If you’re in front of people, if you are a leader, then part of your calling is influence. If all you do is inform, then you’re not doing your job. You’re not following your calling. Informing is only half the job and the easiest part at that.
You need God to empower you, to use you for His glory and their good. And part of that empowerment is influence. God wants you to be His voice so that He can move people, changing them to be more in the image of His Son(1). God deeply desires to use you to persuade people. If all you do is inform, then you’re more of a distraction than anything else.
And while technology is a great gift from God, it’s a means to an end. It’s not the topic of conversation, but a tool for conversion, pointing people to God. So, how do we and our presentations stay out of God’s way and not distract people from all God wants to say? Here are four quick tips.
1. Words. Words. Too Many Words
The easiest thing to do is “copy and paste” your notes onto a slide. It may help you but it’s presenters’ suicide for your audience. The result will be to bore everyone to death, except your mother who thinks you’re great. And like so many other easy things, it’s not just wrong, it’s completely wrong. You and your people will be lost in a sea of letters. Everyone will drown in an alphabet soup of text.
Instead – Use images that have emotion. Then “copy and paste” your text in the presenter’s notes. This may push you to use more slides, not less. And that’s a good thing.
Tip – Put the focus and energy back on the words you say, not what they read. Let your voice and words guide and drive.
2. I Can’t See It
Once you dial down your words and add images, don’t try and do too much on one slide. Make sure everything is large enough so everyone can easily see what you’ve worked so hard to craft. No matter how much you may like those extra little lines at the end of each letter (serif fonts,) don’t use them. Don’t use complex charts. Make sure your text and images have good contrast when projected.
Instead – Always use fonts without those extra lines (sans serif fonts.) Be certain that everyone will be able to see and understand what’s on the slide without squinting or reaching for binoculars.
Tip – Use Georgia, Helvetica, or Veranda fonts. The optimum time for a slide to be shown is two-to-three minutes.
3. Flow Mechanics
You want your slides to flow, so take the extra time to carefully guide people’s attention. Thoughtful use of videos, entrance animation, overlays, multiple slides, and block arrows can direct people’s attention. There’s lots of competition, so you must work hard at it. This is going to make some people start to vibrate with withdrawal, but avoid using laser pointers like the plague.
Instead – Use animation to reveal block arrows, directing people’s attention to different parts of your slides. There is no cost for creating extra slides, so don’t jam everything on one slide.
Tip – No matter how much you practice, your laser pointer will always jump around like a cat on a hot tin roof, so don’t waste time.
4. It’s Not a Cartoon
Whatever software tool you use, there will be lots and lots of animation options. They are supposed to help with the entrance, emphasis, and exit of information within your slides. But when used incorrectly, they are a giant waste of your time when you create and test them, not to mention the fact that you will absolutely lose your audience.
Instead – Keep it simple. Never use very slow, flying, or spinning animation. The animation should be thought of as an option, not a requirement. It must serve your influence and the audience.
Tip – Stick to the classics: Appear, Fade, Wipe. People quickly tire of meaningless animation or things flying across the screen.
Working Out
I know that you’ve been doing presentations for a while. And you’ve found a way that’s efficient for you. You’ve become comfortable with a particular style, a way of doing things. And I get it.
But imagine for a moment, could God use you in a more significant way, with greater impact and influence, if you made some changes to the way you communicated? Are you satisfied that there is no better way to be used for God’s glory?
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling
Philippians 2:12 NIV
When we work out our salvation, this is not paying for our sins through works(2). This is to carry out the tasks that God has assigned us, to stay at the task till it’s done. We are to work by His power, with energy and creativity, carrying out His command to its ultimate conclusion.
I’ve been doing computer-generated presentations since the introduction of the IBM PC in the 1980s. I’ve lost count of all the different hardware and software solutions I’ve used. There is only one thing that has been consistent over the nearly 40 years that I’ve been doing them. And that thing is change.
Change is the one constant. Some new software or technique is always coming around the corner. Would you be willing to risk what you know, what you’re comfortable with in order to serve Christ better? To be heard with greater clarity. To have greater influence.
May God give you power and peace to serve Him all the days of your life. With all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.
Examples
I had the privilege to help a friend with an upgrade to a presentation first created in 2019. Below are two links to see the difference for yourself.
Click Here(3) to see the traditional slides.
Click Here(4) to see the upgraded slides.
I would be honored to look at and offer help with your presentations. Please contact me at chester.gladkowski@gmail.com.
(1) Romans 8:29
(2) Ephesians 2:8,9
(3) https://youtu.be/UrdX4qu2kGw
(4) https://youtu.be/tTfau4Zp5Qk
Chet Gladkowski is the Founder of GLAD Associates, Inc.(a). He has also launched Mark This Year(b) – daily devotionals through the Gospel of Mark (b).
(a) https://chetglad.org/
(b) https://www.markthisyear.com/
