How to Create Great Slides

Slide-making is a fundamental consulting skill. Any gaps in your skills will hold you back. I learned slowly, and it cost me dearly. Don't repeat my mistakes.

This post is the most popular on my website. It’s the third edition of this post, and I keep updating it based on new insights I gain from coaching dozens of MBB consultants.

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Slide-making is a fundamental consulting skill.

Whether we like it or not, we communicate our ideas through slides, and our clients assess our work through slides.

If you are a consultant, it will be a major part of your daily work for a long time.

Any friction will result in a huge loss of productivity.

But if you learn to do it well, you free up lots of time and gain an unfair advantage for yourself.

How did I learn slide-making?

I joined McKinsey at 34.

Before consulting, I had never created a single slide in my life. Then, I had to create dozens per week.

Whenever I had to create a new slide, it always turned into a soul-crushing experience.

But it all changed after one project.

Once, I worked with a superstar consultant.

His name was Alex.

He churned out impeccable documents like a machine, and partners and clients adored him.

I had to learn his approach.

Fortunately, we became good friends, and he taught me all his secrets.

Soon enough, I experienced a step change in my performance.

Finally, I could enjoy working in consulting.

This guide was created based on Alex's secrets. I also synthesized my 9-year experience working at McKinsey and the insights I gained coaching dozens of MBB consultants.

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