PowerPoint is a strong program with a plethora of useful and special features. It is also almost expected from a presenter -- but, unfortunately, often with dread. I am not suggesting that we shouldnt use PowerPoint. Just remember it is a tool, and only a tool. Used properly, it is your friend. Yes, visuals are important and can add an extra and memorable element to your presentations when used with planning, thought and care.

Start by deciding what purpose your use of PowerPoint serves. Below are some considerations for using and/or not using this slick program:

• You feel you should use the program. My advice is to avoid using PowerPoint for this reason. Many people who travel this route, end up with a program that falls flat, because they are obviously not comfortable presenting this way.

• You love all of the bells and whistles.

• You have so much information to impart, you feel that this is a way to get it all up in front of your audience. This approach doesnt work well either, because the slides get overloaded with words that many cant see, and the presenters approach often ends up with him or her just reading from the slides.

• By now, you are wondering when and if to ever use PowerPoint. Yes, use it as a powerful visual tool. I suggest creating short, punchy slides with few words, striking (but not distracting) graphics, and large, easy to read fonts. These slides will serve as an outline for your presentation and move you along at a fast and ordered pace. When you show meaningful graphs that explain, and graphics that make your main points memorable, you have succeeded.

Remember, you are the presenter, your PowerPoint program isnt. It should be your friend and partner -- a trusted and useful assistant. The following tips will help you create a PowerPoint presentation that enhances and doesnt detract from you as the speaker:

• Slides with a dark background and light lettering are easier to read in most lighting conditions.

• Sans-serif fonts are easier to read from a distance.

• Use shadows behind the fonts and graphics to make them more prominent.

• KISS! Keep it simple, silly! As you prepare your presentation, repeat this over and over to yourself, so you are not tempted by all of the extras.

• And always have a backup plan in case the projector and/or your program doesnt work. If you are going to use PowerPoint slides, have the program on a separate disk, just in case, and always try to arrive and set up early to make sure that everything is working the way you want it to. If you know that there will be Internet access, it doesnt hurt to have your slides up on a site, in case you need to access them that way.

Remember, use PowerPoint for power, not distraction.