Withholding information from your audience

Think of a presentation or speech that you attended where you understood the main message and walked out with the message. Perhaps a sermon from your preacher. Perhaps a movie that touched you - ET Phone home, or Lassie.

Presentations that convey the main message to the audience are not crowded with information. Effective and meaningful presentations have one simple theme and manifold supporting images that convey the message for the audience to understand it.

No effective presentation starts off with with PowerPoint slide that says "Let me read to you the 25 top awards that my company has achieved". (Just typing this title puts me to sleep, I couldn't bear to have to sit through such a presentation).

Instead, prepare your presentation using this guideline. Only tell the audience what they need to know, and tell it to them using a variety of communication techniques so that they walk out with the main idea of your presentation.

For example, if your message for your presentation is "Set the example because your leadership actions determines your project's performance", then use a metaphor, a personal story, a data point and metric to communicate this message to your audience.

Don't try to tell your audience everything you know about leadership and project management. Don't provide bucket loads of research results to your audience. (Of course, at this point, you know that you shouldn't be putting this information on your slides).

Focus on what the audience needs to know in order to understand your message, and do everything you can, including using audience activities, to communicate your message. '

Deliberately withhold distracting information from your audience, including additional information that will encourage information overload.

Remember this. "Rather withhold than overload".