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Slides. Whether you love or hate them, it is clear they aren't going anywhere.
I don't use them often but I certainly see the value in a good slide. It can make what you are saying a little stickier, help insert humor into your presentation, and elevate key concepts to make them easier to track.
The problem isn't with slides themselves but when we depend on slides to do the heavy lifting of a presentation. Worst still, when the slides replace our command of the presentation.
If you use slides to present, make sure they are adding to the presentation rather than presenting on your behalf. Your voice will have the most power in the room if your intention is connected and you are in active communication with your audience. If you don't use slides, maybe consider the ways a well-placed slide or three could support your presentations allowing visual learners to get more from the experience.
Gina Razón is the principal voice specialist at GROW Voice LLC, a full-service voice and speech studio in Boston’s Back Bay. She has over 16 years of experience both as a teacher of voice and speech, and a voraciously curious voice user. Gina has worked professionally as a classical singer for over a decade and more recently as a professional public speaker. For more information on the studio or to book Gina visit www.growvoice.com.
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