Presentation 101: Less Words is More Words

I think deep down, most people know that using slides to write out full, complete thoughts is a big no-no, but I still see these type of slides in action anyway. The most common reason I get is, “it’s all too important to cut anything out!” This may be true, in fact, hopefully everything you plan to say is very important, BUT it still isn’t an excuse to treat the slide like your script. There’s a better way...

Less Words is More Words
Think of it like this: The slide and what you’re saying aloud are two separate things that should work in tandem. No one needs to both read along (because you can bet your audience will be reading whatever’s on your slide) AND listen to the same thing word-for-word. That’s your slide working against you. Instead, the slide should visually aid, underline, highlight your main point(s). One supports the other and, without both, you’d only be looking at half of a presentation.

But More Slides is Sometimes the Answer
I know, there’s always SO much to get through when you’re up there with your audience’s attention. So what do you do when you inevitably find yourself with too many points and not enough slide?  Add a slide. It’s totally OK! A common worry is that a large number of slides means you’ve made a long presentation—but that math only works if you stay on them for an extended length of time. If you’re snapping through them as you make your points, the number of slides won’t have an effect on the time you’re speaking, but will have a very positive effect on the engagement of our audience.

That’s it for this week! Slow down and take a deep breath—YOU’VE GOT THIS.
But if that’s just not happening, give me a ring!
-Amy