Well, creating good speeches with good PowerPoint and good handouts is not easy. It’s work. But it is well worth the effort if you really want to stand above the garbage that others spew forth on their audiences. And who knows, you might make a connection?

Here are my top five ways to fix your lousy PowerPoint. I couldn’t help myself. I did six. No actually eight.

1. Have a goal. If you could only tell your audience one thing about your topic what would it be? Can you say it in less than 10 words? How about less than 6?
2. Know your audience. The golden rule of speaking. Know them. Study them. Respect them. Become them.
3. Know your tools.
   Handouts are all about delivering detail usually with no passion or excitement.
   PowerPoint can bring the excitement but can’t really transfer much data. It elaborates, supports and enhances.
   Your speaking skills can focus attention, build connection with your audience and tie everything together but won’t convey a lot of detail. Use the right tool for the right job.
4. Write your speech first. Add PowerPoint after you have a good speech. If you don’t have a good speech you don’t have nothin’!
5. Be a master of your information. Make it simple for your audience. Experts know everything but have trouble making it simple for others. Masters make it wonderfully simple.
6. Use visuals to perform specific purposes that support, illustrate or enhance your words. The visuals support the speaker not the other way around.
7. Become a better speaker. It’s you they want to hear. Use every presentation as an opportunity to make a great impression for you, your product, your cause or your company. You can change people’s lives but not if you are a sucky speaker or have sucky PowerPoint. Try Toastmasters, Dale Carnegie or any of the dozens of other training/coaching companies.
8. Create professional visuals. Learn the basics of what makes a good slide. Amateurish visuals, graphics, colors and backgrounds are the equivalent of wearing a clip-on tie or a Sponge Bob tee-shirt. Be professional and you might fool some folks into thinking you areprofessional.

Notice that even though I love PowerPoint and use it in my presentations it is still not the primary tool for a great speech. You are. Building a good presentation is not a quick thing but when you do it and can connect with your audience watch your career and your goals take off.

o o o   Copyright © 2012 Tom Nixon Design   o o o

Tom Nixon, works with people who want to use visual business presentations (like PowerPoint) to connect with and motivate their audience. He has over 30 years experience as a graphic designer, writer and photographer working with clients of all sizes, ranging from 1-person entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 corporations.

Tom speaks and coaches about all aspects of presentation skills with a special emphasis on the combination of verbal delivery plus visuals (PowerPoint and Keynote). Contact Tom at tom@tomnixondesign.com or 770.289.0752.