The term “expert” is used almost inflationarily in our time. Increasingly, people are appointed as experts whose expertise is only moderately above average. The same is true for PowerPoint experts. But how do you recognize the real expert of slide design and when is it really needed?
When do you turn to an expert? Probably when it really comes to the highest quality. So if something is at stake for you. If you have a feverish cold, you will probably first approach the problem with the remedies in your medicine cabinet or by visiting your family doctor. In case of serious health problems, a specialist is usually consulted. It is similar with presentations. The internal presentation at the meeting of a specialist department is usually created by an employee. If, on the other hand, it’s a company presentation for an important business customer, the content, design, dramaturgy, etc. must be one hundred percent right. For this, an expert is consulted, who knows perfectly.
The deeper the specialization, the higher the expert status
In some situations in life, you would rather consult an expert. But how do I recognize a real expert? It goes without saying that there are no universal experts who know everything well. Specialization is a first important aspect. For example, a surgeon is a physician who specializes in surgical procedures. But here again, the general surgeon is an “all-rounder”, while a cardiac surgeon is again a specialist in the specialty of surgery. The deeper the specialization goes, the higher the level of specialized knowledge in that area, as a rule. The PowerPoint expert is a specialist in the creation of presentations.
Practical experience makes perfect
The level of awareness is another criterion.
There are medium-sized companies that are world leaders in their field and yet are hardly known to the public. These “hidden champions” have not engaged in any elaborate PR, but are nevertheless known and appreciated by their target group. In the same way, of course, there could be PowerPoint experts that hardly anyone has heard of, but who are recommended as an insider tip under the table. But that would be the absolute exception. Normally, experts publish their expertise in the form of books, technical papers, lectures or blogs. Here Google or Amazon are important sources for finding a real specialist.
PowerPoint experts are always up to date
Time and again, I meet specialists whose level of knowledge is no longer up to date. However, knowing the current developments in an industry or field is an absolute must for any true expert. Regular personal training is the basic prerequisite for being able to provide customers with serious advice and support. Therefore, feel free to ask professionals direct questions about current trends and developments in PowerPoint and presentation. If the answer is rather vague, you’d better keep your distance.
Choose your expert carefully, and if in doubt, better give yourself a little more time to do so. If a presentation specialist turns out to be just an advanced amateur after all, you may lose important business, money and reputation.
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Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Informatiker Matthias Garten as the expert for multimedia presentations and professional PowerPoint presentations knows about the art of professional slide design. He is an entrepreneur, speaker (TOP 100 Speaker), trainer (TOP 100 Excellence Trainer), multiple book author, presentation coach (presentation training), member of the GSA and Club 55, organizer of the Presentation Conference, Presentation Bootcamp and Presentation Rocket Day. In addition to PowerPoint and presentation training, he inspires and advises companies to present themselves even more effectively and thus stand out from competitors. He is the business owner of the presentation and PowerPoint agency smavicon Best Business Presentations and with his team has created over 10,000 professional PowerPoint presentations for over 150 industries since 1993.
