When redesigning a PowerPoint presentation, I always meet with the presenter and walk through the presentation together. I then explain to them that they should feel confident in their public speaking abilities and let the PowerPoint serve as an outline, not as a complete explanation.

The less attention paid to the content on the screen, the more attention paid to the speaker.

After reducing the text from paragraphs to notes, I give the deck visual elements that will capture -- but not hog -- the audience’s attention.