Yes, I know. We’re all in the midst of the holiday season. Which also makes it a near perfect time for me to plant a seed that will hopefully get you thinking as you make your way toward 2023.
Everyone likes the idea of starting the new year with a clean slate. But in the case of your presentations, that would mean a heck of a lot of work… too much work! Instead, I’m sharing 3 ways you can jazz up your talk(s) that will have both you and your audiences excited in the new year.
Photos!
You know what they say: A picture is worth 1000 words. But, from my own personal experience, I know how very difficult it can be to find the perfect photo… the one that really connects you with your audience. Well, here’s a link to an article that shares 55 different websites, each filled with thousands of photos you can choose from—many of which are free, or at a very low cost.
(By the way, when you find that perfect image, don’t automatically pass it by because it costs a few bucks. If it’s a photo that really generates the response you want your audience to have, wouldn’t it be worth the investment in the long run?)
Polls!
Change of pace and interactivity are two key components of any presentation. Inserting a poll or a survey into your presentation is a great way to accomplish both. They give your audience the opportunity to “talk back to you” while using their phones (which most people are going to be checking anyway—even if you’ve asked them to put them away).
There are plenty of internet articles that discuss different poll and survey apps/software to try out. This Better Cloud article talks about an in-app software I tried and liked: Poll Everywhere. They even have a free version you can very simply add right into your PowerPoint presentation.
Pause the PowerPoint!
Many speakers use PowerPoint like it’s a bible for their talks, or as a map for getting through their presentation. In reality, it should be the other way around. PowerPoint presentations should be visual aids designed to ensure your audience is on the “page” you want them to be on. It’s not for us, as speakers, to make sure we’re on the right “page.”
From this perspective, you have access to something really powerful. You can pause your PowerPoint and interact with your audience either about what you were just talking about, or about what you’re going to talk about next. You could even turn the PowerPoint off, interact with your audience, and then turn it back on. This is a great way of breaking up the monotony of staring at a screen for your audience, while also using PowerPoint as a prop to accentuate your point. What a refreshing idea!
The past year might have still presented us speakers with challenges, but it’s also provided us with more ways to interact and engage with our audiences, both in-person and virtually. What I love about these three “P’s” is that they can be used in any type of presentation.
So, as you begin scheduling your 2023 talks, consider how any one—or all—of them could enhance the fabulous content you’re already sharing. They might even help you kick off your new year in all the best ways!