Most people coming to a seminar expect to see a presentation in Powerpoint that correlates with the speaker’s words. Powerpoint can be very helpful to visualize what the speaker is saying, and to increase learning and retention. However, it can also work against you if you don’t create it with your audience in mind. As with all communications, they are intended for your audience not for you. So many people tend to forget that and they end up using powerpoint as a cue card to get them through the presentation. Although the slides are an excellent reminder of what you need to say next, your slides should be designed to help your audience understand and remember you salient points.
Here is an excellent article with tips on making your powerpoint presentation as beneficial to your presentation as it can be. After all, you’ve gone to a lot of trouble to build your presentation and make your case. If what you’ve got to say is worth hearing, you’ll want your audience engaged.
–Wendy Goubej
