I haven’t used PowerPoint in over five years.

Now that the word has gotten out, I’m being asked to teach people how to improve their presentations by NOT using the most popular presentation tool of the 21st century. Tweet

Call me old-fashioned, but I think it’s more important to use business presentations to establish rapport, build relationships, and develop conversation that helps clients.

I can’t understand why salespeople or other leaders would take the trouble to assemble an audience only to say, “Please look away from me to the screen while I turn down the lights.”

PowerPoint trick #56

If you feel you must use a handful of PPT slides, put them in the middle of the presentation.  This way you can look into the audience’s eyes at the beginning of your talk and at the end.  The end, of course, is where all good presenters stage the “call to action.”

Recently, I started using PowerPoint again, but with a twist . . .

I now use a single slide during my talks

This one graphic image is so powerful, you can hear a pin drop when it appears on the screen.  This slide is all audience members can talk about when the presentation is over.  And get this–the slide usually has no direct connection to the subject of my talk!

What is this magic slide and how can you use a similar technique to strengthen your presentations?

Well, the slide is a very unusual graphic based on a personal story.

When my father was in the hospital a few years back, our family kept a journal at his bedside.  We used the notebook to  track Dad’s progress and leave each other reminders of what to ask the doctors.

Dad even wrote in the journal, especially after the medical team inserted an “NG tube,” an eating tube which kept Dad from being able to speak.

Anyway, about two weeks into his hospital stay, Dad’s health was failing due to mysterious complications.

We were all looking for clues about how to help him get well, so in a quiet moment, I asked my father what he thought was happening.

Dad's parting words

He wrote, “I think I’m improving.”

And then, he died the next day.

Although this story and the accompanying slide are not usually the core message of my speeches, it’s incredibly easy to integrate its optimistic theme.  After all, a dying person who remains upbeat can teach us all a bit about having a better attitude.

You may only need one effective slide

I’ll bet you can can improve your speeches and presentations using a similar strategy.

Learn more about how to improve your talks by listening to my How to Give Killer Presentations audio CD.  It comes with a 30-page e-book loaded with tips to make you an even better communicator.

As with all my info products, How to Give Killer Presentations, comes with an unconditional money-back guarantee if you’re not fully satisfied.

Can you say “no” to PowerPoint?  Can you use only one PowerPoint slide?