A short live-stream segment where TJ Walker argues that presenters should not think of their events as 'PowerPoint presentations' but as their own personal presentations. He emphasizes that audiences judge presentations as either interesting/good or boring/bad, and that slides are merely a tool to help make ideas memorable and actionable.
Chapters
This week's tip may strike some of you is a bit meta, a bit philosophical, but here's the tip. You aren't actually ever going to give a PowerPoint presentation. Why is that? Well, it's because fundamentally, there is no such thing as a PowerPoint presentation any more than there is such a thing as a formal presentation or a technical presentation. Why do I say that? What do I really mean? I say that because, from the standpoint of the audience, these things don't exist. There's only two types of presentations in the entire world. You know what they are? It's either good or it's bad. It's either interesting or it's boring. From the standpoint of the audience. That's what every audience member is thinking. They're trying to figure out what category do they put you in? Is this interesting? Do I pay attention or is this boring? Do I kind of zone out halfway? Pay attention, but really Check my email. See if my boss or my clients are writing to me. You are not giving a PowerPoint presentation. You are giving your presentation. When I speak, I give a TJ Walker presentation. I may or may not use PowerPoint. I often do, but I don't ever give a PowerPoint presentation. I give a TJ Walker presentation on a particular subject, and I may use slides. This is an extraordinarily important mindset change. If you tell yourself you are giving a PowerPoint presentation, unfortunately, that is often a gateway drug into all sorts of horrific bad habits. Well, I'm giving a PowerPoint presentation, so of course I can't tell stories. Of course I have to date it up. Of course I have to go through all these bullet points. Of course I have to speak quickly because I got to go through all the slides. No, you don't. Your fundamental responsibility is for you to bring ideas to life to your audience, to make them understand your ideas and remember your ideas so they can take the actions you want. That is your job. The slides are simply one of many tools to help you accomplish that. If you change your focus from these primary goals to this secondary tool, a PowerPoint, you've lost your whole ability to accomplish your goal. So please remember, you're not ever giving a PowerPoint presentation. You are giving your presentation, and it better be good.
