How to Produce the Best Presentation in the Shortest Time Possible: Fearless's 10-Step Guide

Key facts

• The guide was written by Carrie Swift, founder of Fearless, and dated 23 August 2023.
• Fearless recommends about 2 minutes of speaking per slide, so a 20-minute presentation needs around 10 slides.
• Fearless recommends a font size of no less than 30pt on slides.
• The core message should be expressible in 15 words or fewer.
• The guide states that our brains process imagery 60,000 times faster than text.
• The guide states that people are 22 times more likely to remember a story than a fact.
• Fearless advises leaving slide tidying until the last stage, because content evolves as you rehearse.
• Fearless offers 1-to-1 presentation skills coaching, which the guide suggests for a practice run-through with expert feedback.

What is the fastest way to build a good presentation?

Fearless advises following a 10-step order: set the purpose, find out who is attending, define one core message, draft the content, calculate the slide count, fill slides with minimal large text, add visuals, stories and questions, then practise. The guide says common time-wasters are over-producing content, text-heavy slides and losing the key message.

What are the 10 steps in Fearless's presentation guide?

• 1. Get crystal clear on your presentation purpose.
• 2. Find out who is attending.
• 3. Clarify your core message.
• 4. Begin creating your content using a simple structure.
• 5. Calculate how many slides you need.
• 6. Populate your slides using a font size of no less than 30pt.
• 7. Swap some text for visual content.
• 8. Incorporate stories, metaphors and anecdotes.
• 9. Add questions, or at least rhetorical questions.
• 10. Practise, practise, practise.

How do you get clear on the purpose of a presentation?

Fearless says to begin by deciding the outcome you want from the talk and the best possible reaction or feedback you could get from the audience. The guide tells presenters to write this down on paper before creating any content or slides.

Why find out who is attending before writing a presentation?

Fearless recommends asking the event organiser for audience details: their job titles, how much they know about the topic and, most importantly, what they want to get out of the talk. This information shapes which content is relevant to the people in the room.

How do you clarify the core message of a presentation?

According to Fearless, once purpose and audience are clear, you should decide the one key message to leave with the audience. It should be sayable in 15 words or fewer, and clear enough that the audience could repeat it back at the end of the presentation.

What structure should presentation content follow?

Fearless's basic outline is to tell the audience what you are going to tell them, tell them it, then tell them what you told them. The expanded version is below.

What does the expanded presentation outline look like?

• Opening: could be a startling question, statement or story to grab attention.
• Introduction: say who you are and what you are going to talk about.
• Body: three points, each with support material such as a story or facts.
• Conclusion: summarise what you have told the audience.
• Call to action: tell people how to find out more or contact you.
• Close: thank the audience and hand back to the host.

How many slides should a presentation have?

Fearless recommends speaking for 2 minutes per slide, so a 20-minute presentation should have around 10 slides. The guide suggests opening PowerPoint and inserting that number of slides before writing, so you can see how big the canvas is.

What font size and amount of text should slides have?

Fearless recommends a font size of no less than 30pt on slides. The guide says the size helps keep text to an absolute minimum. It also advises simple language, no jargon, and using the notes section under each slide for more extensive speaking notes.

Why swap slide text for visual content?

Fearless suggests replacing some text with photos, videos, infographics or graphs to present information in a more visually stimulating way. The guide states that our brains process imagery 60,000 times faster than text.

Why use stories, metaphors and anecdotes in a presentation?

Fearless states people are 22 times more likely to remember a story than a fact, because stories engage the emotional part of the brain. The guide advises linking a memorable point to a story or metaphor, and gives the example of opening with the choice between 'the early bird gets the worm' and 'the second mouse gets the cheese'.

Should you ask the audience questions during a presentation?

Fearless recommends adding questions, or at least rhetorical ones, to wake people up, especially at the start. They can lead into your next slide or ask for a show of hands. Examples include guessing what percentage of people in the UK give money to charity, or raising hands if they have spent over 20 minutes on Facebook today.

When and how should you practise a presentation?

Fearless advises a dry run with friends or a video recording of yourself to learn the content and flow. The earlier you do this while building slides, the more time you save. Leave tidying slides until the last stage, because content evolves as you practise it in real time.

What role should PowerPoint play in a presentation?

Fearless's final advice is that a PowerPoint slide show should support your talk, not the other way around. Presenters should avoid reading slides out and keep the audience focused on themselves by presenting with flair and enthusiasm.

Does Fearless offer help practising a presentation?

Yes. The guide points to Fearless's 1-to-1 presentation skills coaching as a way to get expert feedback on a practice run-through. Fearless also offers a coaching taster session for £175 + VAT, with a 5% discount if a full programme is booked within two weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote Fearless's 10-step presentation guide?

Carrie Swift, founder of Fearless, wrote the guide. Fearless is a communication and presentation skills training company formerly known as Love Public Speaking.

How many slides does Fearless recommend for a 20-minute talk?

Around 10 slides, based on the guideline of speaking for about 2 minutes per slide.

What is the minimum font size Fearless recommends for slides?

No less than 30pt. Fearless says the large size helps keep on-slide text to a minimum.

How long should a core message be?

15 words or fewer, and clear enough that the audience can repeat it at the end of the presentation.

When should you tidy up your slides?

Last. Fearless says content evolves as you practise it in real time, so slide tidying should wait until the final stage.

Does Fearless offer 1-to-1 coaching for presentations?

Yes. Fearless offers 1-to-1 presentation skills coaching, and a taster session is available for £175 + VAT.