Rules for Effective Presenting

An effective presentation is a well-orchestrated performance that engages the audience and persuades them to your point of view. Here are eight rules for delivering a powerful presentation.

1. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid): Don't clutter your slides with too much text or too many graphics. Keep it simple and easy to follow.
2. K.I.F.P. (Keep It Fast Paced): Keep the presentation moving. Cover two to three slides per minute to keep the audience engaged.
3. Use "Wow" Facts: Start with surprising or jarring statistics to grab attention and build credibility.
4. Build in Stories: People remember stories. Use them to illustrate your points and make your presentation more memorable.
5. Be Curiosity Driven: Unfold your information in a way that keeps the audience wanting to know what's next.
6. Headlines are Valuable Real Estate: Write compelling headlines for each slide that summarize the key takeaway.
7. Be Confident, Not Obnoxious: Develop a rapport with your audience and project confidence.
8. Focus on Them, Not You: The most important rule of all. Make the presentation about your audience and their needs, not about you.

By following these rules, you can create and deliver presentations that are both informative and persuasive. See also Eight Common Mistakes Presenters Make.