How to Use PowerPoint to Get Noticed at Work
If you’re reading this blog, I think it’s pretty safe to say you’re interested in improving your PowerPoint skills. The question is why? Are you simply a lover of digital presentations? Maybe but probably not. I’m going to take a wild guess and say that you want to improve your skills for one of two reasons.
One- you’re forced against your will to use PowerPoint frequently for work. You’ve begrudgingly decided that mastering this program is the only way to make the whole thing feel more manageable and less like slowly getting your toenails peeled off… While being force-fed raw jalapenos… While sitting on a concrete sidewalk in Florida in the dead of summer.
Ok, maybe I went a bit too far with the visuals there but I think you get my point. It’s not what you consider a good time.
Or perhaps you fall into category two. You have an actual desire to learn more about PowerPoint because you know that mastering this skill is a fantastic way to set yourself apart from the competition. The short of it? You want to get noticed at work.
In either case, this post is for you. I’m sharing three easy ways you can use PowerPoint to get noticed at work. I’ve personally done these things over the years – and seen others pull them off successfully, as well – and I can almost promise that if you follow these steps consistently people will take notice.
Raise Your Hand
If you’re already thinking, “Whitney, I’m not raising my hand to do anything related to PowerPoint” stay with me here. When there is a need for a task or project to be completed, leaders take notice of those who are up to the challenge. Raising your hand to create a presentation is a great way to show your initiative and willingness to contribute to the team.
There’s an added benefit, also. Oftentimes, working on a presentation translates to more face time with leaders and other important collaborators. This is a great time to show them how talented, skilled, and knowledgeable you are. Keep them updated on the status of the presentation as you work on it. When possible, ask insightful questions that show you’re thinking about the presentation critically and intentionally.
Volunteer to Present
Presenting is another great way to use PowerPoint to get noticed at work. Once again, leaders take note of those willing to step up to the plate. Use this as an opportunity to show off your amazing public speaking skills. Or to improve your public speaking skills!
And while you’re up there dropping knowledge bombs and thought-provoking metrics, your audience will take note too. If you volunteer to present on a topic more than once, you’re well on your way to being recognized as an authority on the subject matter. Take advantage of the attention you have while presenting and showcase yourself as the wealth of knowledge that you are.
Become a Mind Reader
When you’re creating or presenting your next PowerPoint, ask yourself this question; Where will my audience have questions that may distract them from the message being presented in the moment? I’ll assume that you’ve created a great presentation that will answer your audience member’s questions but let’s take it a step further.
Anticipating when these questions might arise during the presentation will allow you to get in front of those pesky interruptions that can derail you. Starting with a clear agenda slide is a great way to do this but it also helps to consider questions that may come up in other places. If you can accurately predict your audience’s questions and answer them before they’re asked you are much more likely to leave a lasting impression.
Related Read: PowerPoint Agendas: 3 Ways to Set Expectations
Conclusion
So, there you have it. These three ways to use PowerPoint to get noticed at work are just a few quick examples but I hope you found them helpful! Which one do you plan to implement? Shoot me a DM on Instagram and let me know – @whitneydwalter.
As always, I’ve created an easy-to-read PDF version of this post that you can save and reference later. Interested? Simply CLICK HERE and I’ll send it over ASAP!
