Tables on consulting slides follow a few rules that make them readable in seconds:
- Right-align numbers so the digits line up and bigger numbers look bigger. Keep text left-aligned.
- Cut columns the message doesn't need. Every column competes for attention.
- Highlight the one row the title is about, and only that row.
- Make the header row stand out, so the reader knows what each column is.
In the editor, click the table once to select it, then click a cell (Shift+click to extend to a range). The Layout tab has Align Left, Center, Align Right and Delete; the Table Design tab has Header Row and Shading.