L06: Graphics and PowerPoint with a Leadership Edge

 

 

Leaders need to know how and when to use graphics. Graphics improve presentations and documents, particularly if the material is primarily quantitative, structural, pictorial, or so complicated that it can be illustrated more efficiently and effectively with a visual aid than with words alone. Graphics will contribute to the success of your oral and written communication.

Recognizing when to use graphics: Graphics should not be gratuitous; they should always be purposeful. They are not meant to replace the speaker in any way. Leaders carefully focus on the content and design principles that when creating data or text chart for leadership presentation: Conveying messages clearly, and selecting the most effective colors and fonts.

Graphic should always be purposeful. They should add to the content of the presentation or the document. Specially, graphics should serve the following purpose:
            - Reinforce the message.

- Provide a road map to the structure of a presentation.

- Illustrate relationships and concepts visually.

- Support assertions.

- Emphasize important ideas.

- Maintain and enhance interest.

            For data charts to add to your presentation or document you first need to clarify your message and then you can determine the type and content of the graph that will add to, support, or explain that message best.

 

Question

1. What is the Graphics?

Graphics are visual presentations on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, computer screen, paper, or stone to brand, inform, illustrate, or entertain. Examples are photographs, drawings, Line Art, graphs, diagrams, typography, numbers, symbols, geometric designs, maps, engineering drawings, or other images.

Graphics can be functional or artistic. The latter can be a recorded version, such as a photograph, or an interpretation by a scientist to highlight essential features, or an artist, in which case the distinction with imaginary graphics may become blurred.

2. How to do when using Graphics and PowerPoint?

Follow these guidelines: Decide on your message, determine what information or data best supports it, and then decide how best to show that data graphically. Use graphics for the right reasons, such as to reinforce your message, to provide a road map of your presentations, and to support assertions. Select the right kind of graph to illustrate your message. Use integrity in selecting and designing all graphics, making sure any graphs do not distort the data. Keep your graphics simple. Use a title that captures the “so what?” of your slides so that your audience see immediately the message the graph is communicating.

Create your PowerPoint template or modify the standard ones so that the presentation reflects your personality or that of your company. Make the font size and any graphic images large enough for the audience to see even from the back of the room. Be careful with your color selections; go for contrast but be conservative.
Avoid overusing or misusing animation.

3. How to make an effective PowerPoint presentation?

1. Plan your content first: The first thing that presenters need to do is to ask these important questions before creating their presentation. What’s the purpose of your presentation? What do you want you audience to do because of your presentation? What message do you want to deliver that will help you achieve that purpose?

2. Use a plain background and remove any unnecessary detail: Delete that PowerPoint template. PowerPoint templates come from the mindset that PowerPoint slides are like documents and so should be branded. Templates add clutter and distract from the visual impact of a slide.

3. One idea per slide: Presenters must assure that slides follow good cognitive design principles. Something as simple as having only one main idea per slide makes a huge difference.

4. Support the headline with graphic evidence: Instead of bullets, support your points with graphic evidence. This can include photos, images, charts and diagrams.

5. You don’t always need a slide Not every point in your presentation needs a slide: You only need a visual aid in a presentation if you would need one in conversation.

6. Put detail in the handouts: This was the item that was recommended the most times! If you want to follow best practice, simply printing out your PowerPoint slides to create a handout is no longer an option.