Throughout my business career I have had to make presentations for one reason or another. Whether I was making a presentation to a prospective customer or pitching a VC, like most people I inevitably turn to my favorite presentation software.
First it was PowerPoint, now more often than not I turn to Keynote. Whatever the tool you use, most of the time we start with a blank sheet and start filling out slides. The slide deck is often considered to be the presentation. I don’t know if you are like me, however I have time and again had to battle over how much information to put on my slides. Many of us think of a slide deck as notes to remind us of what we want to cover. Others want a structure to help force them to keep to the script.
Recently, I discovered Gaar Reynolds. Gaar is a former Manager of Worldwide User Group Relations at Apple and as such spent considerable time making presentations. He has subsequently started a blog, Presentation Zen, which focuses on best practices in presentation design. Through a combination of what I have learned by following Gaar and others as well as my own beliefs developed over time I have come to believe in following whenpreparing a presentation:
- You are the presentation, not the slides
- Decide on the message before you start your slides
- Simplicity of design will enhance the effectiveness of your slides and your presentation
- Visuals are much more effective than text
- Know your presentation like an actor knows his lines, you should not have to look at the slides to give your presentation
- If you need to send a copy for when you are not there to present, make a second supporting document or put the details in the slide notes
Just remember, it is not the slides that are important but “getting your message across” that counts.
The Entrepreneurial CFO 