"In my opinion, business communication often overemphasizes the role that presentations play in speeches. Think back to why speakers need presentations? To visualize complex entities, to navigate the audience, and to support the content of the speech. They're for help, not stock images."

In what situations do presentations create harm?

1) In situations when instead of preparing a speech (instead of analysing the audience, setting goals and adapting content to the listeners) speakers spend time on creating a presentation (layouts and slide design).

The feeling is that the time was spent with benefit — the deed is done, the presentation is in hand. And the outcome of the actual preparation is zero.

2) In situations when the audience is very distracted by the presentation and listens to the speaker half-heartedly.

Why does this happen?

When there is a lot of material on the slides, the audience involuntarily focuses on it (studying the text, schemes, and prototypes). As a result, they listen less and interpret the information in their own way, missing important elements of the story. “Why listen? I already understand everything perfectly well from the lists on the slide!”

What should we do now — perform without presentations?

I do not suggest radical solutions, but I urge you to adequately assess your strengths at the start. Full-fledged preparation is a multistep process, and a presentation is only one of the steps.

When is it better to give up the presentation?

• when there's not enough time for a full cycle of preparation — it's better to spend the last evening on selecting relevant examples and a couple of rehearsals;
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• when the presentation is not super long, up to 15 minutes. Use storytelling to explain complex entities and create clear images in people's heads. This will help focus and hold the audience's attention.

Case: Simon Sinek talks about why you feel safe with a good leader

Why is a speech without a presentation still interesting to listen to?

• Simple narrative

There is a clearly stated main idea around which all content is built. The speaker uses clear examples and anti-examples to explain the idea, showing the different spectrum of the idea.

• Pleasant tone

Friendly narration — not complicated, not overwhelmed by the speaker's expertise. Does not speak to the audience, but talks to the audience.

• Maintains momentum

He uses a flip chart: draws very simple diagrammatic images. The speaker creates content himself, not reproducing it from a slide, not rehashing the presentation.

Asks rhetorical questions, speaks to the experience of the audience: it all creates a sense of interaction, includes the audience in the story.