Consistency is a powerful tool to make your presentation persuasive. It helps you establish credibility, build trust, and influence your audience. But how can you use consistency effectively in your presentation? Here are some tips to help you.
The first step to achieve consistency is to align your message with your goal, your audience, and your context. You need to have a clear and coherent purpose for your presentation, and tailor it to the needs and expectations of your audience. You also need to consider the tone, style, and format of your presentation, and make sure they match the occasion and the medium. For example, if you are delivering a sales pitch, you want to use a persuasive and engaging tone, a simple and concise style, and a visual and interactive format.
Think of the bigger communication context around the presentation. Who will read it and at what communication stage? There is no need to introduce your company if you are presenting a new solution to a well-known partner, as well as it`s strange to dive into prices first slide in on the first touch with a new lead, who knows nothing about you. Make your presentation consistent with the wider communication context to make it effective.
The second step to achieve consistency is to repeat your key points throughout your presentation. You need to reinforce your main idea, your supporting arguments, and your call to action. You can use different techniques to repeat your key points, such as summaries, transitions, examples, stories, and analogies. You can also use visual aids, such as slides, charts, graphs, and images, to highlight your key points. The more you repeat your key points, the more likely your audience will remember them and act on them.
Ensure your thoughts converge into a consistent outcome. In my IoT platform presentations, I focus on the key objective of saving money by optimizing processes. For example, I have the following slides: Collecting data from machinery to minimize downtime and reduce losses. Leveraging existing SDKs to expedite development and time-to-market, leading to cost savings. Utilizing built-in user management tools for streamlined service teams and distributor interactions, ultimately saving time and money. Notice how these diverse features and tools converge towards a single goal.
The third step to achieve consistency is to use consistent language in your presentation. You need to avoid jargon, slang, and acronyms that may confuse or alienate your audience. You also need to avoid contradictions, inconsistencies, and ambiguities that may undermine your credibility and clarity. You need to use simple, precise, and consistent words and phrases that convey your message clearly and effectively. You can also use rhetorical devices, such as parallelism, contrast, and repetition, to create a rhythm and a flow in your language.
Unified Message: Maintain a single, clear message throughout your presentation. Avoid contradictory or confusing statements that could dilute your message. Repeated Keywords: Use consistent keywords and phrases that reinforce your message. Repetition can help emphasize your main points and make them more memorable. Visual Consistency: Ensure your visual elements, such as slides or graphics, align with your message. Visuals should complement your narrative, not distract from it.
The fourth step to achieve consistency is to maintain a consistent voice in your presentation. You need to express your personality, tone, and attitude in a way that matches your message and your audience. You also need to adapt your voice to the mood, the pace, and the energy of your presentation. You can use vocal variety, such as pitch, volume, rate, and pauses, to emphasize your points and keep your audience engaged. You can also use non-verbal cues, such as eye contact, gestures, and facial expressions, to communicate your emotions and intentions.
The fifth step to achieve consistency is to follow a consistent structure in your presentation. You need to organize your content in a logical and coherent way that guides your audience through your presentation. You also need to use clear and smooth transitions that connect your ideas and sections. You can use a simple and effective structure, such as the problem-solution-benefit structure, to present your message in a persuasive way. You can also use signposts, such as previews, reviews, and questions, to orient your audience and keep them focused.
Begin with the headlines and use them as bullet points, to understand the structure of your story. All the content of the slides should just reinforce the main thoughts outlined in the headlines A simplified pitch deck structure serves as an illustrative example, with the following sequence of slides: Problem: Identify the issue at hand. Solution: Present your plan for resolving the problem. Market Size: Define the scale of your solution. Business Model: Explain how your solution will translate into money. Competition: Highlight who else is in the arena and why you are better. Roadmap: Detail the steps for executing your proposed solution. Just reading six key headlines provides the entire story's essence.
It all comes back to establishing consistency from the start by using purposeful layouts. If something is beautifully (subjective) designed - yet lacks consistency and substance - what's the point? I color code my agenda and carry those colors throughout each corresponding section. Consistency in design not only helps the audience stay engaged with your presentation, but I've found that it also helps your presenters speak in a concise way.
The sixth step to achieve consistency is to seek feedback and improvement for your presentation. You need to evaluate your performance, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and learn from your mistakes and successes. You also need to solicit feedback from your audience, your peers, and your mentors, and listen to their suggestions and criticisms. You can use different methods to collect feedback, such as surveys, polls, interviews, and observations. You can also use different tools to improve your presentation, such as practice, coaching, and training.
Less is more! Constantly ask yourself, does this add to my story or does it distract the audience? The most effective designs are often the most simple.