Ever since the birth of mankind, humans have searched for shortcuts. We’re obsessed with getting the result in the least amount of time. We love the idea of putting forth as little effort as possible to get the job done. Unfortunately, in some areas of life shortcuts just don’t work. Presenting falls firmly into that category.
Think of the weight loss industry, which surely must be the top dog in the shortcut kingdom. We have skinny pills, surgeries, an endless stream of fad diets, and even contraptions that will shock your abs into action so you can workout while eating chips on the couch. And why do we have these things? Because millions of people want to lose weight but few of them are willing to put in the work necessary to do so.
Do these lose-weight-fast tricks actually work? Rarely, or if they do they come with some scary side effects. After all these years of gimmicks, the experts will still tell you that the best way to lose weight is to exercise more and eat better. That’s it. Is it the easiest way? No. But it’s the most effective.
While browsing online earlier this week I was shown a sidebar ad for Prezi, a relatively new presentation software tool. I was already familiar with Prezi and think it’s a cool product, but I was surprised by the copy of the ad. “Be a great presenter,” it said. Wait a minute – what?
Prezi can help presenters create some excellent visual materials to accompany their talking points, but it most certainly cannot turn a poor presenter into a great one. What makes a presentation great is how the person projects themselves, not what they project on the screen. The presentation is you, not the slides. Therefore, no piece of software can make you great. Only you can do that by putting in the work necessary to improve your communication skills.
Prezi’s claim, which also now appears front-and-center on their website, is simply false advertising.
That being said, I can’t really blame them for using this marketing copy. It will definitely appeal to people looking for that quick shortcut to presentation mastery. And those customers will undoubtedly be wowed by the beauty and capability of Prezi, salivating while compiling their first Prezi presentation and thinking of all the money that’s bound to start pouring in once they deliver it.
But, I suspect their love affair with the product will soon fade when they see little change in the reactions of their audiences. Just as people trying to lose weight give up after a week or two when they see minimal results from their shiny new ab belt. Prezi alone won’t help you much.
When it comes to being a great presenter, there is no shortcut. In order to be truly great, spend more time working on yourself than on your slides. Once you’ve done that you can start thinking about how to create sexier slides – and then give Prezi a try.