Revolutionizing Presentations with “Clear and to the PowerPoint”: Insights from Kosslyn’s Psychological Principles

Over the weekend, nestled in Guam (a three-hour journey southeast of Osaka), I swiftly devoured a book that delves into enhancing PowerPoint presentations – “Clear and to the Point: 8 Psychological Principles for Compelling PowerPoint Presentations,” authored by Stephen Kosslyn. I’m thrilled to add it to my reading list; it’s worth every moment. Although some content might not be groundbreaking, the esteemed neuroscientist from Harvard provides a fresh perspective, backed by persuasive psychological principles, outlining do’s and don’ts for presentations and PPTs. If you’re keen on transforming yourself and the “PPT culture” around you, this book holds invaluable insights. It’s not just another guide on creating slides but brims with vivid examples illustrating effectiveness and pitfalls, all supported by ample evidence to spur you towards improvement.

Kosslyn outlines three primary objectives for successful presentations: 1) Connect with your audience, 2) Guide and maintain their attention, and 3) Facilitate comprehension and memory. In essence, you must (1) relate to your audience’s goals and interests, (2) captivate and sustain their focus on key information, and (3) make your material easily comprehensible, replicable, and memorable. The eight principles detailed in the book revolve around achieving these goals. For in-depth exploration, practical applications, and vivid illustrations, the source material is indispensable, but here’s a concise summary:

Objective 1: Bond with Your Audience. This goal stems from the principles of relevance and appropriate knowledge. Strive for a Goldilocks zone with information—neither too much nor too little, tailored to your specific audience, and communicated in fitting language.

Objective 2: Command and Sustain Attention. Derived from principles of salience, discriminability, and perceptual organization, this objective encourages leveraging design tactics like contrast to highlight key points. Remember Robin Williams’ advice, “Say no to mediocrity!” Also, people naturally group similar-looking elements, so use this wisely.

Objective 3: Foster Comprehension and Recall. Based on compatibility, informative changes, and capacity limitations principles, information is better remembered when congruent with its meaning. Avoid inconsistencies, like green font for “red,” or incongruous images with data. Vary your presentation with meaningful changes, but avoid overloading the audience with information beyond their cognitive limit.

Background, Prominence, and Harmony

Let’s apply the principles of prominence and compatibility to examine slide backgrounds. Kosslyn insists that the most important elements should stand out, achieved through large fonts, bolding, strategic color use, positioning, and other techniques.

He also advises against overly prominent backgrounds, advocating for simplicity to prevent distractions. Backgrounds should enhance, not compete with, foreground elements. Kosslyn cautions that background images must complement, not conflict with, the message. Well-chosen backgrounds “amplify the message, otherwise, they muddy the waters.”

Consider these examples: Two posters spotted outside shops in Guam illustrate the point. The left poster uses three colors (white, red, black), while the right employs seven (yellow, green, blue, red, black, purple, and white). Both highlight discounts with large fonts (“40%” and “50%”), but the right poster’s excessive elements dilute the main message, akin to cluttered slides. The left poster’s clarity demonstrates effective emphasis.

Next, we examine charts about mobile internet penetration rates in 2004. The aim is to emphasize Japan and South Korea’s lead. The chart on the top left uses a template with a busy background that distracts from the data. The right one has better contrast, but the beach and volleyball theme lacks relevance to the content. A more suitable background would enhance the message rather than confuse it.

Lastly, simple backgrounds often work best for charts or tables. White backgrounds provide strong contrast with dark text, ideal for well-lit rooms. However, in dimly lit settings, white can be overwhelming.

“Clear and to the Point” offers a wealth of psychologically grounded advice. While case-by-case disagreements may arise, the book stands as one of the most useful resources for PowerPoint users. Its underwhelming circulation is a mystery, considering its potential as a textbook for university-level communication courses or a valuable asset for frequent presenters. This isn’t a how-to manual on PowerPoint, nor does it prescribe a rigid formula, which is part of its appeal. It’s a worthy read, deserving applause for fostering meaningful communication.