Do you make these mistakes with your slideshows? #6

Use plain English. Or at least words that your audience understands.

We’ve established that meaningless words and titles are out.
But what about jargon and cryptic phrases?

This slide uses TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms) and references to in-house terminology, which may not be known to all members of the audience.
Is the presenter hiding behind labels?
Trying to impress?
Or simply using phrases that are only common-place in their role.

• Does the whole audience understand the phrases that you commonly use?
• Be selective and purposeful in the use of jargon and buzzwords
• There is no need to show off how much you know

If your audience is trying to work out what you just said, they’re now missing your important message.
You may gain short term (false) credibility, but you stand to lose audience attention.
Which wastes their time and yours.

Guideline 6 = Eliminate buzzwords and jargon.

Find the previous articles here.

Take a look at some of our slideshows.

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