Is it me or does it seem like virtually every presentation that I attend I experience “death by power point”? And it is usually a slow, agonizing, painful demise!  Yes, it is THAT BAD!  To me, power point is “gulp” one of the worst inventions for speakers since the Chia pet!  I know, I know, I am treading where angels fear to go, but isn’t it about time that somebody said something?

Next time you hear a powerful and well spoken presenter, I guarantee that he/she either won’t be using power point or will be using it but sparingly.  That’s because professionals prepare their presentations first and add all of the visual aids and props later, not vice versa.  Therein lies the peril.

Prepare first, and if you must, add power point later.  You should be able to give your full presentation without power point, only then will you be fully prepared.  If you don’t, you are asking for trouble.  I’ve seen this danger first hand.

Several years ago, I was asked to address a group of people who all had one thing in common, they had lost a loved one to suicide.  Needless to say it was an emotional group.  I was asked to give a 30 minute keynote address, along with an MD. I was on first and would be followed by the Doctor.  I knew what I had to do.  I prepared carefully and spoke for my alloted time without aid of a note, power point presentation or prop.  Just me and them, one heart speaking to another. After I finished, the MD took his place along with his computer and his projection system.  About one-third of the way into his presentation, there was a power surge.  Of course, everything went down and both the computer and projector had to reboot and recycle.   He spent the next few minutes lost and trying to find his way back.  He did not know what to say next when his computer went down.  That is the problem.  And that is why you should always be prepared.

If you use power point as a visual aid-great.  Just don’t use it as a crutch.  If you do, that means some part of your speech or presentation is already broken.