The article discusses three common problems in presentations and how IDEO, a top design consulting firm, overcomes them. According to Nicole Kahn, a former IDEO director and current vice president of Carta software company, these problems are:
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One-Sided and Self-Oriented: Presenters often focus on what they want to say without considering the audience’s interests. To avoid this, Kahn suggests the bar test, where presenters try out their content on strangers in a casual setting, such as a bar or a company’s break room, to gauge reactions and adjust accordingly.
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Data Overload and Lack of Storytelling: Many presentations are filled with data but lack personal anecdotes, which can make the presentation boring. Kahn recommends adding interesting and detailed stories, especially those that engage the audience’s senses, to make the presentation more engaging. Sharing personal emotions during the presentation can also help connect with the audience and make the presentation more memorable.
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Treating PowerPoint as Word: Presenters often overload slides with text, which can distract the audience from the speaker. Kahn suggests using images instead of text to keep the audience focused on the speaker. She also advises using the notes function in presentation software to remind the speaker of their talking points without overwhelming the audience with text.
In summary, IDEO’s approach to presentations emphasizes audience engagement, storytelling, and visual aids to create more impactful and memorable presentations.
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