What would it be about overhead projectors that causes us to turn into lousy communicators? Why do our speeches or even presentations lose much of their steam when we utilize overheads?
Well, for starters, we typically give even more attention to the overheads than the audience. It cannot be helped. After all, we've to pick higher the right overhead, separate it from the next 1, get it on the projector properly, check it out on the screen, so on.
While doing those things, we are taking our eyes off the audience. At the equivalent time, the audience spends a lot of time searching at the screen, rather than at us. And, nothing detracts from fantastic communication like loss of eye contact with the audience.
We are as well taking our mind off the audience. Instead, we are focusing our thoughts on the technical issues taking part in showing the overhead, including our explanations of the visuals.
Then there's the amount of material. Almost each time I personally see a speech with overheads, I personally see way too much content. 1 of the best lessons I have learned in many years at Toastmasters is that less is even more. Do not try to explain every thing to your audience, just pick 1 microscopic sliver of an issue and explain it well - a speech isn't a book or even a written article!
And, then there's the elementary fact that the projector gets between you and the audience. There's noise and the size of the projector, which mean a projector can be a even more powerful presence at the front of the room than you.
Perhaps there should be a 12-step program for getting on top overhead projectors. While they are unlikely be an addiction, they can be a crutch, 1 that allows us to produce presentations without adequate believed or even preparation.
Personally, I personally like the idea of generating higher overheads and projectors altogether. A colleague recently asked if we should utilize overheads when we do a few upcoming presentations together. I personally expressed our opinion firmly. Require I personally say what that was?
If you're not ready to give them higher, utilize your overheads in a supporting role. Do not ask them to bear a substantial portion of the message; you should deliver the message, and the overheads should reinforce what you say.
For instance, if your presentation involves numerical information, a elementary bar or even line graph can help the audience get the point. Or even, if you're talking about a sequence of cases and their order is critical, a numbered list can help.
However the surest bet can be to go without. Prior to the presentation, think hard about the message or even messages you wish to convey. Boil them down into no even more than 3 points, and then look for stories, analogies, metaphors, and anything else that will illustrate and reinforce every point. Try to produce mental images with words, like great radio ads.
In summary, overhead projectors put good communication barriers between speakers and audiences. Get rid of them. You'll be glad you did - and your audience will, too.
Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott's Communication Letter. Learn how you are able to assume communication to help achieve your goals, by reading articles or even subscribing to this ad-supported newsletter. An excellent resource for leaders and managers, at: http://www.communication-newsletter.com
Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Business/Presentation/