PowerPoint for Internal Trainers: Stop Losing Learners to Bad Slides
You know that moment when you’re running a session - you’ve built a great story, you’re explaining it well - and you look up to see half the room quietly checking their phones?
It’s not the content.
It’s not you.
It’s your slides.
They’re too full, too busy, or just… too much.
You don’t need fancy design to fix that - just a few simple habits that make your slides support the learning, not smother it.
1. Too much text, not enough attention
You’ve seen it happen - you put everything learners need on the slide, and five minutes later, you’re the only one still reading it.
The fix: keep one key point per slide.
Say the rest out loud or add it to the Notes section.
The less you show, the more people listen.
If you want to prove it to yourself, try presenting a slide twice: once packed with text, once with one short phrase and a visual.
You’ll feel the difference in the room immediately.
2. Slides that don’t match your story
Ever get halfway through explaining something and realise the slide behind you doesn’t fit what you’re saying anymore?
The fix: let your slides follow your voice, not the other way around.
Use Presenter View so you can see what’s next and stay one step ahead.
And if you’re presenting online, Rehearse with Coach will give you private, friendly feedback on your pace and tone.
Your learners will stay with you - because you’ll sound like you’re talking to them, not at the screen.
3. Visuals that confuse more than they help
Someone in your team finds a new template - lots of swirls, gradients, animations. You add your content… and suddenly no one can tell what matters anymore.
The fix: keep visuals purposeful.
Use colour to show hierarchy, not decoration.
Use one image that supports your point - not five that distract from it.
And if you’re building a process slide, reveal it step by step.
That way learners see the journey, not a wall of information.
4. Decks that never look the same twice
When five trainers have updated the same slides, each version looks a little different. The message might be the same - but it feels inconsistent.
The fix: set up a Slide Master.
Add your logo, colours, and fonts once, then save it as a shared team template.
Every new slide starts clean and on-brand - without the “who changed this?” panic before a workshop.
It’s not just about style; it’s about saving time and helping learners feel part of one consistent experience.
5. Slides that teach instead of you
You’ve built a brilliant exercise, but you’ve written every instruction on the screen. The problem? Learners read it all before you’ve even explained it.
The fix: think of your slide as the prompt, not the lesson.
Put the heading - “Let’s Practise This” or “Try It Together” - and explain the rest in your own words.
You’ll get more engagement and better energy in the room.
Why It Matters
Most internal trainers I meet don’t need to learn how to teach - they already know that.
They just need slides that help their message land.
Bad slides don’t just look bad - they cost you attention.
And once you lose that, you lose learning.
The good news?
A few small PowerPoint tweaks can turn your slides from background noise into part of how people learn.
โจ Build Slides That Keep People Learning
Our PowerPoint and presentation courses are built for internal training teams who want their materials to work harder - visually, practically, and professionally:
๐ PowerPoint – Professional Presentations
๐ Essential Presentation Skills
๐ Delivering Presentations with Impact
๐ Train the Trainer
๐ Advanced Train the Trainer
Remember, great learning doesn’t come from great slides - it comes from great trainers who know how to use them well.
About the Author
Susan Howard
IT Training Specialist and Facilitator with deep expertise in Microsoft Office applications, Power BI, and business systems. As Technical Training Lead at Underscore, Susan delivers engaging, hands-on courses that help professionals boost productivity, improve data confidence, and master essential digital skills across Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more.
