Communication story: A slide should convey a message, not just be packed with content!

Communication story: A slide should convey a message, not just be packed with content!

In 2013, while working at KPIT, I was tasked with developing a presentation for the CEO to present in a conference. After spending 2-3 days on the slides, I sent the final deck of 5-6 slides on a Sunday morning, planning to discuss it with him on Monday (conference was on Tuesday).

To my surprise, the CEO called me on Sunday evening and said, "Vivek, this is Ravi calling. The message isn't coming through in the slides. There's only content, no clear message." 

I requested time until the next day to revise it. I updated the slides from text-heavy to using concentric circles and sent the updated file on Monday morning. By the afternoon, his assistant called me in his office for a working session.

When I arrived, the CEO instructed me to delete all the text/complex visualizations and use only numbers. He said, "Let's not confuse the audience." I offered to complete it and send it in a couple of hours, but he insisted I update it right there in front of him, saying he couldn't risk another round of revisions. 🙂 To my relief, it turned out to be a good idea, as he guided me on exactly what he needed, and we finished the deck within 30-45 minutes.

In slides, more is less and "less is more"!

"Follow" me for more such stories

Read past stories like above at https://lnkd.in/d9ijze8r