As a presentation expert with extensive experience in delivering engaging and effective presentations, I've learned that simplicity and clarity are key to keeping your audience's attention. The 6 by 6 rule for presentations is a guideline that can help you achieve this. It's a straightforward rule that emphasizes brevity and focus, ensuring that your message is not only conveyed but also retained by your audience.

The 6 by 6 rule states that each PowerPoint slide should contain:

1. One Main Idea: The slide should revolve around a single, clear message. This is the core concept that you want your audience to remember. It's important to resist the urge to overload your slide with multiple ideas, as this can lead to confusion and dilute the impact of your presentation.


2. A Maximum of Six Bullet Points: To support your main idea, use no more than six bullet points. Each bullet point should be a concise statement or a brief explanation that directly relates to the main idea. This number is not arbitrary; it's based on research that shows people can typically remember about five to nine items, known as Miller's Law, and six is a comfortable number that keeps your audience from feeling overwhelmed.


3. A Maximum of Six Words per Bullet Point: Each bullet point should be expressed in no more than six words. This constraint forces you to be succinct and to the point. It's a discipline that helps you to distill complex thoughts into their most essential components, making it easier for your audience to digest and remember your message.

The rationale behind the 6 by 6 rule is to create slides that are easy to read and understand at a glance. It's about making your presentation more accessible and memorable. By adhering to this rule, you are more likely to engage your audience and leave them with a clear understanding of your key points.

Moreover, this rule encourages you to think critically about the content of your presentation. It pushes you to prioritize what is truly important and to eliminate unnecessary details. It's not just about reducing the word count but also about enhancing the quality of your communication.

In practice, the 6 by 6 rule can be challenging to follow, especially when dealing with complex topics. However, with careful planning and a focus on clarity, it's possible to create slides that are both informative and engaging. Remember, the goal is not to fit everything into six words but to communicate your message as effectively as possible within this framework.

Now, let's move on to the next step.

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PowerPoint Math: The 1-6-6 Rule. Today I want to discuss the 1-6-6 Rule. Quite simply, this --Rule-- says that each PowerPoint slide should have one main idea, a maximum of six bullet points, and a maximum of six words per bullet point.Mar 4, 2010read more >>