How do you use the presentation notes section in your slide software of choice? Some presenters choose to have text-heavy slides, leaving little to no need for presentation notes. Others keep their presentation notes heavily scripted. While it is important to have a general idea of what you are going to say during each slide, we think there may be a better way to utilize that helpful little box below. We want to challenge you to go through an exercise that may push you outside of your comfort zone. The hope is it will lend your speech a dynamic edge, able to capture any and all audiences.
Start with concept-level prompts
When crafting your narrative, it’s important to know the overarching themes that you are aiming to convey, and whether those are represented well in your verbiage. The challenge, now, is to put a concept-level prompt in the presentation notes section of your slide deck instead of a true script. This would look something like “this slide introduces the idea of our vision. Highlight how our vision came to be and why we believe in it.” This dynamic style of preparation will enable you to adjust what you say to relate personally to the audience. It gives flexibility to the narrative where scripting holds you back.
Add-in talking points
While having a good general idea of what you want to say will help give you freedom, you shouldn’t take too many liberties. With freedom you run the risk of going off topic, getting lost, and losing focus. Putting three to four bulleted talking points below your concept-level prompt will bring you back if you find yourself astray. Structure is still important, and supporting the greater narrative with concrete data and sub-points is key. This way, you have a presentation notes section that inspires creativity while still grounding you.
Don’t forget to memorize
While this seemingly free-form style of presentation notes has its merits, it does not do away with the necessity of memorization. However, instead of reading a script over and over, memorizing down to the letter, try using your prompts as a jumping off point and see where you land. Challenge yourself to memorize the heart behind each slide instead of the script. It is still critical that you spend as much time practicing this type of prompt as you would traditional scripting. The more times you practice your verbiage out loud, the more flexible your presentation will be, because you will know where to take the narrative having done it before.
Presentations should represent information in a compelling way, but they should also enable you, as the presenter, to breathe life into the data. Don’t be afraid to try a few different ways of structuring your notes section before you decide what works best for you. Need someone to take a look at your presentation notes? We have a full suite of presentation services available whenever you need them most. Get a free quote today from one of our presentation mentors.
