Is Your PowerPoint Presentation Ready for the Colorblind?

Technical professionals cannot afford to lose the 10 to 25% of senior management with visual and hearing impairments.

The title is an extreme attention-grabber, but the point is your PowerPoint presentation should be accessible to those with visual and hearing impairments. In fact, 10 to 25 percent of all senior management teams have some trouble seeing or hearing. Few of us can afford to lose that many potential supporters.

Addressing the 3 Biggest Oversights

There are a couple dozen items in your PowerPoint presentation that need to be checked for accessibility. Here are the top three, in one tip.

Turn Off the Color to Check For Contrast

Go to ‘View|Greyscale’ and turn off the default color button. See how your background colors, fonts, and visuals contrast. Make the necessary adjustments to maintain sharp visual distinctions.

Check for Alternative Text

All visuals and tables should have alternative text for use by assistive devices. Go to ‘Review|Check Accessibility|Alt Text’ and add any missing alternative test. If nothing else, simply state the central message of the visual or table.

Check for Headings and Subheadings

Go to ‘Review|Check Accessibility|Reading Order.’  First, make sure you are using headings and subheadings. Second, make sure the nesting is correct so that assistive devices can properly convey the desired reading order.

The FINESSE Accessibility Checklist

Visit the Tackle Shop or attend one of the CWF trainings to get a copy of the FINESSE Accessibility Checklist©. It outlines key accessibility issues and provides 3 to 5 aspects to make sure you get things right.

Accessibility Improves Your Work for All

Remember, the things you do to make your presentation and reports more accessible to people with impairments make your work more understandable to all!

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 Founded by JD Solomon, Communicating with FINESSE is the community of technical professionals dedicated to being highly effective communicators and facilitators. Learn more about our publications, webinars, and workshops. Join the community for free.

Solomon Joins Utility Board Member Panel at SCEC 2025

SC Water's David Baize discusses the importance of effective Board communication at SCEC 2025.

JD Solomon, Angie Mettlen, Bonnie Ammons, and David Baize led the Utility Board Member and Elected Official Panel at SCEC 2025.  Several emerging issues and topics, including the Utility Board and Elected officials Training Document being developed by the SC Rural Infrastructure Authority, were discussed.

Ammons is the Executive Director of the SC Rural Infrastructure Authority, Mettlen and Solomon are consultants on the project, and Baize is the director of the joint SC Waters organization.

Earlier in the track, Baize discussed the importance of board communication, Mettlen discussed viable utilities, and Solomon presented on ethics and board/staff interaction.

Solomon also provided a session on work management in the asset management program on the previous day.

This year’s South Carolina Environmental Conference was held on March 9 -12 in Myrtle Beach.

Five Ways to Demonstrate Competency in Big Presentations

Demonstrate competency and you are on your way to being heard!

Credibility isn’t a renewable resource when it comes to professional competence and big decisions. You get one shot. Decision makers will instinctively assess your competence. Their confidence in you erodes if they sense uncertainty, exaggeration, or a lack of depth.

Being well-informed isn’t about memorizing data points or using industry jargon. It’s about demonstrating a clear understanding of the subject.

These are five ways to establish competence.

1. Avoid Jargon – Fancy terminology doesn’t impress if it obscures meaning. Clarity beats complexity every time.

2. Show Experience, Not Just Knowledge – Referencing relevant past situations reassures your audience that you’ve been there before.

3. Set the Context Early – Briefly explain your role and perspective upfront to help frame your insights.

4. Get to the Point – Rambling undermines credibility. Rage to conclude. Make your points in 10 minutes or less.

5. Present Your Background – Provide your background in advance so decision makers can focus on your insights rather than questioning your qualifications.

A well-prepared communicator demonstrates competence naturally through clarity, relevance, and precision.

Trusted advisors inform decision makers. They don’t manipulate or persuade. Your role is to present information fairly, without bias.

You get one shot at credibility. Know what you are talking about, and you’ll be heard.

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The elements of the FINESSE fishbone diagram® are Frame, Illustrate, Noise reduction, Empathy, Structure, Synergy, and Ethics. Communicating with FINESSE is a not-for-profit community of technical professionals dedicated to being highly effective communicators and facilitators. Learn more about our publications, webinars, and workshops. Join the community for free.