A four year old and a seven year old (both already bilingual – English and Italian) happily choose a youtube video on the ipad even though the commentary is in Russian!
I am fascinated to watch them scroll through content based purely on the visual aspect and their own motivation to find a particular video game or cartoon.
The audio becomes secondary and I imagine they’re tuning it out as they are engulfed by the visual explosion on screen.
In too many presentations I see the visual content that clashes in a frustrating asynchronous manner with what a speaker is trying to say. Here are some of the things to avoid:
DON’Ts
- Don’t read off the screen
- Use text only to add power to your point (Powerpoint has a name for a reason!)
- Don’t prepare slides for a live presentation that you think you can also use for those not there, for a manual or for anything else that would be better as a text document
As my two small boys have proved, the visual aspect is vital:
DOs
- Do synchronise your presentation with powerful and meaningful visuals
- It doesn’t matter how many slides you use, it is what is on them that counts
- Make sure you lead you presentation and NOT that the slides lead you
I come to the presentation to see YOU – don’t read to me, I can read faster and in my own time. Be clear as to the benefits of your presentation and don’t waste my time.
Use visuals, both on screen with images, data, maps but also in the story you tell me with words such as “imagine” and “remember”.
Be inspired by what you present – if you’re not, we (the audience) will never be!
