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When I was teaching public speaking, I always told my students
that they had to be careful because visual aids tended to be
"mischievous."
By this, I meant that visual aids have a tendency to go wrong
exactly at the worst time. If you aren't extremely careful, they
will detract from your presentation, rather than enhance it.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't use visual aids. It just means
that you should be careful when using them. Make sure that you
know what might happen, and do everything you can to avoid
problems.
For instance, I can't count the number of times students or
clients have tried to use a VCR, only to find out that the
machine didn't work, or that the tape was cued to the wrong
place. Believe me, the worst time to find this out is when you
are giving the speech.
In a case like this, you should always try to test out equipment
BEFORE you give the presentation. As you test the equipment,
make sure that the audience can see and hear the visual aid.
Most importantly, become familiar with how to use the equipment.
The last thing you want to do is hit "record" when you mean to
hit "play"!
This same principle holds true for all visual aids, whether they
are audio clips, computer presentations, or even posterboards
with graphs written on them. Always try to test the visual aid
in the actual setting, and try to imagine the potential problems
that could occur.
As a last piece of advice, always have a "contingency plan"
ready in case your visual aids fail you. It might not happen,
but if it does, at least you will be prepared for it!
About the author:
Ron Sathoff, manager of http://InternetWriters.com, offers a
full range of services to business and professional speakers,
including speech writing and editing, personal coaching, and
presentation development. You can reach him at ron@drnunley.com
or 801-328-9006.
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