Top 3 Myths of Business PowerPoint Exposed

Giving an important business presentation? Chances are PowerPoint or Keynote slides are a big part of what you are preparing. The only question is: are your slides going to hit or miss your target?

Now, pull back the magic veil to expose three very popular (but false) myths about PowerPoint.

Myth 1: "Great Slide Design Is All I Need"

Before we take dive, let me be the first to say, I'm an artist at heart. I studied dance and art at the University of Washington — so design is a passion of mine.

Even so, the myth of great slide design being all you need is pure fiction. Great slide design is just not going to save your presentation. A perfectly designed slide deck, with all the bells and whistles, still requires a passionate presenter.

Also, if you are standing in front of your slides with a clicker, the perfect design could overshadow your message. Instead of wanting to know more about your products and services, viewers are likely to ask, "Who is your graphic designer?"

Myth 2: "Pictures Say It All"

This myth is a funny one for me to expose. I'm a big fan of pictures. A picture taps into the right side of the brain and is instantly understood.
But you have to understand what a picture does.

The right picture can say MUCH more than a bullet-point slide of words. The right visual can have a solid impact much greater than the teensy-tiny numbers in a spreadsheet. But there's a myth around this whole picture thing. You still need to have a reason for providing emotionally charged, thought provoking photos and pictures.

Evaluate closely if the picture you have is perfect. Is it right for your topic, audience and presentation flow? Since you want to appeal to the creative and logical intelligence, include pictures with critical key words. This helps you balance your communication — and win attention for just about any audience.

Myth 3: "Slides Show The Whole Story"

No doubt — slides have to 'show and tell' your business story. But how many slides do you need? What is the best number of slides to hit it just right? If you laboriously show every nitty-gritty detail, your audience might fall asleep. It's very easy to get lost in the detail and not retain the big story.

One of the most common problems I see in slide presentations is trying to tell way too much. Put your arms around a smaller section of your story. And here's a hint: tell the most interesting part of your story.

If you err on high interest at the expense of partial story, you'll still win attention and have the audience wanting to find out more about your offer, product or services.

Bust these three myths out of your thinking and you can give passionate, engaging and highly dynamic story presentations. Kick each of these myths off their pedestal — and go out to win some business.