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Using Overheads in Presentations

by
Victor Barron

Many business and professional presenters use overhead transparencies in training sessions, presentations or meetings. Of all the written advice on the effective use of overheads, the following is what I found to be the most useful. Here are a few simple tricks to help you use them more effectively.

Using overheads in your presentations, enable you to free yourself from notes by having key points listed on the frame of the overhead. This allows you to maintain greater eye contact with your audience. In this way, you are able to assess how they are receiving your material.

Presenters often point at the overhead screen when drawing attention to specific material. As a result, they may lose eye contact with the group and make it difficult for participants to hear what is being said. Therefore, try using a pen, stir stick, or other slim object and place it on the transparency so that it points to the area of reference.

Rather than reveal a line at a time on a crowded overhead simply put the information on a separate transparency.

Guidelines that make overheads easier to read:

• Use simple fonts. - Romans, Arial, etc. with minimum font size at 18 pts.
• Stick to six lines per page and six words per line.
• Space text lines at least 1.5 times.
• Make pictures and diagrams large enough to see from the back of your audience.
• Keep the number of colors per slide to 3 (unless a graphic is used).
• Use red text only for key words.

When creating overheads, ensure that the acetate you use is specific for the copier or printer type! If you use the wrong type it can melt and cause damage to your equipment.

Use overheads sparingly, as they can become very monotonous. Usually, one visual aid (overhead, flipchart, slides, white board illustration) for every two to three minutes of presentation.

Have fun!

Victor Barron

Victor Barron is co-owner of
Barron & Associates
Providing Solutions to business and training needs.