General Tips
Preparation – Not Rehearsal
March 16, 2008
In a late-February post (yes, that's how far behind I
am), Garr Reynolds shared some presentation tips from Ken
Robinson, one of my favorite speakers to
appear at TED over the last couple of years.
Among his tips is this gem: "Prepare, but don't
rehearse. Think and plan ahead instead."
image by torli on stock.xchng
I used to prepare for my presentations the same way I would prepare for a music recital. I'd go over the material exactly how I wrote it until I could deliver it flawlessly the same way over and over. One French horn performer once told me that I'm not done practicing a passage until I can play it perfectly ten times in a row, and I took this exacting principle over to public speaking.
The problem is that over-rehearsal of a talk can make it sound ... rehearsed. It can sound too perfect, and a certain human element – that element necessary for connecting with audiences – can disappear in the measured recital.
The best musical performances I can think of do not sound rehearsed, even though I know they are. It sounds as if the musician is creating the music spontaneously before the audience. The music is alive at that moment, and that is the way our presentations should be. Our audience should feel as if we are delivering our message for each of them individually and that we are caught up in this moment.
This leads right into another tip from Mr. Robinson: "Leave room for improvisation." He compares the act of public speaking to a good jazz performance, but even a good classical performer demonstrates an ability to take liberties with the given material, making it fully his or her own. When we are presenting, spontaneous points may occur to us. Things might go wrong. Someone might interrupt with a brilliant question, and we should be willing to improvise for a few minutes.
In its purest form, a presentation is a form of conversation, and your best conversations are not completely scripted, over-rehearsed events. Spontaneous creativity is alive and well in the art of conversation. Don't get me wrong. Preparation is exceedingly important, but stay flexible. Stay alive. Don't recite your presentation. Connect it with the people in your audience.
image by torli on stock.xchng
I used to prepare for my presentations the same way I would prepare for a music recital. I'd go over the material exactly how I wrote it until I could deliver it flawlessly the same way over and over. One French horn performer once told me that I'm not done practicing a passage until I can play it perfectly ten times in a row, and I took this exacting principle over to public speaking.
The problem is that over-rehearsal of a talk can make it sound ... rehearsed. It can sound too perfect, and a certain human element – that element necessary for connecting with audiences – can disappear in the measured recital.
The best musical performances I can think of do not sound rehearsed, even though I know they are. It sounds as if the musician is creating the music spontaneously before the audience. The music is alive at that moment, and that is the way our presentations should be. Our audience should feel as if we are delivering our message for each of them individually and that we are caught up in this moment.
This leads right into another tip from Mr. Robinson: "Leave room for improvisation." He compares the act of public speaking to a good jazz performance, but even a good classical performer demonstrates an ability to take liberties with the given material, making it fully his or her own. When we are presenting, spontaneous points may occur to us. Things might go wrong. Someone might interrupt with a brilliant question, and we should be willing to improvise for a few minutes.
In its purest form, a presentation is a form of conversation, and your best conversations are not completely scripted, over-rehearsed events. Spontaneous creativity is alive and well in the art of conversation. Don't get me wrong. Preparation is exceedingly important, but stay flexible. Stay alive. Don't recite your presentation. Connect it with the people in your audience.
Back-ups on a Budget
December 08, 2007
Taking a more nuts-and-bolts approach than usual, I
decided to write this up after reading a couple of
suggestions that presenters should always carry two
laptops with them to speaking engagements. The
thought is that, if one machine goes down, you have a
backup with you that offers no variables or
compatibility issues. While this is a good idea for
people who get paid well for their speaking
engagements, if you are more of an amateur (like me),
purchasing two laptops may not be a feasible backup
solution.
Still, it's important to have contingency plans in place, so here are a couple quick and easy tips to keep your presentation accessible even if something goes wrong with your computer.
image from apple.com
If you have an iPod, Zune, or another device that stores photos, you can save images of your slides to it and use the video out capabilities to share your slides. Both Keynote and PowerPoint support exporting your slides as images, and then you just display them like you would an album of photos. You will lose all animations and transitions, but your content will remain intact.
(In theory, you could also export your presentation as a video and retain your animations, but, since we just have a previous generation nano, I can't test that out to see how it works. If you can try this out, email me about it at crysnrob [at] mac [dot] com, and I'll update this post.)
image from Wikipedia
If an iPod or Zune is still too pricey, keep a back up of your presentation on a USB flash drive. Mine is a 2 GB SanDisk Cruzer that cost about $20 at Radio Shack. Since this backup method assumes you might have to borrow a laptop at your speaking venue, it's important to back up your presentation in as many formats as possible to bypass compatibility issues. For example, I'll keep a Keynote presentation I'm planning on giving in its native format, as a PPT file, as an interactive QuickTime movie, and as a folder of images. Don't assume someone else's computer will have the same versions of PowerPoint or Keynote that you do.
We can't all own two laptops and a KVM switch, but it is important to keep your presentation backed up. Between the option of an iPod or a flash drive, most people should be able to find one or the other viable. Just remember to account for compatibility on the off chance you might be using another laptop when you give your talk. With a little bit of preparation, you should be ready for anything – even if you have to present without slides at all.
Still, it's important to have contingency plans in place, so here are a couple quick and easy tips to keep your presentation accessible even if something goes wrong with your computer.
Keep it on your iPod.
image from apple.com
If you have an iPod, Zune, or another device that stores photos, you can save images of your slides to it and use the video out capabilities to share your slides. Both Keynote and PowerPoint support exporting your slides as images, and then you just display them like you would an album of photos. You will lose all animations and transitions, but your content will remain intact.
(In theory, you could also export your presentation as a video and retain your animations, but, since we just have a previous generation nano, I can't test that out to see how it works. If you can try this out, email me about it at crysnrob [at] mac [dot] com, and I'll update this post.)
Keep it on your keychain.
image from Wikipedia
If an iPod or Zune is still too pricey, keep a back up of your presentation on a USB flash drive. Mine is a 2 GB SanDisk Cruzer that cost about $20 at Radio Shack. Since this backup method assumes you might have to borrow a laptop at your speaking venue, it's important to back up your presentation in as many formats as possible to bypass compatibility issues. For example, I'll keep a Keynote presentation I'm planning on giving in its native format, as a PPT file, as an interactive QuickTime movie, and as a folder of images. Don't assume someone else's computer will have the same versions of PowerPoint or Keynote that you do.
We can't all own two laptops and a KVM switch, but it is important to keep your presentation backed up. Between the option of an iPod or a flash drive, most people should be able to find one or the other viable. Just remember to account for compatibility on the off chance you might be using another laptop when you give your talk. With a little bit of preparation, you should be ready for anything – even if you have to present without slides at all.
Also see:
The Self-Conscious Approach
July 10, 2007
To reach the broadest
possible audience with your message, you have to care
what others think of you. You are being judged by the
audience every bit as much as your content, and, if
the audience does not buy into you, they will
generally not buy into your material. Think of
political debates you or your family may get into as
well as when the media tackles issues. Inevitably,
the person behind the issues will be as much a
subject as the issue itself.
Whenever you present, it's important to wear as small a target as possible. To do so, you must be very conscious of self – your appearance, the way you dress, your mannerisms and idiosyncrasies that may distract your audience from your presentation. I've seen perfectly competent presentations fail in delivery (and some great deliveries of poor material) because the presenters seemed oblivious or unconcerned with the impressions they left with the audience.
A good presentation is essentially a small-scale production, and productions need good performers.
Take these presenters as positive examples:
left to right: Steve Jobs, Guy Kawasaki, Garr Reynolds, Al Gore
These individuals are great illustrations of good performers in presentation. They are very conscious of how they carry themselves, how they speak, how they dress. I believe "refined" would be a good word for it. They realize that they are every bit as much a part of the overall presentation as any notes, handouts, slides, or other visuals. They have roles to play in the delivery of their messages, and their presence is just as orchestrated as the technology involved. As a result, the presentations are very engaging and a cut above much of what we are used to seeing.
Being an individualistic society, we value the mantra of not caring what others think of ourselves, but, if we want people to accept what we have to say, we need to make sure we are not getting in the way of our own message. Do some presentations succeed despite the speakers' imperfections? Absolutely. However, giving ourselves as much attention as our notes or visuals will go a long way in removing obstacles between our presentation and our audience's attention.
Additional Viewing and Reading
Whenever you present, it's important to wear as small a target as possible. To do so, you must be very conscious of self – your appearance, the way you dress, your mannerisms and idiosyncrasies that may distract your audience from your presentation. I've seen perfectly competent presentations fail in delivery (and some great deliveries of poor material) because the presenters seemed oblivious or unconcerned with the impressions they left with the audience.
A good presentation is essentially a small-scale production, and productions need good performers.
Take these presenters as positive examples:
left to right: Steve Jobs, Guy Kawasaki, Garr Reynolds, Al Gore
These individuals are great illustrations of good performers in presentation. They are very conscious of how they carry themselves, how they speak, how they dress. I believe "refined" would be a good word for it. They realize that they are every bit as much a part of the overall presentation as any notes, handouts, slides, or other visuals. They have roles to play in the delivery of their messages, and their presence is just as orchestrated as the technology involved. As a result, the presentations are very engaging and a cut above much of what we are used to seeing.
Being an individualistic society, we value the mantra of not caring what others think of ourselves, but, if we want people to accept what we have to say, we need to make sure we are not getting in the way of our own message. Do some presentations succeed despite the speakers' imperfections? Absolutely. However, giving ourselves as much attention as our notes or visuals will go a long way in removing obstacles between our presentation and our audience's attention.
Additional Viewing and Reading
Wrestling With Technology – Don't Do It
June 19, 2007
I saw a speaker today who was clearly having problems with the technology involved in his presentation. The technology was nonessential, but he still kept stopping every few words to fiddle with the projector and its settings, trying to get things focused, trying to account for some other visual anomalies. This went on for at least thirty minutes, and, each time he stopped, he had a harder time regaining his audience's attention. In fact, he had entirely lost a small chunk of his audience before the issues were resolved (but that may have been for other reasons).
If your technology is giving you problems, and it's time for you to start talking, go ahead without it. If there is something you feel is absolutely essential to your talk that is tied to the tech, get someone who works at the facility you are presenting in to work on it while you begin delivery. Technology is meant to enhance presentations, but, if we give it more attention than we give our audience, it has become a diminishing factor to the message you are delivering.
On Moving Backgrounds
January 03, 2007
In early December, Keynote theme developer Jumsoft released a pachage of
themes called Keynote Themes FX. Each of the
three themes in the package uses a looping video
as the background, creating a dynamic rather
than static backdrop for your slides. The result
is pretty unique, and, as far as I know, Keynote
is the only is the only slide presentation
software that can do something like this without
additional plugins or enhancements.
You can see the themes in action right here. Go ahead. I'll still be here when you get back.
The question is whether or not moving backgrounds enhance a presentation. They certainly add a certain "wow" effect, and it would come to me as no surprise if a future version of Keynote had a couple of built-in themes that featured moving backgrounds. However, fluid backgrounds will probably provide more distractions than enhancements to your slides.
Back in this post, I recommended using backgrounds that are simple and don't distract from your content. Animations will attract the eyes of your audience and draw their attention away from the content you want them to focus on. Perhaps there are occasions where an animates slide background will create the greatest effect – all "rules" are made to be broken after all. In general though, my recommendation would be to stick with simple, static backgrounds that get out of the way and allow content to be king.
Disclosure: I own a lot of Jumsoft themes.
You can see the themes in action right here. Go ahead. I'll still be here when you get back.
The question is whether or not moving backgrounds enhance a presentation. They certainly add a certain "wow" effect, and it would come to me as no surprise if a future version of Keynote had a couple of built-in themes that featured moving backgrounds. However, fluid backgrounds will probably provide more distractions than enhancements to your slides.
Back in this post, I recommended using backgrounds that are simple and don't distract from your content. Animations will attract the eyes of your audience and draw their attention away from the content you want them to focus on. Perhaps there are occasions where an animates slide background will create the greatest effect – all "rules" are made to be broken after all. In general though, my recommendation would be to stick with simple, static backgrounds that get out of the way and allow content to be king.
Disclosure: I own a lot of Jumsoft themes.
Slides & Variables
November 03, 2006
You are not always going to be presenting under ideal
circumstances. In these cases, it can be handy to
know some ways to make your slides more appropriate
for certain settings if you know ahead of time what
variables you might be running into.
This is the most common situation you may find yourself in for a myriad of reasons. I've had to present on other computers twice now, and, if you speak publicly enough times, you will find yourself in a situation where you have to use another machine. Here are some ways to account for this.
Embed All of Your Files (Keynote + PowerPoint) In Keynote's save dialog box, you have the option to copy movies, audio, and images into the document. This ensures nothing is lost when another Mac opens your presentation. PowerPoint has a similar option in the File menu. You can choose "Package for CD," and PowerPoint will make sure that all file dependencies are packaged together.
Make a Movie (Keynote + PowerPoint) Both Keynote and PowerPoint allow for creating a movie of your slides which a program like QuickTime will be able to play. It will look like your presentation without having to rely on a specific application being present on the other machine. In Keynote, use File > Export. In PowerPoint, use File > Make a Movie. (This option may only be present in the Mac version of PowerPoint.)
Make a PDF or Image Folder (Keynote) Again, using the export option, you can create a PDF document of all slides in your presentation. You can even make each build into its own page. In these instances, animated transitions and multimedia files will not be able to play, but you should be able to run these versions of your slideshow on slower hardware. The PDF can be opened in Acrobat Reader or Preview and viewed in fullscreen mode, or you can view the folder of images as a slideshow from within the Finder, Windows Explorer, or iPhoto.
Presentation slides in iPhoto
Image from Apple's Leopard Preview
If sharing your presentation over a network, the best thing you can do is eliminate animated transitions and audio files. This will significantly reduce the amount of bandwidth your presentation needs to be seen by everyone else, resulting in a far smoother experience for your intended audience.
It's Not My Computer!
This is the most common situation you may find yourself in for a myriad of reasons. I've had to present on other computers twice now, and, if you speak publicly enough times, you will find yourself in a situation where you have to use another machine. Here are some ways to account for this.
Embed All of Your Files (Keynote + PowerPoint) In Keynote's save dialog box, you have the option to copy movies, audio, and images into the document. This ensures nothing is lost when another Mac opens your presentation. PowerPoint has a similar option in the File menu. You can choose "Package for CD," and PowerPoint will make sure that all file dependencies are packaged together.
Make a Movie (Keynote + PowerPoint) Both Keynote and PowerPoint allow for creating a movie of your slides which a program like QuickTime will be able to play. It will look like your presentation without having to rely on a specific application being present on the other machine. In Keynote, use File > Export. In PowerPoint, use File > Make a Movie. (This option may only be present in the Mac version of PowerPoint.)
Make a PDF or Image Folder (Keynote) Again, using the export option, you can create a PDF document of all slides in your presentation. You can even make each build into its own page. In these instances, animated transitions and multimedia files will not be able to play, but you should be able to run these versions of your slideshow on slower hardware. The PDF can be opened in Acrobat Reader or Preview and viewed in fullscreen mode, or you can view the folder of images as a slideshow from within the Finder, Windows Explorer, or iPhoto.
Presentation slides in iPhoto
I Have No Computer
If this is the case, you might want to think about ditching slides entirely. However, if you have a photo-capable iPod, you could export your presentation from Keynote as images and import them into iPhoto. Sync your iPod, and you are ready to go. Again, animated transitions and embedded multimedia files will not play, but your content will be visible.My Presentation Is Teleconferenced
With web applications like Adobe Breeze and programs like Leopard's iChat, there is the possibility that you might have to give a presentation online at some point. If this is the case, it is imperative to take bandwidth into consideration.Image from Apple's Leopard Preview
If sharing your presentation over a network, the best thing you can do is eliminate animated transitions and audio files. This will significantly reduce the amount of bandwidth your presentation needs to be seen by everyone else, resulting in a far smoother experience for your intended audience.
Conclusion
You will not always be presenting under ideal circumstances, so make sure you have backup plans. If you know a variable is coming your way, prepare for it. Make the accommodations as transparent as possible. Your stress level will reduce, and, as a result, your audience will be able to get more out of your talk.Choosing Backgrounds & Themes
October 28, 2006
One of the tougher questions I get when helping
someone assemble a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation
is this: "Which background (or theme) should I use?"
Every presentation is different, and, as such, each has a unique style and feel. The backgrounds you choose should be appropriate for that feel and act as a suitable backdrop for your content. Okay, that's a vague answer – here are some guidelines I like to follow.
x
Remember, first and foremost, your slides are there to reinforce your material. A distracting background will not help with that goal.
x
The first slide was created using a standard PowerPoint template. The second started as a blank slide, and I chose elements that seemed to best reinforce my message. (By the way, all of those points on the first slide are included on the second, but they are revealed with built images rather than text.) Does the second slide take more time and effort to create than the first? Yes, but the results are worth it.
x
As the slides move away from the theme of creation, I abandon the star-field that acts as a backdrop to the previous slide and replace it with a grassy field. Other slides will have other backdrops. Yes, in many of my presentations, the backdrop remains consistent, but it does not have to be that way. In fact, sometimes it is appropriate to change backgrounds as the content in your slides evolves from premise to conclusion or through different sections.
x
Sometimes you may want to create a frame for your material, which will cut down a little on space, but you don't want a slide that is completely restrictive in its proportions. I've seen slides like this first example a few times, and they are never effective visual communication. Constricting backgrounds only lead to cluttered slides.
It's almost become a mantra here to say that your slides should be uniquely you, and the theme or backdrop you choose for your slides is part of that process. If you can avoid some common pitfalls many stumble into when choosing backgrounds for your slides, your audience will notice at some level. It may be subtle, but it goes a long way toward making your presentation as effective as it can be.
Every presentation is different, and, as such, each has a unique style and feel. The backgrounds you choose should be appropriate for that feel and act as a suitable backdrop for your content. Okay, that's a vague answer – here are some guidelines I like to follow.
Avoid Distracting Backgrounds
The background should not be so colorful or busy that it distracts from the material you are presenting. You want your audience to focus on content – not the cool image that serves as the backdrop. Compare these two approaches:
x
Remember, first and foremost, your slides are there to reinforce your material. A distracting background will not help with that goal.
Don't Be a Cookie
Some themes (especially those in PowerPoint) are just plain overused. Try to avoid backgrounds that look stale and stereotypical. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: don't let PowerPoint tell you how your slides should look. You take charge of the appearance of your slides. Sometimes, this means you should build your slides from scratch, and this includes picking your own background.
x
The first slide was created using a standard PowerPoint template. The second started as a blank slide, and I chose elements that seemed to best reinforce my message. (By the way, all of those points on the first slide are included on the second, but they are revealed with built images rather than text.) Does the second slide take more time and effort to create than the first? Yes, but the results are worth it.
It's Okay to Change
You don't have to keep the exact same background behind every single slide. Again, here is an example from some slides I'm working on regarding Christianity and environmental responsibility.
x
As the slides move away from the theme of creation, I abandon the star-field that acts as a backdrop to the previous slide and replace it with a grassy field. Other slides will have other backdrops. Yes, in many of my presentations, the backdrop remains consistent, but it does not have to be that way. In fact, sometimes it is appropriate to change backgrounds as the content in your slides evolves from premise to conclusion or through different sections.
Give Yourself Room
I bend this guideline from time to time, but I've seen space on slides misused often enough to mention it: Don't create a slide that constrains your space. In Keynote, for example, most default themes give you an 800x600 or 1024x768 canvass. Don't use a layout that restricts this space.
x
Sometimes you may want to create a frame for your material, which will cut down a little on space, but you don't want a slide that is completely restrictive in its proportions. I've seen slides like this first example a few times, and they are never effective visual communication. Constricting backgrounds only lead to cluttered slides.
My Picks + Conclusion
In closing, here are some Keynote themes I tend to build my presentations around. I find they make good themes in and of themselves while also lending themselves to flexibility and customization.
It's almost become a mantra here to say that your slides should be uniquely you, and the theme or backdrop you choose for your slides is part of that process. If you can avoid some common pitfalls many stumble into when choosing backgrounds for your slides, your audience will notice at some level. It may be subtle, but it goes a long way toward making your presentation as effective as it can be.
A Living Document
October 14, 2006
In a few past updates, I have noted changes made to
various slide presentations. Some on this site have
seen multiple revisions since being posted, and the
reason for this is simple: these are the talks I
share the most.
x
I keep the first version of "Salvation Through Water" (as well as the first version of "Understanding RAD") laying around just to remind me how far I have come in my own slide design philosophy. Both of these are among the first presentations I gave using slides, and they have evolved greatly since their inception – right along with my views of slide design.
Slides are not set in stone once you create them. They are living documents that you should update and change as needed. Imagine if Al Gore never updated the information on his climate crisis slides. What if education speakers allowed their slides to continually display information based on out-of-date research? Before long, the material would be useless.
Every time I give a specific talk, I revisit the slides that go with the talk to see how they can be updated or improved. No presentation is every truly complete. No matter how comfortable you are with the material, no matter how used to a routine you may be, take the time to look over your slides when you revisit a presentation. Not only does the process refresh the material in your own mind, but you may also find more fresh and engaging ways of visually presenting your material.
x
I keep the first version of "Salvation Through Water" (as well as the first version of "Understanding RAD") laying around just to remind me how far I have come in my own slide design philosophy. Both of these are among the first presentations I gave using slides, and they have evolved greatly since their inception – right along with my views of slide design.
Slides are not set in stone once you create them. They are living documents that you should update and change as needed. Imagine if Al Gore never updated the information on his climate crisis slides. What if education speakers allowed their slides to continually display information based on out-of-date research? Before long, the material would be useless.
Every time I give a specific talk, I revisit the slides that go with the talk to see how they can be updated or improved. No presentation is every truly complete. No matter how comfortable you are with the material, no matter how used to a routine you may be, take the time to look over your slides when you revisit a presentation. Not only does the process refresh the material in your own mind, but you may also find more fresh and engaging ways of visually presenting your material.
Slides ≠ Handout
August 18, 2006
In the previous post, I made the statement that your
slides are not the handout. All to often, we walk
into a presentation, and we are handed a packet that
is no more than a copy of the presenter's prepared
slides with lines along the side for taking notes.
(Does anyone actually use those lines?) In other
words, you get something that looks like this:
x
Boxes and lines do not an ideal handout make.
I firmly believe that handouts are important – especially when the aim of the presentation is some kind of professional development as my example is. However, this approach to handouts fails on a couple of levels.
Slide printouts are a waste of paper. Better to have no handouts than something that killed helpless trees for no reason. If you are going to have a handout with your presentation, make it meaningful and helpful. Create a document that is separate and apart from your slides to be handed out after your presentation is completed. (This way the audience can focus on you rather than sheets of paper.)
Below, we have two alternative methods to preparing our handouts – each appropriate to different situations.
x
Now we're getting somewhere.
The first example is the best solution in my opinion. It is a standalone document that covers all of the material in the presentation. A more involved example of this would be the handout for ICE2006 on my Presentations page. These documents are wholly independent of the slides and make for good reference even long after you give your talk. The downside is that these documents require additional planning and time investment. If your handout is going to be a comprehensive document, you need to budget the preparation of that document into your schedule.
The second example is an annotated slide printout. I exported my slides as images, and dropped them into my notes. After some cleanup, making sure all text lined up with the appropriate slides, we have a serviceable handout. While less ideal than a standalone document, this solution will allow you to create a thorough handout in slightly less time. Again, though, hand this out after you have finished talking.
Hopefully, next time you prepare a presentation, you will think about investing some time in preparing your handout. Pages of little boxes with tiny type are not the best solution for communicating your ideas in print. Instead, work on an independent document that clearly communicates your conversation with the audience. Failing that, at least create a set of annotated slides that communicate more of the information than a simple printout.
For more reading on handout preparation, see these posts on Presentation Zen:
x
Boxes and lines do not an ideal handout make.
I firmly believe that handouts are important – especially when the aim of the presentation is some kind of professional development as my example is. However, this approach to handouts fails on a couple of levels.
- Slides are not documents. Your
slides are not your conversation. Even if you
practice Death By PowerPoint, every important
detail will not end up on your slides. You are
cheating your audience out of the full content of
your presentation by substituting a meaningful
document with slides that do not convey the whole
story.
- Nothing is left to the imagination. You just gave away the ending ... and the beginning and the middle. You haven't given your audience a visual aid to help them pay attention. You just handed them a checklist that allows them to keep track of just how close you are to the end. Also, if you get rushed and have to skip slides (a cardinal presentation sin in and of itself), your audience will know.
Slide printouts are a waste of paper. Better to have no handouts than something that killed helpless trees for no reason. If you are going to have a handout with your presentation, make it meaningful and helpful. Create a document that is separate and apart from your slides to be handed out after your presentation is completed. (This way the audience can focus on you rather than sheets of paper.)
Below, we have two alternative methods to preparing our handouts – each appropriate to different situations.
x
Now we're getting somewhere.
The first example is the best solution in my opinion. It is a standalone document that covers all of the material in the presentation. A more involved example of this would be the handout for ICE2006 on my Presentations page. These documents are wholly independent of the slides and make for good reference even long after you give your talk. The downside is that these documents require additional planning and time investment. If your handout is going to be a comprehensive document, you need to budget the preparation of that document into your schedule.
The second example is an annotated slide printout. I exported my slides as images, and dropped them into my notes. After some cleanup, making sure all text lined up with the appropriate slides, we have a serviceable handout. While less ideal than a standalone document, this solution will allow you to create a thorough handout in slightly less time. Again, though, hand this out after you have finished talking.
Hopefully, next time you prepare a presentation, you will think about investing some time in preparing your handout. Pages of little boxes with tiny type are not the best solution for communicating your ideas in print. Instead, work on an independent document that clearly communicates your conversation with the audience. Failing that, at least create a set of annotated slides that communicate more of the information than a simple printout.
For more reading on handout preparation, see these posts on Presentation Zen:
Semons in 10-20-30
July 25, 2006
In my last post, I touched upon the fact that
preachers should try to follow the 10-20-30 Rule as much as
possible. Now, Mr. Kawasaki's rule is
specifically geared toward business pitches, and
he lays out a simple 10-point list of how your
slides should flow in this setting.
Whether you want to think of it this way or not, sermons are very similar to pitches. You usually start with a problem (i.e. divorce rates). You propose a solution that typically includes scripture references, and you conclude with a call to action.
In this post, I'm going to put together a sample 10-slide sermon as a model for what a 10-20-30 sermon presentation might look like. This lesson is about divorce, and it will follow a "3-point" outline with an introduction and summation.
x
While the lesson is being generally introduced, slide 1 is visible. I would start without the text and have it appear while I'm working up to the problem. Slide 2 is very simple, clearly pointing out the problem that about half of US marriages end in divorce. Now, I can list some other relevant statistics if I wish (like trending, broken home violence, etc.) , but they don't all need to be enumerated on the slide because they are all secondary to that figure.
The solution is presented upfront. The way to handle the problem of divorce begins and ends with respect: respect for marriage, respect for one another, and respect for God's word. At this point, I don't build all three of those points onto the slide. The slide merely opens with "The Answer?" and I build in "Respect" once I am ready. I don't want the congregation to get ahead of me. Details should not be revealed until the speaker is ready.
x
The first point of our sermon focuses on respecting the institution of marriage. We start with Genesis 2:24 (on slide 4) where a married man and woman are described as one flesh. From here, I can refer to related scriptures about oneness such as Deuteronomy 6:4 and briefly compare it to Ephesians 5:31, but the slide remains focused on Genesis 2:24. Slide 5 centers around Hebrews 13:4 describing marriage as honorable. At this point, it might be wise to glance at Matthew 19 where Jesus says God joins the couple together.
The main point of these two slides is that God created marriage honorable and holy, and we should should respect what God has created.
x
Slide 6 emphasizes the adultery that can result from divorce. The one initiating divorce is guilty of adultery, and he/she may have laid the path for his/her former spouse to commit adultery. Slide 7 talks about violence as the result of divorce, and I could speak a moment here about the numerous individuals affected negatively by a divorce. (Again, there is no need to list them on a slide. The congregation does not need to be spoon-fed information.)
The main point: If we really respect ourselves and others, we will sincerely seek other alternatives before divorce.
x
Slide 8 remains with Malachi 2:16 and the fact that God hates divorce. That alone should be enough for us. On slide 9, Jesus is referenced as pointing out that there is no good reason for divorce (except for adultery by one's spouse).
The main point: As Christians, we should respect God's view of divorce and avoid it if possible.
Slide 10 merely serves to review the big points of the lesson and encourage the congregation to take marriage seriously rather than view it as something easily disposed of. If we have the proper respect for marriage as God made it, for each other, and for God's views on the matter of divorce, then we should work diligently to maintain the solidarity of our marriages.
Now I drafted this outline and these slides from scratch especially for this post. I even went to my favorite stock photography sites to find some new images, and used eBible for looking up scriptures and commentary. This took about three hours in all. I don't think thats an unreasonable amount of time.
Whether or not you agree with the doctrine of these slides, I hope you can learn something from this model. Our sermon presentations do not have to be derivative and mundane. With a little work, our slides can be a strong reinforcer of our message at an intellectual and an emotional level.
Whether you want to think of it this way or not, sermons are very similar to pitches. You usually start with a problem (i.e. divorce rates). You propose a solution that typically includes scripture references, and you conclude with a call to action.
In this post, I'm going to put together a sample 10-slide sermon as a model for what a 10-20-30 sermon presentation might look like. This lesson is about divorce, and it will follow a "3-point" outline with an introduction and summation.
Slides 1 & 2: Introduction & Statement of Problem
xWhile the lesson is being generally introduced, slide 1 is visible. I would start without the text and have it appear while I'm working up to the problem. Slide 2 is very simple, clearly pointing out the problem that about half of US marriages end in divorce. Now, I can list some other relevant statistics if I wish (like trending, broken home violence, etc.) , but they don't all need to be enumerated on the slide because they are all secondary to that figure.
Slide 3: The Solution
The solution is presented upfront. The way to handle the problem of divorce begins and ends with respect: respect for marriage, respect for one another, and respect for God's word. At this point, I don't build all three of those points onto the slide. The slide merely opens with "The Answer?" and I build in "Respect" once I am ready. I don't want the congregation to get ahead of me. Details should not be revealed until the speaker is ready.
Slides 4-9: Details and Scripture
xThe first point of our sermon focuses on respecting the institution of marriage. We start with Genesis 2:24 (on slide 4) where a married man and woman are described as one flesh. From here, I can refer to related scriptures about oneness such as Deuteronomy 6:4 and briefly compare it to Ephesians 5:31, but the slide remains focused on Genesis 2:24. Slide 5 centers around Hebrews 13:4 describing marriage as honorable. At this point, it might be wise to glance at Matthew 19 where Jesus says God joins the couple together.
The main point of these two slides is that God created marriage honorable and holy, and we should should respect what God has created.
x
Slide 6 emphasizes the adultery that can result from divorce. The one initiating divorce is guilty of adultery, and he/she may have laid the path for his/her former spouse to commit adultery. Slide 7 talks about violence as the result of divorce, and I could speak a moment here about the numerous individuals affected negatively by a divorce. (Again, there is no need to list them on a slide. The congregation does not need to be spoon-fed information.)
The main point: If we really respect ourselves and others, we will sincerely seek other alternatives before divorce.
x
Slide 8 remains with Malachi 2:16 and the fact that God hates divorce. That alone should be enough for us. On slide 9, Jesus is referenced as pointing out that there is no good reason for divorce (except for adultery by one's spouse).
The main point: As Christians, we should respect God's view of divorce and avoid it if possible.
Slide 10: Summation
Slide 10 merely serves to review the big points of the lesson and encourage the congregation to take marriage seriously rather than view it as something easily disposed of. If we have the proper respect for marriage as God made it, for each other, and for God's views on the matter of divorce, then we should work diligently to maintain the solidarity of our marriages.
Wrap-Up
Slides: 10. Practice run: 25 minutes. Fonts: 48-288 points. I also made sure the slides were in line with my previous post. We have built-in, emphasized text, no bullets, and no walls of text at any point. All images are high quality (and any image that had text atop it was reduced in sharpness to maintain the readability of the text), and our background is a heavy paper texture that looks similar to what you might see for a wedding invitation. Finally, the font is simple yet formal and easy to read.Now I drafted this outline and these slides from scratch especially for this post. I even went to my favorite stock photography sites to find some new images, and used eBible for looking up scriptures and commentary. This took about three hours in all. I don't think thats an unreasonable amount of time.
Whether or not you agree with the doctrine of these slides, I hope you can learn something from this model. Our sermon presentations do not have to be derivative and mundane. With a little work, our slides can be a strong reinforcer of our message at an intellectual and an emotional level.
The Sermon Presentation
July 22, 2006
I'm sure many of you attend congregations with slide
presentation abilities, and, along with these
capabilities, you probably have slides running
through the preacher's sermon. The sermon
presentation can be a very different beast from a
professional presentation, but some of the same
principles apply. Here are some things to think about
if you are planning a presentation to go with a
sermon.
Do Follow the 10-20-30 Rule. If you don't know what I'm talking about: 10 slides, 20 minutes, 30-point font. If you are presenting a standard sermon, you should be able to fit everything in right around 10 slides. My longest slide presentation for a sermon comes in at 14 slides. My shortest has only six. Most sermons will break the twenty-minute mark, but you should definitely try to avoid breaking that thirty-minute mark. Finally, any text smaller than 30-points gets hard to read.
Do Use (Some) Built Text. Your average sermon will have numerous scripture references. Pick those scriptures most relevant to your point, and cite them on the slide. This can be helpful for those following along and for those taking notes. Have those scriptures appear as you get to them so the audience does not get ahead of you and disengage.
Do Use Images. I don't mean clip art here. Use quality images that reinforce your point, that create emotional impact associated with the topic.
x
The first slide uses clip art and a business theme. Number two uses a stock image and an organic theme.
Do Use Themes. Choose a nice background for your slides. Don't make it busy or the color too bold– a simple texture should do – and avoid "business" themes. Use a background that has a natural feel about it. Textured paper or light stone should do.
Don't Overuse Transitions. Stick mostly with simple fades and dissolves. Save big transitions for big points, such as your summation. Too much animation will distract the congregation, and the message will become secondary to the show.
Don't Write Out Scripture. This is an easy one to fall into. If you have some words you want to pull out of a scripture, build those words onto a slide as you get to them in your reading. Don't just paste the entire scripture up there and highlight the words.
x
The first has a lot of visual distractions. The second is much clearer on the main points.
I've seen preachers have three or more slides straight containing one long scripture reading. First, this practice creates walls of text that just get unreadable. Second, by the time you get through all the slides, the congregation has forgotten what was highlighted on the first slide. Build in the key words. Your point will be stronger for it.
Don't Use "Cool" Fonts. You want the congregation to be able to read the text you do put on your slides. Avoid neat-looking fonts that obscure legibility (and remember kids: 30-points or higher).
x
The first makes me want to get my eyes checked. The second is much clearer.
Finally, be prepared to slip your slides in amidst other slides the congregation may be using – for standard announcements, song service, etc. When I occasionally preached at a congregation that used slides like these (and I wanted to use Keynote for my slides), I would replicate the standard-use slides, so my computer could be used for the entire service. Otherwise, I would switch to PowerPoint for the day. If you do want to use different software than the congregation traditionally uses, make it seamless. Don't put someone in a situation where they have to try and switch computers mid-service.
Hopefully these tips help those of you that present slides along with your sermons. Remember, if you are taking the time to make slides, then it is worth doing those slides well. Churches deserve good presenters as well!
Do Follow the 10-20-30 Rule. If you don't know what I'm talking about: 10 slides, 20 minutes, 30-point font. If you are presenting a standard sermon, you should be able to fit everything in right around 10 slides. My longest slide presentation for a sermon comes in at 14 slides. My shortest has only six. Most sermons will break the twenty-minute mark, but you should definitely try to avoid breaking that thirty-minute mark. Finally, any text smaller than 30-points gets hard to read.
Do Use (Some) Built Text. Your average sermon will have numerous scripture references. Pick those scriptures most relevant to your point, and cite them on the slide. This can be helpful for those following along and for those taking notes. Have those scriptures appear as you get to them so the audience does not get ahead of you and disengage.
Do Use Images. I don't mean clip art here. Use quality images that reinforce your point, that create emotional impact associated with the topic.
x
The first slide uses clip art and a business theme. Number two uses a stock image and an organic theme.
Do Use Themes. Choose a nice background for your slides. Don't make it busy or the color too bold– a simple texture should do – and avoid "business" themes. Use a background that has a natural feel about it. Textured paper or light stone should do.
Don't Overuse Transitions. Stick mostly with simple fades and dissolves. Save big transitions for big points, such as your summation. Too much animation will distract the congregation, and the message will become secondary to the show.
Don't Write Out Scripture. This is an easy one to fall into. If you have some words you want to pull out of a scripture, build those words onto a slide as you get to them in your reading. Don't just paste the entire scripture up there and highlight the words.
x
The first has a lot of visual distractions. The second is much clearer on the main points.
I've seen preachers have three or more slides straight containing one long scripture reading. First, this practice creates walls of text that just get unreadable. Second, by the time you get through all the slides, the congregation has forgotten what was highlighted on the first slide. Build in the key words. Your point will be stronger for it.
Don't Use "Cool" Fonts. You want the congregation to be able to read the text you do put on your slides. Avoid neat-looking fonts that obscure legibility (and remember kids: 30-points or higher).
x
The first makes me want to get my eyes checked. The second is much clearer.
Finally, be prepared to slip your slides in amidst other slides the congregation may be using – for standard announcements, song service, etc. When I occasionally preached at a congregation that used slides like these (and I wanted to use Keynote for my slides), I would replicate the standard-use slides, so my computer could be used for the entire service. Otherwise, I would switch to PowerPoint for the day. If you do want to use different software than the congregation traditionally uses, make it seamless. Don't put someone in a situation where they have to try and switch computers mid-service.
Hopefully these tips help those of you that present slides along with your sermons. Remember, if you are taking the time to make slides, then it is worth doing those slides well. Churches deserve good presenters as well!
The Blank Slate
July 19, 2006
Once you pick the theme your presentation is going to
follow in Keynote or PowerPoint, you are offered a
selection of templates to choose from. Bulleted list,
text with image, graph with title and text – these
are those slides that are already laid out for us.
All we have to do is plug in our information.
In the middle of these selections is the mysterious "blank" slide. It offers no guidance. You can't "click here to enter clip art." It doesn't tell you where to put your bulleted list. It is an enigma, but it can also be your best friend.
Does this slide intimidate you?
The blank template offers us unlimited creative potential, but, like the writer's blank page, it can be daunting. There is no obvious place to start, no guidance in placing graphics, headers, or text. The slate is blank, but this can be an exciting place to be.
x
The slides above provide a simple contrast. The first slide uses a template for title, bullets, and photo from Keynote's White theme. I followed the template exactly, making no alterations except for shrinking the title's font size a little. The second slide is made with White's blank template. The freedom provided allows for a more visually interesting presentation of the exact same material. Did it take more effort? Yes. Was the result worth it? I think so.
(Secret: Most of my own presentations primarily use blank templates. See this post from earlier this month for an example of how drastically the "blank template" approach can change a presentation.)
Next time you have a presentation to give, challenge yourself, and see what you can accomplish using only the theme's blank template. You might surprise yourself with how much fun you have preparing your slides, and your audience will notice the difference.
In the middle of these selections is the mysterious "blank" slide. It offers no guidance. You can't "click here to enter clip art." It doesn't tell you where to put your bulleted list. It is an enigma, but it can also be your best friend.
Does this slide intimidate you?
The blank template offers us unlimited creative potential, but, like the writer's blank page, it can be daunting. There is no obvious place to start, no guidance in placing graphics, headers, or text. The slate is blank, but this can be an exciting place to be.
x
The slides above provide a simple contrast. The first slide uses a template for title, bullets, and photo from Keynote's White theme. I followed the template exactly, making no alterations except for shrinking the title's font size a little. The second slide is made with White's blank template. The freedom provided allows for a more visually interesting presentation of the exact same material. Did it take more effort? Yes. Was the result worth it? I think so.
(Secret: Most of my own presentations primarily use blank templates. See this post from earlier this month for an example of how drastically the "blank template" approach can change a presentation.)
Next time you have a presentation to give, challenge yourself, and see what you can accomplish using only the theme's blank template. You might surprise yourself with how much fun you have preparing your slides, and your audience will notice the difference.