Slides can be helpful. But they’re often misused. Too much text. Too many transitions. Too many moments where the presenter turns to the screen and forgets about the people in front of them.

At Presenter Studio, we encourage presenters to see slides for what they are – a visual support, not a script to hide behind. The moment you speak to the screen instead of your audience, you’ve lost the room.

Start by reducing the amount of text. A single headline. A striking image. A few key figures or quotes. That’s all you need. If you fill the slide with dense paragraphs, people will read ahead and stop listening to you.

Next, keep your focus on the audience. Speak from your own knowledge and experience. Let the slide reinforce your message, not carry it. You should never feel like the screen is doing the heavy lifting. You are the presentation.

Finally, ask yourself if you even need slides. Not every idea needs a visual. Sometimes the most powerful moment comes when you tell a story without anything on screen. When the attention is entirely on your voice and your message.

Using slides well is about restraint, clarity, and confidence. If you want to improve your delivery and visual communication, take a look at our training at