Written by One of the most common presentation pitfalls in business is giving your audience too much information. Whether it’s jargon overload, busy slides, or a wall of facts, the fact is that when your message is too complex, your audience tunes out.
According to the latest Gallup research, only 23% of employees strongly agree they receive meaningful, engaging communication at work. This means the bar is low – and the opportunity is high – for presenters who know how to keep it clear, concise, and compelling.
So, how can you avoid overwhelming your audience?
1. Prioritise clarity over complexity
As a rule, aim for plain English and simple metaphors that bring your message to life. Only use jargon when you know your audience use it too. Your goal isn’t to impress with complexity – it’s to connect with clarity.
2. Use the Storyboarding technique
Before building your slide deck, try Storyboarding – a visual planning technique invented by Walk Disney. It’s used by top presenters and I teach it in my presentation skills training. Start by brainstorming your ideas on sticky notes. Write one idea per note, then arrange them in a logical sequence. You can easily remove, reorder, or add new ideas until your structure flows. This ensures you only include what’s essential – no more, no less.
Storyboarding helps presenters deliver content that’s tightly structured, relevant, and engaging. It also boosts your confidence because you know your message is focused and purposeful.
3. Keep slides clean and visual
Design your slides with just a little bit of text. Aim for one key message per slide and use visuals to aid memory and understanding. A client of mine did a presentation about finding melanoma on the skin – she used an image of a hundred colourful smarties (you know the chocolate lollies?) – with just one brown smartie – you can’t unsee it! Avoid cluttering the screen with everything you plan to say – your voice or ‘talk-track’ (as my client Salesforce calls it) is the main event, not your PowerPoint.
4. Practice with a trusted colleague
Rehearsing helps you spot anything that still feels too long or confusing. If a colleague can summarise your key message after listening, you’re on the right track.
Whether you’re speaking in the boardroom, running a team meeting, or pitching to clients, clear and engaging communication is essential for success. There are best-practice formulas for structing your message. If you’d like help mastering these skills, check out my presentation skills training. All our workshops and books give you the tools, templates, and confidence to shine in any professional communication you need to do. Join us for a live presentation skills training in Sydney or explore our upcoming public presentation training Sydney dates today.
Michelle Bowden is an authority on presentation skills training with over 25 years’ experience and 13,000+ delighted participants. To know more, visit https://michellebowden.com.au/presentation-skills-training-dates/
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