248 slide:ology
A Call to Relate
Presentations are a very human medium. And that’s
what sets them apart. It’s you. You are unique. You are
the only one like you from anywhere for all time. You
have your own fingerprint, your own experiences and
your own story that can be told like no one else can tell
it. Your passion is your own and its expression can only
come from you.
Creating a movement or change is hard. But you are
the only one who expresses the way you do and your
way of expressing will resonate in the hearts and minds
of others.
Many passionate change-agents have altered the arts,
industries, and the world. Martha Graham shaped a new
expression in dance when she tapped into her soul and
brought her own unique expression to the art.
Many who came to see Martha were moved deeply even
though she didn’t say a word. What she expressed on
the stage touched lives and connected with the way she
exposed her soul while she danced.
“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is
translated through you into action, and there is only
one of you in all time. This expression is unique, and
if you block it, it will never exist through any other
medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not
your business to determine how good it is, not how it
compares with other expression. It is your business to
keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel
open. You have to keep open and aware directly to the
urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No
artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at
any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction,
a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us
more alive than the others.”
Martha Graham
Great presenters strive to be both personal and multi-
dimensional. Presentations are delivered both verbally
and visually. It’s also a medium of contradictions. When
you’re live, you have the opportunity to build relation-
ships with your audience. Unfortunately, the format
encourages us to become automatons, using slides as
a metronome to deliver prescribed information, often
with your back to the people you’re trying to reach. In
reality, you need to come across like a real person, and
presentation applications don’t inherently facilitate this.
Interacting with Slides 249
Ultimately, the healthiest relationship to have with your
slides is one of interdependence. It’s not just about find-
ing a balance with your slides; there is a third party in
this relationship—the audience. So, instead of using the
media to showcase yourself and your dependencies, the
audience should be able to see what you’re saying.
Presentations are a wonderful medium to express
your passion. You get to be human and connect with
an audience emotionally and analytically.
As you look at the faces in the audience, you can see the
response to your message in their faces. If they feel like
they’ve been enlightened, moved to act, or made willing
to change their behavior, you’ve been successful.
Next time you give a presentation, consider a different
approach—look at your content through the eyes of the
audience. Take them on your journey by showing them
something they’ve never seen before. Employ great sto-
ries, reveal convincing information, and communicate in
your own, genuinely human way.
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