If you are a student or working for a company, you already realise the importance of a well-made presentation. A presentation helps people stay on the topic, streamline the conversation and ensure that all points are covered. But imagine a scenario where you spent the last few days and nights working on a presentation. Suddenly on the day of your presentation, your boss wants you to shorten it. Do not panic, as there are ways you can cut it down without losing the message and key content of the presentation.
- Conclude First
Since you do not have enough time on hand to put forward the entire presentation, it is wise to get everyone aligned to your outcome. State the conclusion first. Later, you can explain the details to the audience in the following slides. Even if you feel that the conclusion is complex, it will do no harm in getting it out of the way first.
- Design a ‘Layered’ Presentation
It means that you design your presentation in parts such that you put the most important message first. That’s your inner layer. The next layer will be those points that support your key message. The third layer will the details that support those points. This way, you can divide the flow of your article covering the main thing first, followed by finer details. If you realise during a presentation that your time is short, you can remove the outer most layer which would contain the smaller details.
- Design the Presentation in ‘Modules’
Keeping your presentation in ‘modules’ is another option if you want to shorten it. The modules can be made in such a way that the most important things are in one module, followed by modules with less important things to say. You can leave the least important module for the end. In this way, you will be able to cover the relevant aspects of your presentation. It is like going through the whole dinner first and then going for the dessert if you still feel like eating.
- Eliminate the ‘Overview’ or ‘Summary’ Slides
The quickest way to shorten your presentation is to get rid of the ‘extra’ slides. There are always slides that let us know what the contents inside the presentation are or the ones which give an overview or summarize the contents of the presentation. Getting rid of them will not affect the quality of the presentation and make it sharper and crisper.
The art of making presentations is crucial for both students and working professionals. It lets you communicate effectively and get noticed. Keep learning how to make good presentations to gain that edge at your workplace!