Overview
This course delves further into writing, designing, and delivery skills for creating effective and engaging presentations using PowerPoint. Content, visual aids and delivery help to develop a deeper understanding of all three and see immediate and measurable improvement in your presentations. Learn and practice time-proven writing, speech, and design principles then add that to improved PowerPoint skills to create clear and effective presentations designed to educate, persuade, enlighten, or train. This course is divided equally between writing/design/communication principles and hands-on exercises that will polish your PowerPoint presentation skills.
Audience
Those who are proficient with PowerPoint and experienced in writing, designing, and delivering
business presentations but have a desire to develop that knowledge further.
Prerequisite: Making Powerful Presentations using PowerPoint or equivalent knowledge level.
Length
1 day
Outline
Greater understanding of writing principles, visual design principles, and communication principles.
Writing Basics
- Presentation outline and subject matter
- Identify the message
- Identify the audience
- Identify the audience understanding
3-Part Structure
- Overview
- Body
- Summary
- Exception: Technical presentations have no structure
Content
- Less is More
- Choose proper tone, e.g., casual, formal, or persuasive
- Compare good and bad examples of slides
- Design Basics: Design is a combination of text, color, and visuals carefully selected to support the message
- Slide structure
- Font style and size
- Colors and their meaning
- Spacing
- Headings
Graphics
- Types: images, pictures, icons, illustrations, and graphics
- Adding and modifying Smart Art Graphics
- Charts are more effective than text
- Turn lists into diagrams
- Consider size and proportion when creating slides
- Aim for ease of slide flow
- Animation adds life
- Adding special effects
Summarizing the Presentation
- Tell them what you’re going to tell them
- Tell them
- Resell the primary message with a Call to Action (CTA)
Communication Art & Science (formerly Presentation Techniques)
- Skill overview
- Practice the Presentation
- Collaborating on a presentation
- Securing and Distributing a Presentation
- Time the Presentation
- The majority of communication is visual
- Use Story Logic to connect with a non-technical audience
Closing tips
- PowerPoint Resources
- Q&A