A Not-So-Pretty Presentation with a Very Good Tip

Chris Reich.org TeachUPresentation.com

What Is the Right Number of Slides?By Chris Reich, TeachUPresentation.com (Presentation Training)ChrisReich.org (Presentation Services)


People often call me for help putting a presentation together.

Makes sense, I teach presentation!


The first questions I ask are:1. What do you want to achieve?2. How much time do you have?


I most often get 3 answers to the 2 questions:1. I want to convince management to

upgrade the server. [Example]2. I have about 20 minutes3. I shouldn’t have more than 6-7 slides.


What? I don’t understand #3.

Why shouldn’t you have more than 6-7 slides?


The content cap is the time limit.


I get a lot of resistance on this subject.

Let’s look at it more closely.


If we take a slide with a lot of material and break into smaller bites, it makes each point easier to cover and more important.


And, it allows the speaker more flexibility in the delivery speed. It’s far easier to slow down and focus or speed up and move on when there is less stuff on a slide.


We need to upgrade the server because:

• Doing so will enhance processing speed so more work can get done in less time.

• A new server would have features that are a lot easier for the IT department to manage.

• A new server is less vulnerable to failure. Our server is now 7 years old and it’s time to replace it.


So we have this example with 3 reasons on a single slide. It works. There is nothing wrong with it. But, if management doesn’t care that much about making life easier for IT, you

could get hung up on number 2.


• Doing so will enhance processing speed so more work can get done in less time.

• A new server would have features that are a lot easier for the IT department to manage.

• A new server is less vulnerable to failure. Our server is now 7 years old and it’s time to replace it.


What if we hit these one at a time, quickly.


Doing so will enhance processing speed so more work can get done in less time.


And…

A new server would have features that are a lot easier for the IT department to manage.


Most importantly…

A new server is less vulnerable to failure. Our server is now 7 years old and it’s time to replace it.


Breaking the bullet list into three separate slides allows the speaker to adjust cadence (speed, tone, importance) on each item.

If management doesn’t care about #2, fly through it.


Here’s the point.

More slides do NOT mean more time.

Handled properly by the speaker, more slides, bite-sized ideas, generally require less time to present.


And there’s a bonus to this!

Breaking the list into chunks puts emphasis on each piece making it more likely you will win your point.

It works.


Maintain your speed and no one will notice the number of slides.

Slide limits are a rule to break!

(But NEVER, EVER break time limits!)


Simple slides. Simple tip.

Big results. Try it.

Let me know how it goes for you!

[email protected]

(530) 467-5690

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A Not-So-Pretty Presentation with a Very Good Tip

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