When was last time you sat through a terrible presentation using computer projection? When was last time you gave one? If you want to avoid disaster and give your career a boost then apply these ten tips next time you present with computer projector. And if you want to do a friend a favour then slide them a copy of these tips before their next presentation. The biggest mistake is to believe that cool graphics will make up for your lack of presentation skills. If you can not cook - it does not matter how good stove is. Use these tips to develop your presentation skills and work with tools. The computer is only a tool. You are presenter. When you present with multi-media you are more than a performer. You are a producer. Be aware and stay in control of what you and your technology are doing to audience.
1. Stand on left side as audience sees you. Because we read from left to right your audience can look at you then follow your gesture to screen. Their eyes are comfortably moving left to right, they read text then they return to you. If you stood on right side their eyes have to make too many movements to read slides and watch you. If you present using Hebrew, (read right to left), stand on right side of screen. If you present using old Chinese, (top to bottom), climb on top of screen, (just kidding).
2. You are show. Be heard and be seen. Stand away from computer and in light. Use a remote mouse to get away from computer. Too many people hide in dark behind laptop. Arrange lighting in room so that you are in light while screen is dark. You might need to unscrew some of ceiling lights to get it right.
3. Turn off screen savers on your computer - any that are part of Windows software - plus one that comes with laptop. It is embarrassing for you to be talking about important points you thought were on screen while they are looking at flying toasters or Bart Simpson. It is even worse when your energy saver kicks in and shuts it all down. Remember to adjust this as well.