How to Fix Your Really Bad PowerPoint

Transcript

we have all experienced the pain of a bad PowerPoint presentation and even though we promised ourselves never to make the same mistakes we still can fall prey to common design pitfalls the good news is that your slide deck doesn't have to be ordinary by keeping a few guidelines in mind your slides can stand out above the crowd what would we do with... Read More

Key Insights

• ⌛ PowerPoint was originally developed as a time-saving tool for communication but has been misused.
• 🆘 Presentations should focus on helping the audience understand the message and take action.
• 💄 Emotional proof can be a powerful tool in engaging the audience and making presentations more impactful.
• 🛝 Limiting text on each slide and using clear, relevant graphics can improve the effectiveness of PowerPoint presentations.
• 🎨 Maintaining a consistent design enhances the overall professionalism and credibility of the presentation.
• 🛝 Avoid using complete sentences, small fonts, and slide templates that do not align with the audience's needs.
• 👀 Build slides consistently, using related typography, colors, and imagery, but avoid making them look exactly the same.
• 📷 Incorporating simple, punchy photos in presentations can help reinforce concepts and maintain audience interest.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do you fix a really bad PowerPoint presentation?

Start by treating every slide as a visual aid whose purpose is to help the audience understand your message. Give each slide one message, minimize the text, use relevant graphics, and maintain consistent colors, fonts, and imagery.

Q: What is the main purpose of a PowerPoint presentation?

Its single goal is to help the audience understand your message. The slides should equip listeners with the knowledge they need to take an action or make a decision.

Q: How much text should a PowerPoint slide contain?

Use as few words as possible and no more than six words on a slide. Avoid complete sentences, definitions, and descriptions because slides should support the spoken presentation rather than duplicate it.

Q: Why should a presentation use only one message per slide?

One message gives each slide a clear purpose and keeps unrelated ideas from competing for attention. If a slide contains more than one message, reduce its text and retain only elements that add to the presentation’s content.

Q: What font size should be used in PowerPoint slides?

Do not use anything under 20-point font because the audience cannot easily read it. If the text must be made that small to fit, the slide probably contains more than the recommended six words.

Q: How can graphics improve a PowerPoint presentation?

Use graphics that clearly support the slide’s message and provide emotional proof rather than merely repeating facts. Good graphics can add to learning, while irrelevant or weak graphics can confuse and distract the audience.

Q: How do you create a consistent PowerPoint design?

Use related colors, fonts, and graphics so every slide feels like part of the same story. Match the design to the subject and audience, such as a formal typeface and symmetrical layout for a serious issue or a casual font and asymmetrical layout for a lighter topic.

Q: What common PowerPoint mistakes should be avoided?

Do not read slides like a teleprompter, distribute them as a substitute for a formal report, or use them as a verbatim record of the talk. Also avoid generic slide templates, complete sentences, distracting graphics, and fonts smaller than 20 points.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• PowerPoint was originally developed as a communication tool but has been misused as a teleprompter, a written record, and a memory aid.

• The purpose of PowerPoint is to help the audience understand your message and take action.

• To create effective PowerPoint presentations, use emotional proof, limit text on each slide, and maintain a consistent design.