The One Slide Every Presentation Needs (And Why)

You’ve been in that meeting. You know the one. The presenter clicks through slide 47 of what feels like 200, and you’ve mentally checked out by slide 12. You’re wondering if this is ever going to end, whether any of this matters to you, and how many emails you can covertly answer before anyone notices.

Now flip the script. You’re the presenter. And that glazed-over, multitasking audience? They’re wondering the same thing about your deck.

Here’s the blunt reality check: most presentations have too many slides. And too often, that’s ego talking: “I worked hard on this,” “They need to see it,” “More slides = more value.” Nope. In my experience, more slides usually means more confusion and less trust.

I prescribe to the “less is more” mantra, and I am a firm believer that one slide should make the cut every single time: your agenda.

If you’re not using an agenda strategically, you’re leaving engagement, credibility, and control on the table, especially in virtual and hybrid meetings where your “Virtual Brand” is being judged in real time.

Why Most Presentations Fail (And It’s Not the Content)

Let’s start with what your audience cares about: their time.

When someone agrees to sit through your presentation, they’re making an investment. They want to know you’re not going to waste it. And yet, how many presenters dive straight into content without a roadmap?

That’s where your agenda comes in. I teach people to think about it like a GPS: show the route up front, then keep everyone oriented as you move.

THE AGENDA SLIDE: Your Secret Weapon for Audience Control

When it comes to decks, simplicity wins. Cut the fluff.

But the agenda slide? Non-negotiable.

Here’s why it works:

• For your audience: it sets expectations, signals respect for their time, and helps them manage attention.

• For you: it keeps you on track, gives you natural engagement checkpoints, and lets you manage time without looking scattered.

  
  

And when time gets tight, I use the agenda to lead like a pro: “Do you want to go deeper here, or move forward so we can cover implementation?”

A Simple Prompt: Review Your Decks for an Agenda

Pull up your most recent deck. Do you have a clear agenda slide? If you don’t, add it. If you do, use it like a GPS: open with it, return to it, and let it keep you (and everyone else) on track.

Chances are there are a few slides that can and should be eliminated from your presentations. The agenda slide is a definite keeper!