My Attempts at Better PowerPointing

Over the last several months, I’ve done quite a few presentations.  Since I have been reading great blogs like Beyond Bullets, Presentation Zen and Powerpointless, I find that I am focused more than ever on using PowerPoint as a complement to my speech, and not as a replacement for it.  In other words, I don’t want people to be able to read on a slide what I’m about to say.  I’d rather them look to me for the information instead of the screen.

In my PowerPoint journey, three interesting things have happened.  First, the more tuned in I am to the importance of “good” PowerPoint, the more offended I become by “bad” PowerPoint — I’m told former smokers experience a similar reaction to cigarette smoke after they quit.  Second, I’m emboldened to try even more radical presentation experiments (my BlawgThink presentation in MindManager is one example).  Finally, I’m amused at how others, only familiar with the “traditional” way of powerpointing, are mildly offended when I suggest my way may be better (or at least more fun).

If you attended my BarCamp or Techshow presentations, let me know what you thought.  For everyone else to see what I’m talking about, I’ll attach my three most recent presentations to this post later today for your feedback.  I look forward to your comments.

UPDATE:  Here are the slides from my BarCamp presentation, as well as my two Techshow presentations, 60 Marketing Tips and Beyond ROI.  All are in .ppt format.