You Are The PowerPoint

Last month I attended a meeting, and we had a speaker there to talk to us about how 2023 wouldn't be our year.

Now, as a presenter, I always adore the opportunity to watch other performers because I inevitably always learn something new, which sharpens my own craft. 

And this presenter specifically did a couple of incredible things that I want to share with you today because I know it will sharpen your skill set when it comes to presenting.

1. She had no slides. 
2. Her talk had three (3) big ideas; each wrapped up in a bow with a story/example from her life.
3. She got creative with her presentation title to peak interest and invoked a little anxiety. We eventually found out that every year should be our year.
4. Her talk was short and sweet, only about 30 minutes long.
5. She worked the room.

• Her opening began at the front of the room.
• She walked to the right of the room to present idea #1.
• She moved to the back of the room to present idea #2.
• Then moving to the left of the room to present idea #3.
• Ending back at the front to close her talk and wrap up.

Note:  This choice won't work in every scenario, yet this speaker did her homework and knew the room/her audience. This meeting room did not have a stage, was set in rounds for about 150, and had an intimate feel, so she could work the room beautifully instead of it feeling distracting. Plus, her risk of not doing what everyone else does paid off and made her stand out.

This woman had quite a story, and the stories she shared invoked a lot of emotion, earning her a well-deserved standing ovation.

After the talk, I leaned over to my seatmate and friend Jacqueline, quickly saying, "I love presenters who don't use slides; it's such a skill!"

Jacqueline quickly responded, "Exactly, she was the PowerPoint!"

SHE WAS THE POWERPOINT!

Her story held power.

Her presence held power.

Her preparation held power.

And SHE was the exclamation point!

This presenter took three general ideas (grit/gratitude/grace) and made them incredibly unique because she wrapped them in a story with examples from her life that made them original AF.

So the big idea for you today is this ... 

YOU ARE THE POWERPOINT.

You are.

Your stories, your preparation, and your presence.

This is what makes an incredible presentation.