Episode #409: Use Your Visuals Checklist When Presenting In Japan

Why do so many professionals let their slides take over their message?

In Japan’s corporate world (日本企業 and 外資系企業 alike), too many presenters focus on slides instead of storytelling. Visuals should support your message — not overshadow it. Whether you’re leading a business pitch, internal meeting, or training session, the ability to control your visuals is key to persuasive communication.

At Dale Carnegie Tokyo, we teach professionals to make their visuals serve them — not the other way around.

Many speakers lose control to the screen, letting slides dominate attention. But a screen can’t express emotion — only you can. Use your facial expressions to convey conviction, surprise, or excitement.
Position yourself stage-left (audience’s right), so people see you first, then your slide.

💡 Pro Tip: If your audience stops looking at you, pause speaking. Silence pulls their focus back to you.
Mini-summary: You are the message — the visuals are your servant.

2. Why do tiny fonts ruin professional presentations?

Small fonts signal poor preparation. If the audience can’t grasp your slide’s key idea within two seconds, it’s too dense.
Follow the Two-Second Rule: each slide should communicate its main message instantly. If not, split it into multiple slides.

💡 Practical Test: Print your slide and place it on the floor. If you can’t read it standing up, enlarge the text.
Mini-summary: Big, clear fonts = big, clear ideas.

3. How many graphs should I show per slide?

Executives love data — but hate confusion. Overloading slides with multiple charts makes comprehension impossible.

• Use one chart per slide.

• Bar charts for short-term comparisons (1–2 years).

• Line charts for long-term trends (up to 3 variables).

• Pie charts for share breakdowns (no more than two per slide).

Mini-summary: One clear chart explains more than six unreadable ones.

4. Why is white space powerful?

Cramming text and visuals makes slides hard to follow. White space creates focus. One number, one word, or one image per slide has far greater impact.
Mini-summary: Simplicity directs attention — clutter kills clarity.

5. What role should photos play in my message?

A single powerful photo triggers emotion faster than text or graphs. Especially images showing people — faces attract attention.
If discussing an issue like homelessness in San Francisco, a single photo of a person on the street communicates the problem more deeply than six charts.

💡 Engagement Trick: Show the photo first, without explanation. Let the audience wonder — then reveal the meaning.
Mini-summary: Use one strong image to spark curiosity and emotion.

6. How should I use color effectively?

Too many colors confuse. Limit slides to two main colors for readability and brand harmony. A touch of contrast keeps it engaging; too much distracts.
Mini-summary: In design, less color = more impact.

Many presenters spend 90% of their time designing slides and almost none rehearsing delivery. But visuals are only part of the story. The real power comes from your presence, pacing, and voice.
By mastering these six visual rules, you’ll free time for rehearsal — and your presentation will connect on a human level.

• You, not your slides, are the star of the presentation.

• Simplicity wins: large fonts, minimal charts, and clean layouts.

• Use emotion and storytelling to amplify your visuals.

• Rehearse — don’t just design.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has empowered leaders, sales professionals, and executives for over a century. Our Tokyo office (established in 1963) continues to train Japanese and multinational companies in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI (ダイバーシティ・エクイティ・インクルージョン) programs.

Experience the world’s most trusted name in business communication — right here in Tokyo