When you want to show progress or ratings using stars, circles, or other shapes, don’t use the shapes in PowerPoint. Use the characters in the font I show in this video. It is much easier to get everything aligned and it is easy to change color. The information in this video is an example of…
Category: Diagrams
Arrange icons/images and related text neatly on a PowerPoint slide; Step-by-step tutorial
When you want to align icons or images with the descriptive text that goes along with each one, follow the steps in this video to get it done quickly and know that they are all perfectly aligned. The information in this video is an example of the practical advice I share in my live in-person…
Advanced alignment techniques for shapes in PowerPoint; Step-by-step tutorial
The alignment tools in PowerPoint can save you a lot of time arranging objects on your slides. This video shows you how to take your skills even further with advanced techniques that allow you to go beyond what the built-in features allow. The information in this video is an example of the practical advice I…
Accurate Timeline Visual to Replace PowerPoint Designer Options
The Problem with Timelines from PowerPoint Designer When preparing slide makeovers for a recent client workshop I saw a number of slides that used some of the new timeline SmartArt that Designer in PowerPoint suggests if you enter a text slide with dates. The ones I’m referring to are the ones that look like these…
Three ways to use PowerPoint’s built-in content to make a job interview presentation more visual & more effective
If you have a job interview for a position in HR, operations, finance, customer service, or another area, you may be asked to prepare a ten-minute presentation to test your communication ability. Here are three ways you can use PowerPoint’s built-in content to make your presentation more visual & more effective.
Create a sliding timeline visual in PowerPoint to show many time periods or events
If you have many time periods to show in a timeline visual or you have many events to show on a timeline and cramming it in on a single slide would look too crowded, consider splitting the timeline across two slides. In the video below you will see how to create a sliding timeline that…
How to create a time scale in PowerPoint for timeline visuals, Gantt charts, and other time-based visuals
A timeline visual is a generic term used to describe any time-based visual. It consists of the time scale for the desired period of time and shapes or text that indicate the events during the time period shown. A Gantt chart is a specific type of timeline visual often used in project management. Here is…
Timeline visual templates in Excel from Microsoft
Microsoft makes downloadable timeline templates available at https://templates.office.com/en-us/timelines. Note that some of the templates are classified as Premium templates (denoted by the diamond icon) which are only available to those who have a subscription to Microsoft 365. When looking at these templates, be careful to select a template that creates an accurate time scale. Most…
Add design flair to sequence diagrams in PowerPoint using shape techniques
In my customized training courses I suggest that business professionals should create diagrams in PowerPoint using shapes instead of using SmartArt. One reason SmartArt is so popular is that it is quick and easy to add. The problem is that SmartArt is not very flexible and it takes control of what the visual will look…
12 Tips for virtual calls; Issue #480 December 22, 2020
Recently I shared the following infographic on social media with 12 tips for a virtual Christmas. I expand on some of the tips on this page. While these tips are focused on family gatherings during this time of year, the tips apply to any Zoom, Teams, or Webex meeting at work. These tips apply to…