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In the model, the bottom line slide is the fourth one. It's an optional slide—but that's only because some presentations don't have bottom lines. They simply explain.

If your presentation has a bottom line—such as a conclusion or recommendation—you should definitely include a bottom line slide. In fact, your audience will probably consider it the most important slide in your presentation!

Along with the purpose slide, your bottom line slide establishes WHY you're going to talk about your topic.

What is a bottom line slide?

Sometimes the main reason you're giving a presentation is to tell your audience about a conclusion you've reached or a recommendation you're making.

Many very senior people in organizations ask themselves, with every presentation, "What's my take away?" In other words, what should they take away with them from a presentation. What is the main point or two they should remember? The bottom line is their take away.

No matter how senior or junior we are, we all want the speaker to be absolutely clear—and right up front—about the take away. That's the function of your bottom line slide.

Here's an example of a bottom line slide:

Tips for a bottom line slide

A bottom line slide:

• Should be part of any presentation that has a bottom line. Otherwise, leave it out.
• Should include your most important recommendations or conclusions.
• Should actually use the word "bottom line" (or something similar) in the slide's title—so you won't be confusing or ambiguous.

A quiz

What's wrong with this bottom line slide?

See if you can find one thing wrong.

Ready to see the answer?

Through with the quiz? You're ready to move on to . . .

Your next step

The next slide in the model is the blueprint slide.

Copyright 2007 by Edward P. Bailey
(all rights reserved)