Should I Share my Slides Before a Presentation?
The following question was asked on LinkedIn recently:
“I am a speaker and I have this constant fight with event promoters who want my slides, some even say it is mandatory to provide the slides in order to speak at the event. Any tips on handling this objectionable request?”
We had already been discussing “slide best practice”, and one emerging rule was never to share your slides before a presentation (though sometimes sharing your slides may be useful, as a general rule it’s confusing and counter-productive). To find out why exactly, click here. When you’re converted, read below for my advice for handling such a request.
1. Argue it out
The reasons for not distributing your slides before you speak are vast and varied. Mostly, we know that it makes our audiences less attentive, distracts them from what’s happening on stage and sometimes hinders their understanding because they remember the slide but not the explanation which went along with it. Event organisers may simply need to understand your reasoning.
2. Co-operate
Is it only the organisers who want to view your slides beforehand? If so, this is understandable and I suggest sharing the slides with them. If they want to distribute them, perhaps they will agree to do so after you’ve spoken. Or, when you’re making your slides, keep in mind that they will be seen beforehand and limit yourself to headlines (think Steve Job’s single word slides). That way your audience won’t be distracted or put off, even if they have the slides in front of them.
3. Compromise
Event organisers want the audience to have something to look at or take away from your presentation. You want to keep your slides a surprise. The best compromise in this case is often to draw up a short (1 page) presentation summary, outlining the structure your presentation will take. This isn’t a script, it’s a taster. At most, include just a final “key points” round-up: the purpose of this document is to get people interested in your presentation, not to replace the need to watch your presentation in the first place.
Some good ideas and I agree, letting the audience have the slides beforehand is a bad move. I especially agree with Point 2 about understanding why they want them, and then co-operating to a solution. Essential to avoid mutual motivational misunderstandings!
Peter, thanks for the comment, and for the alliteration. Best regards. Jim
I agree there are times when it would be best to keep the slides as a surprise for the audience. But I believe there are also times when it can be helpful to distribute them ahead of time — IF this is done to help promote the event and get the attendees more interested in the upcoming live presentation. To that end, you’re right to recommend a revised slide deck. But I would make it more appealing than a simple outline. I’ve seen good use of a very bold, engaging photo on each section divider slide with plenty of open space that can be used for note-taking when the slides are printed. I usually prepare a special handout version that does not include all the detail level slides, but still gives the audience an easy and visually congruent way to keep track of where they are in the presentation. If done right, this smaller slide deck can be emailed to participants a few days before and the questions on those slides can get them thinking about certain ideas in preparation for your live presentation.
Susan,
Thanks for your thoughtful, useful comment. I’m too old to be be pedantic, and I think you’re right. That’s all. Best regards. Jim