Mastering the Art of Oral Presentations

CHAPTER 7Sample Charts

On the following pages you will find examples of how to structure your graphics so that they are easy to read and send positive messages that can stand alone without being verbally augmented by a speaker. The comments on each chart stress important aspects to make you aware of salient points and techniques that may not be obvious to a casual reader who quickly flips through them. All charts shown here are fictitious and unrelated to each other—that is, they contain standalone messaging not intended to show a logical build-up progression.

Using a graphic artist to format your charts is very important. Professionally prepared charts send a strong message to your audience, and conversely, poorly prepared charts send a strong message too! Do everything you can to make a positive impression on your audience including charts that look professional, are easy to read, and clearly support the winning messages that you are delivering.

There is always a temptation to start building charts too early in the process. Resist this temptation and ensure you know the message that each chart will support before you actually draft the chart. Professionally prepared charts are not cheap, and they require a great deal of time to generate. Eliminate waste and rework; think through your messages first, rely on your presentation outline for guidance, and be sure to include your win themes and discriminators throughout your presentation.

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