Special Edition Using Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2002

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 10 people, usually in a conference room setting. 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 know ...