What you do need, however, is an understanding of how to capture an audience's focus-and perhaps a bit of their imagination. More often than not, you don't need to be a great designer, writer, or orator to come up with an attention-grabbing presentation. Creating a great PowerPoint is simpler than you might think. So whether you're pitching an idea to investors, introducing a new product to your clients, or simply reviewing your company's quarterly results, a great PowerPoint presentation will leave your audience feeling inspired. The trick is to understand how to engage your listeners, keep them focused, and use the right visual imagery to convey your message.
Like any great sales pitch, an effective PowerPoint offers a compelling narrative it elicits an emotional response from the audience, even if the subject is, say, debt consolidation, or financial derivatives. Jobs is often cited as one of corporate America's greatest presenters, and that's simply because he understands one thing: how to tell a story. 'There's something in the air.' With these five words, Steve Jobs opened the 2008 Macworld conference.
