Being able to effectively address any audience is a necessary leadership skill. Remember that you are the speaker, not a projectionist. Your purpose is not to present a slide show. Your audience is there to listen to what you have to say, not read your slides—or worse, listen to you read them. Design your presentation slides to compliment and reinforce your message and engage your listeners.

1. It’s important to keep your slides simple. Don’t overload them with information and visuals. Keep your main message clear and concise.
2. Make sure to use visuals strategically: Visuals can provide a strong tool for promoting your message and engaging your audience. High-quality graphs, charts and images that support your points and are pertinent to your message should be used.
3. You can use color strategically. It helps to emphasize key points and add visual interest. Be mindful about your choice of color and make sure you use it consistently in your presentation.
4. Text should be limited. Avoid long paragraphs or sentences on slides. For a quick message, you can use bullet points or simple phrases. Speaker notes will provide further information.
5. You can practice your presentation by practicing, and the better you’ll feel when you deliver it. To get feedback from a friend or colleague on how you deliver the presentation and to make adjustments, practice in front of a mirror.

Don’t forget that your slides are meant to complement, reinforce, and even enhance your message. These tips will help you design slide that are engaging and memorable for your audience.