Sales presentation training tells us that visuals should be minimal and only used if they reinforce your overall message.
That makes sense. Too many slides, especially if they are full of text with complex concepts, detract from the simplicity of what you are trying to convey and distract from the presenter. Not to mention that too many slides are apt to put your audience to sleep.
Too much data can have the same effect…they can both detract and distract. Be aware that data does not strengthen your presentation when:
- You have a sophisticated audience who understands that data can be manipulated and interpreted in almost opposite ways.
- You want to highlight new trends. Data only measure the past. They do not look into the future.
- Data as measures of complex problems can be so overwhelming that your audience is lost in the maze of interpretation.
Use data to underline points only when they prove or synthesize a concept that is critical to your presentation.
