When using VISUAL-AIDS

A good visual aid can save you a lot of talking. Showing is more effective than telling.

         There are many types of projectors and different types of visual aids. These days most presenters use laptops or tablets to project their messages.

         Having  just attended a lecture when the guest speaker started to set up his electronic equipment when he was due to start his talk. Things went wrong, as they often do, and the guest speaker didn’t have a back-up plan. the talk was poorly done and memorable for the wrong reasons.

         The rules are simple and must be adhered to if you want to make an effective presentation.

          A handful of tips to help you give a memorable talk when using visual aids.

         * If possible, rehearse your talk with your visuals before the event 

         Your visual aids must be seen by all the audience.

         Many presentations are ruined by people not being able to see the slides or to read the messages.  Often there is too much clutter or the type is too small or in a weak colour.

* Make sure the venue is suitable

         Check all the plugs and adaptors for the equipment at the venue.  Make sure the types and sizes are compatible with your devices.

         Check blackout conditions and the position of the light switches.

* Restrict the number of slides you use

         Each should have a single message.

Show only the best  –  leave out the rest.

* Allow sufficient time for the audience to study each visual

         Don’t clutter a visual with small print or too much detail. Consider the size of the type, the font colour combinations and the amount of information.

* Distribute handouts when you have finished your presentation

         They should cover the message and details of your visuals for further reference.

          You are your main visual aid. Don’t delegate too much information to the projector.

Be well-prepared, confident, enthusiastic and dynamic!

–Geoffrey Moss (mossassociates.co.nz

“Visual impressions linger longer than word spoken.”

SOURCE: For more on this topic see:  “Persuasive Ways” first published by Moss Associates Ltd, New Zealand and in Chinese by Shanghai People’s Publishing House and as “Secrets of Persuasion” by Cengage Learning Asia. (Available as an e-book from Amazon.com.) Also available as “Getting Your Ideas Across” from Kogan Page, U.K and a  Hungarian translation published by Bagolyvar Konyvkiado, Budapest.

For those in need see our FREE book “NO JOB! WHAT NOW?”

 

 

Available frommossassociates.co.nz