Special Edition Using Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2000

Getting Up Close and Personal

The most likely scenario you'll encounter is a presentation to a small group. I find that more than 80% of presentations are given to groups of fewer than ten people, usually in conference room settings. Typically, the fear factor is reduced when fewer people are in the room, so these up close and personal situations are easier for most presenters. Perhaps that is what makes small group presentations more common. Another reason is probably scheduling: It's easier to convene a smaller group of people in a local setting than it is to gather a crowd for a larger event.

Regardless of how these situations develop, the common fallacy among presenters is that less formality exists when the group is smaller and people ...