Presentation tips

I asked my trainers about good presentation practice; here's a summary of the 80+ replies and some great comments too (this article is also available as a free pdf download ):

Top tips from twenty trainers for live presentations

If using slides, use simple, clean slide design
Do not have too many slides
Make sure the change of slide in live presentations is appropriate to the pace of the presentation
Don’t rush through slides
Don’t leave the wrong slide up when you have changed subject
Use YouTube/videos where appropriate
Do not use too much animation except for ‘slide build’ of complex graphic ideas that have to be illustrated
Don’t be too clever!
Consistent animation/transitions if used
Use relevant quotes from inspirational figures
Use shortcuts to turn screen black or white between important points so there is no visual distraction to what you are saying
Never fill your screen with words so that people are reading instead of listening to you
Use an off-white background
Use quality original or royalty free photographs not clip art
Do not use photographs, questionnaires or other proprietary information without permission
Original cartoons or illustrations
Not too many colours
Restrict number of fonts used
4 x 4 rule: maximum 4 lines per slide, four words per item (if possible)
7 rule: never more than 7 objects (bullets, pictures, logos, headers) on any slideBe interactive, don’t talk ‘at’ your audience
Accelerated learning – use ‘toys’ to stimulate brain activity
Use audio where appropriate
Use mood uplifting music for atmosphere setting (ensuring the venue has a music licence)
Use shortcuts and hyperlinks to navigate around the presentation quickly
Consider using alternatives to PowerPointTM such as mind mapping software
Consider using the MACTM alternative KeynoteTM
Consider NOT using presentation software at all
Use clear language and avoid jargon (unless technical training – and even then make sure the terms are known to your audience)
Deliver with enthusiasm and passion
Know your subject – be able to answer questions
Have Q&A as you go, not at the end
Each section of training should be no more than 20 minutes long
Have breaks so that people can absorb information
Use recaps to embed learning, reminding of key points
Have useful handouts that are not just printouts of the slide show
Be interactive – use exercises and get your delegates moving
Use the environment (outside, other rooms, etc) to stimulate your delegates
Use tools appropriate for the audience and the learning (flipcharts, games etc)
Make eye contact and watch the body language of your audience
Use storytelling and anecdotes to illustrate relevant points
Use interactive whiteboards if appropriate
Make sure the content is targeted to your audience level
Use samples/objects (physical) to illustrate points
Avoid jokes unless you know your audience very, very well
Build rapport with your audience
Learn your material, do NOT read your slides
Watch Barak Obama – see how he presents/talks to his audience and learn from him
Rehearse, practice, don’t just ‘read the script’ – have live rehearsals with an audience if possible
For your handouts you can use different artworks such as clipart etc to make valid points
Put case studies first not last (let the audience know they’re in good company)


Tips for Web-based presentations

Make sure you have a thorough technical brief and know what is expected of you
Make sure your delegates understand what is expected of them
Get a good camera angle
Avoid any facially-related habits (hair flicking, frowning, other extreme expressions that work fine live but not on cam)
Make sure your graphics are engaging
Use plenty of slides but do not make over complicated
Do not use too many words on screen
Do not use clipart on screen
Use photographs to illustrate points
Do not use photographs without permission
Use audio to enhance the vocal contribution (music, soundbites)
Use video to enhance the presentation where appropriate (YouTube etc)
Ensure anything you are broadcasting you have permission for
Know your subject
leave it too long to answer questions (flagged by your system) – the system is real time and your delegates should be treated as if they were live in the room with you



What trainers say about presenting

What's in - Be punchy, dynamic and captivating. Leave the audience wanting more. Have your own unique selling point. Use the following
format:

1. Tell them what you are going to tell them - capture interest from the outset 2. Tell them - deliver the content of the presentation in a non-verbose and interesting way (don't bore them to death with power point or ohp's) 3. Tell them what you have told them - summarise briefly what has been covered

What is out - don't deliver long winded, high powered presentations to people who don't really have an interest. Boring lengthy presentations send everyone into a coma - make it short, snappy and punchy.

Be prepared to answer questions (was recently at a presentation and when questioned, the presenter was clearly out of his depth). Know your subject or get someone else to deliver it.

Lin
http://www.brookfield-associates.com/


What’s in? A presenter who knows their subject, does not read what’s on the slide and is not a distraction to the slides or vice versa. Slides with fewer words on.

What’s out, slides with graphs etc you can’t read, incompetent presenting which no matter how good and flashy the slides are ruined by the presenter.

I don’t agree about using many slides, using 80 slides and running out of time to get through them all so whizzing through the last 20 like a person possessed is terrible.

Anne
http://www.advantage-gb.co.uk/

There is no “in” and there is no “out” in training. It does not matter if you use one dimensional PPT from 1998 or 11 dimensions with sound effects. The only thing that matters is to tell a good story, and to do it with passion. Being boring is out. And being boring can be accomplished in so many ways, including using photos and fast slides. My classes at The Academy of CI are all based on interactive case study with a Socratic method by which students discover the answers themselves. And I use a white board, on which I WRITE. Can you believe it? Write, as in 19th century.
Ben
http://www.giladwargames.com/

The message my colleagues and I are getting as we deliver presentations training around the world is that the following are back in fashion:

No slides - No PowerPoint
Oratory - rhetorical techniques such as the 3-part list and juxtaposition
The voice as a tool to persuade
(and for native English speakers) Offshore English

Barack Obama's oratorical skills have had a huge influence.

Richard
http://www.canning.com/


In the coaching/people management circles that I have contact with, PowerPoint presentations are definitely out. Interactive presentations are very much in (as you indicate), and lo-tech pre-prepared flipcharts are coming back.
Also coming back are hand-drawn visuals and cartoons and hand-drawn story-boards (as in old-fashioned advertising). My partner is a graphic designer/visualiser and - to his surprise - has had quite a lot of story-board and 'magic marker' work for corporate presentations lately, as opposed to Mac-designed work.
Melanie http://www.melanieallen.co.uk/
Interesting that all your in's and outs revolve around PowerPoint, whereas my preference and instinct is that PowerPoint if definitely "OUT" (especially for training)

For presentations I would say that "in" is: personal story telling, handouts and workbooks for the audience to follow, examples for them to touch and experience, questions.

"Out" is PowerPoint, scripts, selling and over-branding.

Andrew
http://www.tenminutetrainer.co.uk/
Lecture is out and performance-based training is in (It has always been in but there are so many companies that aren't on board.)

Process information is out and results and best practices are in. Who cares what was done if it didn't produce results valued by the organization.

Dan
http://www.advancedjobaidsntraining.com/

The very word “presentation” when used in conjunction with “Training” fills me with horror. I know it shouldn’t but it does. I also know that some presented information is necessary but it should be minimal. It goes back to my fundamental beliefs - no I am not religious. Those beliefs dictate my behaviour as a trainer. Starting at the top:Purpose. “People make profits” so training is set within a framework of the purposeOutcome. “Change of behaviour” the only output of training that is meaningful is when people can do things that they could not do before or they can do better that which they could do before.

It follows from these two limited beliefs that any ‘Presented’ information comes from the needs of the ‘practice’ to ‘implant’ or ‘improve’ skills. In this context skills are a complex set of behaviours. So what goes into a presentation and how it is presented is determined by the needs of the ‘practice’. My experience is that presentations provide information. Some information is required to enable the ‘practice’ but to often presentation is wrapped up in the word training as if it was synonymous with training. Then a “training course” becomes a series of presentations and in effect no real training actually occurs; just a presumption of one.

The thinking of the “trainer” becomes focused on how to present information in order that the learner can recall the information presented. It means the behaviour change achieved is the ability to respond to a question with an appropriate answer and not actually be able to do anything that meets my first belief.I must emphasise that I believe that presentations are a great tool to convey information, such as occurs in sales, or background information or direction for business and in this latter case may be a precursor of training. For me a flip chart diagram or a few words given to me by the learners have always been the most powerful “presentations”.

Barry
http://www.learningpartners.co.uk/

My view is that when using PowerPoint the graphics should act almost as a tease/ aid memoire and should not be a bullet-pointed script.

They should be colourful and stimulate interest rather than being something which will distract the learner from the oral message the trainer should be communicating. Any handout should perhaps be written in a different style so that the PowerPoint is not simply transferred to the Notes/handout style, even to the extent that any PowerPoint may be unintelligible as a learning resource, only of use to the presenter/ trainer.

John
http://www.yale-wrexham.ac.uk/

I aim for the "WOW" effect in the training, and how to get it. You get it when there is some form of magic involved in the process, i.e. astonishment that learning was so easy, and that an INTERNAL TRANSFORMATION is taking place during the course. This is realized especially through use of tangible tools and practical techniques, e.g. SWOT, SMART, PIN, 5 WHYs etc. You get it when exercises are relevant to the field of work of delegates, and when training is fun, interactive, and they can talk (everyone loves talking), and people do not forget what they practiced for a long time (When they talk and participate in group exercises and use tools the topic is not easily forgotten). It is nice to hear that "the course has changed my life or career". There is WOW effect when you become a different person after the course!

Another matter is to facilitate practice of the tools and techniques outside the course, i.e. at work, this during the course period. Hence one should provide some gadgets and tools for the delegates to carry with them and which will help them practice, such as small pocket manuals.

Another incentive and which produces the WOW effect is to give prizes to all delegates, and some three special prizes for top performers if there is a final test, as appreciation of their contribution. Prizes can be obtained free from different suppliers as promotion for their products.

Stephen
http://194.116.254.30/index.asp?profile=3261&req=people


I can add this – I coach people every day in presentations and speech-making and right through from my early days in TV and radio I’ve found the same thing: people assert that they are going to be brisk and clear and involving, but then they get up on stage and the usual droning dullness happens!

I encourage all my coachees and trainees to practice – REALLY practice! Not just go through it on the train, or in the office before the meeting: but to actually talk it through, speak it, rehearse it. It’s a performance, like it or not, and the truth is despite most conventional presentation training – the stuff everyone has had (and which is rarely if ever given by people who actually know how to hold an audience!) – the vast majority of presentations are BORING!

So – practice – really!!

Tony
http://www.tonyharecom.com/

There are only two ways we learn as human beings – through trial and error or by copying. Remember this when you are training or delivering a presentation. You need to get interactive or your delegates will not learn.

I’m not convinced that there is an in and an out – it’s all down to the presenter being able to USE the content as a VISUAL AID – not a visual crutch!

As the old song goes it’s not what you do but the way that you do it…. That’s what gets (learning) results…

Next big thing – appropriate use of what is on screen rather than a fad for content!

Mike
http://www.rapidbi.com/

In my industry, the popularity of SlideShare means that presentations are becoming simpler so that the slides still work after being exported to SlideShare. As a result, I'd say that fewer slides and static pictures are still very important; SlideShare struggles with any sort of animation in particular.

I'd also say that the rise in webcasting means that interactive web-based training is mostly used as a post-sales tool, with webcasts still dominating the pre-sales arena. But it's still not all that common; face-to-face training still dominates in my industry at this time.

And I don't know any serious presenters who are still struggling with PowerPoint. Keynote has almost completely taken over the field.

I don't know about "the next big thing", but Kosslyn's "Clear and to the Point" book has become the basis of my own presentation work, allowing me to make hugely successful presentations at major industry conferences in the last five months. It's far more practical than Presentation Zen or competing works.

Stu
http://www.stuartherbert.com/


...think about small group sizes also being beneficial - but this is where there is a difference between a presentation and a training session, the later needing to be much more interactive.

The current big focus is on 'learner centered deliver' - which is basically recognising that each delivery needs to be tailored to your audience and that different people have different learning styles...ie some like to do workshop activities, some like to learn visually ie photographs and pictures, some like to read information ie slides etc! Be careful of having too many slides as this can turn into death by Powerpoint. There is quite a lot of info on the internet on different learning styles so have a bit of a trawl through if you need more details.

As for the next big thing.... not quite sure to be honest, because of the variety of learning styles I think there will always be a call for a mix of delivery styles and I think that is the key, no matter what the length of the training session.

Sarah
http://www.envirofocus.co.uk/

Instead of complete and very wordy handouts I remove key sections, cover the learning objective and then provide time for the learners to complete the gaps in their own words. Similarly I give out handouts of my presentations with again, key elements from each slide (as appropriate) missing so the learners can complete and add their own dimensions as they see fit. So, I guess my addition is interactive handouts which, I have found very popular with my groups and adding value during student lead segments of the sessions.

Best regards

Iain
ihwilson@btinternet.com
I’m not quite so black and white about presentations as “in versus out” because if it was “in” before and “out” now that must have been “in” for a good reason. We are no smarter than we were yesterday so what has changed (in fact according to biologists we are no smarter than we were 12,000 years ago either) – have we learned something of value or it is just fashion (i.e. we are technically able to do more “in” stuff now). I find that in my work I’m varying the presentation style to the scenario – and for small group one-to-many communication I’ve dropped PowerPoint almost completely and use flip charts and practical exercises. Much more fun and effective.

Simon
http://www.threewins.com/
It's a very subjective area.

For me, I was brought up in an era when we didn't have PowerPoint, but we did have OHPs and flip charts. I dreaded OHP because of the heat they generated. But you could do a lot with flipcharts, OHPs and quality handouts.

Personally, I never use PowerPoint except to demonstrate what a mess you can make with it.

Good visuals are incredibly useful when you consider that the majority of people have a predominantly visual learning style. Clipart is so 1980s and should never be used.

In training, doing is everything, it's how the skills are transferred. Too much theory is a killer. Hands on is key.

If you have access to web based interactive media, give it a go. It might work for you, but it definitely doesn't work for everybody.

When you're the trainer, the trainer's job is to bring the subject alive for the learners in a rich variety of ways.

Most people will remember the trainer for many years to come if they produce a top quality learning event.

It's the trainer that facilitates and takes responsibility for the learning. Different mediums are merely sideshows.

That's my subjective opinion.

Vince
http://www.collegeofpublicspeaking.co.uk/

The presentations I work with are more for teaching purposes than business or sales. Most of the "in" list I agree with, however whilst Interactive web-based training and seminars are extremely cost effective, many users find them to be a waste of time that teaches them nothing because the interaction that you would get with a face-to-face presentation is not there. In addition, the "many slides" preference has never been the case. I would expect there to be just enough slides to do the job; I'd be more interested in what the facilitator has to say than looking at masses of slides.

This is particularly the case when doing a rolling presentation (e.g. at an exhibition). I once did a rolling presentation on the dangers of drugs and alcohol for a school exhibition and people loved the presentation because it told them what they needed to know without going on forever. I think I had 8 slides in total.

Finally "pictures" photographs are preferable to clipart cartoons (which have always been a bit iffy or naff), however both static pictures and interactive graphics serve a purpose depending on the topic of the presentation and the audience. People should create their presentations based on the feedback from previous attempts and/or the content and message to be conveyed. They are very much like websites. Flash based websites might look impressive the first time they are viewed, however the viewer soon gets annoyed with them and the attention is lost. Presentations are a supplement to the message contained or the message the presenter, facilitator or teacher is giving.Soniahttp://www.yourwriter.org.uk/

Have you seen my little YouTube video on Pecha Kucha, a different way of thinking about slideshows? Here's a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGaCLWaZLI4

Alison
http://www.spiraltraining.co.uk/

1. It really depends if the training is developed to change knowledge or behaviour or a bit of both
2. Behaviour change training really ought to be more interactive
3. Cleverness with technology is not always best – it can be distracting or mask what are the really important points/messages
4. The use of Visual Materials should really relate to the Style of Audience you are training (consider ‘direct CEO type , versus Creative type , versus Heavily Technical folk , etc)
5. There is definitely a set of differences and requirements between Training & Presentations

It is probably not a good idea to develop rules for such things but as guidelines I’d say less beats more in terms of PowerPoint slides , Clip Art is a bit dated and over used and too much technology (unless it a presentation about technology) doesn’t always work

Kevin
kevin.simms@xtra.co.nz


For me presentations are about, interpretation rather than dictation. A photograph, or an animation, can be interpreted so many different ways and therefore you get lots of input. Words can simply be dictation, a one way conversation.

Personally, I believe that presentations should be about inspiration, emotion and imagination. For example, I attach a photograph my friend’s son took at the Dublin Marathon in 2007 – my friends and I are way back in the group but doing it never the less.

At the front you can see a young man with his arms out – number 10343.
The future winner is just behind him. It is the front line – the elite starter group.

As you can see the young man is having a great time – this is his moment! He has quickly run to the front to get in the picture – a bit like a streaker. I show this picture as part of my confidence and talent workshops. I ask the group how long did they think it took him to finish, or whether or not he finished at all. Most people say that probably didn’t finish, or that it took him about 5 hours. After all there is always one really isn’t there – the one making a fool of himself!

Then I tell them that his name is Robert Treveen, he’s Irish, and he finished in 2.38 – an elite runner. In fact he could run marathons for his country. He came 32nd out of about 10,000. We should never take anyone on appearances, although his pictures nearer the end are quite a different story. An amazing young man!

Christine
http://www.cstraining.co.uk/


In:

Interactive whiteboards (used properly)

Appropriate short, punchy, video clips

More movement (by presenter AND audience – because if your body don’t move, your brain don’t groove!)

Out:

Long “corporate training” videos

See this TEDTalk on the Sixth Sense for a glimpse of what’s coming (I want one!)

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html

Kimberley
http://www.kaizen-training.com/


In – video and id add clip art as there are so many issues using Google images or any free images from websites Getty are suing people left right and centre and most packages you buy Microsoft etc give you quite a lot of pics and photos that certainly do for presentations,

Check out Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds http://www.presentationzen.com/

Jeremy
http://www.realitytrain.co.uk/

I’m doing some work at the moment looking at traditional construction training, with a focus on toolbox talks. They are very much still in fashion, but are there any learning objectives or any demonstration of learning, apart from the “pass this signing in form round”.

Generally I’m seeing a real mixture of teaching styles in industry, ranging from the extremely tedious lecture with PowerPoint excesses to some very good work based sessions.

I think the “next big thing” I’m hoping (and I’m pushing) will be a shift from delivered training to operatives, to more focused and targeted briefings, with some confirmation of learning. Also I think as money becomes limited, more value is needed from existing competence training, where specialist training, such as environmental can be gleaned from existing training at no extra cost.

David
http://www.diemltd.co.uk/

the one thing I do consider when thinking about any aspect of learning, and that is the degree to which new techniques are more 'whizz-bang' than truly effective, and will always think through the relevance and applicability of any aspect of what I present in the context of the specific learning aims and objectives of whatever session I am designing.

To that end, some of your 'outs' will always have been so - many slides when few will do, interactivity as opposed to passivity, and so on. Some 'ins' are there because they were unavailable before, and can really add value - such as the swift transitions from slide to slide, and the use of photographs rather than the often twee cartoons available on clip-art.

The danger areas are where technology offers things that look tempting and sexy, but which do not present information or ideas better than more simple options. An obvious example is the 3-D presentation of block charts or pie charts, which, in most cases are better presented in two dimensions, the third adding nothing but frills.

In a nutshell, I would tend to write an article on this topic from the point of view of a yardstick for learning, and evaluate each option on that basis. This means that your 'ins' and 'outs' are backed up by the ways in which each of the pair add to or detract from the desired learning outcomes, and you can give reasons other than what might be seen by some as 'fashion' for the inclusion or exclusion of each technique or element.

Keith
http://www.lcsacademy.com/

I note that quotes are making a bit of a comeback – one liners with attributed names also on IT training they are now giving delegates the criteria for a presentation – content, must have points etc and getting them to construct a presentation to present back to the class.

Shortcuts are important too – e.g. pressing “B” on the keyboard turns the screen black. Press “B” again and the presentation resumes. (The same happens when you press “W” except the screen goes white). If you have 40 slides in your presentation and you press “8” then “enter” your presentation will go to slide number “8” – this happens with any combination of numbers. e.g. “3” & “2” then “enter” takes you to slide 32.

Finally I would also suggest that any presenter has a remote that can be plugged into the USB of the computer and can then be worked from a distance – companies are currently into hiring the smallest room possible for training & presentations and without a remote it can severely restrict a presenters positioning. If you are using a remote and it has a laser pointer attached, whilst this is useful, if you are travelling by plane, it cannot be taken on board as hand luggage and it may be confiscated.

Peter

http://www.coachingformore.co.uk/

And finally:

How to give kick-ass presentations with a hangover:

http://www.pubcon.com/blog/index.cgi?mode=viewone&blog=1187123220

Death by PowerPoint

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cagxPlVqrtM


This article is also available as a free pdf download