Power Point Presentations

I was constantly dwelling on what I should be writing for this blog. I was away in Mumbai for a day on a business trip and the reason for making this trip made good substance matter for me to get into a very interesting blog. As a part of the trip I decided that I needed to be fully prepared for the discussions. I am not a technology geek and have never considered myself as a competent user as far as the new tools are concerned.

Coming back I got ready with my preparations for this important meeting. I decided that I would make use of Power Point and put in place a presentation. I was under the impression that I had done a excellent job on due completion. I went through each of the slides and this ignorant eye and the bloated ego refused to see sense, beyond trying to console that this was the best presentation in the world. It had also been a long time since I had been under the firing line of my ever alert colleague Mr Harsh who was to scrutinize the same before the meeting. I would not go into the details of what was discussed but the leanings from the session I had with Harsh brought me down to earth once again.

I will discuss the sum and essence of what he told me and I am sure that the same would be useful for my most esteemed readers.

1. A Power Point Presentation is only an aid to highlight the points of discussion. It cannot become the story board in itself.
2. It needs to be brief and short. A long presentation with a huge number of slides does not mean that you have understood the topics. In fact longer the Presentation, chances are that the interest of the viewer may get diverted during the course of the presentation if it drags on
3. In fact if you are a master of the topic you should be able to convince your client through the use of a single slide.
4. Decision makers and CEOs of various companies for whom presentations are made do not have time. Presenters need to keep in mind that you need to be quick and fast in going through the presentation yet very efficiently.
5. One Idea needs to lead to the next and essentially there should be a sequential flow of ideas.
6. To make it look more interesting Pictorial representation should be used along with description in words.
7. An ideal presentation is one where you can actually start from the last slide and come to the first slide. Do you know the reason for this? This will arouse questions in the mind of the person viewing the presentation and then you can go to the previous slide just to make your point.
8. Use of flowery language must be prevented at any cost in a Power Point Presentation must be avoided. You are making a presentation not to please people or make people happy but to present facts and true & factual representation.
9. Power Point Presentations can make or break a deal. It must at any cost keep the viewer riveted to his seat and interested at all times.
10. If you are using Figures and numbers to substantiate your fact you need to make sure that the same is properly represented and does not confuse the viewer.
11. A good conclusion with a Win-Win proposition for the parties concerned will ensure that the purpose for which the presentation is made is served.
12. Good Presentations/Ideas are powerful money spinners and more than anything else have the power to clinch very important deals.

I am sure that these are not the only points which need to be considered while making a presentation. Please do share your thoughts with me on the same. Learning for me in the session I had with Harsh has been huge and I am sure that the next presentation I make would be made with a lot more thought involved.

Till I blog next, Happy Reading and Please take good care of yourself!!! God Bless.