by Philippa Leguen de Lacroix, Co-Founder
Bespoke PowerPoint training will help you get good at PowerPoint, and fast. Of course, reaching expert level in anything takes time. And it’s hard to find the right training course for your particular needs.
I expect many of you have heard of the 10,000 hour rule. I have probably logged that time in PowerPoint easily. Not all of it was quality practice though (and I don’t want to be guilty of oversimplifying the rule here).
Certainly, I didn’t do a PowerPoint course to reach my now (admittedly self-proclaimed) expert level. Initially, I was entirely self-taught. Back in 1998 I literally spent days doing complex animations (the office was quiet) but for the era they were quite cutting edge. Or at least I thought so! By today’s standards they were terrible, but I enjoyed the creativity.
I next spent many years working in desk top publishing departments within investment banks. They provided 24/7 pitchbook service to the bank employees, and I “hotdesked”, covered shifts that included evening and graveyard, and had bankers breathing down my neck. Everything was deadline driven and had to follow strict house style. They did provide in-house PowerPoint training, but it very specific to the needs of that industry. However, I became fast, efficient, and finessed a very high attention to detail. Yet I was also over reliant on client templates, built-in macros, and found my creativity somewhat sapped.
When my friend and co-founder Pani Theodorou and I started our presentation design company in 2009, we again acquired knowledge as we went. There were no bespoke PowerPoint training courses available for the level of design and animation that we wanted. We now lead a team who frequently share tips and tricks to help us all get faster, stronger and more creative in using PowerPoint.
Since our work is of such a high standard, in both design and technicality, our clients are often asking us is we deliver training: We don’t!
Bespoke PowerPoint training courses
Courses with fewer attendees can cut through many of the boring standard elements and get straight to what’s useful and relevant. The smaller the number of participants, the better the quality of the course – especially when attendees are roughly grouped by existing knowledge or ability.
Common themes include wanting to make PowerPoint slides look more “designy”, how to prevent people taking the deck off-brand, and how to save time.
Often when I demo the “reset” button, there’s an audible reaction from the room. A template sounds like it’s going to be a boring thing, but when they are set up correctly, using layouts will save stacks of time and energy: allowing you to focus on the message of your slides, rather than pouring hours down the drain perfecting the aesthetic.
So whilst we are not a training company and we don’t run courses (currently), please do ask in case we can help you with some targeted tips for a small team, or a 1 to 1 session just for you (or someone in need!). You’ll find if we have created a template for you, that template will come with some guidelines and pointers to help get your teams using PowerPoint more efficiently.
In all cases, simply get in touch and ask us about your learning needs.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is bespoke PowerPoint training?
Bespoke PowerPoint training is a customised training program designed to meet the specific needs of individuals or small groups. Unlike generic courses, bespoke training focuses on the unique requirements and skill levels of the participants, providing targeted and relevant instruction to help them improve their PowerPoint skills efficiently.
How does bespoke PowerPoint training differ from standard PowerPoint courses?
Bespoke PowerPoint training differs from standard courses by tailoring the content to the specific needs of the participants. This means cutting through generic material and focusing on what is useful and relevant for the attendees. Smaller class sizes and customised content ensure a higher quality learning experience, addressing specific knowledge gaps and enhancing particular skills.
Can bespoke PowerPoint training help with advanced design and animation techniques?
Yes, bespoke PowerPoint training can help with advanced design and animation techniques. These customised courses can be tailored to cover high-level design principles, sophisticated animations, and other advanced features of PowerPoint that are often not included in standard training programs.
How can I arrange a bespoke PowerPoint training session for my team?
While we are not a training company and don’t run regular courses, we are open to providing targeted tips for small teams or 1 to 1 sessions. Contact us to explore how we can assist you.
