Presentations often miss the mark. Here’s a formula for creating one that truly informs and persuades.
Nobody wakes up in the morning thinking they need more information presented TO them. With the exception of a root canal, there may not be a more painful experience than having bullet points read to you during a PowerPoint presentation.
And the only thing worse than that is a presentation without a clear point, with nothing in it for me.
What we all want, and what we all require in our time-starved lives are clarity and meaning. This means getting to the point – a good one – with relevance and applicability.
Bill Jensen is the author of Simplicity: The New Competitive Advantage and writes about how “the hardest work is figuring out what to do in a world of infinite choices” and because “making the complex clear always makes people work smarter.” He calls himself “a simpleton.”
His Ultimate Ten-Page Presentation is a guide to keeping presentations short and meaningful. He recommends using stories, questions, and details that promote interaction and discussion.
Here’s the formula he recommends:
Slide 1 – Title – Absolute Clarity: “By the end of this presentation you will be able to…”
Slide 2 – Summary – Know, Feel, Do: “Everything I have to tell you on one page…”
Slides 3-9 – Details and Discussion – The Case: Details behind the one-pager.
Slide 10 – Do – Next Steps: “Here’s what we need from you in order to succeed…”
And what if you can’t do it in 10 pages or less? You’re not ready to present.
You have to have information to back up your summary, but more is not better, it’s just more. Save the pivot tables and flowcharts in an appendix in case you need them.
And don’t forget to suggest what you want people to do as a direct result of your presentation. Even when people are empowered and motivated, they need direction.
Great presentations tell a short story. The best ones win hearts, minds and business.
Have a great week.
Sign up for The Sunday Snippet!
Good ideas to help you prosper delivered fresh each Sunday morning.