Delivering a presentation can be an incredibly nerve-wracking experience, especially if you are prone to speaking too quickly or relying heavily on filler words like “um” and “uh.” While practising in front of a mirror is a classic technique, Microsoft has introduced a much more effective, AI-powered alternative. Learning how to use Presenter Coach in Microsoft PowerPoint gives you access to a private, real-time mentor that analyses your speech patterns and helps you deliver a polished, professional performance.
In this guide, we will explain how to activate Presenter Coach and interpret the feedback reports it generates, ensuring your next presentation goes perfectly to plan.
What is Presenter Coach?
Presenter Coach is a built-in artificial intelligence feature available in the web and desktop versions of PowerPoint (as part of Microsoft 365). As you rehearse your presentation out loud, the tool listens to your voice through your computer’s microphone and provides real-time, on-screen guidance. It evaluates several key aspects of your delivery:
- Pacing: It warns you if you are speaking too fast or too slow.
- Filler Words: It flags excessive use of “um,” “ah,” “basically,” and “you know.”
- Originality: It detects if you are simply reading the text off the slide word-for-word, which is a common presentation mistake.
- Inclusivity: It suggests replacing potentially sensitive or outdated phrases with more inclusive language.
How to Start Rehearsing with Presenter Coach
To use this feature, you will need a stable internet connection (as the audio is processed securely in the cloud) and a working microphone.
- Open your presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint.
- Navigate to the ribbon at the top of the screen and click on the Slide Show tab.
- Look for the Rehearse with Coach button and click it.
- Your presentation will enter full-screen mode, and a small dialogue box will appear in the bottom right corner.
- If prompted, grant PowerPoint permission to access your microphone.
- Ensure the box next to Show real-time feedback is ticked, and then click Start Rehearsing.
As you speak, you will see brief pop-up messages on the screen. For example, if you begin to rush, the coach might display a message saying, “Try speaking a bit slower.”
Understanding Your Rehearsal Report
When you reach the final slide and exit the presentation, PowerPoint will automatically generate a comprehensive Rehearsal Report. This dashboard provides a highly visual breakdown of your performance.
- Summary: Shows exactly how much time you spent rehearsing and how many slides you covered.
- Pace Graph: Displays your words-per-minute over time, helping you identify if you speed up when nervous.
- Pitch Analysis: Evaluates your vocal variety to ensure you are not speaking in a monotonous tone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Microsoft save my voice recordings?
No. According to Microsoft’s privacy policies, the audio captured during your rehearsal is processed dynamically and immediately deleted. Your voice data is not saved or used to train other AI models.
By incorporating Presenter Coach into your preparation routine, you can confidently eliminate bad habits and ensure your message resonates clearly with your audience.
