People have a tendency to blame powerpoint (or keynote) for the horrible presentations they are forced to sit through. But the slides are merely an external manifestation of a deeper problem, just like the teeth of a meth addict.

For the past two years, I have been speaking at The Teaching Course in NYC. Two years ago, I gave a 60-minute talk on presentation creation (you can see that original talk below). This year, the course directors reduced my time to 30-minutes…resulting in a tighter and much better talk. That is what I am posting today.

The Twelve Steps

1. Admit you have a problem

2. Choose your Topic and your Purpose

3. Create Brainstorming Spaces

4. Choose a Structure

5. Add the flesh

6. Work the Transitions

7. Visualize the Visuals

Where to get Images from First10EM

8. Edit to Time

9. Mark the Stage

10. Create a “Handout”

11. Give it for Real

12. Do it Again

Bumper Slides and SignPosting

Keynoting

Bumper Slides

Other Things mentioned in the Talk

Books to Read

Somehow a professional has agreed with me on almost every point in this lecture. It is pure luck I assure you.

The Rehearsals as elaborated in the Public Words Blog

See the posts here: Rehearsals, Rehearsals

Telling Stories during Presentations

Some Additional Tips

Title not with “what,” but with “so what”

The Teaching Course

Rob Rogers and the other directors of the Teaching Course were kind enough to let me post this lecture for free for you EMCritters. Check out some of the other amazing offerings from these folks:

Slides from the Talk

Here is the Old Talk if you are Interested in Seeing the Contrast

The Site you Must Read

Additional Sites and Resources

Now on to the Lecture…