We’ve been really busy at Enterprising Women organising a large variety of events for this Autumn and Winter – our programme’s jam-packed and we’re looking forward to meeting up with you all face-to-face. We’ve blogged about the importance of networking and this is your chance to come along and put our tips into practice. You might meet potential clients, suppliers, mentors and friends...our community means you’re not alone, but have a support network to help you progress with your business and to stay focused on what’s important. Our events will be covering topics including ‘Blogs, tweets and pokes – the benefits of social media’ to ‘Attracting customers’ and ‘Achieving a work-life balance’. We’re also running a programme on ‘Going for Growth’, which incorporates 10 key topics from our growth training programme to create an exciting and informative day.
Our event which took place earlier this week, was a great success. Angela Peacock, the Chair of The People Development Team and founder of www.thecompletetrainer.com, lead on a dynamic and interactive session on ‘Driving your strategy through discovering your culture.’ Participants were asked to assess where their business is now in terms of characteristics, leadership, management of employees and strategy, and then envisage where they want to be in 2 years and how they can get there. Angela categorised the different cultural characteristics found in businesses, grouping them in The Clan, The Adhocracy, The Market or The Hierarchy family - getting the balance right is really important.
Register online and come along to our events this Autumn and Winter. Check out our events calendar here.
Friday, 16 October 2009
Thursday, 1 October 2009
PowerPoint presentations - good for business?
I'm sure we've all sat through a PowerPoint presentation which seems to be never ending, the dull tones of the presenter and the endless slides appearing and disappearing. Or a presentation where we're trying to take everything in, but there's just too much! So what's the answer to perfecting PowerPoint presentations and are they the best means of communication for you and your business?
If you are preparing a PowerPoint, here are a few useful tips:
1) A PowerPoint presentation should be an aid to presenting, not an excuse to read from the screen directly with your back to the audience. Eye contact with your audience is extremely important as is your body language.
2) Trying to read, listen and make notes all at the same time is a big ask. If you have hand-outs or are emailing everyone a copy of your PowerPoint presentation, say so at the beginning so that people aren’t frantically copying the slide before it disappears – and not listening to a word you’re actually saying!
3) Make sure your slide is not overfilled with text. Mix it up with images.
4) Make sure the text is big enough - there's nothing worse than your audience complaining that they can't read it.
5) Avoid rambling; plan your presentation carefully. Your presentation should clarify to your audience what you’re saying – it’s not to remind you of everything you want to say.
6) An information overload should be avoided at all costs – don’t assume that your audience will be able to take in huge amounts of information, even if it is all bullet- pointed. Make it a realistic length as learning through listening and speaking is very different to reading and writing.
7) Use creative images and not just lines and lines of words – the audience may loose interest completely through being uninspired!
8) Have as few slides as possible - too many slides will just distract everybody.
Remember, a great PowerPoint presentation relies on a good speaker so practice these skills as much as you can.
Check out the Enterprising Women website for more top tips for running your business. If you have any great tips, share them with us here.
If you are preparing a PowerPoint, here are a few useful tips:
1) A PowerPoint presentation should be an aid to presenting, not an excuse to read from the screen directly with your back to the audience. Eye contact with your audience is extremely important as is your body language.
2) Trying to read, listen and make notes all at the same time is a big ask. If you have hand-outs or are emailing everyone a copy of your PowerPoint presentation, say so at the beginning so that people aren’t frantically copying the slide before it disappears – and not listening to a word you’re actually saying!
3) Make sure your slide is not overfilled with text. Mix it up with images.
4) Make sure the text is big enough - there's nothing worse than your audience complaining that they can't read it.
5) Avoid rambling; plan your presentation carefully. Your presentation should clarify to your audience what you’re saying – it’s not to remind you of everything you want to say.
6) An information overload should be avoided at all costs – don’t assume that your audience will be able to take in huge amounts of information, even if it is all bullet- pointed. Make it a realistic length as learning through listening and speaking is very different to reading and writing.
7) Use creative images and not just lines and lines of words – the audience may loose interest completely through being uninspired!
8) Have as few slides as possible - too many slides will just distract everybody.
Remember, a great PowerPoint presentation relies on a good speaker so practice these skills as much as you can.
Check out the Enterprising Women website for more top tips for running your business. If you have any great tips, share them with us here.
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