The worst of the worst. Introductions

Today I start a new category of blog postings "the worst of the worst". Here you will find the worst abuses of PowerPoint that I have seen from the platform. If you encounter terrible PowerPoint presentations, then email me and I will share them on this blog.

Last week I was exposed to a presentation resembling above slide above. (I have change the presenters name, to protect the guilty). This is only of of three slides telling the audience how great the presenter thinks he is.

Wow!!. Three slides to say "I am the best, I have worked for 35 years with many clients, and I am fantastic. I love myself. You are lucky to be able to view my client list. I love myself. I verbosely profess to know many buzzwords" And on, and on he goes.

I find it particularly amusing that this slide tells us that he is a dynamic speaker. I assume that the audience will not be able to identify his dynamism, which is why he needs to put it on a slide and read it to us?

I could not believe this. Three text-packed slides of the presenter telling the audience what he has done. Not one mention of WIIFM. Not one mention of what the audience will get out of his 50 minute presentation.

Now that we know what a bad introduction is, let's examine the ingredients for a great start to your presentation.

1. Provide a typed introduction in at least 14 point font. Keep it short. You introduction should cover 3 items. a. Why this presenter? (He is expert in field) b. Why this audience? (We have problem that he can help us solve) c. Why now? (Why is this topic relevant today, right now, to us?)

2. When you are introduced, black out the projector (if you don't already have a black slide in your slideshow). Seize the opportunity to start strong and share with your audience what they will learn from your session. Get to the benefits of your presentation, quickly.

3. After building rapport with your audience, start your PowerPoint presentation and deliver your presentation for the benefit of the audience.

Oh yeah, do not, ever, never, have one, two, or yikes! three slides of your past clients or where you have worked in your preceding 35 years. THE AUDIENCE DOESN'T CARE!!!!