Nowhere is the concept of ‘less is more’ more applicable than in proposals and presentations where there is a tendency for people to say too much.
The problem with saying too much is that the more non essential information you communicate, the more your key messages are diluted, lessening their impact.
How much information should I provide?
You need to provide enough information to support the points that you want to make.
Where do I start?
The starting point in constructing your proposal or presentation is to decide on the points that you need to communicate. Once these messages have been determined you can then decide the most effective way to bring them to life.
To bring each key point to life
Consider what facts, figures, visuals, stories, examples and case studies you can use to support each point and in presentations use a different physical gesture to signify that a different point is being made.
So when constructing your next proposal or presentation
Identify your key messages, bring your key messages to life, and hold off on the temptation to include anything else that may dilute the impact of your communication.