Donât be fooled by the name. Just because of the name, there is no implied power in PowerPoint. Have you noticed how many presenters use PowerPoint and lack power. That should be your first clue. If everyone is doing it, itâs not powerful.
PowerPoint is easy-to-use software. It seduces you into believing that your presentation is all about slides. That is your second mistake. If it appears to be too easy, it is not powerful.
The third deception is that a poor presenter can hide behind their PowerPoint slides. If you think that, shame on you! If you were a bad golfer, do you really believe that expensive clubs or a Nike cap (like Tiger Woods wears) would make you a great golfer?
Donât make those mistakes with presentation skills. Hone the fundamental skills.
The only power that counts in your presentation and everything you do is the power that comes from within you. That is true power. That is recognizable power. That is power that enables you to make things happen.
This is authentic power because no one can take it away from you. They can admire it and covet it, yet they cannot take it away from you. That is what makes you powerful.
The first way you convey power is in the confidence you project. Stand and look good even if you donât feel good. Projecting power is based on how you look, sound and feel.
From the past three decades of presentation skills training and speech coaching, George Torok, the âSpeech Coach for Executivesâ has discovered that most people look more confident that they feel. This is surprising to people. And itâs a welcome relief. No one knows how your inner voice is berating you.
Even when you donât feel so good: look good. This works in your favor. Even when you question your own confidence the audience doesnât know about your inner doubts. They only know what they see and feel.
The physical is the first and strongest way you project power. Smile. That is the look of confidence. Smile. That helps to build trust. Smile. That shows that you know your message. Too many business presenters make the mistake of thinking, âThis is serious business. I must not smile.â What a mistake. Every business is about people. And people like to deal with people who convey confidence and trust. Nothing conveys trust and confidence more than a smile. Donât grin like the Cheshire cat, instead smile with confidence.
Another physical projection of power is the way you stand. Stand away from the lectern so the audience can see you. When you appear more open you appear more vulnerable and believable.
Stand tall and strong. Shoulders back and chest out. Appear as tall and big as you can. We put more faith in one who appears to be big. Bigger, stronger, more confident.
Stand with your hands and arms open most of the time. Crossed arms appear guarded not powerful. That might suggest that you are hiding something. Keep your hands out of your pockets. If you want to appear open, look open.
Your voice is the next component to power and believably. Power comes from the appearance of confidence. You sound more powerful when you sound more confident.
You sound more confident when you speak slower and deeper, and say less. Speaking slower shows that you are willing to let listeners digest what you say. That you are not afraid of interruptions. Speaking slower also lowers the tone of your voice, which makes you sound more credible. Who sounds more powerful, the slow thudding walk of the elephant or the skittering of the mouse?
Pause more. That displays confidence. It allows your listeners to think about what you say. Itâs not about what you tell them. Itâs about what they convince themselves. And they convince themselves while you are not talking. You do not convince with your words. They need the silences to think.
Hum the first four notes to Beethovenâs Fifth symphony. Feel the power in those clear simple four notes. Compare that to the skittering of rap music. Have you noticed that the only power in todayâs music is from the slow deep thud of the base?
Pick words that convey power. Short simple clear words display more power than longer words. Love, hate, grow, kill, stop, go, are more powerful than infatuation, ill feelings, cultivation, exterminate, discontinue, departure.
Simple phrases and short sentences have more power than long, vague convoluted meanderings. Hamletâs, âTo be or not to beâ has more power than âOur mission is to be the supplier of choice to our customers, show respect for our employees, work fairly with our suppliers, be recognized as a leader in the marketplace and generate a consistently above average return on investment to our shareholders.â
Compare that to, âWe are here to win.â
Verbs are more powerful than nouns and more powerful that adjectives and adverbs.
Action is power. Talk versus communication. Do versus implĂŠmentation. Sell versus sollicitation. Those words ending in âtionâ are poison. They suck the power out of your message.
You can be more powerful when you speak, if you focus on what you say and how you look and sound. Power is a feeling. If your audience believes you to be powerful by how you make them feel, you will be powerful.
Donât hide behind PowerPoint slides to save your presentation or grant you false power. Your personal power will move your audience to accept and believe your message. The power will never come from your PowerPoint presentation. Instead tap into the personal power that you have inside of you. That is what makes you believable and compelling.
You can feel powerful and convey that power to the audience when you speak – if you own your power.
