Presentation Dos and Don’ts: Essential Tips for Delivering a Powerful and Professional Presentation

  Do’s  

•  Keep slides clean and simple   
•  Keeping 1/3rd of a slide clear is a good idea  
•  Add effective content  
•  Format appropriately  
•  Add consistent title and text placements  
• Label charts and tables  

 Don’ts 

 Don't use too many words or include non-essential information. A page that contains too many words for a presentation slide is not written in point form, making it difficult both for your audience to read and for you to present each point. In short, your audience will spend too much time trying to read this paragraph instead of listening to you. Eventually, it will make your slide wordy and boring.  You will lose your audience’s attention before you even reach the end of your presentation. 

  Text Tips  

• Text slides should be brief  
•  No more than eight words per line 
•  No more than eight lines per slide  
•  Fewer words will force an explanation rather than reading slide word for word
•  Titles should be 36-40 points 
•  Body text should be around 24 points  
•  Use sans serif font such as Arial  

 Spellings and Grammar   

•  Avoid spelling and grammar mistakes
•  Proof-read your slides carefully for:

1.   Spelling mistakes  
2.   The use of repeated words 
3.   Grammatical errors you might have made

•  Do try to have someone else check your presentation

 Font Analysis

• Don't use small text on your slides. Think about those people at the back of the presentation room. If you use a small font your audience won’t be able to read from the slide. 
•  CAPITALIZE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ.  
• Don’t use complicated/distracting transitions.  
• Don’t use a complicated font. Stick to sans serif fonts (without twiddles) like Arial, Veranda, and  Tahoma. 
• Avoid Excessive Bullet Points.

Background and Colors  

Don't use a fancy background. It may be pretty or even on topic, but the text will be difficult to read. Keep to a subtle backdrop for the information. 

 References 

 Give references in the same way as you would in a written assignment  Good example.

• Citation: “Freeloading means individuals, believing that their contributions will not be valued.  Contribute less effort to achieving goals when working in a group than if they were working alone.  (Kerr, 1983)” 
• Direct Quoting: “Most effective speakers are flexible, able to adapt the manner of their speaking  to the particular context” (Stott, et al., 2001:3)”
• Diagrams and Images: Adair’s (1987), Interlocking; Needs of a Team 

Summary   

•  Be clear about the purpose of your presentation 
•  Rehearse well, maintain eye contact, be comfortable 
•  Follow the tips and tricks of a presentation tool  
•  Provide an appropriate amount of information in the allocated time  
•  Answer the questions confidently at the end of the presentation 

Also Check:

Nature of Interview Questions; https://educationtechnologytimes.blogspot.com/2024/09/nature-of-interview-questions-mastering.html