Why Do We Use Visuals?

  • Emphasis or to Highlight
  • Clarity
  • Comparison/Contrast (last year vs. this year, for example)
  • Illustrating Process (Like a flow chart: this affects this which will result in this, etc.)
  • Variety
  • When we need to be visual (Show the vacation villa vs. describe it)

Secondary Reasons (not very good ones)

  • Part of the culture (Everybody does PowerPoint!)
  • Appearances – looks professional and you appear prepared
  • Keeps the presenter on track (What’s wrong with using notes? – Just don’t stay buried in them!)
  • Smitten by the technology (gotta have the latest and greatest)

The Best Reason…

Because the audience needs it!

Mistakes that Weaken Your Effectiveness

Design:

  • Too much info/detail
  • Too many words (They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but does it apply to a picture of a thousand words?!)
  • Fonts too small or wrong style – difficult to read
  • Not enough contrast between words & background (poor color choices - I prefer white or yellow letters on a dark background)

Lack of preparation:

  • No site survey
  • Not enough set-up time (something isn’t working or a cable is missing or…)
  • No rehearsal (You need to block things out so you know where you can turn, move, etc.)
  • No alternatives (What you gonna do when something doesn’t work?)

Implementation:

  • Presenter poorly positioned
  • Pointing
  • Talking to screen

How to Make ‘Em Better!

  • 1-3 points per slide
  • A few words per bullet point (easier to talk around)
  • 6 X 6 rule (No more than six words to a line and no more than six lines to a visual)
  • Headlines vs. titles (Headlines give you the news – It’s more compelling)
  • Forget sounds, startling transitions (Anything that draws attention to itself is probably inappropriate.)
  • Preferred font size of 24 or larger

How to Show ‘Em Better

Plan, prepare, rehearse

  • Give audience time to read
  • Stand to the side
  • Use it and lose it (The “B” key!)
  • Always work to reconnect with audience
  • Always have a plan “B”

Remember…

Your slides are not your presentation…

YOU are!