For Immediate Release
Thursday February 2, 2006

Contact:
Ed Barks
(540) 955-0600
Click here to send an e-mail.

Just Say No to “Just Say No to PowerPoint Week,” Public Speaking Expert Urges

Just say no to "Just Say No to PowerPoint Week." That’s the recommendation from Ed Barks, author of The Truth About Public Speaking: The Three Keys to Great Presentations.

"Automatically saying no to slides is just too simplistic a concept," Barks argues. "The fact is it sometimes makes sense to say ‘yes’ to presentation software.

"Having your default switch locked in the off position makes no more sense than always saying yes to using slides," he states.

Barks believes that a decision on the use of slides during a presentation depends on two basic factors. "First, speakers must decide whether a slide show is a good fit for the audience they plan to address. Slides may be fine for a large crowd in a big hall, for example. But few things sap the personalized approach from a small group like a mind-numbing slide show.

"Second, presenters must feel comfortable with the technology. There are few things more embarrassing than watching a speaker fumble and stumble because he fears his laptop will jump up and bite him," he continued.

Barks offers some concrete tips to help speakers decide when slides make sense and when to leave that laptop back at the office:

• Never assume you need to deliver a slide show every time. It makes sense in some situations, not in others.
• Gain some hard intelligence about the size of your audience. You don’t want to overwhelm a small gathering with a slide show.
• Learn all you can about the venue where you will speak. A small room is generally not a good candidate for a slide show.
• Bear in mind that people come to see you, not your slides.
• Assess your own comfort level with the equipment. If keyboards and cables intimidate you, use another format for your presentation.