How NOT to present an idea
What is your reaction after seeing the following slide (Look to the left side of the article)?
I am making no judgments about the mertis of the proposed health plan. My only reason for using this slide is to show how NOT to create a slide to emphasize your point in a presentation.
When you create a slide, the audience should understand its point in seconds. You want the listeners focused on your message and you, not the slide. I guarantee you that the person presenting this slide could have spoken for 10 minutes and not had a single person listening.
PowerPoint (or Keynote, for the Mac fans) can be an incredibly powerful tool. However, like all tools, improper use can be extremely dangerous. When you create a slide, think of how you can simplify the slide to communicate the message more quickly. When you think you have accomplished the purpose, simplify it some more. Use clear symbols, keywords, and understandable charts to highlight your message instead of using the slide to deliver the message.
If you ever wondered how to avoid the phrase “death by PowerPoint” in your presentations, this slide is a good place to start.
