Aide memoire for oral presentations and visual aids
Words of advice
1. Identify a single overriding communication objective (SOCO) adapted to your audience. 2. Develop a storyboard: Start with the conclusion slide matched to the objectives, derive a recommendation slide on its basis and then prepare results, methods and introduction. 3. Prepare visual aids with large fonts without “serifs”, good contrast and no more then seven lines per slide. 4. Present digital information in tables and display analogical information on graphs. Add only the maps, pictures and graphics that serve the SOCO. 5. Write a script with full sentences that take slide bullet points as starting point. Push excessive information to the script and the Q&A session. 6. List potential questions and prepare answers. 7. Rehearse over and over again with feedback from a public, and check timing.
Evaluation checklist
Summarized content
Content targeted to audience
Key concepts emphasized
Details left aside
Focus on a clear SOCO
One verb / objective
Parallel objectives / conclusions
Limitations slide
Data supporting the conclusions
Evidence-based recommendations
Sequential slides
Efficient story telling
1 to 1.5 slide per minute
Effective visual supports
Font size >20, =< 7 bullets
Sufficient contrast, wise colours
Informative, time, place person titles
One graph / table / list per slide
Non-sentence bullets
No lonely bullets
Parallel construction syntax
Time sequence, time tags
Graphs centred around one idea
Optimized ink-to-data ratio
No mix of digital / analogical info
Standard tables with < 10 rows
Numbers right-aligned, 1,000 dividers
Rounding up
No unnecessary graphic elements
Map for geographical information
Harmonious delivery
Good flow, not too fast, not too slow
Understandable language
Humble, social, respectful presenter
Speech related to visual aids
Speech adding to the slides
Descriptions preceding analyses
Time slot respected to the second
Answers to questions
Floor handed over to the moderator
Questions noted
Constructive, open mind
Question points answered
Brief answers
Conflict avoidance / resolution
DOs
DO research your audience, who they are, what they like and what they do.
DO prepare your talk like a story-telling exercise where problems get framed and solved.
DO ensure the talk unfolds sequentially with ideas following each other naturally.
DO aim at keeping the attention of the audience at all times.
DO boil down the study to its core elements.
DO think of slides as self-sufficient vectors of information that stand out by themselves.
DO think about the meanings of colours and contrast.
DO time yourself during rehearsals.
DO prepare to address language barriers.
DO manage challenges through the Acknowledge-Sympathize-Respond technique.
DO behave like the listener you would like to have as a presenter when seated in the audience to listen to other talks.
DONTs
DO NOT go over time. Ever.
DO NOT add details that may jeopardize the dynamic of the exchange.
DO NOT add any element that is not essential to supporting the SOCO.
DO NOT tell them everything you know.
DO NOT write full sentences on your slides.
DO NOT use capitals letters for more than one word that deserves highlighting.
DO NOT try to communicate more than one idea per graph.
DO NOT use excessive amount of animation.
DO NOT use colours at random.
DO NOT express excessive confidence through jokes and a familiar attitude.
DO NOT have elements on the slides that are not commented upon in the script.
DO NOT use the pointer excessively (if at all). Prefer an oral description of what is on the slide
DO NOT be defensive when answering questions.
DO NOT lie or make up data when answering question.
Emphasize the scientific added value of a project
What was already known on this subject?
Introduction: Explain what the state of scientific knowledge was in this area before you did your project and why this project needed to be done.
What does this study add?
Conclusions: What do we now know as a result of this project that we did not know before?
What are the public health implications?
Recommendations: Explain how your results could support the implementation of interventions directed to solve the problem you are dealing with in your presentation. Suggest the next steps in generating more knowledge or moving forward with action.
