Presentations (HBR 20-Minute Manager Series)

Plan the Visuals

The visuals are often what stick with people well after a presentation ends. Consider these research findings:

• People learn 75% of what they know visually, 13% through hearing, and 12% through smell.

• A picture is three times as effective in conveying information as words alone.

• Words and pictures together are six times as effective as words alone.

So use visual aids to help your audience stay engaged, remember facts, and understand ideas, relationships, or physical layouts. You can also use them as cues that you’re moving to a new topic. Remember, however, that when people are looking at a visual, they’re not looking at you. That’s why it’s important to create visuals that they can process quickly.

Choosing the appropriate ...