PowerPoint Tips- feedback to my 4th grader on foundational presentation skills

Over the weekend I was looking at some homework my son Liam was catching up on and he was excited to show me the Rock & Minerals presentation his teacher assigned the class to create in Google Slides.

PowerPoint slide decks are a common & key way we share information and support decision making in the business world. Like many people I’ve mostly learned how to get better at these through trial and error and feedback from people I’ve presented them to or created for. I thought it was pretty cool that kids can start to learn & practice these skills in 4th Grade now and Liam is already better at using keyboard shortcuts than I am!

In my Category Management Services team at Retail Business Services, an Ahold Delhaize company I've had most of my managers & analysts over the past 18 months attend a classroom style PowerPoint best practices class from The Presentation Company (TPC). Being able to clearly and simply "tell a story" with data is an incredibly valuable skill for almost any role.

For all of us it helps from time to time to refresh on the basics and I wanted to share a few suggestions that came to mind as I was looking over Liam’s assignment with him and that most often come up when I give people feedback on their slides.

1. Number your slides and make easy to follow.

2. Simple and shorter is better.

3. Use a bigger font.

4. Know your audience and review your slides when you think you are done to ensure the answers they want or need (and any asks) are clearly communicated.

5. The right pictures and visuals help set the mood and connect with the audience. Use them and make sure you choose relevant ones that reinforce what you are trying to say.

6. Keep it interesting and have a hook or theme. Why should they care?

Not a 4th grade lesson for Liam but I’d also add in a business setting to minimize use of acronyms/jargon and spell things out the first time. You don’t know where or who your presentation might get forwarded to if it tells the right message so don’t assume prior knowledge of specialized information or terminology which can vary even department to department within a larger organization.

We've all seen or received a 100 page presentation or a 30MB Excel file with too much detail as a "data dump". Not as helpful when you are on the receiving end as simple actionable insights. Have a clear perspective, make a recommendation and always try to add value and put yourself in the recipient's shoes.

By valuing your audiences’s time and having a clear purpose & plan for what you are trying to communicate or get agreement to your presentation will stand out. Often just executing these basics well can make the time you spend crafting a message much more effective vs. materials that do not.