Boring Slides? Let’s Fix That

How to capture attention and drive real engagement

We’ve all been there, sitting through a presentation that feels like a slow march through an endless sea of bullet points. As marketers, internal communicators and leaders, our job is to inspire action, not induce nap time. The good news? Engaging presentations aren’t about being a stand-up comedian or a TED Talk-level performer; they’re about being intentional with how you design and deliver.

I’ve spent the last decade helping people stop boring their audiences—from Fortune 500 CEOs to school leaders and everyone in between. As an Associate Creative Director, I’ve designed and coached hundreds of presentations for everything from sales kickoffs and brand launches to investor updates and commencements. My secret? Pairing bold visuals with clear messaging that supports what you say (not competes with it). I believe good design earns attention, great storytelling keeps it, and no matter how experienced you are, there’s always room to level up how you show up. Here is my go-to playbook. And yes, I practice what I preach.

1. Start with one clear message (not 10)

The quickest way to lose people is to overload them. Every presentation should answer one big question: What’s the point?

If your team can’t repeat your key message in a single sentence, you’re trying to do too much. Choose the one thing you want them to remember and structure your slides around it. Everything else? Cut or move to a follow-up doc.

Pro tip: Write your takeaway first, then build the deck backward.

Challenge: After your next presentation, ask a few team members: “What was the main takeaway?” If their answers don’t match or they hesitate, you’ve got some trimming to do.

2. Use fewer words, more meaning

If your slides look like an email, people will read them instead of listening to you. And if they’re reading, they’re not absorbing.

• Replace paragraphs with short, punchy phrases.
• Think three to five words per line, max five to six lines per slide.
• Use visuals, charts or icons to tell the story instead of explaining every detail in text.

Remember: You are the presentation. The slides are just the support act.

Challenge: Reopen your last big presentation. Which slides can you strip down to fewer words or swap for a visual? Start editing now and aim for leaner, cleaner slides next time.

3. Design like you care (because people notice)

Bad design screams “I didn’t think about you.” And nothing kills attention faster than inconsistent fonts, random clip art or walls of corporate stock photography.

Instead:

• Stick to a clean color palette (ideally your brand’s).
• Use high-quality, relevant images—not ones that feel like filler.
• Leave plenty of white space so the content can breathe.

And if you take only one design rule away, let it be this: one idea per slide.

Challenge: Flip through your last deck with a designer’s eye. Are your fonts consistent? Images meaningful? One idea per slide? If not, give it a mini makeover with the above in mind.

4. Tell a story, don’t just share data

Even internal updates can have a narrative. Frame your presentation like this:

• Set the scene: Why this matters right now
• Show the tension: What challenge, change or decision is at stake
• Reveal the resolution: What you’re asking people to do or what’s next

Stories stick because humans are wired for them. Data matters, but it’s the story that makes people care about the data.

Challenge: Pick one data-heavy section from a recent presentation. Rework it using the story framework: scene, tension, resolution. See how it shifts your audience’s focus from numbers to meaning.

5. Stop reading, start talking

Here’s a harsh truth: If you read your slides word for word, you’ve already lost the room. Presentations are a conversation, not a script.

• Learn your flow, so you can talk to your audience instead of parroting your slides.
• Ask questions or check in: “Does this resonate with what you’re seeing?”
• Keep energy up by varying your pace and tone—monotone equals snooze button.

Challenge: Hop on a Zoom or Teams call solo and record yourself presenting. Watch it back. Where are you reading, rushing or rambling? Polish your flow, not your script.

6. Keep it short (then shorten it again)

Your audience will thank you if you trim the fat. Challenge yourself to cut 20 to 30% of your slides before you present. If you can share details in an email or appendix, do that instead.

Challenge (Bonus Round): Watch your presentation recording and check the clock. Where did you drag or dwell too long? That’s where you can start trimming. Your audience (and your future self) will thank you.

The takeaway: Respect their time, earn their attention

Your team doesn’t need another long, forgettable presentation. They need clarity, energy and a reason to care. A focused story, clean design and engaging delivery aren’t “nice-to-haves”; they’re the difference between a presentation that inspires action and one that becomes tomorrow’s joke in the break room.

The next time you open PowerPoint, ask yourself: Would I want to sit through this? If the answer is no, follow these helpful tips and never lose a room again.