How to Point, Turn and Talk With PowerPoint

PowerPoint presentations are everywhere. But you always think of presenters reading either their notebook display or the projector screen. That’s because in each case the speaker fails to capture the attention of their audience. So, they fail to make the link between themselves, the material and the images in their presentation. This is where the point, turn and talk technique comes into action.

A very simple presentation skill—point, turn and talk—should help you get around the main problem. But, how do you reference your presentation material and maintain eye contact with your audience? There really is a very simple technique that you can use very effectively.

How To Use Your Presentation Material Better

Beyond its clear and obvious advantages for graphics and media integration, PowerPoint presentations can often be faulted with:

In truth the fault is not PowerPoint. It’s the presenter’s problem. And it shows their dependence on using the graphics package as both a crutch and a speaking aid with too much text.

Using the crutch a speaker feels invulnerable with the depth and breadth of slide information. And with the speaking aid the presenter isn’t familiar with the essential points of their presentation. The results are predictable: death by PowerPoint.

But there’s a better approach. Reduce your dependence on text; reduce your bullet lists; shorten your bullet list length. Incorporate less information on the slides.

How To Maintain Eye Contact With The Point, Turn And Talk Technique

More graphical content is a fine substitute. But you could practise your point, turn and talk technique. It’s a presentation skill that allows you to refer to the information on a display screen, seize your audience’s attention and then explain with the necessary detail.

There are advantages for you, the presenter, and your audience:

You can use your point, turn and talk skills to project an animated and knowledgeable presenter. Take the opportunity to combine an effective PowerPoint presentation with plenty of audience eye contact and, of course, subject interest. And, of course, that’s the sort of thing we expect in a 3-minute thesis presentation.

You can learn more about the point, turn and talk technique and other presentation skills tips on a PresentPerfect^TM training course at one of more than 40 training centres. alternatively, you can always have a corporate training day at your offices. So, please don’t hesitate to get in touch when the time is right.

“PowerPoint presentations too often resemble a school play–very loud, very slow and very simple.”

Edward Tufte