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Presentations Points is a free short monthly bulletin sent out by Claudyne Wilder. Every bulletin discusses two ideas for presenters and one for designers. There's also a monthly challenge for presenters and designers. Subscribe Now

May 2001

In this month's free e-news from Wilder Presentations, I'd like to discuss two ideas for presenters and one for designers. Don't forget the monthly challenge at the end.

FOR PRESENTERS:
Step 5: ENERGIZE YOURSELF: MAKE EYE CONTACT
Last month we discussed how to develop a strong, clear voice. Now that you've worked on your voice, let's turn to your eyes. They should always be focused on one of two places: the screen or a face in the audience. Focus on the screen to see your next point or explain a chart or diagram. If you aren't doing that, you should be looking at someone. At any moment during your presentation, your audience should be able to say, "Eyes are on the screen. Eyes are looking at so and so."

Note that making eye contact is always important when speaking to an American audience. In some cultures, though, you shouldn't make eye contact at all.

Focusing your eyes on a member of the audience will improve your presentation style. First, you will pause more because looking at someone makes it easy and natural to stop at the end of a sentence. You'll say "um" much less, too. Presenters who use "um" a lot are usually not focusing on anything.

Now that you are only looking two places, add this next practice to your repertoire. Avoid the tendency to end the sentence looking at the screen to see your next point. Instead, end your sentence looking at someone in the audience. Here's the process:

End your thought speaking to a person.
Pause.
Look at the screen for your next point.
Pause.
Start talking when you are again looking at someone.

Once you master this technique, you will appear more confident and poised. You'll connect better with each person in your audience. After all, establishing and keeping rapport with the audience is the main reason you are there!

FOR PRESENTERS:
USE A REMOTE MOUSE
Here's why you need a remote mouse.

If your slides are animated so that the phrases, charts, or diagrams build, you can't keep looking down at the laptop to click to the next animation. You need a remote mouse. Your only alternative is not to use any animations-you might as well be using an overhead projector with colored transparencies.

I'm not an advocate of animating many slides, but sometimes you can make your points clearer and tell your story better when all the information doesn't appear at one time. For example, in a 20-slide presentation you could animate 5 slides, especially the ones with charts and diagrams.

Which remote mouse? I personally like the Logitech Trackman live. Find one that fits your hand and is comfortable to use. Some have built-in laser pointers, but beware. I recently saw a remote mouse with a pointer whose red dot was so small it was hardly visible on the screen.

FOR DESIGNERS:
FRAMING PHOTOS
Here are two ways to frame your photos.

In PowerPoint
Select the photo, then go to Format>Picture>Colors and Lines>Line. Select the color of the line you want and the style of the line. Click OK. Now your photo will have a frame around it with the color and line style you have chosen. Don't use more than two different frame colors in a single presentation. Make sure the frame colors match your slide color scheme.

Crystal Graphics PhotoActive FX I & II, www.crystalgraphics.com
This PowerPoint add-on lets you create beautiful photo effects. Once you have installed the program, in PowerPoint go to Format>Still Photo Effects or Animated Photo Effects. You will have a wide choice of interesting and varied effects. To frame your photo, you can use a cookie-cutter shape such as a fan or circle. Or choose an edge with a spiral or cloud effect. You can add text to the photo. If you really want to get fancy, create an animated photo effect. Use only one to three different frame effects in a presentation, and make sure the effects you use match the presentation's style and mood.

MONTHLY CHALLENGE:
PRESENTERS
Practice looking only two places when talking: the screen and someone's face.

DESIGNERS
Experiment with ways to frame your photos.

Presentation Points, written by Claudyne Wilder, usually comes out the first business week of each month. For more information, call 617-524-7172, e-mail claudyne@quik.com, or visit my Web site, www.wilderpresentations.com.

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Copyright 2001, Claudyne Wilder. All rights reserved.