When I run the world

Death to PowerPoint!

First, don't do it.

Second, if you have to do it, don't put all your text on the slides. (The death penalty will be immediate if you then proceed to read word for word from the slides while facing the screen instead of your audience.)

Third, bringing text in from the sides or fading in or out does not improve the quality of your presentation. It just tells me that you know how to use PowerPoint.

Fourth, have the decency to tell people how long the torture is going to last and put "1 of 10" (see the page number rule) so they will know when the end is near. (If you follow Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/30 rule for presentations you can avoid penalties for use of PowerPoint.)

Finally, don't mistake a bunch of PowerPoint slides for an enjoyable and informative presentation. That experience comes from you the speaker and the time and effort you invested in researching and pulling together your material. Let your audience see you shine rather than your competence (or lack thereof) with a crappy software program.

posted by lucky charms @ 10:04 PM