1. Business Presentations
The Basics

2. Outline for a Business Presentation
Introductions
Speaker(s)
Others in room, if needed
Tell them what you’ll tell them
Tell them
Tell them what you told them

3. Slide Guidelines Plan on 3 minutes per slide 3-5 bullets per slide
If use sub-bullets, have at least 2

4. More Slide Guidelines Have a message for each slide
Make sure everything on slide reinforces message
Graphics and charts are very effective
Use, but do not rely on, color

5. Bullet Point Guidelines
Use sentence fragments
Edit your slides trying to eliminate words
Start each bullet with same part of speech

6. Example Key Lessons Learned
How to forecast so that don’t have stockouts or too much inventory
Be sure to look ahead two years when planning production capacity
Sell long-term debt for financing long-term assets

7. Example Key Lessons Learned
How to forecast so that don’t have stockouts or too much inventory
Be sure to look ahead two years when planning production capacity
Sell long-term debt for financing long-term assets
Start each bullet with same part of speech – verbs are especially good.

8. Example Key Lessons Learned
How to forecast so that don’t have stockouts or too much inventory
Be sure to look ahead two years when planning production capacity
Sell long-term debt for financing long-term assets
Now each bullet starts with a verb.

9. Example Key Lessons Learned
Forecast so that don’t have stockouts or too much inventory
Look ahead two years when planning production capacity
Sell long-term debt for financing long-term assets
Now reduce the number of words.

10. Example Key Lessons Learned
Forecast carefully so that don’t have stockouts or too much inventory
Look ahead two years when planning production capacity two years ahead
Sell long-term debt for financing long-term assets Match debt and asset terms
Leave the essence and talk to the detail.

11. Example – Final version Lessons Learned
Forecast carefully
Plan capacity two years ahead
Match debt and asset terms

12. Comparisons Don’t Do This
Company A
Company B
400 Employees
Founded in 1978
5 locations
$2M in Revenue
20% ROS
Three locations
10% ROE
$1.5M Net Income
Founded 1987
150 Employees

13. Comparisons Put like items side-by-side
Company A
Company B
Founded in 1978
5 locations
400 Employees
$2M in Revenue
20% ROS
Founded 1987
3 locations
150 Employees
$3.2M in Revenue
9% ROS

14. Comparisons Want people to immediately message
What is your message?
Best if don’t have to read
Do not put too much information in a row/cell.
If item is yes/no, use an X or check mark
Avoid, at all costs, putting lots of words or sentences in a table

15. Comparison Example

16. Comparison Example

17. Comparison Example

18. Presenting the Talk Do not talk too quickly.
Shoot for 3 minutes per slide.
Do not read slides.
Remember – no sentences
Slides are your outline
Face your audience.

19. Have Fun
You know your topic best
Have fun