We presenters are an insecure lot.
When we are not sure that we have mastered our content, we tend to pile it on, droning on and on and overwhelming our listeners. Or we add slide after slide, bullet after bullet until our audience members give up their souls and lie bleeding in boredom on the floor.
When we have not rehearsed enough or are otherwise not confident of our thoughts, we tend to repeat our ideas or ramble endlessly, thinking that we surely must have covered it adequately by now.
All of this sabotages our best efforts to communicate clearly to the audience in front of us.
Another great diffuser of clarity is the tendency to put more than one image or photograph on a slide. After all, if one image tells a story then 6 should do it so much better.
The fact is one image commands 100% of your viewers attention. Additional graphics and photos on a single slide split their attention to the point where there is no impact. It’s just a jumbled mess.
A few points:
- Try to use only one image per slide to communicate your idea. Get the right image. Two weak images don’t add up to a strong one. They just look like two weak images. Or worse they confuse and turn off your audience.
- Get the best images you can afford. Be prepared to pay if necessary. Photos and graphics should reflect your professionalism and convey your point quickly and cleanly.
- If you have a progression or a build on a slide, then carefully consider adding more images.
Often a large image with a few added words will perfectly communicate your point on a single slide.
Try for that.
Protect your audience from dreaded PowerPoint induced sleeping disorders. This guy knows how to do it: https://ready2speak.com/coaching
Tom
