we talk?

Notable speakers spend large amounts of time to prepare for the performance. For example, five months, or almost 400 hours spent on the preparation of the 50-minute speech coach, actor, speaker and author Michael Port. And before each performance, he does not get tired to practice and come up with new variations of the show.

Tips on preparing

1. Gather family and friends, spend a presentation in front of them. In addition to the pleasure of communicating with loved ones, you will get valuable feedback on performance.
2. Never rehearse a presentation in front of a mirror. You will be distracted by pimples, and his facial expression. Go to the park, on the shore of the reservoir, try speaking loudly text of the speech.
3. And the most simple, but not very easy: start preparing for the presentation in advance.

Error 9. Abandon the presentation of the fear

Worry before the show - this is normal. There are dozens of exercises to combat fear and emotion: breathing techniques, exercise, body contact, detailed study of fears and more.

Most importantly - do not cease to try and move forward.

And if there are rituals that help you personally (nickle under the heel, "happy" tie) safely use them. The main thing - remember that good preparation - it is 99% of the success of your presentation (see. error 8).

Error 10. in the development of stop

Surprisingly, a lot of people consider themselves to be a great speaker. Day by day they are broadcast in the same thought in the same voice, accompanying it with the same gestures.

Meanwhile, life goes on, presentations and art develops to a new level. Programs help create design slides, storytelling art completely changes the perception of the audience.

It is important not to stop the development and continue to look for new sources of inspiration. You can help these books:

• Alex Kapterev "presentation skill».
• Nancy Duarte, Slide: ology.
• Garr Reynolds, "Presentation Zen».
• Dan Roem "Show and tell».
• Maxim Ilyahov Sarychev and Lyudmila "Write, reduces».
• Radislav Gandapas "Kamasutra for speaker».

This is the minimum necessary for those who want to develop the skill of creating presentations.

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Now look at your presentation with a critical eye. What mistakes do you see? That can be corrected to bring it to the next level?

see also

• 5 best services and software for creating presentations →
• How to attract the attention of the audience during a public performance →
• 20 tips on how to improve the quality of public appearances →