If they snooze, you lose

A couple of quick tips about PowerPoint presentations.

Too often, we make PowerPoint the center of our presentation when it should be just a tool to support what we have to say.

Here are two tips to help you respect your audience, and still harness the strength of PowerPoint.

First, never turn your back to your audience and read aloud the words projected on the screen. You will insult them - and probably put them to sleep.

Second, never prepare your PowerPoint by doing the slides first. Always begin with your content. Prepare an outline of what you plan to say. Talk it out, write it out, rehearse it. Then -and only then - prepare your slides based on the content.

In my book Talkitout: Become A Commanding Speaker In One Day, I call PowerPoint evil. Why? Because, if we’re not careful, it makes us lazy communicators. It’s a crutch.

Always remember, you’re the star, not PowerPoint.