Presence or PowerPoint

Purpose – During the 12 years that I have specialized as a trainer in presentation skills, I have witnessed the erosion of the most powerful presentation tools i.e. presence and passion. PowerPoint has become the dullard's crutch, giving some the illusion that they are adequate presenters.Design/methodology/approach – The article illustrates that PowerPoint is most often used inappropriately. This is an observation based on the author's experience of thousands of presentations made by individuals from a wide range of organizations in the public and private sectors. The paper suggests the best ways to use PowerPoint and suggests alternatives. It also indicates the most important considerations a presenter should have when designing a presentation.Findings – From my experience and observations it is clear that speakers who seek to enthuse and entertain are those who gain the best results. Regrettably, continual use of PowerPoint rarely has this impact.Practical implications – Speakers need to relegate Power...