There is a tendency to believe that all presentations need visual aids to support them.
This quickly turns into the belief that ALL presentations need images and we end up in a place where the images are more important to the speaker or the words they are speaking. In fact, when people talk about giving a presentation, many of them are actually thinking of delivering a series of PowerPoint slides.
We have heard the expression “Death by PowerPoint”, where a speaker shoots slide after slide at their audience. Full slides are full of text and are word for word what the speaker is saying. There is almost no deviation, what you see on the slide is what the speaker says word for word.
What the heck is the speaker offering their audience that they couldn’t get from reading a handout from the slides? And he gets better. Some presenters even distribute a handout with these text slides; So now you can read his speech together with him! Why did the speaker waste the audience’s time by calling them into a presentation when he could as well have emailed a copy of the slides so everyone could read the message in their own time?
If the public wanted a movie, they would go to the cinema. What they want is to hear from us, the speaker. We even say “I want to hear what you have to say on this topic” and not “I want to see your PowerPoint slideshow”!
Presentations are not about PowerPoint slides. It’s also not about flip charts, OHP’s or any other visual aids. Presentations are speeches and speeches try to communicate a message through the spoken word. The role of visual aids is to help our audience understand and interact with our message; so let’s see how we achieve that instead of allowing ourselves to be the supporting act in a PowerPoint presentation.
How can visual aids help your hearing?
If we agree that putting your entire script on PowerPoint slides doesn’t help your audience, what are the benefits of using visual aids?
To start, images help you clarify a point.
There are times when an image, such as a graph or pie chart, can explain statistics or financial information much more easily than words alone.
Images can also be used to give bird’s eye view scenarios (eg a map of an area) or it could be used to show a specific item you are talking about. Photos may show details such as glitches that would be difficult for the speaker to adequately describe for the audience to understand.
Visual aids are extremely helpful in setting up a scene. If she was talking about his vacation in Italy, an image of the Leaning Tower of Pisa makes her audience understand exactly what his topic will be about. It also has the added benefit of establishing rapport (“I’ve been there too!”) without the speaker ever uttering a single word. Pictures convey a message that doesn’t need words (for example, an iPhone).
Alternatively, the images can be used to invoke interaction between you and your audience. You could show a picture and ask “What is this?” or other similar questions, that engage your audience in your presentation. You can simply ask the audience to study an image that gives them a break from hearing your voice and allows them to take a quick breath, study their notes, or grab a glass of water.
You can also use visual elements to act as sign posts for your audience. Using visual aids to show your agenda, your key points, or showing the audience where they are in the presentation.
They say that a “A picture is worth more than 1000 words”. I’m not sure if the math is completely correct, but have you noticed that I didn’t mention text, bullet points, or even PowerPoint, since I described how images can enhance your presentation? That’s because these aren’t the only visual aids you can use when speaking in public. Flip charts, props, and displays are also visual aids!
You may also have noticed that I’ve talked about visuals that improve your communication skills and support your presentation and help your audience. to help you get your message across. Lots of great speakers and lots of great related speeches without pictures, let alone PowerPoint!
Too many presenters seem to think that they are additional support to the images. They couldn’t be further from the truth. Visual aids are there to support you!
