Let’s look at good presentation
design this week. In corporate America there are opportunities daily to review
attempts at good presentations. I say this because I do not believe anyone sets
out to intentionally make a bad presentation. The daily presentations are
rarely in the outstanding category, though.
The first
requirement of creating a good presentation is to know what message you are
attempting to deliver. To know that, you must also know the audience to whom
you will be presenting. Will it be a group of executives in need of an overview
or will it be a group of front line workers that need in-depth explanation of a
process, product, or system? This is just a basic communication skill.
The visual
attributes of the presentation are the next things to consider. According to
Reynolds, the concepts of contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity will
serve as proper guides.(2008)
Along with Mr. Reynolds book, there are numerous
tools that will aid in creating media that doesn’t distract or detract from the
intended message. There are thousands of pre-made PowerPoint templates to be
found on line that can be used as starting places. It will still be up to the
author to employ proper use of contrast, repetition, etc.
When
sketching out the slides, keep in mind that the presentation shouldn’t force
the audience read all the information you are trying to present. Retention
rates are far higher when information is presented both aurally and visually,
with an emphasis on the aural component. (2008)
If the slides are too crowded with
writing, the audience will quickly lose interest. Furthermore, there is a tendency
for presenters to then “read the slides” which is a sure way to turn off an
audience. This should not be confused
with the technique of storytelling. Arranging the information into a story that
the audience can follow is an excellent technique. The story should be told by
the presenter, not read off of the slides by the audience.
The use
of video and animation should be exercised with discretion. Too much video and
you might as well show a film. Some animation is good to keep the audience’s
eyes on the slides, but there is a point where they can actually throw off the
speaker’s timing. I have witnessed it myself many times.
To disseminate
larger quantities of data that support your presentation, the use of handouts
or pamphlets is a good idea. The paper media will prevent the cluttering of a slide. Pasting an Excel © spreadsheet
into a presentation often ends up with a slide that look likes an eye chart.(2008)
Review,
practice, and editing of the presentation are vital and should not be
by-passed. The arch enemy of good presentations is lack of time, or not taking
the time, to prepare. When up on the stage or dais, or just at the front of a
meeting room, having taken the time to practice your pitch will vastly improve
the quality of the message you deliver.
In
summary, take the time to know your message. Take the time to know your
audience. Consider the visual attributes of the slides. Use the slides to
support your story, not tell your story. Don’t forget to use handouts, if
necessary. Last, but not least, edit your slides and practice your delivery.
You should have a presentation that will make your message memorable.
Reynolds, G. (2008). Presentation Zen: Simple ideas on presentation design and delivery
(K. Johnson Ed.). Berkeley, CA: New Riders.
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