You have probably heard the expression "information overload" before.
Humans can only store up to 7 (± 2) units of information in short-term memory . This statement comes from psychologist George Miller. In a study, he found that this is the limit of human information processing capacity. More information can be found here .
Be that as it may, 91% of PowerPoint presentations contain bulleted lists (also known as "bullet points") with more than 7 (± 2) items. This overloads the audience's working memory . As a result, the audience absorbs less information than you originally intended.
Fortunately, you can solve this problem quickly and easily . After completing your presentation, check your PowerPoint slides. Specifically, make sure that your bulleted lists contain no more than 5 to a maximum of 9 items .
The conscious mind can concentrate on three, maybe four things at once . If you go too far beyond that, judgment deteriorates, you lose track of things, and your ability to concentrate decreases.
So how can you avoid such an information overload?
✔️ Reduce the number of bullet points/information units per slide
✔️ Reduce the amount of text on your slides. For presentations, less is more. Instead, use more visual stimuli, such as images.
✔️ Eliminate irrelevant information and remove anything that is not absolutely necessary. Consider what you can delete and what you want to keep.
✔️ Don't try to fit everything onto one slide – use multiple slides instead.
✔️ Divide your slide into several slides with one dot per slide.
By forcing yourself to figure out what you want to convey on each slide, you reduce the amount of information and thus help your audience absorb your message and focus on the most important point.
✔️ Tell a story (tips can be found here )
Don't think of yourself as a presenter, but as a storyteller. Captivate and inspire. Ensure that your ideas stick in the minds of your audience and that your message resonates long after the presentation has ended.
Follow our tips and impress with your presentation!
Do you have questions about avoiding information overload? Or other questions about PowerPoint? Feel free to contact becker@presentationload.de . We're happy to help!
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