It is too easy to jump dump a ton of data on a slide and hope the audience figures out what it means. This makeover shows what can be done with a huge table of data to make it meaningful to the audience.

1. Slide Makeover
Video Podcast #75:
Transforming data dump slides
Based on the ideas in
“Present It So They Get It”
by Dave Paradi
www.PresentItSoTheyGetIt.com

2. The slide for this makeover comes
from a government agency.
It is typical of a data dump slide.
Here it is.

4. Notice how 1994
is missing

5. The red numbers
seem to be
important, but
not sure why

6. The title doesn’t
tell us the point
of this slide

7. With so much data, we
have no idea how to
determine what the
message is. So we
usually give up trying to
figure it out.

8. What can we do with this slide?
When presenting a time
sequenced set of
measurements, it is usually best to
use a graph
Like this.

9. The headline
summarizes the point
so the audience
understands our
message before we
show them the graph

10. We start by explaining
that the number of SSOs
is related to rainfall, so
we want to show the
relationship.

11. First we show that the
amount of rainfall hasn’t
really changed that much
over the years. It stays
pretty consistent.

12. If the relationship
between SSOs and
rainfall is constant, then
the number of SSOs
shouldn’t change much
over the years.

13. Dramatic increase in SSOs in
recent years
160 When we add the line 140
showing the number
Rainfall in inches (columns)
120
Number of SSOs (line)
120
of SSOs, we can see
it has taken a 100
dramatic spike up in 80
80 recent years
60
40
40
20
0 0
1991
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1993
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010

14. Now that we have shown what the
problem is, we can move on to
explain why it is happening and
what we should do about it in the
rest of the presentation.

15. What lessons can we learn about
transforming data dump slides?

16. Lesson #1:
It is your responsibility as a
presenter to analyze the data and
figure out the point. Don’t make
the audience do the work
(because they won’t).

17. Lesson #2:
Show trends in graphs, not tables
of numbers. Graphs make the
point much clearer.

18. Lesson #3:
When using dual-axis graphs, add
explanatory text on the axis labels
instead of using a legend on the
side.

19. Lesson #4:
When showing more than one
series of data, build them one at a
time on the slide so you can
explain each series to the
audience.

20. Quick recap:
Before After
Lessons:
1. Analyze the data to determine the point
2. Show trends in graphs, not tables
3. Add explanatory text in axis labels instead of legends
4. Build data series one by one in a graph
More makeovers available at www.SlideMakeoverVideos.com

21. If you would like me to help
your team create more
effective presentations, get
in touch:
P: 905-510-4911
E: Dave@ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com
W: www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com