The Screen is BLANK on PURPOSE. Don’t Forget the ‘B’ Button!

It’s BLANK for a Very Good Reason!

The ‘B’ Button is one of the most powerful features in PowerPoint / Keynote software.

When in presentation mode, pressing the ‘B’ Button makes the screen go blank.    Blank, in this case, means completely Black. Use it to enhance your presentation.

Blanking the slide immediately takes the attention off the screen, and puts it on the presenter.

Slides, and the images they contain, should reinforce and clarify the material you are presenting.  By themselves, they are not the presentation.

The words you speak, combined with your verbal and nonverbal communication, is the presentation. Slides and other props enhance the presentation and help the audience GET IT!

The image on the screen strengthens the message you deliver.  This is a good thing because people learn, to varying degrees, in different manners: by hearing, seeing and feeling.  Providing more than one of those mediums increases the chances they’ll GET IT!

However,  there are times to ‘see’ the image and listen to the speaker, and there are times to focus solely on the person delivering the presentation.

Unfortunately, many people who use PowerPoint or Keynote in their presentations forget this fact. Perhaps, because of a fear of public speaking, they present this way.  They merely show slides with pictures and bullet points and read the text to the audience.  They might as well put the show into automatic mode and leave the room.  This is not the way to use a visual aid like PowerPoint.

PowerPoint is a prop, a visual prop.  When props aren’t being used, they should be placed out of site.  This is why the presentation screen should sometimes be blank.  An alternative is to press the ‘W’ button and make the screen white.  However, if you’re in a darkened room, people’s eyes will be drawn to the light – screen.

I recently bought a new remote that has a ‘B’ Button. This gives me the opportunity to be away from the keyboard and still blank the screen.  Cool!

Take this advice and use the ‘B’ Button in your presentations. Do that, and my prediction is this:  Your presentation will be absolutely, positively –‘NO SWEAT!’

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About the AuthorFred E. Miller is a speaker, an international coach, and the author of the books,“NO SWEAT Public Speaking!” and“NO SWEAT Elevator Speech!”

Businesses, Individuals, and Organizations hire him because they want to improve their Networking, Public Speaking, andPresentation Skills.

They do this because they know: "Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities."

They also know:We perceive really great speakers to be Experts. We like to work with Experts.

He shows them how to: Develop, Practice, and Deliver Fantastic Presentations! with – NO SWEAT!

Services:

1. Keynote Speaker

2. Workshop Facilitator

3. Breakout Sessions

4. Personal and Group Public Speaking and Presentation Coaching

Topics:

1. Lessening The Fear of Public Speaking with – NO SWEAT!

2. Crafting Your Elevator Speech, Floor by Floor with – NO SWEAT!

3. Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities.

4. We are All Self-Employed!

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My books can be purchased on amazon.com. “NO SWEAT Public Speaking” “NO SWEAT Elevator Speech!”

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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about this post or other posts please contact me: Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com.

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