Is it possible to reduce the number of slides by representing the ideas visually? The answer is a resounding Yes'. Here is the proof.
While I was browsing through the net yesterday, I came across a presentation on The right way to conduct meetings'. Here are a couple of slides from that typical' presentation:
Slide 1: Problems with our meetings:
Too many items in agenda
Too many participants
The meeting is not planned properly
Meetings are called for insufficient reasons
Poor meeting leadership
Meeting ends without any clear action plan or responsibilities assigned to people.
Participants are not given enough time to prepare for the meetings
Slide 2: The way forward
Items in agenda to be reduced
Few people to be called based on whether they can take action on the items discussed
There should be a clearly organized agenda for the meeting
Meetings should be called only for important items to be discussed
People should be held accountable for what is assigned to them
Sufficient time should be given to participants to prepare for the meeting
Let us make this over with our concept diagram principles' step by step.
Step1 : Reduce the blah':
If you read through the content carefully, you will see that there are 4 main points covered:
Rationalize the agenda based on criticality of the issues
Rationalize the number of participants based on their ability to take action post the meeting
Give participants sufficient time to prepare for the meeting
Conclude by assigning clear responsibilities to members
Step 2: Divide the points into objects and relationships
Objects are in blue and the relationships in red
Rationalize the agenda based on criticality of the issues
Rationalize the number of participants based on their ability to take action post the meeting
Give participants sufficient time to prepare for the meeting
Conclude by assigning clear responsibilities to members.
Step 3: Represent the relationship visually
Here is the result of doing this
1 slide with following content:
Problem:
- Many Paper icons labelled : Too many items in agenda
- Many People icons labelled : Too many participants invited
Solution:
- Few paper icons: Rationalize agenda based on criticality
- Fewer people icons: Rationalize invitees based on their capacity to act
- Arrows showing movement labelled : Organize and give time to prepare
- People icons with 1 paper icon each labelled : Discuss and assign accountabilities.
Thus, with a concept diagram we not only reduced the number of slides, but also made sure that the slide is clearer and visually appealing.
Do visit www.buyapresentation.com to find a free e-book on making concept diagrams step-by-step.