Presenting? Master The Art of the Segue

Help People Follow You: Create Transitions

"We'll be back after this message from..."  There's a reason why TV and radio announcers use that line. It's designed to help you understand what's about to happen and how it's connected to the programming. In broadcasting it's called a "segue." How often have you watched a speaker end a sentence, click the next slide, speak, click the next slide, speak, click the next slide... and you're wondering "How is this related to what I just saw?" That's what happens when presenters see their role as giving out information instead of telling a meaningful story.

Connect the Dots

This is what it sounds like when you're taking the audience with you:

• "We just saw the results of last month's marketing activity. Now let's look at what that means for this month's forecast."  Click.

• "If we decide on Alternative D, how will that impact staffing levels? Here's what we found..." Click.

• "You asked how we're going to start up the Asian operation. Let's look at the first 3 steps." Click.

So the next time you have a presentation to design, think segue. Build a bridge from one thought or fact to the next and take your listeners with you. They'll appreciate it. 

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Photo source attribution: www.viroqua-wisconsin.com/attractions

Comments

[Greg Strosaker]

Great advice. Let's add that one should avoid artificially enhancing their segue with cheezy Powerpoint slide transitions, shall we?

[Steve Roesler]

Yeah, Greg, I'm in.

Cheezy ppt transitions have replaced the original slides that looked like ransom notes because people could use any font they wanted. So they used all of them.

No accounting for taste or sensibility. . .