Simplicity sounds simple. It is not.
It sounds logical: keep your presentation clear and simple. But once you’re in the middle of it, it’s anything but. What do you leave out? What stays in? And who decides what’s essential?
Chris Anderson (curator of TED Talks) once said:
“Present as if you’re speaking to a class of six-year-olds.”
Not because your audience is dumb but because clarity forces you to choose.
5 tips om je presentatie eenvoudig te houden
- Ask yourself this question: "What do I want them to remember?"
If it is not crystal clear to you, it will never be clear to your audience. Put that message at the center. Cut the rest. - Create your presentation for a 10-year-old and test it with an adult.
If a child understands it, your structure is solid. If an adult remembers it, your story is strong. Use simple words without dumbing it down. Short sentences. - 1 slide means 1 idea.
Want to explain five bullets on one slide? Then you actually need five slides. Simplicity means making choices.
Every bullet that adds nothing pulls the rest don. Dare to leave just one strong sentence. White space is communication too. - Cut what your mouth refuses to say.
Read your text out loud. Do you stumble? Trip over your own words? That is clutter. Keep cutting until it flows.
Why it works:
- Simplicity makes your message clearer
Your audience understands and remembers more. They don’t have to untangle your sentences to get your point. - Simplicity saves time
No detours. No noise. More room for interaction. And it’s that interaction that makes your story stick. - Simplicity avoids confusion
You guide your audience through your story. They know what matters, and they don’t have to work to follow it. - Simplicity keeps people with you
No maze, just connection. People tune out when they don’t know where you’re going. - Simplicity leads to action
If your audience gets what you want… they’re more likely to do it. Confusion creates inertia. Clarity creates movement.
In short: simplicity isn’t a style choice. It’s a strategy.
And if you’re stuck...
We get it. It’s hard to spot your own clutter. That’s where we come in, as a sharp second pair of eyes. We help you cut, shape, and simplify. Not to decorate. To clarify.