A common mistake clients encounter when using One-page diagrams is overwhelming their viewers.  These diagrams sometimes shock those viewing them for the first time.  This needn't be the case. Effective one-page diagrams are the product of both creation and delivery. In this post we'll consider what it takes to not only create good one-page diagrams but also deliver them effectively.

Creating A Good One-Pager

The creation phase is all about clarity. Anything you can do in the preparation phase to increase clarity will contribute to its effectiveness. Some of the main things I like to consider:

• Make sure I have a clear headline.
• Have a clear objective.
• Be relevant to your audience by tying into how this affects the results they are after.

You'd be surprised the difference clarity makes to almost any diagram. When I am working with a client I make sure I know the answers the items above before I start drawing.

It is also imperative to think about delivery when creating the diagram. You'll see why when you read the bullets in the next section.

Delivery A Good One-Pager

The delivery phase is all about focus. Having a clear headline helps you to know what to focus on in your diagram. Once that is clear I like to use many of the things we have already discussed on this blog such as:

• Size and shapes – make the important things bigger and more towards the center.
• Color – choose colors that focus the eye's attention on the important elements.
• Connections – use large arrows to direction attention. For instance, list a series of pertinent trends in a broad, sweeping arrow that points to the main element.

These are just a few techniques that start in the creation phase to deliver a one-page diagram that won't overwhelm the viewer.

If you are presenting the diagram in real-time you can also use other techniques. If I am in a one-on-one situation I actually use my hands to cover the diagram making a small viewing window. This limits the amount of information that the recipient can see. It feeds it to them a chunk at a time. You can also accomplish the same thing if you are presenting to a group of people using a presentation application such as PowerPoint. Simply segment your diagram into digestible pieces and use the build function to present the diagram one chuck at a time.

One-page diagrams can overwhelm the viewers…but it they don't have to. Stepping back before creating the diagram and considering the things discussed in this post may make the difference between a successful presentation or a new career.

Do you like to use One-page diagrams? What do you do to make sure you do not overwhelm your audience? Please take a few minutes and share your thoughts with us.