Power Point

Today, I had project meeting with my mates for negotiation. And like most project, a power point is required. Now, I’d like to talk about this feature. Why? Because I recently discovered that I actually like making power point. Also this Tuesday was a presentation day. And for most presentation, well ... Let’s just say that I almost ended up not understanding any single one. Is it because I’m not paying enough attention? Maybe… Is it because the presentation wasn’t well created? Most likely… Call me old fashion but I believe that presenting your own work should be considered as teaching. It is up to the presenter to make their work interesting. Your audience should not concentrate in trying to follow you. It is up to you me to catch their attention and make them enjoy my piece of work. Many people think is a hassle to create them. Indeed, it may be hard to know what to put in it and it may be frustrating to talk in front of so many people. I have to admit that my first power point was a total disaster. I had to make a 15 min presentation but the teacher threw at my face with his Scare face eyes “ Pfff, finally it’s over, I thought your presentation lasted 2 hours”. I was indeed too worried of how I should say to make people understand me. And when you care too much, you usually end up doing exactly the opposite. From this day on, I decided to get rid of all sort of support in my hands. Only the power point to back me up.

After creating a few, I’ve realized that power point was one of the supports where you can present your work with your own words. You don’t have to be someone else; I believe it is actually your only chance to present the work with your own words and with your own perspective. It is your chance to be interesting and to break the rules. Like you said Bruce about me breaking the rules, I believe presenting your work is a lot like blogging. Some people care too much about the formal style, about how it should be presented “properly”… Most of them have their paper ready during the presentation. And for most of them, I end up understanding almost nothing. PowerPoint is also the only opportunity to explain fact with illustration. Why writing long paragraph where only one picture may be enough and gives you the opportunity to illustrate?

Of course, there will be situation where formalities will b required. However, would rather me speak with a formal way and understand almost nothing? Or speak with my own word trying to explain things my own way?

In both case, I believe that if the message wasn’t sent to the audience, you failed your presentation.