Slide structure: one point per slide

Unit ID: AIT-M07-U03 Estimated active time: 15-20 minutes

The main idea

Slides work best when each slide has one main idea.

A slide is read in a few seconds while someone is also listening to you. One idea is what fits in that.

Why this matters

Overloaded slides make an audience read instead of listen, and reading wins. You then find yourself competing with your own slide.

Safe example

A five-slide outline uses problem, context, option, recommendation, next step.

Five ideas, five slides. Anything else belongs in the speaker notes or in a document.

Better working habit

Ask for slide titles, one key point, and speaker note purpose.

Titles that state the point — "Costs rose in Q3" — work better than titles that name the topic.

What to watch for

Do not overload slides with text.

If a slide needs a paragraph, the material is a document. Sending a document is not a failure.

Mini practice

Create a five-slide outline for a safe topic.

Then check that each title states a point rather than naming a subject.

Check yourself

Before moving on, answer:

• Does each slide carry exactly one idea?
• Do the titles state points or name topics?
• Is anything here really a document rather than a deck?