Kill The Slide Deck

In high-pressure environments, it’s tempting to over-prepare the visuals and under-prepare the delivery.

You end up with 40 slides, 8-point font, and an anxious speaker reading word-for-word from the screen.

What that communicates (even if it’s unintentional) is that the speaker is not as confident as they could be - and relies on the slides to do the talking.

Does this really connect with the audience?

🎯 Confidence is About Clarity

We’ve all been there. A dull PowerPoint presentation - with ten slides to make a point!

Not exactly engaging.

Think back to a time when a speaker truly held your attention. Chances are they used few visuals and relied on structure, simplicity, and presence - backed up by powerful storytelling.

📊 If You Use Visuals…

…Use them to amplify, not explain. Remember that slides should support your voice, not replace it. A few pointers:

• One striking image or chart per idea.

• No text you’re going to say out loud anyway.

• No overtalking without making a firm point!

💡 Next Time You Prep a Talk or Pitch

Try this:

1. Write your message before you open PowerPoint.

2. Ask: What’s the one thing I want them to remember?

3. Only build slides if they make that message clearer. Not because it’s expected.

And if you really want to level up, practice the entire talk without any slides at all.
It will force clarity and 10x your confidence.

🥜In a Nutshell

Visuals can be useful - when used sparingly. But, over-relying on them can send the wrong message. Your clarity and conviction are what persuade - not your deck design.

Until next time,
🌟Hannah