1. PRESENTATION SKILLS
Unit 5: Visuals

2. SIMPLICITY
IS THE ULTIMATE
SOPHISTICATION.
— Steve Jobs,
quoting Leonardo da Vinci

4. No, surprisingly we can’t.
But please, please,
don’t start explaining!

5. Some visuals
WORK.
They support your presentation,
and it greatly benefits from them.
Others —
DON’T.
You use too much or too little,
they kill your presentation
and bore the audience.

6. FIRST,
let us look what kind of visuals
we use during presentations.

7. Common types of visuals

8. Common types of visuals
100 A B C
75 1
2
50
3
25 4
0 5
(line) graph table organigram
100
7%
75 8%
50 10%
25
11%
0
bar chart flow chart pie chart
29%

9. Common types of visuals
map
scheme picture

10. Parts of...
a bar chart a pie chart a table
row
segment column
bar
100 7%
8%
75 35%
10%
50
11%
25
29%
0

11. Different types of lines
vertical axis or y axis dotted line
curve
fluctuating line
horizontal axis or x axis

12. WE often use visuals to illustrate
some changes or developments,
increases and decreases,
speed of the change
(e.g. the company’s income growth).
To describe visuals,
we can use the following words.

13. Describing change

14. Describing change
Upward movement
verbs:
to increase / rise / go up / climb
to grow / expand
to rocket / boom
to reach a peak/maximum /
to peak
nouns:
an increase / rise / climb / upturn
a peak
e.g. Our sales rose last year.
There is a huge increase
of costs this month.

15. Describing change
Upward movement
verbs: Note: to increase and to expand
to increase / rise / go up / climb can also be used transitively
to grow / expand (i.e. can have an object):
to rocket / boom e.g. We increased sales.
to reach a peak/maximum / We expanded our workforce.
to peak
To raise can only be used transitively:
nouns: e.g. We raised our prices.
an increase / rise / climb / upturn
a peak
e.g. Our sales rose last year.
There is a huge increase
of costs this month.

16. Describing change
Downward movement
verbs:
to decrease / decline / fall /
drop /go down / contract
to slump / collapse
to reach a low point / to hit bottom
nouns:
a decrease / fall /
decline / downturn
e.g. Profits have fallen recently.
We can see a slow decline
of this aspect.

17. Describing change
Downward movement
verbs: Note: to decrease and to drop
to decrease / decline / fall / can also be used transitively:
drop /go down / contract e.g. We have decreased our costs.
to slump / collapse We will drop our prices.
to reach a low point / to hit bottom
To reduce and to cut can only
nouns: be used transitively:
a decrease / fall / e.g. We reduced his salary.
decline / downturn We had to cut 200 jobs.
e.g. Profits have fallen recently.
We can see a slow decline
of this aspect.

18. Describing change
Better or worse
(with no regard to direction)
Better
verbs:
to deteriorate / get worse
noun:
an deterioration
Worse
verbs:
to improve / get better
noun:
an improvement

19. Describing change
Better or worse An end to movement
(with no regard to direction) verbs:
Better to flatten out / level off /
verbs: to stabilize / to recover
to deteriorate / get worse nouns:
noun: a leveling off / a recovery
an deterioration
e.g. Sales have flattened out.
Worse
verbs:
to improve / get better
noun:
an improvement

20. Describing change
No change
to remain constant/stable
to stay the same/at the same level
e.g. Sales have remained constant.
Three other verbs —
to maintain, to hold and to keep —
are used transitively:
e.g. We plan to maintain
our dividend (at the same level).
We need to hold our costs down.
We plan to keep our prices low.

21. Describing change
Degree of change
dramatically / considerably /
No change significantly / markedly /
to remain constant/stable moderately / slightly
to stay the same/at the same level
e.g. Sales have fallen considerably.
e.g. Sales have remained constant. Profits rose slightly.
Three other verbs —
to maintain, to hold and to keep —
are used transitively:
e.g. We plan to maintain
our dividend (at the same level).
We need to hold our costs down.
We plan to keep our prices low.

22. Describing change
Degree of change
dramatically / considerably /
No change significantly / markedly /
to remain constant/stable moderately / slightly
to stay the same/at the same level
e.g. Sales have fallen considerably.
e.g. Sales have remained constant. Profits rose slightly.
Three other verbs — Speed of change
to maintain, to hold and to keep —
rapidly / quickly /
are used transitively:
suddenly / gradually /
e.g. We plan to maintain
steadily / slowly
our dividend (at the same level).
We need to hold our costs down. e.g. Income had dropped slowly.
We plan to keep our prices low. Sales went up rapidly.

23. Describing change
Compare adverb + verb sentences and adjective + noun sentences:
e.g. There was a sudden increase in prices. — Prices increased suddenly.
In August, we notice a moderate fall. — This rate fell moderately in August.
It was followed by a gradual decline. — Then it started gradually declining.

24. ALSO, to explain graphs, complex images,
we might need to say
where on the slide something
we are talking about is.
Here is how you say it.

25. In the
upper
right-hand
corner
In the
center
In the
bottom
left-hand
corner

26. Across the top
Down
the left
side On the left On the right
of the
slide
Across the bottom

27. When using a graph or a chart

28. When using a graph or a chart
BEFORE showing a graph/chart, prepare audience for it.
Start by telling the audience what it illustrates.
When you show it, give them some time to understand
what they see before going into details.

29. When using a graph or a chart
EXPLAIN it.
Some pictures need explaining,
too, but graphs and charts —
definitely.

30. When using a graph or a chart
EXPLAIN it.
Some pictures need explaining,
too, but graphs and charts —
definitely.
✣ Let’s now look at the next slide which
shows...
✣ First, let me quickly explain the graph.
✣ You can see that different colors have
been used to indicate...
✣ The key the bottom left-hand corner
shows you...
✣ The black line gives us...
✣ This aspect of the problem is illustrated
in...

31. When using a graph or a chart
USE varied language to describe trends.
It will make your speech more dramatic.
For instance, Sales rocketed this year is more dramatic
than Sales increased this year.

32. When using a graph or a chart
HIGHLIGHT the key
points.
Which parts of it are most
significant for your audience?
Comment why.

33. When using a graph or a chart
HIGHLIGHT the key
points.
Which parts of it are most
significant for your audience?
Comment why.
✣ I’d like to start by drawing your attention
to...
✣ What I’d like to point out here is...
✣ I think you’ll be surprised to see...
✣ I’d like to focus your attention on...
✣ Let’s look more closely at...

34. When using a graph or a chart
And of course, INTERPRET the visual.
What conclusions do you want to draw from it?
What does it add to your message?
What consequences are there?

35. NOW, how to make effective visuals?
There is a golden rule.
Here it is:

36. SIMPLICITY.

37. Absolute DON’Ts

38. Absolute DON’Ts
DON’T use visuals to repeat what
you can say with words.
Spoken words are far more effective than
written.

39. Absolute DON’Ts
DON’T read from the visual.
You have to know what’s on screen without
watching. Seriously, your audience can actually
read those words themselves.

40. Absolute DON’Ts
DON’T use too many visuals.
Project only what is ultimately necessary to be
emphasized or explained.

41. Absolute DON’Ts
DON’T overcrowd visuals with
too much information.
Visuals should help people understand you
better. If you want to give complex details that
are impossible to take in while listening, give it
as a handout.

42. Absolute DON’Ts
DON’T use bullets (•)
for anything but lists.
These bullets can really kill your presentation,
they are over-used and mostly inappropriate.
People falsely think that bullets make the
audience memorize the information better.
In fact, they are the least effective way of
conveying information.

43. Absolute DON’Ts
DON’T use bullets (•)
e.g. ‘How to Be Loved:
for anything but lists. 1. Find somebody to love
These bullets can really kill your presentation, 2. Love them
they are over-used and mostly inappropriate. 3. Demand same from them’
— this is not a list.
People falsely think that bullets make the
audience memorize the information better. A list is when you actually
In fact, they are the least effective way of list some things
conveying information. (types of bird, factors of risk, etc.).

44. Absolute DON’Ts
DON’T show a visual until you’re
starting to talk about it.
And remove it once you finished talking about
it. It’s recommended to project a blank slide
while you don’t need any visual help.

45. Absolute DON’Ts
Finally, DON’T give more than one
thought per each slide.
It distracts. Especially during lists: you’re giving 3
points, and reading the first one while your
audience is already reading the other two and
thus not listening to you.

46. Absolute DOs

47. Absolute DOs
PREPARE each visual carefully and separately.

48. Absolute DOs
PREPARE each visual carefully and separately.
CHECK if the visual really shows what you are saying.

49. Absolute DOs
PREPARE each visual carefully and separately.
CHECK if the visual really shows what you are saying.
MAKE sure your audience can read the visual
(font size, colors).

50. Absolute DOs
PREPARE each visual carefully and separately.
CHECK if the visual really shows what you are saying.
MAKE sure your audience can read the visual
(font size, colors).
FIND effective headlines.

51. Absolute DOs
PREPARE each visual carefully and separately.
CHECK if the visual really shows what you are saying.
MAKE sure your audience can read the visual
(font size, colors).
FIND effective headlines.
KEEP design and content simple.

52. Absolute DOs
PREPARE each visual carefully and separately.
CHECK if the visual really shows what you are saying.
MAKE sure your audience can read the visual
(font size, colors).
FIND effective headlines.
KEEP design and content simple.
USE visually aesthetic illustrations, be creative.

53. Absolute DOs
PREPARE each visual carefully and separately.
CHECK if the visual really shows what you are saying.
MAKE sure your audience can read the visual
(font size, colors).
FIND effective headlines.
KEEP design and content simple.
USE visually aesthetic illustrations, be creative.
REDUCE text to a minimum.

54. Absolute DOs
PREPARE each visual carefully and separately.
CHECK if the visual really shows what you are saying.
MAKE sure your audience can read the visual
(font size, colors).
FIND effective headlines.
KEEP design and content simple.
USE visually aesthetic illustrations, be creative.
REDUCE text to a minimum.
CHECK English in all your materials.

55. Absolute DOs
PREPARE each visual carefully and separately.
CHECK if the visual really shows what you are saying.
MAKE sure your audience can read the visual
(font size, colors).
FIND effective headlines.
KEEP design and content simple.
USE visually aesthetic illustrations, be creative.
REDUCE text to a minimum.
CHECK English in all your materials.
PRESENT information clearly and logically.

56. KEY POINTS

57. KEY POINTS
1. Don’t build your talks around visuals.
2. Use visuals to help your talk.

58. KEY POINTS
... and above all:
Be creative, be simple.