Welcome to the first installment of our series aimed at making you a PowerPoint maestro in no time! In this section, we will dive straight into some speed tricks that will not only save your precious time but also enable you to work like a pro. Even if you are a beginner, these tips will help you to enhance your PowerPoint game swiftly. Ready to rock the PowerPoint world with some speed tricks? Let’s dive in!
What’s covered in this part:
- Initiating slide shopping to save time and effort
- Efficiently pinning your frequently used PowerPoint decks for quick access
- Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar to enhance your productivity and reduce time spent on repetitive tasks
Lesson 1: Master the Art of Slide Shopping – Crafting a Rich and Personalized Repository
Leveraging Existing Templates
- Starting from scratch is a no-no; it drains precious time and stifles creativity. Instead, harness the power of existing templates to expedite your workflow. Here are some places to kickstart your slide repository:
- Online Resources: A simple online search can lead you to a plethora of websites offering both free and premium slide templates.
- Firm Templates: Most organizations provide a rich collection of sample decks filled with fonts, artwork, and formats that can simplify your life. Ensure to explore these resources early on in your tenure.
- Colleagues: Your peers can be a goldmine of content from previous projects. Hence, nurturing a strong network within your organization is vital.
Crafting Your Unique Repository
- Assemble a personal collection of your favorite slides, icons, and other elements that resonate with your style.
- Initiate your collection with resources from your firm’s template repository or from online platforms, and continually enrich it with newfound treasures.
- Employ tagging to categorize and swiftly retrieve materials in the future.
Bookmarking Valuable Resources
- Equip yourself with a robust set of online resources that can aid in constructing captivating slides. These might include platforms offering icons, logos, and more.
- Bookmark these gems to ensure a smooth and quick access during slide creation.
Lesson 2: Streamlining Workflow – The Significance of Pinning Your PowerPoint Decks
Regularly accessed decks, such as those used for slide shopping or client engagement, benefit immensely from being pinned. Here’s how you can pin and unpin your frequently used decks for easy access:
Pinning a Deck:
- Launch the desired deck.
- Navigate to File -> Open to view the file name.
- Click the pin icon adjacent to the file name to pin it.
Your file should now appear at the top of the PINNED section, enabling swift access from the File-Open menu in the future.
Unpinning a Deck:
- Go to File -> Open to see the file in the PINNED list.
- Click the pin icon next to the file to unpin it.
The file will be removed from your PINNED list, decluttering your workspace.
Lesson 3: Elevating Efficiency with a Customized Quick Access Toolbar
The Importance of Customization
While PowerPoint is user-friendly for beginners, proficient users might find themselves bogged down by numerous clicks to perform frequent tasks. Save yourself from unnecessary hassle by tailoring the Quick Access Toolbar to your needs.
Here’s an example of recommended commands to include for optimized usage:

Setting Up Your Quick Access Toolbar
- Go to File -> Options -> Quick Access Toolbar.
- Find the desired commands on the left pane.
- Use the “Add >>” button to incorporate a command into your toolbar. (To remove a command, use the “<< Remove” button).
- Adjust the command positions by selecting them in the right pane and utilizing the up or down arrows.
- Decide the toolbar’s location – either in the Title Bar or below the Ribbon (uncheck the box to position it in the Title Bar, check it for placing it below the ribbon).
- Confirm your settings by clicking OK.
Here’s a visual guide to help you through the process:
