I still remember the first time I presented without my notes. For 10 minutes leading up to the presentation, I nervously repeated my presentation in my head and re-read my manuscript over and over for what seemed like a dozen times. With just a minute left before I was set to walk on stage, I felt my anxiety growing and began second guessing my decision to present without notes. I eventually gave in to the fear by walking on stage with my notes in hand feeling as though I had chickened out.
However, as I walked on stage, it was as if time slowed down, and I was able to muster up the courage to place my notes on the stage and trust my preparation. Clicking on the first slide, I was greeted by the comfort of a few bold words located in the speaker notes section of my PowerPoint deck. These simple reminders jogged my memory, and my confidence was through the roof. After the presentation wrapped up, I was greeted by respected leader who commented, “Wow! You nailed that. I can’t believe you didn’t even have notes.” I’m certain that my decision to forego the safety net of my notes gave me added credibility and respect from my audience.
Presenting note free is an effective way to wow your audience and increase your credibility. It shows your audience that you’ve done your preparation and are highly knowledgeable about the subject you are sharing, but it can be an overwhelming task to accomplish. The good news is that we have put together some secrets of leveraging the speaker notes section of PowerPoint to build your confidence, wow your audience, and deliver a professional and compelling presentation.
Keep your reminders high level.
As a presenter, it can be tempting to place your presentation word for word in the speaker notes section. If at all possible, avoid this. The speaker notes should be used to jog your memory and keep you moving through your outline. If you clutter your notes with too much text, you’ll be staring at and reading off the slide, which is even worse than using hand-held notes.
Use large and easy-to-read font.
When it comes to presenting without a full-blown outline, it’s important to type your speaker notes reminders using a large font. You don’t want to have to strain to read them when you are mid-presentation. If more than one line of text is used, be sure to space your lines at 1.5 so that your eyes can track along as quickly and easily as possible.
Include important statistics.
One of the most difficult parts of presenting without an outline is remembering all of those crucial facts and figures that make up your presentation. In an effort to keep your slides simple, you may not be able to place every statistic on your slides. By including any statistics that are not specified on your slides in your speaker notes, you’ll give yourself the peace of mind that you’ll give all of your vital information correctly during the presentation.
Include answers to FAQ.
One of the most nerve-wracking sections of a presentation for most presenters is the Q&A. The tables turn, and the audience gains the floor as they launch questions at the presenter. The good news is that with a little extra attention, you can think through and prepare for the FAQ. Including these answers in your speaker notes ensures that you can answer each question quickly and intelligently. Your audience will be blown away at the amount of knowledge you keep at the top of your head (or at the bottom of your slides – we promise not to give away your secret).
Presenting without an outline is an easy way to set yourself apart as a presenter. It gives your audience the impression that you are not only prepared, but you are knowledgeable on your topic. By leveraging the speaker notes section of your PowerPoint deck, you give yourself the peace of mind of having helpful cues and reminders without the telltale sign of having notes in hand.
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