Coaching

Most of us use PowerPoint, but two of the options the program offers may be a little less familiar. Using them takes a little courage, but it’s well worth it, because they are remarkably effective. This is about the W and the B key. Try them out. Go into onscreen mode in a familiar presentation, click through some slides, and then at a random moment, press W. The screen will go blank, displaying pure white.

In an actual presentation, this will make your audience start and look at the screen. The next slide you show will create all the more effect. It’s a bit like pausing ominously in your speech and waiting for everyone to listen up before you go on. The B key is a bit different. Press it, and the screen will go dark. Do this, and your audience will unconsciously turn to look at you. This is a good way of creating attention for a call to action or for positioning yourself. Remember W as in white and B as in black, and use them to brighten up your presentations. Your audience will thank you for it.