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Authors Message
7 Deck Rules uncovers the art and science behind creating great presentations.

The purpose of this slide deck is to help you create insightful and powerful
presentations.
Ideas and information are power, only if they can be conveyed. That is what
a great presentation does it conveys your message effectively.
7 Deck Rules will guide you through the art and the science behind creating
a great presentation.
Happy decking!

Acknowledgement

The author wishes to acknowledge the inspiration taken from the Landis Template, created by Ken Landis
(Deloitte), in developing 7 Deck Rules

A big thank you to clients and colleagues who have helped me grow over the years (Tim Westendorf, David
Hodgson, Sumit Malhotra, Jordane Elmassian and Sundeep Nehra)

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The rules outlined here have

evolved over the years based on
work at various organizations.

What is a Deck?
Decks are documents in slide format (like this one!).
Deck can be used to communicate ideas in a more informative and persuasive manner.

Document
In its essence a document is
communicating a message or an
idea

Reasons to
create documents

Deck
A deck is a document laid out using slides in a presentation
format it helps communicate a message in a compelling and
insightful way

Easier to read slides (instead of lengthy documents)

Easier to connect with your audience

Easier to structure ideas as slides are discrete objects

Easier to be solution oriented and make decisions

Easier to shorten the document creation process

in a
Deck format

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Types of Documents
Most types of documents can be created using a deck format.

Various types of documents can be written in the deck format.

Executive Summary

Decision Analysis

Sales Pitch

Planning

Strategy Document

Design Document

Request for Proposal

Status Report

Business Case

Business Document

Proposal Responses

Meeting Document

White Paper

Technical Paper

Requirements & Specs

Resume

Point of View

Thesis

Procedures

Personal Profile

Brochures

Research Paper

Instructions & Guides

Personal Portfolio

We recommend all documents be built in a deck format.

See Slide 8 for Benefits

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Death by Bullets
Avoid Death by Bullets. Follow 7 Deck Rules and standout.

10 Billion presentations are created every

year . 95% are bad - they do not convey
the intended message.
Bullets do kill in this case. PowerPoint
bullets that is.

5%

Following 7 Deck rules will help you

speed up the document creation process
so that you can convey your message
in a compelling and insightful way.
Be in the Top 5%.
95% of presentations suck.
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The Rules

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7 Deck Rules Overview

Follow 7 rules to make compelling presentations.

Understand
the Canvas
Make it
Sing

There are 7 Rules behind the

art and science of creating a
great presentations.

I
II

VII

Keep it
Simple

7 DECK4 RULES
Leverage VI
a Library

III Tell a
Story

IV

Focus on
Composition

Solve a
Problem

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Follow them all to

successfully convey your
message.

7 Deck Rules Benefits

Leverage a tested mechanism to produce excellent presentations in a short time-frame.

7 deck rules provides a

methodical approach to
building deliverables

It will save you time by

helping you quickly build
deliverables

It helps structure your

ideas and information in
solution oriented way.

It provides a template so
you can focus on the
content & not the format.

It inspires you with proven

problem solving
techniques.

Bottom line:
It will help you convey your
message in a compelling
way.

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Rule # I:
Understand
the
Canvas

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Rule I: Understand the Canvas

A typical slide has 6 distinct components.

The Headline is a short title

describing the slide

The Lead is a brief, sharp

statement summarizing the slide

The Body is the core part of the

slide (also known as the Storybox)

The Company Logo is displayed

for branding purposes

Page number in the middle of the

slide

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The Department or Project Name

is displayed for branding purposes

Rule # II:
Keep
it
Simple

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Rule II: Keep it Simple

Simplicity is necessary to properly convey an idea.

The goal of simplicity is to emphasize the

insightful and remove the distractful
Simple

Powerful

Natural tension between simple and powerful,

finding the right balance is the goal

Co
lle
ct

Reducing
Complexity

Eliminate

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e
niz

Continuously Organize, Collect and Reduce

content as the Deck as the deck is being built

ga
Or

Reducing complexity is in of itself complex and

takes a focused approach

Rule # III:
Tell
a
Story

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Rule III: Tell a Story Storyboarding Depicted

Storyboarding is a simple method to keep the Deck focused and coherent.

Storyboarding is the
method for the creation
of a storyline of a deck

A great storyline has an

engaging beginning,
insightful content & a
clear conclusion

Its easier for the

audience to understand
complex concepts when
explained in a storyline

In combination, the Slide

Title and the Slide Lead
will summarize the entire
deck

The storyboard process

converts brilliant,
abstract ideas into a
coherent storyline

How these 5 point would

be storyboarded

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Rule # IV:
Solve
a
Problem

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Rule IV: Solve a Problem

A Deck should solve a problem. A methodical approach should
be taken when solving a problem.
Principle 1: Process

Principle 2: Organization

A methodical process should be used to find the right viable solution,

not just any solution.

Divide the problem into smaller discreet parts such that there is no
overlap, no gaps.

Principle 3: Frameworks

Principle 4: Focus

Using formal frameworks to structure your analysis will help support

the conclusions reached.

Problems can be complex typical with little effort a major part of the
problem can be solved. So focus on what is important.

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Rule # V:
Focus
on
Composition

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Rule V: Focus on Composition

Follow these 6 principles to ensure writing is informative and direct.

Principle 1: Rules

Principle 2: Language

Principle 3: Substance

Use correct grammar, punctuation & spelling

Use clear, concise and precise language

Focus writing on the subject matter

Follow conventional rules

Utilize ethical and inoffensive Language

Align writing with the deliverable objective

Principle 4: Structure

Principle 5: Leveling & Labeling

Principle 6: Voice & Tone

Group thoughts into clusters

Distill your message (levels of details)

Use active voice (vs. passive voice)

Sequence thoughts logically

Using headings to label content

Express ideas in positive terms

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Rule # VI:
Leverage
a
Library

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Rule VI: Leverage a Library

Why re-invent the wheel when building deliverables? Have a library of slides handy and leverage.

Set 1: One Pager

Set 2: Objects and Models

Work bench with basic objects that are frequently used

All objects and models that can be used for visuals

Set 3: Executive Summary

Set 4: Frameworks and Methodologies

A standard one page executive summary template

Established frameworks and methodologies

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Rule # VII:
Make
it
Sing

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Rule VII: Make it Sing

Function (information) and form (design) go hand in hand.

Information
Information

Design

is power

Humans are
visual creatures

Design your information so it can be

conveyed in an understandable power
Direct the Eyes

Choose your Colors

Accentuate with Visuals

The slide flow should be understood in a

Colors have deep meaning.

Use creative diagrams to illustrate as

flash. To achieve this, structure the slide

Choose your colors as would choose

simply as possible concepts, models

in a way so as to guide the viewer eyes.

your words carefully.

and processes

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In Conclusion:
Make a
Decklaration
Get your
message heard
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Conclusion 7 Deck Rules

The art and science behind creating a compelling presentations simple always follow the 7 Deck Rules.

Understand
the Canvas
Make it
Sing

Follow ALL these rules

collectively to building
insightful presentation, fast.

I
II

VII

Keep it
Simple

7 DECK4 RULES
Leverage VI
a Library

III Tell a
Story

IV

Focus on
Composition

Solve a
Problem

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In the time-pressed world we

live who wont find this
useful?

Developed and Designed by

Salahuddin Khawaja
salahk@gmail.com

More at Decklaration.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Salah has 14 years of experience, primarily in the
Financial Services Industry. Before joining JP Morgan he
spent 11 years at Deloitte & Touche helping Fortune 500
clients with various types of Strategic Initiatives.
He is currently is based in Hong Kong with responsibility
for delivering the next generation platform for Securities
Processing.

Areas of Expertise: Strategy Development, Business

Transformation, System Integration, Program & Project
Management, Mobile Strategy, Data Analytics, Executive
Presentations
Sample Clients: Bank of America, Citi , MasterCard

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