PowerPoint for Trainers - Using it to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking?

People often wonder why many PowerPoint presentations fail to inspire or generate real interest in the topic. I believe that the reason lies more in the way PowerPoint is used by trainers and presenters, rather than the software application itself.

As I have noted before, PowerPoint is simply a software tool, much like a word-processing program. Just because you know how to create a presentation in PowerPoint does not assure you that the topic will come alive when you deliver the presentation.

Some people have come to rely on bullet slides in PowerPoint as a crutch to deal with their fear of speaking in public. They feel more comfortable knowing all their speaking points will be there on the screen for all, including the presenter, to see. People used to use text-laden overhead transparencies in the same way.

To become more proficient in presenting information, consider an alternative approach to relying on PowerPoint to deliver your message. Instead, plan and carefully consider the structure and content of your message and specific topic. Become familiar and comfortable with the key components of your presentation. Consider ways to ensure that your audience will share your interest in your key points. Then and only then, think about how you can and if you should use PowerPoint to support your presentation as a visual aid.

Spend most of your time working on your presentation content and delivery of that content. And then in the remaining time, consider ways to incoporate some dynamic PowerPoint visuals to support your message. That will go a long ways in improving your presentation and avoid your audience being "slide-swiped"!