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That's why I'm so happy to introduce an institution that shares the same values.
If you are thinking about going back to school, you're probably wondering how to fit it all in.
National's flexible online formats, four and eight-week courses, and monthly class starts help you begin your degree sooner, finish faster, and do it all on your own schedule. so you have more options for managing work, family and school.
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Learn more today at nu.edu. Welcome to before breakfast, a production of I heart radio.
Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is that if you are giving a presentation, don't read your slides.
The only reason to have slides is to show something visually beyond what you are saying.
Every meeting will be better, if you keep this rule in mind.
Today's tip was inspired by Bill McGowan's new book, Speak Memorably.
McGowan is a communications coach. He teaches people from lots of different walks of life how to present more effectively.
As you might imagine, a lot of speakers use PowerPoint.
A lot of people presenting at meetings use PowerPoint.
There is almost no getting away from Microsoft's presentation software.
And it does do some useful things. But you know what PowerPoint isn't?
A script to be read from. McGowan uses the phrase good PowerPoint hygiene.
And a key part of that is that you should not read your slides.
The more text you have on your slides... the less your audience will listen to you.
After all, they don't need to. if whatever you are going to say is written right there on your slide.
I suspect people do this narrating their slides so they know what they should be saying. they treat their slides as notes.
But then, why not have notes? In most cases, that is okay.
If you are on a big conference stage giving a TED Talk or something, that is different.
But if that is the case, I hope you know your material well enough. that you don't really need it written out word for word.
Those people shouldn't be reading their slides either.
The purpose of a slide is not to provide notes.
It is to show something visually that will reinforce the point you are making.
Truly, that is the only point of having slides.
So you could talk about boosting sales and then show a graph where your sales are clearly going up.
Or you can talk about a confusing interface and then show a picture, highlighting exactly why it's confusing.
Or you can show a picture that illustrates your point that people are always looking at their phones.
Because it is a photo of people in front of the Grand Canyon.
And they are all staring at their phones.
Those are interesting slides. Your script, on the other hand, is not an interesting slide.
People will glance at the words and then tune you out. they might wonder why all of this couldn't have been an email instead.
Longtime listeners know that I don't use PowerPoint in my speeches most of the time.
Most of the time, conference hosts are actually excited about this.
Because the audience has seen so many slides that it's kind of nice to have a break.
My time management speeches are done more as a one-woman act, and just as with performing a play, I have memorized the various versions of my talk that I might give.
I know that is not feasible for your average 2 p.m. meeting where you are simply showing the management team your progress on a project. it wouldn't really make sense to treat this as a one-person show.
But that said, thinking a bit more about what should be on a slide and what shouldn't, And making sure that the slides complement rather than duplicate your talk will go a long way toward making that 2 p.m. meeting a little less boring.
And that would make the world a better place.
In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening.
And here's to making the most of our time.
Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast.
If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me Before Breakfast is a production of iHeart Media.
For more podcasts from iHeart Media, please visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Hey listeners, today's tip is powered by National University.
Before breakfast, you know my goal is to help you make the most of your day without sacrificing work or family time.
That's why I'm so happy to introduce an institution that shares the same values.
If you are thinking about going back to school, you're probably wondering how to fit it all in.
National's flexible online formats, four and eight-week courses, and monthly class starts help you begin your degree sooner, finish faster, and do it all on your own schedule. so you have more options for managing work, family and school.
With over 150 degrees, credentials and certificates to choose from, They have a program that fits your career goals.
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