These days, we’re bombarded with information, noise and it is increasingly challenging to capture people’s attention for long periods of time. While communicating an important message, you’re likely competing with social media newsfeeds, phone apps or emails. Even if you’ve mastered the art of storytelling, it is equally important that your visual aids are powerful, effective and bring your overall message to life.
Imagine you’re spending 2 minutes on each slide for a presentation and your audience looks up from their current distraction for an average of 10 seconds. The risk of not maximizing those 10 seconds is too great especially if this is a meeting that has been scheduled well in advance and with an audience that can impact next steps. If the success of the action items following the meeting hinges on their willingness to act, your goal during that time is to communicate your vision and message clearly, make it stick, get you audience to buy-in and inspire them to act.
Your goal during that time is to communicate your vision and message clearly, make it stick, get you audience to buy-in and inspire them to act.
How do you ensure that your message is communicated during that short amount of time? How do you get your audience to understand your key takeaways? I’ve spent some time working on this area myself and compiled a list of key techniques I use for more impactful visual content:
You may notice that this process incorporates flexibility. Even for business purposes, I lean heavily on my creative side to improve my effectiveness. I strip down the barriers of how things should be and I’m less afraid of trying new communication styles and techniques. If an approach is impactful, clearly communicates the message and makes it stick, I will use it.
The resulting content has been well received by my clients and colleagues. It has also provided value as fresh, differentiated content that is simple and digestible.
What approaches do you use to get your message across? I’d be interested in hearing. I’d also like to know how the techniques listed above work for you!
Dasanj Aberdeen is an entrepreneurial spirit who embodies the combination of left-brain logic and right-brain creativity. She is a consultant and proponent of multidisciplinary education, approaches and pursuits. She writes about their benefits in modern times and integrating multiple interests into a sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle. She’s a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University with a concentration in Technology & Innovation Management, jointly delivered by the Fox School of Business and College of Engineering.
