Do you really need that slide? 📽️

We’ve all sat through that presentation.

The one that just keeps going.

Too many slides, too much detail, too many words on the screen. You try to pay attention but halfway through you’re checking the clock, wondering when it’ll end.

And yet… when it’s our turn to present, it’s way too easy to fall into the same trap. Keeping in that one slide, because what if someone needs it?

More slides don’t make your presentation better. They just make it harder to follow.

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Keep it concise

The more you add, the harder it is for your audience to absorb your message. Instead of remembering the key points, they’re drowning in detail.

💡 People will remember 3-4 things, max. If your presentation doesn’t make those clear, they’ll walk away remembering nothing.

Before you even open PowerPoint, ask yourself: What do I want my audience to think, feel, or do after this presentation?

That’s your anchor. Every slide, every so what, and every key message should tie back to that. If a slide doesn’t support that objective, it’s just noise.

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It might be painful, but ‘kill your darlings’

In writing, to ‘kill your darlings’ means to remove potential distractions (characters, or chapters you might be very fond of), in favour of prioritising the overall narrative and story.

Applying the same logic to your slides: if it doesn’t drive the key message forward, cut it.

Here’s how to streamline your deck:

1. Start with your objective – Make sure every slide serves it.

2. One-slide, one-message – If a slide has multiple ideas, split them up or remove the weaker one.

3. Trust your voice – Not everything needs to be written down. Some details are better spoken than shown.

4. Challenge yourself – Try presenting without slides first. If you can make your case clearly, only add back slides that genuinely enhance your message.

5. Keep your ‘so whats’ clear – Aim for 3-4 at most. Anything more is too hard to remember.

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By stripping out the excess, your presentation becomes more engaging, easier to follow, and ultimately more impactful.

Before your next deck, ask yourself: What’s the one thing I want my audience to take away? Does every slide help reinforce that? If not, it’s just noise.

‘Kill your darlings’. Only keep slides that truly serve your message and leave the rest on the cutting room floor.

Want more tips on presenting & storytelling? Check out our previous newsletters.

Reach out if we can help with anything else.

All the best,

Ella & the May Insight Team

March 2025