What's the best way to credit sources and collaborators on your slides?

For your authenticity sake as a speaker, it is necessary for you to give credit to the authors that you reference their project or any other body of work of theirs. Give them their flowers. That reflects how thoughtful and reasonable you are as a speaker.

Let's say you cite statistics from an academic paper or a corporate or NGO report. You could include a "credit line" in small font at the bottom of the slide. But most members of the audience will struggle to write down a URL or report title that's long and complicated. Consider creating a QR code that links to the source of your claim. There are many websites that let you create a QR code for free.

This is important to give credit matters and reference with pictures and data in slides. This will increase the chance of acceptance among audience. They will understand the credibility of the data abd other details in the slides. This will helpful to audience too. They can use the reference for their future learning or preparation on this matter. This is always a respect to the people who work hardly behind the data or images etc.

Giving credit to the sources you're referencing is just the right thing to do when presenting. No audience expects that every idea or statistic is your original data, so don't pretend that's the case. If you're insights were being used without any credit, you'd likely be frustrated...so treat others as you'd expect to be treated.

Few ideas are unique, it's likely that your work has been inspired by others. And sometimes ideas are so good that you want to share what they said. It would be rude not to give credits. By crediting your sources, you also provide extra learning paths for your audience. If they find a particular direction interesting, having links to follow for more context is the best gift you can give them.

The first step to credit sources and collaborators on your slides is to choose them wisely. Select reputable and relevant sources that support your content and enhance your credibility. When acknowledging collaborators, consider their contributions and ensure they are appropriately recognized. Providing clear citations and attributions not only gives credit but also fosters trust and transparency in your work.

When picking sources for your presentation, go for ones that fit your topic and are relevant to your audience. Make sure they come from credible experts or trusted organizations. Check if the info is up-to-date and cross-reference it to confirm accuracy. Avoid sources with obvious biases and look for ones that clearly explain their methods. Also, ensure the sources are easy to access and properly licensed. This way, your presentation will be both reliable and engaging.

To cite sources, include references at the bottom of each slide or on a dedicated "References" or "Acknowledgments" slide at the end. For sources, use a standard citation format like APA, MLA, or Chicago, listing the author's name, publication title, date, and the URL or publication details. For collaborators, mention their name and contribution (e.g., data analysis, research support) either on relevant slides or in a final acknowledgment slide. Clear and consistent citations demonstrate professionalism, respect for intellectual property, and transparency in your work.

If you are giving a presentation for a conference, always ask the coordinators if they have a preferred format for citing sources. Lately, a lot of conference I've presented at have been asking for sources to be cited in-line on the bottom of the slide AND have asked for more details to be posted on their website.

To credit images used in your slides, start by ensuring the image is either licensed for reuse or falls under fair use. Include the image source on the same slide where the image appears, typically in a smaller font at the bottom. The credit should contain the creator’s name (if known), the title or description of the image, and the source or URL where the image was found. If using images from any platforms, do mention the specific license type. Consistently applying this practice ensures proper attribution and enhances the ethical use of visual content.

Credit collaborators either as you talk, near the end or in links people can follow. If you're telling a story, it's easy to credit someone. For example, if you're using a story from a book include the book cover on your slide or talk to the audience about where you found the story

I certainly don't say this every time I cite a source, but I've found a line that makes it very easy for me to give credit to others when leveraging their insights. I simply say, "I love this thought from Brené Brown," or "This is a really powerful finding from Clayton Christensen." Then I share the content. Whether I say that or not, I include a small footnote with a link at the bottom of the slide, but it makes sure I'm giving credit without losing my audience in any dramatic citations.

When creating your slides, it's important to find a balance between giving credit and maintaining clarity. While it's essential to acknowledge sources and collaborators, ensure that the information does not overwhelm your audience or clutter your slides. Use concise citations and strategically place acknowledgments where they support your content without distracting from your main message. Prioritize clarity to keep your audience focused on the key points of your presentation.

You could place a number next to the cited information. Then have a QR code at the end of your presentation where people can get your slides if they scan the QR code. In those sets of slides, though, you'll list the source that each number corresponds to. People will have the sources and won't have to take pictures of each slide to get them.

Your topic and audience really impacts the intensity of the citations required. If you're speaking to an academic or legal group, there's value in going more in depth. Those groups will expect formal citation practices, partly because they'll want to verify and leverage the sources afterwards. If you're a motivational speaker and you're telling stories or sharing high level concepts, the expectation may not be as dramatic. I'm NOT saying that you can skip the citations, but I am saying your audience may have different expectations. When it comes to citations it's better to be more prepared and cautious than underprepared and too casual.