The Executive Mindset
Executives make decisions all day. Every presentation competes for limited cognitive bandwidth.
They're asking: What do you want? Why should I care? What should I do?
Answer those questions fast, or lose their attention.
Less Is More
The instinct is to include more: more data, more analysis, more context. Resist it.
Amateur move: 50 slides covering every angle.
Pro move: 10 slides with one clear recommendation.
Every slide you add dilutes your message. Every word you cut strengthens it.
Font Size Matters
If an executive needs reading glasses to see your slides, you've failed.
Minimum font sizes:
- Titles: 28pt
- Body text: 20pt
- Footnotes: 14pt
If your content doesn't fit at these sizes, you have too much content.
Color With Purpose
Color should communicate, not decorate.
- Green: Good, on track, growth
- Red: Bad, off track, decline
- Blue: Neutral, informational
- Gray: Secondary, supporting
Don't use rainbow colors because they look nice. Use color to guide attention.
White Space Is Your Friend
Cramped slides feel overwhelming. White space lets content breathe.
If your slide feels crowded, remove something. The empty space isn't wasted—it's directing focus.
One Number, One Story
When showing data to executives, pick the one number that matters most. Make it huge. Build the slide around it.
Weak: A chart with 12 data points and a small callout box.
Strong: "Revenue: $42M" in 72pt font with supporting context below.
The 5-Second Test
Show your slide to someone for 5 seconds. Can they tell you the main point?
If not, redesign. If an executive has to study your slide to understand it, you've already lost.
Animation Restraint
Animations are for entertainment, not business communication.
Never use: Flying text, spinning charts, bounce effects.
Use sparingly: Simple fades to reveal information sequentially.
When in doubt, no animation.
Consistency Builds Trust
Inconsistent formatting signals sloppy thinking.
- Same fonts throughout
- Same color palette
- Same chart styles
- Same alignment
Templates exist for a reason. Use them.
The Backup Deck
Executives ask questions. Be prepared.
Your main deck: 10 slides with the core story. Your backup deck: 30+ slides with supporting detail.
Know your backup cold. Navigate to any slide in seconds. The best presenters answer questions by pulling up exactly the right backup slide.
Start With the Ask
Don't save your request for the end. State it upfront.
"I'm here to recommend we acquire CompanyX for $50M. Let me show you why."
Now they know where you're going. They can evaluate everything through that lens.
End With Next Steps
Every executive presentation should end with clear next steps.
- What decision is needed
- Who needs to make it
- When it needs to happen
- What you need from them right now
Vague endings waste meetings. Specific asks drive action.