Use of Visual Supports: Less is More

The use of visual aids can greatly enhance the credibility and professionalism of a presentation, but only if they are applied correctly.

The golden rule is simple and powerful: less is more.

The purpose of visual aids: to complement the message, not replace it.

The fundamental purpose of a visual aid, such as a slide, is not to contain all the information of your speech.

Its function is to complement and reinforce your verbal message, not replace it.

Research shows that presenters who use visuals are perceived as more professional and credible, and help the audience reach consensus faster.

Think of your slides as a singer's musical accompaniment; they are there to enhance the performance, not drown it out.

The mistake of text-heavy slides

The most common and damaging mistake in the use of visual aids is the creation of text-overloaded slides.

When a slide is full of paragraphs and bullet points, a cognitive conflict occurs in the audience: they cannot read the screen and listen to you at the same time.

In most cases, they will choose to read, completely disconnecting from the speaker.

This turns a dynamic presentation into a boring reading session and makes the presenter redundant.

If your audience can get the whole message by reading the screen, why do they need you?

Use high quality images, simple graphics and little text.

An effective slide follows a minimalist philosophy.

Instead of text, prioritize elements that communicate quickly and powerfully:

High-quality images: A single powerful, relevant image can convey an emotion or complex idea much more effectively than a paragraph of text.

Simple graphics: If you need to show data, use a clean, easy-to-interpret bar or pie chart that highlights a single key conclusion.

Little text: Limit the text on each slide to a short sentence that acts as a headline or a few keywords. The details and explanation should come from you.

The presenter should be the center of attention, not the screen.

This is the cardinal rule: the presenter, not the screen, should always be the center of attention. The slides are a support tool, not the main event.

An ineffective presenter often retreats behind his slides, using them as a script from which he reads directly.

A skilled communicator, on the other hand, maintains the visual connection and dialogue with his audience.

He uses the slides to illustrate a point and