Charge toward better PowerPoint presentations

Overview Slides Images Content

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

―Clare Boothe Luce

Overview Slides Images Content

Slides are for support (Guffey & Lowey, 2015) The focus should be on you (Carter, 2005) Use images intentionally (Carter, 2005) Graphics and icons enhance (Sales Insider, 2009) Avoid word distraction (Gray, 2007) Have a clear strategy (Gray, 2007) Make the content crisp (Gray, 2007)

Bad slides = Bad presentations

Overview Slides Images Content

YES NO

Lots of wordsSimple

Clear

Concise

Clean(CSU Global, 2015)

Overview Slides Images Content

Use iconography(Sales Insider, 2009)

Overview Slides Images Content

Images can help get to the point(Carter, 2005)

Overview Slides Images Content

Draft your outline

first, create your

slides se

cond.

(CSU Global, 2015)

Overview Slides Images Content

Decide you key message for each slide- and make it clear!

(Gray, 2007)

Overview Slides Images Content

Use supporting graphs and data whenever possible.

Don’t explain the graph on the slide, but summarize.

(Guffey & Lowe, 2015)

Final Tips

• Guffey & Lowey (2015) recommend when presenting to:– Be Engaging– Be Knowledgeable– Use a clicker to free your movement– Blank the screen to drive focus to you – Don’t let the slides take-over

(Guffey & Lowey, 2015)

References• Carter, D. (2005). Avoiding PowerPoint poison. Proofs, 88(5),

67.• Colorado State University-Global Campus. (2010). Module 6 –

Research Basics and Business Presentations. [Blackboard ecourse]. In ORG 536– Contemporary Business Writing and Communications (p. 2). Greenwood Village, CO: Author.

• Polish your PowerPoint skills: Good balance means great results. (2009). Sales Insider, 3(54), 4.

• Gray, A. (2007). How to create a compelling company presentation. Westchester County Business Journal, 46(21), 14.

• Guffey, M. & Loewy, D. (2015). Business communication: Process and product (8th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. ISBN-13: 9781285094069

Imagery Reference

• Pixaby. (2015). Free High-quality Images you can use anywhere. Retrieved from http://pixabay.com