Updated September 2026: in 2019 an offshore delivery lead reviewed my slides line by line, questioned the purpose of each one, and asked me to check with every team member. I have rewritten it into advice for getting through a detailed deck review.
My review with the offshore delivery contact had gone smoothly. The call with the offshore lead started well too, with no comments on the first two standard slides. Then he went through each remaining slide line by line, asked the purpose of every one, and told me to check details with all my team members.
Why do some reviewers go line by line?
Because they will be accountable for the content, they do not yet trust it, or they are trying to understand it for the first time. A line-by-line review is tiring, but it often reflects anxiety rather than hostility.
How do you prepare for a detailed review?
- Know the purpose of each slide in one sentence.
- Know the source of every figure and claim.
- Mark assumptions clearly on the slides.
- Send the deck in advance with a short note on the storyline.
How should you answer questions about purpose?
Link each slide to the client's requirement: "This slide answers question 7 in the RFP on support model." That frames the slide as a response, not an opinion, and it is hard to argue with.
What if you are asked to check with the whole team?
Ask what specifically needs checking and with whom. "Check with everyone" is vague; "confirm the support hours with the service desk lead" is actionable. Narrowing the request saves time and gets a better answer.
How do you keep the review from taking all day?
Agree the time at the start, and prioritise the slides that matter most. Offer to take minor wording comments in writing afterwards. Most reviewers accept this once they have seen the important slides.
What should happen after the review?
Send a list of the changes agreed and the dates, and ask the reviewer to confirm. A reviewer who sees their comments tracked and applied usually becomes less exacting next time.