We've all seen communicators, perhaps there's some in your organization or your industry where, when they're not using PowerPoint, they're walking around, they're loose. They're walking up to people in the audience. They're gesturing. They look relaxed, comfortable, confident, and they come across Well, now they're giving a so called formal PowerPoint presentation. What happens to them, all of a sudden, they're practically huddled over the computer or they're standing right next to the lectern where the controls are, they're frozen, they're stiff, they're distanced from the audience. Why?
You don't have to. And one reason people do it is they've created such a horrible, awful PowerPoint deck, and it's got 189 slides, so they have to stand right next to it. They're like one of those birds plastic birds at the checkout. The gas station used to see where it's kind of like this blue It's so consistent because they're having to tap every two seconds. And it's just awful visual experience for the audience. There's nothing you're doing during a PowerPoint presentation that should be any different than how you are when you're coming across your very best in a non PowerPoint presentation.
In my experience, audiences respond much more favorably to speakers who walk around the room. I don't mean pacing nervously back and forth. It has to be purposeful. Occasionally you stop, but you're mixing it up. Sometimes you're close to someone on the left side of the room, front row, sometimes you're on the right, you may walk down the middle, the back. The point is, there's variety and you're getting close to people in the audience.
And if it's a bigger room, then by all means, use a remote control. incredibly inefficient If your company doesn't have one or can't afford it or budget, by your own, they're cheap. Have your own personal private remote control. It's not a big deal. That way, you can move around naturally. So many people tell themselves well, of course I like to move around and be comfortable and commanding on the stage.
I can't This is a PowerPoint. Of course I have to stand here like I'm chained to the desk or change to the lap. No, you're not. You are in charge of how you come across. And you can come across incredibly comfortable, confident, relaxed, authoritative by moving around the room purposefully at all times, with or without a PowerPoint.