embrace constraints
Has a manager or a stakeholder ever asked you for a single slide update on a tight timeline for an important meeting? This can be stressful and can impose challenging limitations on our work. Some typical constraints you may face include:
there is not enough time to create a polished presentation
there are too many details to get through in the allotted time
everything needs to be on a single slide
you’re required to use a brand template that is overly busy and colorful
the audience prefers a specific type of graph, even though using a different visual may be more effective
How should we face these limitations? One approach is to reframe constraints in a more positive light.
The restrictions may seem burdensome, but they can push you to be more creative, leading to better output. After all, without any limits, the possibilities would be endless; it would be hard to determine which path to take. In our upcoming premium live event on March 28, we will explore ways to handle requirements like those listed above via a real-world example.
In our scenario, an analyst at a home and garden center was tasked with putting together a single slide market update for the leadership team. This was a last-minute request, where they had only a few hours to put the information together, and they were given just five minutes to present the results. Using the requisite corporate brand template, they created this slide:
The analyst didn’t feel that it was their strongest work, but it was the best they could do given the circumstances. What do you think? How could this be improved upon while working within the time, template, and space constraints the analyst faced? We welcome you to share your ideas in the comments section below. To see our approaches, join our upcoming live event on March 28 at 11am ET.
