Delivering a PowerPoint presentation can be nerve-wracking, no matter how well-prepared your slides are. But what if the secret to captivating your audience isn’t just in the content, but in how you present it? Enter the speaker coach—a behind-the-scenes expert who can transform a good presentation into an unforgettable performance.

Effective communication is key to any successful presentation. Yet, many of us struggle with common issues like pacing, overuse of filler words, or simply reading off slides. Microsoft PowerPoint’s Speaker Coach is designed to tackle these challenges head-on by offering personalized, actionable feedback.

What Is Speaker Coach?

(Only available to Microsoft 365 and PowerPoint for the Web)

Speaker Coach is an AI-driven tool embedded in Microsoft PowerPoint, designed to provide real-time feedback on your presentation delivery. This feature goes beyond basic rehearsal, offering insights that help presenters improve their public speaking skills. Speaker Coach analyzes your speech for pace, pitch, filler words, repetitive language, and even culturally sensitive terms, providing suggestions that help you connect with your audience more effectively.

How to Get Started with Speaker Coach in PowerPoint?

Using Speaker Coach is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you start:

1. Open Your Presentation in PowerPoint

2. Navigate to the “Slide Show” tab in the PowerPoint ribbon. Click on “Rehearse with Coach” to begin your session.

3. As the slideshow boots up, a dialog box opens at the bottom right. Click on Start Rehearsing to begin.

4. As you go through your presentation, speak naturally. Speaker Coach will provide on-screen feedback to guide you. For example, the feedback can be around the pace of your delivery. It can also call out if you are using too many filler words like “umm”, etc.

5. After you finish, a rehearsal report will be generated. Take time to review the feedback and make necessary adjustments to your presentation. Look at a sample report below with explanations on what type of feedback it would share.

6. Practice, Practice, Practice. Rehearse multiple times to see improvement in the feedback. Consistency is key to mastering your presentation delivery.

Key Features of Speaker Coach in PowerPoint

1. Real–Time Feedback: As you practice your presentation, the Speaker Coach listens and provides instant suggestions. It points out areas where you might be speaking too quickly or slowly, using too many filler words (like “um” or “uh”), if you’re reading directly from your slides instead of speaking naturally, indistinct pronunciation or mispronunciation, your originality, or too many repetitive words. In this video example below, we discuss the Alignment Feature in PowerPoint feature with a few slides.

2. Inclusivity and Sensitive Language: In today’s diverse world, being mindful of language is crucial. Speaker Coach helps you avoid phrases that might be culturally insensitive or exclusive, ensuring your message is respectful and inclusive.

3. Pacing and Pitch Analysis: Maintaining the right pace and pitch is vital for keeping your audience engaged. Speaker Coach offers insights into your vocal delivery, helping you find a balance that holds your audience’s attention without overwhelming them.

4. Rehearsal Reports: After completing your practice session, Speaker Coach generates a detailed report highlighting your strengths and areas for improvement. This report includes actionable feedback, making it easier for you to make adjustments before your final presentation.

Why You Should Use Speaker Coach?

Incorporating Speaker Coach into your presentation preparation can significantly enhance your communication skills. Whether you’re a seasoned presenter or new to public speaking, this tool provides a unique opportunity to refine your delivery in a private, pressure-free environment. Here’s why you should consider using Speaker Coach:

1. Enhanced Confidence: Presenters who work with a rehearsal coach tend to be more confident and less anxious, resulting in a more polished and professional delivery.
2. Improved Engagement: Effective delivery techniques lead to greater audience engagement, making the presentation more impactful.
3. Clarity and Cohesion: Coaches help ensure that the presentation is clear, cohesive, and logically structured, enhancing the overall message.
4. Adaptability: Presenters become more adaptable and better equipped to handle unexpected situations or questions from the audience.
5. Professional Growth: The skills learned from a rehearsal coach extend beyond a single presentation, contributing to the presenter’s overall professional development.

Prerequisites for Using Speaker Coach

• Account Requirements: You’ll need a Microsoft account (like Outlook.com, Live.com) or a Microsoft 365 work or school account to use Speaker Coach.
• Hardware: A microphone is essential for Speaker Coach to hear and analyze your speech.
• Environment: For accurate feedback, rehearse in a quiet space with minimal background noise.
• Internet Connection: Since Speaker Coach operates in the cloud, an active internet connection is necessary.
• Language Limitation: Speaker Coach currently supports only English and operates only when the PowerPoint interface is set to English.
• Single-Speaker Focus: The tool is designed for individual use, meaning it performs best when only one person is rehearsing at a time.
• Saving Rehearsal Reports: Speaker Coach generates a rehearsal report after each session but be aware that this report is not saved automatically. If you want to keep a copy, take a screenshot before closing the session.
• No Automated Timing: Unlike other rehearsal features, Speaker Coach doesn’t automate slide timings. It focuses purely on improving your delivery through practice and feedback, not on preparing an automatic slide show.
• Adaptive Feedback: Speaker Coach is a continuously evolving tool that learns from users’ interactions. Expect more types of feedback and suggestions in future updates.

Conclusion

The role of a speaker coach in PowerPoint presentations is indispensable. By focusing on content mastery, delivery techniques, and overcoming nervousness, rehearsal coaches transform presenters into confident, engaging, and effective communicators. The techniques employed by coaches, from video feedback to storytelling, are tailored to individual needs, ensuring that each presenter can deliver their best performance. Ultimately, the impact of a rehearsal coach is far-reaching, enhancing not only the presentation itself but also the presenter’s long-term professional growth. Investing in a rehearsal coach is a strategic decision that can elevate the quality of any PowerPoint presentation, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.