The Psychology Of Powerpoint: Fact And Fiction

If you’ve ever sat through a PowerPoint presentation, you know that it can be both boring and distracting. But don’t blame PowerPoint for this! 

The technology itself isn’t bad; it’s just that many people use it poorly. In this article, we’ll explore some common mistakes made by presenters and how to avoid them.

Takeaways
Understanding the psychological factors influencing PowerPoint presentations.
Differentiating between effective psychological techniques and misleading manipulation.
Exploring the impact of color, design, and visual elements on audience perception.
Recognizing the power of storytelling and narrative structure in enhancing engagement.
Gaining insights into how cognitive biases can shape audience responses to presentations.
Applying ethical principles of neuromarketing to create persuasive yet honest PowerPoint content.

Don’t Stand Behind A Lectern

The advice to not stand behind a lectern is backed by several studies. One from the University of Arizona found that people who used a podium were perceived as more authoritative and knowledgeable than those who walked around. 

Another study from Ohio State University showed that when speaking with someone in front of them, people remembered details better if they were standing next to each other than if they were separated by an object like a lectern.

It has been demonstrated that when you leave free space around your body (i.e., you don’t use any kind of barrier), listeners will be more likely to remember what you’ve said because there are no barriers between them and your words.

No walls or tables or chairs or anything else stopping them from absorbing everything at once without needing to look away from you for a second to process what’s happening on their screens in between sentences (and so forth).

As tempting as it might be to hide behind a barrier while giving your presentation, try not doing it! It may feel safer but being open makes things easier for everyone involved especially yourself!

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Create A Sense Of Connection With The Audience

You want to create a sense of connection with the audience, so you should:

Make eye contact with them. You can do this by looking at different parts of the room, as well as the individuals in it. Gesturing also helps to emphasize points and is something you should use while you’re talking.

Use a microphone if speaking in front of a large group or if your voice doesn’t carry well enough on its own (you might find yourself whispering in order not to disturb your fellow students).

Use a podium if possible; it will help you stay on track with your speech and make sure that everyone can hear what you’re saying clearly. 

Also, consider using timers during practice sessions so that they’ll automatically provide feedback when time runs out this is especially helpful for speeches over five minutes because it will remind speakers about where they left off!

Pay Attention To Your Body Language

Presenters are often advised to use open body language, keeping their arms uncrossed and their posture relaxed. 

This is good advice, but it’s worth noting that when you’re speaking in front of an audience, you should also avoid certain poses that may cause you to look uncomfortable or nervous.

For example, if you’re not used to standing in front of people who aren’t sitting at a desk like yourself (or if this is your first time speaking in public), then don’t sit too far away from the audience. 

This can make it seem like there’s too much space between them and you and will give the impression that something about your presentation isn’t quite right.

Similarly, don’t stand so close that people feel like they’re intruding on whatever personal space bubble exists between themselves and the speaker; 

Similarly, avoid turning your back completely on them by using a lectern as a barrier between yourself as the speaker and everyone else in attendance

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Don’t Coordinate Your Clothing And Powerpoint Colors

While your clothing won’t be the most important element of your presentation, it’s still worth considering how you want to dress. How many times have you been in a conference room with ten other people, all wearing the same color suit?

It’s not just about avoiding this awkward situation; some benefits can come from coordinating with your slides. 

As we’ve discussed before, it’s easier for people to process information when they can see patterns, so choosing complimentary colors for both yourself and your slides will help reinforce their message and make them more memorable (as long as you’re not wearing pink).

As far as color goes, stick with earth tones such as browns and tans the last thing you want is to stand out from the crowd! 

If possible, choose a location where everyone can see you clearly and avoid too much movement or shifting in general: if someone has lost sight of what’s happening on stage because they were distracted by something else offstage (or vice versa).

They’ll tend to lose focus on what’s being said at that moment as well. And don’t forget: eye contact between speaker and audience members is key!

You Need To Match Your Powerpoint Design With Your Presentation Style

The key is to choose a design that matches your style and personality. Don’t try to be someone else: if you’re not fond of wearing all black, don’t use a presentation template that depicts the Grim Reaper. 

And if you’re not very creative or artistic, don’t try to make something too complicated it may end up looking worse than it would have had you used a simpler design.

Finally, keep it simple! Keep in mind that there is such a thing as being “too simple,” especially when it comes to PowerPoint templates. 

If the audience has trouble following along with what is going on because they can’t see their notes on the screen or focus on exactly what needs attention in each slide due to a lack of contrast between text and background colorings… well then no one wins here!

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White Text On A Black Background Is Better For The Audience

You may have heard that white text on a black background is better for the audience, but the reason why is more interesting.

The color contrast makes it easier to read and focus on the content. It’s not just in your head; this has been proven by science!

The problem with PowerPoint slides is that they can become difficult to read once you’ve looked at them for long enough. When you look at words repeatedly, your brain starts to filter out everything except what’s important (like “this” and “is”). 

Because of this, black text on a white background goes back and forth between being legible and illegible.

But the white text on a black background doesn’t suffer from this problem because there’s no middle ground between the two colors of text! The white text simply remains legible throughout every slide even if you’re looking at it for hours straight.

Use A Larger Font Size, But Not Too Large!

When it comes to font size, a good rule of thumb is that if you can’t read your text from the back of the room, it’s too small. The same goes for images: If people in the back of a room can’t see what you’re showing, they’re not going to get as much out of it as they could have.

What this means is that if you’re going to use PowerPoint slides at all (and we recommend avoiding them if possible), make sure they’re large enough and legible from anywhere in your space. 

You want people sitting right up front at your desk level or on risers behind you, as well as those sitting farther away (such as at tables on either side) to be able to see what’s happening clearly without straining their eyesight too hard or squinting too much!

A good rule of thumb here is “if I wouldn’t feel comfortable reading this on stage with lights shining directly into my eyes,” then something needs tweaking about its size before using it in public presentations like these where there will be other distractions beyond.

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Stick To 14 Words Per Line, Or Less

You should also remember that people are more likely to read a short text. They’ll be more receptive if you use fewer words than the average reader would expect. 

The best way to ensure your presentation is clear and concise is by keeping it under 14 words per line, or even less. If you’re using a font size smaller than 12 points (with a 12-point font being ideal), then this will help you achieve this goal easily.

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Cut Copy As Much As You Can, Don’t Use All Caps

You should also keep your slides short. Not only does this make them easier to read, but it also enhances the impact of your presentation because it forces your audience to pay attention for longer periods.

People tend to remember things better when they’re presented in short chunks rather than long ones.

When you think about it, there isn’t much difference between a story that takes 10 minutes and one that takes 60 seconds… except for the fact that 60 seconds is significantly easier on the listener’s brain! 

So next time you’re writing a PowerPoint presentation or preparing one for someone else’s use (such as an email), try using shorter sentences, shorter words, and shorter paragraphs whenever possible.”

Make Sure Your Sentence Structure Makes Sense

There are several things you can do to ensure that your PowerPoint slides make sense.

Make sure your sentences are grammatically correct and don’t have any errors.

Make sure your sentences are clear, concise, and not overly long or short. They must appear as though they belong together, so if there is a lot of information in one sentence, try breaking it into two parts: 

One for the main point of the sentence and another for additional details or descriptions. You also want to make sure that every word counts! So don’t use filler words like “uh” or “um” at all times they’re not necessary!

When creating slides with bullet points (lists), be careful about using too many bullet points within a single slide because this makes it harder for people who are reading out loud from their phones/laptops during presentations.”

Connection Before Content

Before you begin, make sure you know your audience. What do they want to hear? How much detail will they need? And most importantly, who are they? Some audiences prefer interactive presentations that involve more than just sitting and listening passively. 

Other audiences have a lot of questions about the topic at hand so be prepared! 

If you’re presenting on a medical condition, for example, it’s important not only to know all about that condition but also how best to answer any questions from your audience members (for example, “What if this happens?” or “How common is this?”).

They may also want answers about the presentation itself: Is there anything in particular, we should watch out for during the talk? Are there any etiquette guidelines we should follow when asking questions? Finally, don’t forget your presenter persona! 

Think about how much of yourself is appropriate for an educational presentation versus one aimed at entertainment; if it’s the latter case then go ahead and crack some jokes along with those facts!

Use Only One Idea Per Slide

This is the most important rule of all. It’s so important that if you don’t follow it, your PowerPoint presentation will be a disaster. But if you do follow this rule, your PowerPoint presentation will be an unqualified success, and here’s why:

When we present our ideas in written form (whether it be on paper or digitally), we tend to do what’s called “free writing” that is, we write down as many ideas as possible without regard for whether they fit together or not. 

When doing this on paper (as opposed to typing into a computer), our brains are forced to slow down and think more deeply about each idea before moving on to the next one but when using PowerPoint slides at a rapid-fire pace during a presentation, there’s no time for those extra steps! 

If all of those thoughts were crammed onto just one slide instead of spreading out across several slides as they belong…well…that would just make things messy and confusing for everyone involved!

Use Graphics To Enhance Verbal Communication, Not Replace It

One of the most common mistakes people make when using PowerPoint is to treat it as a replacement for verbal communication. It’s not, and you should never try to use it as such.

Instead, use visuals in your presentations to enhance your verbal communication rather than replace it. The most effective way to do this is by using graphics that either make a point more memorable or illustrate one. 

For example: If you say something like “there were two points I wanted to make with this presentation,” consider adding an image of two fingers pointing at each other next to your slide title so that everyone will remember them later. 

Another option would be showing an image illustrating one of your major points before you talk about it.

For example, if you had a slide about how much money was spent last year on advertising, you could show an image depicting 1 million dollars falling out of someone’s pocket onto the ground

Should You Use Bullet Points? Yes, Sometimes They’re the Best!

Bullet points are the most popular way to organize information in a PowerPoint presentation. They’re very effective in situations where you want to emphasize a point, make a list, or highlight a key point. 

But if your audience is familiar with what you’re talking about and they don’t need additional explanation in other words, if they already know the material well then bullet points won’t help them understand what you’re saying any better than just reading your text on its own would.

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Avoid Using Powerpoint Templates Directly

You may be thinking, “I use PowerPoint a lot and I’ve never had an issue.” That’s great! But it doesn’t mean you’re immune to the psychological pitfalls of the software.

So what can you do to avoid them? Don’t use templates directly. Don’t use clipart. Avoid generic templates entirely. Resist the temptation to go too generic or too specific with your template choice, but steer clear of anything too complicated or simple as well. 

Find a middle ground between being too vague and having so much information on your slides they look like they were made in 2003 by someone who hates you and everything you stand for and doesn’t try any of this at home unless there’s another adult present who will intervene if necessary!

Make Your Content Stand Out

There are many ways you can make your content stand out with PowerPoint. For example, color contrast is a useful technique for highlighting text. You can use contrasting colors to highlight text or even use different typefaces for subtitles and titles. 

Color can also be used to highlight concepts and ideas that you want the audience to pay attention to, like the title of your presentation or a quote from someone famous.

Choose Your Images Carefully

Images are a powerful way to draw your audience in and keep them engaged. But if you don’t use the right images, you could end up losing people instead of keeping them interested.

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing your image:

Make sure it’s relevant to the topic at hand. You may think that a photo of Einstein is a great way to illustrate how smart your company is, but unless he or she was involved with your industry somehow, this just won’t work. 

If you’re giving a speech about how NASA has helped boost the economy by increasing tourism due to its space program, then maybe show some photos from missions past and present.

But still make sure they have something important about space travel or exploration in common (e.g., showing astronauts preparing for launch).

Use simple images where possible so that everyone can understand what’s going on without having to read text on top of it (unless there’s no alternative). 

Your audience will be more likely to spend time trying out new things if they don’t have any trouble understanding what their options mean beforehand so taking the extra time up front will pay off later!

Make sure there aren’t too many elements within an image so viewers won’t get confused about which ones matter most; also keep the resolution high enough so the text isn’t blurry when zoomed out far enough.”

Match Your Image And Text

You’ve seen it on TV and in movies: a speaker stands at a podium, slides in hand. If you watch closely, you’ll notice that he or she always uses the same hand to hold the remote control and the same finger to advance through each slide.

Whether the image is relevant to what they are talking about or not. This kind of behavior isn’t limited to public speakers; an ineffective PowerPoint presentation can be seen anywhere from boardrooms to classrooms.

Why bother with matching images and text at all? According to research by Dr. Gloria Mark at UC Irvine, matching images and text helps audiences understand the content better than if there was no connection between them at all; 

This makes sense when you consider how many concepts are visualized in words but not necessarily described visually (like “trust”).

Use Word Pictures To Explain Concepts

There are two reasons for using a picture: to make a point and to illustrate a concept. Use the former when you want to emphasize the importance of an idea or concept by providing specific examples. 

For example, if your presentation is about how the company’s new marketing strategy will be successful, show how it worked in other markets.

Example: A graph with three lines indicating where sales have been over time (trend line), where they would be if they continued at their current rate (best case scenario), and where they would be if sales plummeted (worst case scenario).

Example: A photo of some people sitting around a conference table with their arms folded across their chests or hands behind their heads.

Select Colors That Contribute To Comprehension

Use colors that are easy to read. The best colors for your slides are ones that won’t strain the eyes, like white, black, and grey. Avoid bright colors like red or yellow as they can be difficult to distinguish from each other or the background of a slide. 

If you’re using a USB projector in your presentation room, consider creating two versions of each slide: one with rich text and graphics (for large screen projection) and another with minimal text (for use on smaller projectors).

Use colors that are easy on the eyes. The color scheme should also be considered when designing your PowerPoint deck; avoid any shades of red or green as both have been shown to increase anxiety levels in audiences. 

If possible, choose a color scheme that uses cool tones rather than warm ones this will help keep audience members alert but relaxed throughout your presentation!

Keep Fonts Simple And Comprehensible

The best font for the job is the one that’s easiest to understand. If you can read it from a distance, on a screen or projector, or in the back of a room and have no trouble understanding what it says, then you’ve found yourself an effective font choice.

Keep in mind that fonts are not just about aesthetics they also affect how people perceive your slides. You want to make sure that whatever font choices you make support what you want to say instead of detracting from them or making them harder to understand.

Avoid Using Too Much Text On A Slide

Use headers and subheaders to break up the text.

Use bullet points when appropriate, but don’t go overboard with them either! A bulleted list is a good way to show the progression of an idea, but that doesn’t mean you need one for every single point in your presentation. 

If you do have multiple bullet points per slide, consider adding some graphics or images so they don’t all start looking like one big block of text (and end up being difficult to read).

Include images to illustrate concepts and stories, the audience will remember what they see more easily than what they hear from the presenter! If possible try finding images that tell the story without words; 

Otherwise use captions to provide additional information about what’s happening in the picture/graphic so there isn’t any confusion about what it means (e.g., “this character is happy because…”).

Conclusion

The point of these tips is not to make you feel like you have to follow every one of them. It’s more about helping you understand the psychology behind why a lot of people use PowerPoint and what it can do for or against your presentation. 

I hope this article has helped you think about how best to use PowerPoint in your presentations, whether that means using some or all of these tips, or something else entirely! Thanks for reading – now go out there and wow them with those slides!

Further Reading

The Power of Storytelling in Presentations: Discover how incorporating storytelling techniques can elevate the impact of your presentations.

Designing Your Next Presentation: 5 Key Facts: Learn five essential facts to consider when designing compelling presentations that captivate your audience.

The Science of Effective Presentations: Delve into the scientific principles behind creating presentations that engage, inform, and persuade.

And here’s the “FAQs” section based on the semantic of the titles:

FAQs

How can storytelling enhance the impact of presentations?

Storytelling adds a compelling narrative element to presentations, making them more relatable and engaging for the audience. By weaving stories into your content, you create an emotional connection and make your message memorable.

What are some key considerations in presentation design?

When designing presentations, remember to focus on simplicity, visual coherence, meaningful imagery, effective typography, and a clear hierarchy of information. These elements ensure your message is conveyed effectively.

What does the science say about creating effective presentations?

Scientific research emphasizes the importance of cognitive factors, visual design principles, and psychological elements in crafting presentations. Understanding these aspects helps in creating presentations that align with how the human brain processes information.

How can I make data-driven presentations more engaging?

To make data-driven presentations more engaging, use visualizations that simplify complex data, tell a story with the numbers, and highlight key insights. Visual elements help the audience grasp the information more easily.

What role does design play in presentation effectiveness?

Design plays a crucial role in presentation effectiveness. Well-designed slides with consistent visual elements and a pleasing layout keep the audience engaged and focused on the content, enhancing the overall impact of the presentation.