I just finished reading Real Leaders Don’t Do PowerPoint: How to Sell Yourself and Your Ideas, an excellent book by Christopher Witt for those who write and deliver speeches.
As with so many books that take a strong stance, the author backtracks in the chapter “When You Must Use PowerPoint.” He admits that there are times and places for the ubiquitous Microsoft presentation software many of us have come to love–and hate.
In the section “Making the Best Use of PowerPoint” Witt shares a tip I should have known as someone who has used PowerPoint beneficially in business writing classes for years. He writes:
“In PowerPoint, the screen will go black when you press the B key, white when you press the W key.”
I use the B key often for a black screen. But W for a white screen? This new information excites me. Here’s why:
A black screen darkens the front of the room, which is often already dim to avoid washing out the slides. I love knowing how to produce a white screen, which will keep the front area, where I am presenting, bright.
Real Leaders Don’t Do PowerPoint has much valuable guidance for corporate presenters, and I will share more later. (Thanks to Marcia Yudkin for introducing me to the book.) For now, I just wanted to brighten your day with the W key.
Do you know PowerPoint secrets I ought to know? Please whisper them here.
Lynn
Clarity, Conciseness, Zing, and More
