how to quickly prepare for a presentation

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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How to Prepare for a Presentation, with Examples

February 15, 2021 - Dom Barnard

This guide covers everything you need to know to prepare for your presentation. including what you need to think about beforehand, during and after the presentation.

1. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse (always aloud)

Once you have your presentation worked out, you will need to practice it, but even though you might think it’s the best way to have a flawless presentation, don’t memorise what you’re going to say.

That might sound like incredibly bad advice, but here’s why:

• If you memorise your speech, you’ll get stuck in thinking you can only deliver your ideas in that way, and that stifles your creativity, and the chance for new thoughts and ways to put things that come up as you speak.

Not only that, but every  audience is different . Sometimes they laugh out loud, sometimes they sit and smile, and you never know which type of audience you’ll have until you’re live.

Practice Presentation Skills

Improve your public speaking and presentation skills by practicing them in realistic environments, with automated feedback on performance. Learn More

If you’re going off a memorised presentation, it’s much more difficult to break away from that to go with the flow on the day, and respond naturally to your audience.

• If you forget your speech in the middle of it, you will be thrown, and you’ll have more chance of complete brain freeze, which really will knock your confidence.
• Memorising your presentation gives you a false sense of security, which could leave you high and dry if something goes wrong. If you’ve only got your memorised speech, for example, what will you do if your PowerPoint freezes or your props break, and you can’t do what you were going to do?

Rehearse in front of colleagues, friends, a mirror, in virtual reality – always aloud. Make sure you spend plenty of time practising your presentation, it will make you feel much more relaxed if you know your material.

Courses where you can rehearse with interactive exercises:

• Essential Public Speaking
• How to Present over Video

Video showing how you can prepare for your presentation using virtual reality.  Learn more about virtual reality training .

2. Memorise your opening line

Do, however, memorise your opening line. If you know how you’re going to begin, you’ll get a strong start and that will build your confidence.

Many speakers and stage actors find that the minute they’ve actually delivered their first line, the nerves are gone and they’re well into their stride.

3. Practise your speech from written notes

Writing your presentation out in your own handwriting will help you clarify your ideas and may well bring you new ones.

• How to Write a Speech to Engage your Audience

4. Practise presentation flow

As well as practising for the ideas and what you want to say, practise how you want your presentation to flow. Think of it almost as a symphony, with high points, slow movements and crescendos. If it’s important, think about how you want your audience to feel, what emotions you want them to have, and when.

5. The power of silence

Don’t be afraid to pause and use the power of silence. A good pause can have a huge emotional impact. It allows people to really absorb what you are saying and react, and it’s vital to pause if you’re using humour so that the next part of your presentation doesn’t get lost underneath people’s laughter.

For more on the ‘Power of the Pause’, watch this short from video Brian Tracy:  The Power of the Pause

• 10 Effective Ways to use Pauses in your Speech

6. Have a backup

There’s nothing worse than the projector dying or finding that your laptop won’t communicate with the projector for some reason. If you know you have a backup, even if it’s only a pre-prepared flip chart, you’ll feel better, and you’ll be more confident.

7. Arrive early

Following on from that, arrive at least half an hour early so you aren’t feeling rushed, and so you have time to check your equipment and get your notes laid out ready to go. That gives you time to breathe and relax before you go on, knowing everything is as set as it can be.

8. Use physical props for a demo

Use physical props, if possible, for a demo. This can make you stand out and be more memorable among all the other speakers who only use PowerPoint, and it can add greatly to the impact of your presentation.

Video showing an example of using physical props during a live demo.

9. Structure your presentation

First, find out how much time you have to present, is it 10 minutes, 15, an hour? Prepare enough material for this time and have a couple of extra slides as backup – we tend to speak much quicker when nervous so you might find you finish your presentation too early. At some large conference events, timings may change on the day, be aware of this have a shorter version of your presentation in mind (i.e. know which slides to skip over).

• How to Structure your Presentation, with Examples
• Examples of Corporate Presentation Structures

10. Prepare for questions

Have a few backup slides for questions you think will arise from your presentation. It is sometime a tactic to explain a section briefly in your speech, so that you get a question about it afterwards. If you don’t understand the question, ask for it to be rephrased.

If there are no questions, it is not an indication how good or bad your presentation was. You many have explain your material extremely well, or simply that people are tired at the end of the day and want to go home.

• Guide for Handling Questions after a Presentation

11. Prepare for where you are presenting

If you can, go to the room you are speaking in before the actual event. It gives you an idea of furniture layout, podium height, location, room size, audience size and lighting. You can then visualise the room while practising and avoid the shock of suddenly being faced with a huge room when you expected a tiny one.

Ask the organiser if you need any particular props, for example a table to help with your live demo.

Additional planning to think about before your presentation:

1. Purpose  – what outcome are we trying to achieve? How can results be measured? What will success look like?

2. Topic  – Novelty? Complexity? Technical?

3. People  – Who should attend? What do they already know? How are they going to help?

4. Timing  – When will it happen and how long will the presentation take?

5. Location  – Where will the presentation be held? Do you have access to the correct facilities for the presentation?

6. Papers  – Who is keeping minutes? Do you need to send out an agenda before the presentation? Background information required?

7. Visual aids  – Is a  projector required ? Boards?

8. Style  – Structure or unstructured, discussion style? How assertive should you be? How should the meeting items be organised?

12. Choose the signals to give to your audience

Before the presentation, think about these 5 topics:

• Eye contact
• Facial gestures
• Body language

Decide how you will use each of these to reinforce your message. Use the table below for help.

Additional courses to help you prepare for your presentation:

• Presentation Skills Training Courses

Example from Steve Jobs

Think about these 10 techniques while you are preparing your presentation..

• Planning in Analog.  Tell a story, create stunning visuals and videos to complement video, use demonstrations and other speakers, keep the audience engaged.
• Creating a Twitter-Friendly Description  Single description sentence, condensed his message into 140 characters.
• Introduce the Enemy  Story needs villains or a problem to be solved. Jobs highlighted IBM and useless mobile phones (during iPhone release) as his villains.
• Focusing on Benefits  Keep reinforcing the benefits of your product, create top 10 lists, understand this is what customers care about.
• Sticking to Rule of Three  Classic Literary technique, things are best remembered and reinforced in threes. Read this article on  Literary Techniques  for more detail.
• Sell Dreams, Not Products  Create a vision people believe in, create a vision which will make people’s lives better
• Create Visual Slides  Use as few words as possible and use colourful graphics on the slide to highlight points.
• Make Numbers Meaningful  Compare large numbers to things people understand.
• Use Plain English  Use easy to say and easy to remember words, keep it simple.
• Large Reveals  Due to Apple secrecy, Jobs was able to deliver unexpected products to the world at his product launches.

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How to Prepare for a Presentation: A Step-by-Step Guide

Master the art of presentation preparation with our comprehensive step-by-step guide, "How to Prepare for a Presentation." Whether you're a seasoned presenter or just starting out, this resource is packed with essential tips. Learn how to practice, engage your audience, enhance your delivery skills, and conquer nerves and anxiety.

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Table of Contents  

1) Steps on How to Prepare for a Presentation 

      a) Understand your audience 

      b) Define your objective 

      c) Research and gather information 

      d) Organise your content 

      e) Design visual aids 

      f) Practise and rehearse 

      g) Prepare to engage the audience 

      h) Enhance delivery skills 

      i) Manage nerves and anxiety 

      j) Utilise technology 

     k) Plan to pace your Presentation

2) Conclusion 

Steps on How to Prepare for a Presentation   

In this section, you will learn how to prepare for a presentation in a step-by-step manner and enhance your  Presentation Skills . The blog will also look into advantages and disadvantages of presentations . 

Understand your audience  

To effectively engage your audience during a Presentation, it's essential to understand who they are. Consider their demographics, interests, and background knowledge in relation to the topic. By gaining insights into your audience, you can tailor your content and its delivery to meet their needs and capture their attention. Understanding your audience involves: 

a) Identifying audience demographics: Consider age, gender, educational background, and professional experience. This information will help you determine the appropriate tone, level of technicality, and examples to include in your Presentation.  

b) Assessing audience interests: Research the common interests and preferences of your audience. Are they more inclined towards statistics and data, or do they prefer real-life examples and stories? By aligning your content with their interests, you can create a stronger connection and keep them engaged.  

c) Adapting to their knowledge level: Assess your audience's existing knowledge about the topic. Are they beginners, intermediates, or experts? This understanding allows you to avoid overwhelming them with complex concepts or boring them with basic information. Tailor your content to their knowledge level, ensuring it provides value and challenges them appropriately. 

Define your objective  

Clearly defining your objective is crucial to staying focused and delivering a Presentation that meets your goals. Here’s what you need to do to define your objective effectively: 

a) Set specific goals: Determine what you aim to achieve through your Presentation. Are you trying to inform, persuade, inspire, or educate your audience? Setting specific goals will help you structure your content and guide your delivery towards the desired outcome. 

b) Decide on the main message: Identify the core message you want to convey to your audience. What is the key takeaway you want them to remember? This main message will serve as a guiding principle throughout your Presentation, ensuring coherence and clarity. 

c) Align objectives with audience needs: Consider how your objectives align with the needs and interests of your audience. What value will they gain from your Presentation? By aligning your objectives with their needs, you increase the chances of creating a meaningful impact and fostering engagement. 

Research and gather information  

One of the most important steps on How to Prepare for a Presentation is conducting thorough research. Thorough research and gathering relevant information are essential steps in preparing a well-informed and credible presentation. You can also refer to various presentation skills interview questions and answer to build you confidence and Improve Your Presentation Skills . To conduct effective research, you need to cater to the following aspects:

a) Explore diverse sources: Use a variety of sources such as books, academic journals, reputable websites, and credible online platforms. Ensure that the information you gather is reliable, up-to-date, and relevant to your topic. 

b) Collect data, facts, and examples: Support your key points with data, facts, and examples. This evidence strengthens your arguments, enhances credibility, and provides valuable insights to your audience. Use statistics, case studies, anecdotes, and expert quotes to enrich your content. 

c) Take notes and organise information: As you research, take detailed notes to capture the key ideas and information. Organise your notes based on themes, subtopics, or the logical flow of your Presentation. This will facilitate the later stage of organising your content effectively. 

Unlock your full potential as a Presenter with our Presentation Skills Training Course – join now!  

Organise your content  

Organising your content clearly and logically helps your audience follow and understand your Presentation. Effective organisation involves: 

a) Creating a logical structure: Develop a clear outline or structure for your Presentation. Start the Presentation with an introduction that grabs attention, followed by distinct sections or chapters that cover the main points. End with a concise summary or conclusion that reinforces your main message.

b) Using headings and subheadings: Divide your content into sections using headings and subheadings. These serve as signposts, guiding your audience through different topics or ideas. Headings also make it easier for your audience to refer back to specific sections if needed. 

c) Ensuring smooth transitions: Ensure smooth transitions between different sections or ideas. Use transitional phrases or sentences to connect ideas and create a cohesive flow throughout your Presentation. This helps your audience follow your thought process and prevents disjointed or confusing transitions. 

Design visual aids  

Visual aids can enhance the impact and understanding of your Presentation. Consider the following when designing visual aids: 

a) Choose appropriate visuals: Select visual elements that support and reinforce your content. This could include charts, graphs, images, videos, or infographics. Ensure that the visuals are relevant, high-quality, and easy to understand. 

b) Simplify complex information: Visual aids are particularly effective in simplifying complex information. Use visuals to present data, comparisons, or processes in a visually appealing format. This helps your audience grasp complex concepts more readily. 

c) Balance visuals and text: Find the right balance between visuals and text. Avoid overcrowding slides with excessive text, which can overwhelm and distract your audience. Use concise bullet points or keywords to complement the visuals and aid in comprehension. 

Practise and rehearse  

Practise and rehearsal are essential for delivering a confident and polished Presentation. Consider the following when practising: 

a) Rehearse your content: Familiarise yourself with the content and flow of your Presentation. Practise delivering each section, ensuring a smooth transition between ideas. Pay attention to your pacing, articulation, and clarity of speech. 

b) Time your Presentation: Practise timing your Presentation to ensure it fits within the allocated time. This helps you avoid rushing through important points or exceeding the time limit. Adjust your delivery as necessary to ensure a well-paced Presentation. 

c) Seek feedback and refine: Seek feedback from trusted individuals who can provide constructive criticism. Incorporate their suggestions to refine your delivery, eliminate unnecessary filler words, and enhance the overall impact of your Presentation. 

Prepare to engage the audience  

Engaging your audience throughout the Presentation helps maintain their interest and active participation. Consider these strategies and elements of presentation to engage your audience effectively: It is also important to understand various elements of presentations. Consider these strategies to engage your audience effectively: 

a) Interactive elements: Incorporate interactive elements such as rhetorical questions, quizzes, or brief activities to encourage audience participation. This stimulates their thinking and keeps them actively engaged in the Presentation. 

b) Address audience concerns: Actively listen to your audience and address their queries or concerns promptly. Encourage questions and create a safe environment for open discussion. This demonstrates your expertise and builds rapport with your audience. 

c) Tell stories and anecdotes: Use relevant stories, anecdotes, or case studies to illustrate your points and captivate your audience. Stories have a powerful impact and make your content more relatable and memorable.   

Enhance delivery skills  

Enhancing your delivery skills is essential for creating an engaging and impactful Presentation. Consider the following to improve your delivery skills:

a) Body language: Pay attention to your body language and use it to convey confidence and authority. Maintain good posture, make purposeful gestures, and establish eye contact with your audience. This non-verbal cue enhances your message. 

b) Tone of voice and pace: Master your tone of voice and adjust it to emphasise key points or create a sense of urgency. Vary your pace to maintain interest and add emphasis where needed. Use pauses effectively to allow important information to sink in. 

c) Use visual aids as support: Visual aids should complement your delivery, not overshadow it. Use them as support to enhance your message rather than relying on them completely. Maintain a balance between your verbal delivery and the visuals. 

Manage nervousness and anxiety  

Managing nervousness and anxiety is crucial for delivering a confident Presentation. Consider the following strategies: 

a) Preparation and practice: Thorough preparation and practice build confidence and reduce anxiety. The more familiar you are with your content, the more at ease you will feel during the Presentation. 

b) Deep breathing and relaxation techniques: Before as well as during the Presentation, practice deep breathing exercises and relaxation techniques to calm your nerves. Focus on slow, deep breaths to regulate your heart rate and promote a sense of calm. 

c) Be early: It is a good idea to be early for your Presentation. This will give you more time to get ready to set up your equipment . When you reach early at the venue, you get plenty of time to work on the finer details of your Presentation.  

c) Visualise success: Visualise yourself delivering a successful Presentation. Imagine the positive outcomes and the impact you will have on your audience. Visualising success helps boost your confidence and reduces anxiety. 

Utilise technology  

Utilising technology can enhance the effectiveness of your Presentation. Consider the following when incorporating technology: 

a) Choose appropriate tools: Select Presentation software or tools that suit your needs and style. Familiarise yourself with their features and functionalities, such as slide transitions, animations, or multimedia integration.  

b) Prepare for technical issues: Anticipate potential technical issues and have contingency plans in place. Ensure you have backup files saved on different devices or formats, and familiarise yourself with troubleshooting techniques in case of technical difficulties.  

c) Integrate technology seamlessly: Use technology to enhance your Presentation, not distract from it. Ensure that the technology supports your message and engages your audience effectively. Practice using the technology beforehand to ensure seamless integration into your Presentation. 

Take your Presentations to the next level with our Effective Presentation Skills & Techniques course . 

Plan to pace your Presentation   

Pacing your Presentation effectively ensures that you maintain the interest and engagement of your audience throughout. Consider the following when planning the pace of your Presentation: 

a) Set a realistic timeframe: Determine the allocated time for your Presentation and plan your content accordingly. Be mindful of the time constraints and ensure that your Presentation fits within the given timeframe. Avoid overloading your Presentation with excessive information, which can result in rushing through key points or running out of time. 

b) Structure your content with timing in mind: Divide your Presentation into sections or key points and assign a specific amount of time to each of them. This helps you allocate your time effectively and ensures that you cover all the essential aspects without rushing or dragging on. 

c) Practise timing during rehearsals: Practise your Presentation multiple times while keeping an eye on the clock. Use a stopwatch or timer to simulate the actual Presentation conditions. This allows you to gauge how long each section takes and make adjustments as needed to maintain a smooth and well-paced delivery. 

d) Allow time for interaction and engagement: Incorporate interactive elements, such as questions, discussions, or activities, throughout your Presentation. Plan for these moments by allocating specific time slots. This not only breaks up the monotony but also encourages audience participation and keeps their attention focused. 

e) Be aware of audience cues: Pay attention to the reactions and engagement levels of your audience during the Presentation. Adjust your pace accordingly. If you notice signs of confusion or disinterest, you may need to slow down, provide more context, or clarify certain points. On the other hand, if you see that your audience is highly engaged and responsive, you can maintain a slightly faster pace to keep the energy up. 

f) Use silence effectively: Don't be afraid to use silence as a powerful tool. A well-timed pause can create a solid emotional impact. It lets people really listen to what you are saying and respond in turn.it is essential to pause if you are using humour so that people don't miss the next part of your Presentation while they are laughing. 

g) Practise smooth transitions: Smooth transitions between sections or ideas are crucial for maintaining a good pace. Avoid abrupt jumps or awkward pauses. Practise transitioning between different topics or slides, ensuring that the flow between ideas feels natural and seamless. 

Conclusion  

Preparing for a Presentation requires careful planning and attention to detail. By understanding your audience, defining clear objectives, conducting thorough research, and organising your content effectively, you can deliver a successful Presentation. Remember to engage your audience, enhance your delivery skills, manage nervousness, utilise technology wisely, and handle Q&A sessions with confidence. Hope we could provide you with all the information you needed to know about How to Prepare for a Presentation! 

Want to master the art of impactful Presentations? Explore our Presentation Skills Courses and elevate your communication prowess!  

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How to give a good presentation that captivates any audience

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What are the main difficulties when giving presentations?

How to create an effective presentation, after that, how do i give a memorable presentation, how to connect with the audience when presenting.

If you’ve ever heard someone give a powerful presentation, you probably remember how it made you feel. Much like a composer, a good speaker knows precisely when each note should strike to captivate their audience’s attention and leave them with a lasting impression.

No one becomes a great public speaker or presenter without practice. And almost everyone can recall a time one of their presentations went badly — that’s a painful part of the learning process.

Whether you’re working within a small creative team or a large organization, public speaking and presentation skills are vital to communicating your ideas. Knowing how to present your vision can help you pitch concepts to clients, present ideas to your team, and develop the confidence to participate in team meetings.

If you have an upcoming presentation on the horizon and feel nervous, that’s normal. Around 15-30% of the general population experience a fear of public speaking . And, unfortunately, social anxiety is on the rise, with a 12% increase in adults over the last 20 years . 

Learning how to give a good presentation can dismantle your fears and break down these barriers, ensuring you’re ready to confidently share your point of view. 

It’s the week before your presentation, and you’re already feeling nervous . Maybe there’ll be an important mentor in the room you need to impress, or you’re looking for an opportunity to show your boss your value. Regardless of your countless past presentations, you still feel nervous. 

Sharing your vision and ideas with any sized group is intimidating. You’re likely worrying about how you’ll perform as a presenter and whether the audience will be interested in what you offer. But nerves aren’t inherently negative — you can actually use this feeling to fuel your preparation.

It’s helpful to identify where your worries are coming from and address your fears. Here are some common concerns when preparing for an upcoming presentation:

Fear of public speaking: When you share your ideas in front of a group, you’re placing yourself in a vulnerable position to be critiqued on your knowledge and communication skills . Maybe you feel confident in your content, but when you think about standing in front of an audience, you feel anxious and your mind goes blank.

It’s also not uncommon to have physical symptoms when presenting . Some people experience nausea and dizziness as the brain releases adrenaline to cope with the potentially stressful situation . Remember to take deep breaths to recenter yourself and be patient, even if you make a mistake.

Losing the audience’s attention: As a presenter, your main focus is to keep your audience engaged. They should feel like they’re learning valuable information or following a story that will improve them in life or business.

Highlight the most exciting pieces of knowledge and ensure you emphasize those points in your presentation. If you feel passionate about your content, it’s more likely that your audience will experience this excitement for themselves and become invested in what you have to say.

Not knowing what content to place on presentation slides: Overloading presentation slides is a fast way to lose your audience’s attention. Your slides should contain only the main talking points and limited text to ensure your audience focuses on what you have to say rather than becoming distracted by the content on your slides.

Discomfort incorporating nonverbal communication: It’s natural to feel stiff and frozen when you’re nervous. But maintaining effective body language helps your audience stay focused on you as you speak and encourages you to relax.

If you struggle to incorporate body language into your presentations, try starting small by making hand gestures toward your slides. If you’re working with a large audience, use different parts of the stage to ensure everyone feels included. 

Each presenter has their own personal brand and style. Some may use humor to break the ice, while others might appeal to the audience’s emotional side through inspiring storytelling. 

Watching online presentations, such as TED talks, is an excellent way to expose yourself to various presentation styles and develop your own. While observing others, you can note how they carry themselves on stage and learn new ways to keep your audience engaged.

Once you’ve addressed what’s causing your fears, it’s time to prepare for a great presentation. Use your past experience as inspiration and aim to outshine your former self by learning from your mistakes and employing new techniques. Here are five presentation tips to help you create a strong presentation and wow your audience:

1. Keep it simple

Simple means something different to everyone.

Before creating your presentation, take note of your intended audience and their knowledge level of your subject. You’ll want your content to be easy for your intended audience to follow.

Say you’re giving a presentation on improving your company’s operational structure. Entry-level workers will likely need a more straightforward overview of the content than C-suite leaders, who have significantly more experience. 

Ask yourself what you want your audience to take away from your presentation and emphasize those important points. Doing this ensures they remember the most vital information rather than less important supporting ideas. Try organizing these concepts into bullet points so viewers can quickly identify critical takeaways.

2. Create a compelling structure

Put yourself in your audience member’s shoes and determine the most compelling way to organize your information. Your presentation should be articulate , cohesive, and logical, and you must be sure to include all necessary supporting evidence to strengthen your main points.

If you give away all of your answers too quickly, your audience could lose interest. And if there isn’t enough supporting information, they could hit a roadblock of confusion. Try developing a compelling story that leads your audience through your thought processes so they can experience the ups and downs alongside you. 

By structuring your presentation to lead up to a final conclusion, you’re more likely to keep listeners’ attention. Once you’ve reached that conclusion, you can offer a Q&A period to put any of their questions or concerns to rest. 

3. Use visual aids

Appealing to various learning styles is a great way to keep everyone on the same page and ensure they absorb your content. Visual aids are necessary for visual learners and make it easier for people to picture your ideas.

Aim to incorporate a mixture of photos, videos, and props to engage your audience and convey your key points. For instance, if you’re giving a presentation on anthropology subject matter, you could show your audience an artifact to help them understand how exciting a discovery must have been. 

If your presentation is long, including a video for your audience to watch is an excellent way to give yourself a break and create new jumping-off points for your speech.

4. Be aware of design techniques and trends

Thanks to cutting-edge technology and tools, you have numerous platforms at your disposal to create a good presentation. But keep in mind that although color, images, and graphics liven things up, they can cause distraction when misused.

  Here are a few standard pointers for incorporating visuals on your slides: 

• Don’t place blocks of small text on a single slide
• Use a minimalistic background instead of a busy one
• Ensure text stands out against the background color
• Only use high-resolution photos
• Maintain a consistent font style and size throughout the presentation
• Don’t overuse transitions and effects

5. Try the 10-20-30 rule

Guy Kawasaki, a prominent venture capitalist and one of the original marketing specialists for Apple, said that the best slideshow presentations are less than 10 slides , last at most 20 minutes, and use a font size of 30. Following this strategy can help you condense your information, eliminate unnecessary ideas, and maintain your audience’s focus more efficiently.

Once you’re confident in creating a memorable presentation, it’s time to learn how to give one. Here are some valuable tips for keeping your audience invested during your talk: 

Tip #1: Tell stories

Sharing an anecdote from your life can improve your credibility and increase your relatability. And when an audience relates to you, they’re more likely to feel connected to who you are as a person and encouraged to give you their full attention, as they would want others to do the same.

Gill Hicks utilized this strategy well when she shared her powerful story, “ I survived a terrorist attack. Here’s what I learned .” In her harrowing tale, Hicks highlights the importance of compassion, unconditional love, and helping those in need.

If you feel uncomfortable sharing personal stories, that’s okay. You can use examples from famous individuals or create a fictional account to demonstrate your ideas.

Tip #2: Make eye contact with the audience

Maintaining eye contact is less intimidating than it sounds. In fact, you don’t have to look your audience members directly in their eyes — you can focus on their foreheads or noses if that’s easier.

Try making eye contact with as many people as possible for 3–5 seconds each. This timing ensures you don’t look away too quickly, making the audience member feel unimportant, or linger too long, making them feel uncomfortable.

If you’re presenting to a large group, direct your focus to each part of the room to ensure no section of the audience feels ignored. 

Tip #3: Work on your stage presence

Although your tone and words are the most impactful part of your presentation, recall that body language keeps your audience engaged. Use these tips to master a professional stage presence:

• Speak with open arms and avoid crossing them
• Keep a reasonable pace and try not to stand still
• Use hand gestures to highlight important information

Tip #4: Start strong

Like watching a movie trailer, the first seconds of your talk are critical for capturing your audience’s attention. How you start your speech sets the tone for the rest of your presentation and tells your audience whether or not they should pay attention. Here are some ways to start your presentation to leave a lasting impression:

• Use a quote from a well-known and likable influential person 
• Ask a rhetorical question to create intrigue
• Start with an anecdote to add context to your talk 
• Spark your audience’s curiosity by involving them in an interactive problem-solving puzzle or riddle

Tip #5: Show your passion

Don’t be afraid of being too enthusiastic. Everyone appreciates a speaker who’s genuinely excited about their field of expertise. 

In “ Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance ,” Angela Lee Duckworth discusses the importance of passion in research and delivery. She delivers her presentation excitedly to show the audience how excitement piques interest. 

Tip #6: Plan your delivery

How you decide to deliver your speech will shape your presentation. Will you be preparing a PowerPoint presentation and using a teleprompter? Or are you working within the constraints of the digital world and presenting over Zoom?

The best presentations are conducted by speakers who know their stuff and memorize their content. However, if you find this challenging, try creating notes to use as a safety net in case you lose track.

If you’re presenting online, you can keep notes beside your computer for each slide, highlighting your key points. This ensures you include all the necessary information and follow a logical order.

Tip #7: Practice

Practice doesn’t make perfect — it makes progress. There’s no way of preparing for unforeseen circumstances, but thorough practice means you’ve done everything you can to succeed.

Rehearse your speech in front of a mirror or to a trusted friend or family member. Take any feedback and use it as an opportunity to fine-tune your speech. But remember: who you practice your presentation in front of may differ from your intended audience. Consider their opinions through the lens of them occupying this different position.

Tip #8: Read the room

Whether you’re a keynote speaker at an event or presenting to a small group of clients, knowing how to read the room is vital for keeping your audience happy. Stay flexible and be willing to move on from topics quickly if your listeners are uninterested or displeased with a particular part of your speech.

Tip #9: Breathe

Try taking deep breaths before your presentation to calm your nerves. If you feel rushed, you’re more likely to feel nervous and stumble on your words.

The most important thing to consider when presenting is your audience’s feelings. When you approach your next presentation calmly, you’ll put your audience at ease and encourage them to feel comfortable in your presence.

Tip #10: Provide a call-to-action

When you end your presentation, your audience should feel compelled to take a specific action, whether that’s changing their habits or contacting you for your services.

If you’re presenting to clients, create a handout with key points and contact information so they can get in touch. You should provide your LinkedIn information, email address, and phone number so they have a variety of ways to reach you. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all template for an effective presentation, as your unique audience and subject matter play a role in shaping your speech. As a general rule, though, you should aim to connect with your audience through passion and excitement. Use strong eye contact and body language. Capture their interest through storytelling and their trust through relatability.

Learning how to give a good presentation can feel overwhelming — but remember, practice makes progress. Rehearse your presentation for someone you trust, collect their feedback , and revise. Practicing your presentation skills is helpful for any job, and every challenge is a chance to grow.

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Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

6 presentation skills and how to improve them

How to write a speech that your audience remembers, how to make a presentation interactive and exciting, 3 stand-out professional bio examples to inspire your own, reading the room gives you an edge — no matter who you're talking to, tell a story they can't ignore these 10 tips will teach you how, your guide to what storytelling is and how to be a good storyteller, 18 effective strategies to improve your communication skills, writing an elevator pitch about yourself: a how-to plus tips, similar articles, the 11 tips that will improve your public speaking skills, 30 presentation feedback examples, fear of public speaking overcome it with these 7 tips, how to not be nervous for a presentation — 13 tips that work (really), how the minto pyramid principle can enhance your communication skills, 8 clever hooks for presentations (with tips), stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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.css-1qrtm5m{display:block;margin-bottom:8px;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5714285714285714;-webkit-letter-spacing:-0.35px;-moz-letter-spacing:-0.35px;-ms-letter-spacing:-0.35px;letter-spacing:-0.35px;font-weight:300;color:#606F7B;}@media (min-width:600px){.css-1qrtm5m{font-size:16px;line-height:1.625;-webkit-letter-spacing:-0.5px;-moz-letter-spacing:-0.5px;-ms-letter-spacing:-0.5px;letter-spacing:-0.5px;}} Best Practices 5 essential preparation steps for a successful presentation

by Tom Rielly • June 15, 2020

Keeping your presentation visuals minimalistic, simple, and clear is just one important step to remember when designing a hit presentation. Leaving nothing to chance, great presenters prove quite methodical as they prepare. Here’s a checklist for everything you need to keep in mind before your next presentation:

1. Choose the right software for your needs

The easiest way to select the right presentation software for you is to simply find the one that is native to your device. For example, if you have a Mac, use Apple Keynote, if you work on Windows, use PowerPoint. Google Slides is recommended if you’re working with someone, as it makes collaboration very easy. Another software option is Prezi: a specialty tool called Prezi that creates a presentation using motion, zoom, and panning across one giant visual space.

2. Organize your files

As you develop your script and visuals, you will need to start assembling all the assets for your slides. Create a unique folder on your computer to hold these items. Keep the folder organized by media type (presentation drafts, photos, videos, scripts) and back them up frequently to the Cloud or external disk. Label each file with a specific descriptive name, e.g. “Susan Johnson singing magpie 2020”, as opposed to “IMG_4043.jpg”, which can make it confusing to find your assets. The more organized you are up front, the easier preparing for your presentation will be.

3. Prepare your presentation materials

Make sure your presentation materials (script, graphics, actual slides) are saved in at least two safe spots (for example, your computer and an external USB drive) and are backed-up frequently. If you are using an online presentation software, such as Google Slides, be sure to also download a copy of your presentation in case the internet connection is unreliable. Having all the individual assets on hand in addition to your presentation slides can be helpful if you experience tech issues before presenting, or if you need to make any last minute changes. Make sure to label your final presentation with the title and your name so it’s easy to find.

4. Practice, practice, practice!

Remember, practice makes perfect. People often run out of time making their presentations and have no time to practice. Most TED speakers practice at least ten times. Neuroscientist Jill-Bolte Taylor gave one of the most successful Talks in TED history with nearly 27 million views. How did she do it? She practiced her Talk over 40 times! By rehearsing multiple times you will naturally memorize your Talk, which means you won’t need note cards when you give your final presentation.

5. Do a final test run

Before presenting, make sure the equipment you need is working properly. It’s generally good practice to rehearse standing on the exact stage with the exact lighting using the exact computer that you will be using in your final presentation.

Here’s a quick checklist of what to look for when testing your equipment:

• If you're not using your own computer, the one provided might be slower and have trouble playing media. If you have videos or other media, make sure they play correctly
• Test the projector to make sure it’s HD
• Make sure images are clear
• Test the sound of any clips you use, as this is what goes wrong most frequently
• If you’re using a mic, test the volume

Don’t let technical issues or other blunders overshadow your presentation. By following these guidelines, and with a little preparation, you can engineer out the problems BEFORE they happen.

Ready to learn more about how to make your presentation even better? Get TED Masterclass and develop your ideas into TED-style talks

© 2024 TED Conferences, LLC. All rights reserved. Please note that the TED Talks Usage policy does not apply to this content and is not subject to our creative commons license.

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How to prepare for a presentation step by step

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Michael Lee September 22, 2020

It doesn’t matter if you’re presenting on stage, in a meeting room, or online. You need to properly prepare for a presentation to deliver your message effectively. You need to plan out your talking points, prepare visual aids, practice your speech, and more. Ultimately, the more you prepare ahead of time, the more polished and professional your presentation will be.

If you want to find out how to prepare for a presentation step by step, read on to discover four simple tips to help you make your future presentations successful. 

1. Create a mind map

This is perhaps the most important step and should happen long before the day of your presentation. Creating a mind map will help you organize your thoughts and structure them in a way that makes sense for both you and your audience. It’ll also keep you centered on your main idea, so you never lose sight of the primary purpose of your presentation. The process of creating a mind map will also help you with remembering the content of your presentation.

To create a mind map, you can either use a pen and paper or you can also use Prezi Present . There are different types of templates that you can choose from in Prezi’s library, or you can also start creating from scratch.

Learn how to get started with mind mapping in this video: 

2. Set up your space

If you’re presenting online, you’ll want to set up your filming space for success. How you appear on camera depends on many factors that you should consider before presenting. Start with positioning yourself in the camera frame so you’re in good light. It’s always better to face the light instead of having your window or another light source behind you. Also, adjust your camera so it’s not cutting off the top of your head or it’s not too far away. Make sure your audience can actually hear what you’re saying by testing out your mic first. And, remove any distracting or overly busy backgrounds to keep viewers focused on you and your content.  If you’re presenting offline, setting up your space is equally as important. Take 5 minutes before your presentation to work out the technicalities. For example, if you need to connect your USB or laptop to a device in the meeting room, make sure to do that before it’s your time to start your presentation. Also, make sure you have a glass of water nearby if your presentation is rather long to keep you hydrated. Most importantly, familiarize yourself with the space where you’re going to present to feel more comfortable presenting there.

If you want more tips on presenting in the virtual space from public speaking masters, watch this video: 

3. For online presentations, use presenter notes

No matter how much you practice, it’s still helpful to have some notes (or even your script) next to you for reference. They will keep you on track with your main talking points and ensure that you deliver your message in an organized manner. While sticky notes around your computer are a serviceable solution, it often results in you trying to keep track of which piece of paper you’re supposed to be looking at. You don’t need to worry about a messy space around your laptop. Instead, use presenter notes directly in Prezi Video, making your life easier as you present or record. 

You can add notes as you create your content. This way you can keep track of everything that’s going on in the meeting and take notes at the same time. If you already have an existing Prezi or PowerPoint presentation with notes, you can import those into Prezi Video as well. You’ll also get a preview of the next frame, so you will never be lost as you present. Learn more about using presenter notes in Prezi Video . 

4. Practice your presentation

Imagine: You have started your presentation but suddenly realize that one of the slides contains incorrect information, or there’s a technical glitch as you try to zoom in on another slide. Sounds like a stressful situation. With practice and preparation, you can easily avoid or minimize the stress in a situation like this.

One of the best ways how to prepare for a presentation is by simply practicing your speech ahead of time. Create an online meeting with yourself, start sharing your Prezi Video slides, and talk through the presentation as you would in the call. Or ask your friends or family to give you feedback as you talk through the talking points in front of them. You can even play out a scenario where you encounter a technical glitch and plan out what you’ll do. By going over your presentation a couple of times, you’ll feel more prepared. The more prepared you’ll feel, the more relaxed and confident you’ll appear when presenting in front of your audience.

Follow these tips on how to prepare for a presentation quickly and effectively. Once you have everything set up, get more tips from Jessica Chen on public speaking tips to build confidence , and then jump right into creating your own Prezi video . 

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What Are Effective Presentation Skills (and How to Improve Them)

Presentation skills are essential for your personal and professional life. Learn about effective presentations and how to boost your presenting techniques.

At least seven out of 10 Americans agree that presentation skills are essential for a successful career [ 1 ]. Although it might be tempting to think that these are skills reserved for people interested in public speaking roles, they're critical in a diverse range of jobs. For example, you might need to brief your supervisor on research results.

Presentation skills are also essential in other scenarios, including working with a team and explaining your thought process, walking clients through project ideas and timelines, and highlighting your strengths and achievements to your manager during performance reviews.

Whatever the scenario, you have very little time to capture your audience’s attention and get your point across when presenting information—about three seconds, according to research [ 2 ]. Effective presentation skills help you get your point across and connect with the people you’re communicating with, which is why nearly every employer requires them.

Understanding what presentation skills are is only half the battle. Honing your presenting techniques is essential for mastering presentations of all kinds and in all settings.

What are presentation skills?

Presentation skills are the abilities and qualities necessary for creating and delivering a compelling presentation that effectively communicates information and ideas. They encompass what you say, how you structure it, and the materials you include to support what you say, such as slides, videos, or images.

You'll make presentations at various times in your life. Examples include:

Making speeches at a wedding, conference, or another event

Making a toast at a dinner or event

Explaining projects to a team 

Delivering results and findings to management teams

Teaching people specific methods or information

Proposing a vote at community group meetings

Pitching a new idea or business to potential partners or investors

Why are presentation skills important? 

Delivering effective presentations is critical in your professional and personal life. You’ll need to hone your presentation skills in various areas, such as when giving a speech, convincing your partner to make a substantial purchase, and talking to friends and family about an important situation.

No matter if you’re using them in a personal or professional setting, these are the skills that make it easier and more effective to convey your ideas, convince or persuade others, and experience success. A few of the benefits that often accompany improving your presentation skills include:

Enriched written and verbal communication skills

Enhanced confidence and self-image

Boosted critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities

Better motivational techniques

Increased leadership skills

Expanded time management, negotiation, and creativity

The better your presenting techniques, the more engaging your presentations will be. You could also have greater opportunities to make positive impacts in business and other areas of your life.

Effective presentation skills

Imagine yourself in the audience at a TED Talk or sitting with your coworkers at a big meeting held by your employer. What would you be looking for in how they deliver their message? What would make you feel engaged?

These are a few questions to ask yourself as you review this list of some of the most effective presentation skills.

Verbal communication

How you use language and deliver messages play essential roles in how your audience will receive your presentation. Speak clearly and confidently, projecting your voice enough to ensure everyone can hear. Think before you speak, pausing when necessary and tailoring the way you talk to resonate with your particular audience.

Body language

Body language combines various critical elements, including posture, gestures, eye contact, expressions, and position in front of the audience. Body language is one of the elements that can instantly transform a presentation that would otherwise be dull into one that's dynamic and interesting.

Voice projection

The ability to project your voice improves your presentation by allowing your audience to hear what you're saying. It also increases your confidence to help settle any lingering nerves while also making your message more engaging. To project your voice, stand comfortably with your shoulders back. Take deep breaths to power your speaking voice and ensure you enunciate every syllable you speak.

How you present yourself plays a role in your body language and ability to project your voice. It also sets the tone for the presentation. Avoid slouching or looking overly tense. Instead, remain open, upright, and adaptable while taking the formality of the occasion into account.

Storytelling

Incorporating storytelling into a presentation is an effective strategy used by many powerful public speakers. It has the power to bring your subject to life and pique the audience’s curiosity. Don’t be afraid to tell a personal story, slowly building up suspense or adding a dramatic moment. And, of course, be sure to end with a positive takeaway to drive your point home.

Active listening

Active listening is a valuable skill all on its own. When you understand and thoughtfully respond to what you hear—whether it's in a conversation or during a presentation—you’ll likely deepen your personal relationships and actively engage audiences during a presentation. As part of your presentation skill set, it helps catch and maintain the audience’s attention, helping them remain focused while minimizing passive response, ensuring the message is delivered correctly, and encouraging a call to action.

Stage presence

During a presentation, projecting confidence can help keep your audience engaged. Stage presence can help you connect with your audience and encourage them to want to watch you. To improve your presence, try amping up your normal demeanor by infusing it with a bit of enthusiasm. Project confidence and keep your information interesting.

Watch your audience as you’re presenting. If you’re holding their attention, it likely means you’re connecting well with them.

Self-awareness

Monitoring your own emotions and reactions will allow you to react well in various situations. It helps you remain personable throughout your presentation and handle feedback well. Self-awareness can help soothe nervousness during presentations, allowing you to perform more effectively.

Writing skills

Writing is a form of presentation. Sharp writing skills can help you master your presentation’s outline to ensure you stay on message and remain clear about your objectives from the beginning until the end. It’s also helpful to have strong writing abilities for creating compelling slides and other visual aids.

Understanding an audience

When you understand your audience's needs and interests, you can design your presentation around them. In turn, you'll deliver maximum value to them and enhance your ability to make your message easy to understand.

Learn more about presentation skills from industry experts at SAP:

How to improve presentation skills

There’s an art to public speaking. Just like any other type of art, this is one that requires practice. Improving your presentation skills will help reduce miscommunications, enhance your time management capabilities, and boost your leadership skills. Here are some ways you can improve these skills:

Work on self-confidence.

When you’re confident, you naturally speak more clearly and with more authority. Taking the time to prepare your presentation with a strong opening and compelling visual aids can help you feel more confident. Other ways to improve your self-confidence include practicing positive self-talk, surrounding yourself with positive people, and avoiding comparing yourself (or your presentation) to others.

Develop strategies for overcoming fear.

Many people are nervous or fearful before giving a presentation. A bad memory of a past performance or insufficient self-confidence can contribute to fear and anxiety. Having a few go-to strategies like deep breathing, practicing your presentation, and grounding can help you transform that fear into extra energy to put into your stage presence.

Learn grounding techniques.

Grounding is any type of technique that helps you steer your focus away from distressing thoughts and keeps you connected with your present self. To ground yourself, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and imagine you’re a large, mature tree with roots extending deep into the earth—like the tree, you can become unshakable.

Learn how to use presentation tools.

Visual aids and other technical support can transform an otherwise good presentation into a wow-worthy one. A few popular presentation tools include:

Canva: Provides easy-to-design templates you can customize

Powtoon: Animation software that makes video creation fast and easy

PowerPoint: Microsoft's iconic program popular for dynamic marketing and sales presentations

Practice breathing techniques.

Breathing techniques can help quell anxiety, making it easier to shake off pre-presentation jitters and nerves. It also helps relax your muscles and get more oxygen to your brain.  For some pre-presentation calmness, you can take deep breaths, slowly inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.

While presenting, breathe in through your mouth with the back of your tongue relaxed so your audience doesn't hear a gasping sound. Speak on your exhalation, maintaining a smooth voice.

Gain experience.

The more you practice, the better you’ll become. The more you doanything, the more comfortable you’ll feel engaging in that activity. Presentations are no different. Repeatedly practicing your own presentation also offers the opportunity to get feedback from other people and tweak your style and content as needed.

Tips to help you ace your presentation

Your presentation isn’t about you; it’s about the material you’re presenting. Sometimes, reminding yourself of this ahead of taking center stage can help take you out of your head, allowing you to connect effectively with your audience. The following are some of the many actions you can take on the day of your presentation.

Arrive early.

Since you may have a bit of presentation-related anxiety, it’s important to avoid adding travel stress. Give yourself an abundance of time to arrive at your destination, and take into account heavy traffic and other unforeseen events. By arriving early, you also give yourself time to meet with any on-site technicians, test your equipment, and connect with people ahead of the presentation.

Become familiar with the layout of the room.

Arriving early also gives you time to assess the room and figure out where you want to stand. Experiment with the acoustics to determine how loudly you need to project your voice, and test your equipment to make sure everything connects and appears properly with the available setup. This is an excellent opportunity to work out any last-minute concerns and move around to familiarize yourself with the setting for improved stage presence.

Listen to presenters ahead of you.

When you watch others present, you'll get a feel for the room's acoustics and lighting. You can also listen for any data that’s relevant to your presentation and revisit it during your presentation—this can make the presentation more interactive and engaging.

Use note cards.

Writing yourself a script could provide you with more comfort. To prevent sounding too robotic or disengaged, only include talking points in your note cards in case you get off track. Using note cards can help keep your presentation organized while sounding more authentic to your audience.

Learn to deliver clear and confident presentations with Dynamic Public Speaking from the University of Washington. Build confidence, develop new delivery techniques, and practice strategies for crafting compelling presentations for different purposes, occasions, and audiences.

Article sources

Forbes. “ New Survey: 70% Say Presentation Skills are Critical for Career Success , https://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2014/09/25/new-survey-70-percent-say-presentation-skills-critical-for-career-success/?sh=619f3ff78890.” Accessed December 7, 2022.

Beautiful.ai. “ 15 Presentation and Public Speaking Stats You Need to Know , https://www.beautiful.ai/blog/15-presentation-and-public-speaking-stats-you-need-to-know. Accessed December 7, 2022.

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How To Start a Presentation: 15 Ways to Set the Stage

By Krystle Wong , Jul 25, 2023

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – it’s your opportunity to make a lasting impression and captivate your audience. 

A strong presentation start acts as a beacon, cutting through the noise and instantly capturing the attention of your listeners. With so much content vying for their focus, a captivating opening ensures that your message stands out and resonates with your audience.

Whether you’re a startup business owner pitching a brilliant idea, a seasoned presenter delivering a persuasive talk or an expert sharing your experience, the start of your presentation can make all the difference. But don’t fret — I’ve got you covered with 15 electrifying ways to kickstart your presentation. 

The presentation introduction examples in this article cover everything from self-introduction to how to start a group presentation, building anticipation that leaves the audience eager to delve into the depths of your topic.

Click to jump ahead:

How to start a presentation introduction

15 ways to start a presentation and captivate your audience, common mistakes to avoid in the opening of a presentation, faqs on how to start a presentation, captivate the audience from the get-go.

Presentations can be scary, I know. But even if stage fright hits, you can always fall back on a simple strategy.

Just take a deep breath, introduce yourself and briefly explain the topic of your presentation.

To grab attention at the start, try this opening line: Hello everyone. I am so glad you could join me today. I’m very excited about today’s topic. I’m [Your Name] and I’ll be talking about [Presentation Topic]. Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by [Challenge related to your topic]. Many of us might have faced challenges with [Challenge related to your topic]. Today, we’ll explore some strategies that’ll help us [Solution that you’re presenting].

Regardless of your mode of presentation , crafting an engaging introduction sets the stage for a memorable presentation.

Let’s dive into some key tips for how to start a presentation speech to help you nail the art of starting with a bang:

Understand your audience

The key to an engaging introduction is to know your audience inside out and give your audience what they want. Tailor your opening to resonate with their specific interests, needs and expectations. Consider what will captivate them and how you can make your presentation relevant to their lives or work.

Use a compelling hook

Grab the audience’s attention from the get-go with a compelling hook. Whether it’s a thought-provoking question, a surprising fact or a gripping story, a powerful opening will immediately pique their curiosity and keep them invested in what you have to say.

State your purpose

Be crystal clear about your subject matter and the purpose of your presentation. In just a few sentences, communicate the main objectives and the value your audience will gain from listening to you. Let them know upfront what to expect and they’ll be more likely to stay engaged throughout.

Introduce yourself and your team

Give a self introduction about who you are such as your job title to establish credibility and rapport with the audience.

Some creative ways to introduce yourself in a presentation would be by sharing a brief and engaging personal story that connects to your topic or the theme of your presentation. This approach instantly makes you relatable and captures the audience’s attention.

Now, let’s talk about — how to introduce team members in a presentation. Before introducing each team member, briefly explain their role or contribution to the project or presentation. This gives the audience an understanding of their relevance and expertise.

Group presentations are also a breeze with the help of Venngage. Our in-editor collaboration tools allow you to edit presentations side by side in real-time. That way, you can seamlessly hare your design with the team for input and make sure everyone is on track. 

Maintain enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is contagious! Keep the energy levels up throughout your introduction, conveying a positive and upbeat tone. A vibrant and welcoming atmosphere sets the stage for an exciting presentation and keeps the audience eager to hear more.

Before you think about how to present a topic, think about how to design impactful slides that can leave a lasting impression on the audience. Here are 120+ presentation ideas , design tips, and examples to help you create an awesome slide deck for your next presentation.

Captivating your audience from the get-go is the key to a successful presentation. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or a novice taking the stage for the first time, the opening of your presentation sets the tone for the entire talk. 

So, let’s get ready to dive into the 15 most creative ways to start a presentation. I promise you these presentation introduction ideas will captivate your audience, leaving them hanging on your every word.

Grab-attention immediately

Ask a thought-provoking question.

Get the audience’s wheels turning by throwing them a thought-provoking question right out of the gate. Make them ponder, wonder and engage their critical thinking muscles from the very start.

Share a surprising statistic or fact

Brace yourself for some wide eyes and dropped jaws! Open your presentation with a jaw-dropping statistic or a mind-blowing fact that’s directly related to your topic. Nothing captures attention like a good ol’ dose of shock and awe.

State a bold statement or challenge

Ready to shake things up? Kick off with a bold and daring statement that sets the stage for your presentation’s epic journey. Boldness has a way of making ears perk up and eyes widen in anticipation!

Engage with a poll or interactive activity

Turn the audience from passive listeners to active participants by kicking off with a fun poll or interactive activity. Get them on their feet, or rather — their fingertips, right from the start!

Venngage’s user-friendly drag-and-drop editor allows you to easily transform your slides into an interactive presentation . Create clickable buttons or navigation elements within your presentation to guide your audience to different sections or external resources. 

Enhance engagement by incorporating videos or audio clips directly into your presentation. Venngage supports video and audio embedding, which can add depth to your content.

Begin with an opening phrase that captures attention

Use opening phrases that can help you create a strong connection with your audience and make them eager to hear more about what you have to say. Remember to be confident, enthusiastic and authentic in your delivery to maximize the impact of your presentation.

Here are some effective presentation starting words and phrases that can help you grab your audience’s attention and set the stage for a captivating presentation:

• “Imagine…”
• “Picture this…”
• “Did you know that…”
• “Have you ever wondered…”
• “In this presentation, we’ll explore…”
• “Let’s dive right in and discover…”
• “I’m excited to share with you…”
• “I have a confession to make…”
• “I want to start by telling you a story…”
• “Before we begin, let’s consider…”
• “Have you ever faced the challenge of…”
• “We all know that…”
• “This is a topic close to my heart because…”
• “Over the next [minutes/hours], we’ll cover…”
• “I invite you to journey with me through…”

Build connection and credibility

Begin with a personal connection .

Share a real-life experience or a special connection to the topic at hand. This simple act of opening up creates an instant bond with the audience, turning them into your biggest cheerleaders.

Having the team share their personal experiences is also a good group presentation introduction approach. Team members can share their own stories that are related to the topic to create an emotional connection with your audience. 

Tell a relevant story

Start your presentation with a riveting story that hooks your audience and relates to your main message. Stories have a magical way of captivating hearts and minds. Organize your slides in a clear and sequential manner and use visuals that complement your narrative and evoke emotions to engage the audience.

With Venngage, you have access to a vast library of high-quality and captivating stock photography, offering thousands of options to enrich your presentations. The best part? It’s entirely free! Elevate your visual storytelling with stunning images that complement your content, captivate your audience and add a professional touch to your presentation. 

Use a powerful quote

Sometimes, all you need is some wise words to work wonders. Begin with a powerful quote from a legendary figure that perfectly fits your presentation’s theme — a dose of inspiration sets the stage for an epic journey.

Build anticipation

Provide a brief outline.

Here’s a good introduction for presentation example if you’re giving a speech at a conference. For longer presentations or conferences with multiple speakers especially, providing an outline helps the audience stay focused on the key takeaways. That way, you can better manage your time and ensure that you cover all the key points without rushing or running out of time.

Pose a problem and offer a solution

A great idea on how to start a business presentation is to start by presenting a problem and offering a well-thought-out solution. By addressing their pain points and showcasing your solution, you’ll capture their interest and set the stage for a compelling and successful presentation.

Back up your solution with data, research, or case studies that demonstrate its effectiveness. This can also be a good reporting introduction example that adds credibility to your proposal.

Preparing a pitch deck can be a daunting task but fret not. This guide on the 30+ best pitch deck tips and examples has everything you need to bring on new business partners and win new client contracts. Alternatively, you can also get started by customizing one of our professional pitch deck templates for free. 

Incite curiosity in the audience

Utilize visuals or props.

Capture your audience’s gaze by whipping out captivating visuals or props that add an exciting touch to your subject. A well-placed prop or a stunning visual can make your presentation pop like a fireworks show!

That said, you maybe wondering — how can I make my presentation more attractive.  A well-designed presentation background instantly captures the audience’s attention and creates a positive first impression. Here are 15 presentation background examples to keep the audience awake to help you get inspired. 

Use humor or wit

Sprinkle some humor and wit to spice things up. Cracking a clever joke or throwing in a witty remark can break the ice and create a positively charged atmosphere. If you’re cracking your head on how to start a group presentation, humor is a great way to start a presentation speech. 

Get your team members involved in the fun to create a collaborative and enjoyable experience for everyone. Laughter is the perfect way to break the ice and set a positive tone for your presentation!

Invoke emotion

Get those heartstrings tugging! Start with a heartfelt story or example that stirs up emotions and connects with your audience on a personal level. Emotion is the secret sauce to a memorable presentation.

Aside from getting creative with your introduction, a well-crafted and creative presentation can boost your confidence as a presenter. Browse our catalog of creative presentation templates and get started right away!

Use a dramatic pause

A great group presentation example is to start with a powerful moment of silence, like a magician about to reveal their greatest trick. After introducing your team, allow a brief moment of silence. Hold the pause for a few seconds, making it feel deliberate and purposeful. This builds anticipation and curiosity among the audience.

Pique their interest

Share a fun fact or anecdote.

Time for a little fun and games! Kick-off with a lighthearted or fascinating fact that’ll make the audience go, “Wow, really? Tell me more!” A sprinkle of amusement sets the stage for an entertaining ride.

While an introduction for a presentation sets the tone for your speech, a good slide complements your spoken words, helping the audience better understand and remember your message. Check out these 12 best presentation software for 2023 that can aid your next presentation. 

The opening moments of a presentation can make or break your entire talk. It’s your chance to grab your audience’s attention, set the tone, and lay the foundation for a successful presentation. However, there are some common pitfalls that speakers often fall into when starting their presentations. 

Starting with Apologies

It might be tempting to start with a preemptive apology, especially if you’re feeling nervous or unsure about your presentation. However, beginning with unnecessary apologies or self-deprecating remarks sets a negative tone right from the start. Instead of exuding confidence and credibility, you’re unintentionally undermining yourself and your message. 

Reading from Slides

One of the most common blunders in the opening of a PowerPoint presentation is reading directly from your slides or script. While it’s crucial to have a well-structured outline, reciting word-for-word can lead to disengagement and boredom among your audience. Maintain eye contact and connect with your listeners as you speak. Your slides should complement your words, not replace them.

Overwhelming with Information

In the excitement to impress, some presenters bombard their audience with too much information right at the beginning.

Instead of overloading the audience with a sea of data, statistics or technical details that can quickly lead to confusion and disinterest, visualize your data with the help of Venngage. Choose an infographic template that best suits the type of data you want to visualize. Venngage offers a variety of pre-designed templates for charts, graphs, infographics and more.

Ignoring the Audience

It’s easy to get caught up in the content and forget about the people in front of you. Don’t overlook the importance of acknowledging the audience and building a connection with them. Greet them warmly, make eye contact and maintain body language to show genuine interest in their presence. Engage the audience early on by asking a show of hands question or encourage audience participation. 

Lack of Clarity

Your audience should know exactly what to expect from your presentation. Starting with a vague or unclear opening leaves them guessing about the purpose and direction of your talk. Clearly communicate the topic and objectives of your presentation right from the beginning. This sets the stage for a focused and coherent message that resonates with your audience.

Simplicity makes it easier for the audience to understand and retain the information presented. Check out our gallery of simple presentation templates to keep your opening concise and relevant. 

Skipping the Hook

The opening of your presentation is the perfect opportunity to hook your audience’s attention and keep them engaged. However, some presenters overlook this crucial aspect and dive straight into the content without any intrigue. Craft an attention-grabbing hook that sparks curiosity, poses a thought-provoking question or shares an interesting fact. A compelling opening is like the key that unlocks your audience’s receptivity to the rest of your presentation.

Now that you’ve got the gist of how to introduce a presentation, further brush up your speech with these tips on how to make a persuasive presentation and how to improve your presentation skills to create an engaging presentation . 

How can I overcome nervousness at the beginning of a presentation?

To overcome nervousness at the beginning of a presentation, take deep breaths, practice beforehand, and focus on connecting with your audience rather than worrying about yourself.

How long should the opening of a presentation be?

The opening of a presentation should typically be brief, lasting around 1 to 3 minutes, to grab the audience’s attention and set the tone for the rest of the talk.

Should I memorize my presentation’s opening lines?

While it’s helpful to know your opening lines, it’s better to understand the key points and flow naturally to maintain authenticity and flexibility during the presentation.

Should I use slides during the opening of my presentation?

Using slides sparingly during the opening can enhance the message, but avoid overwhelming the audience with too much information early on.

How do I transition smoothly from the opening to the main content of my presentation?

Transition smoothly from the opening to the main content by providing a clear and concise outline of what’s to come, signaling the shift and maintaining a logical flow between topics.

Just as a captivating opening draws your audience in, creating a well-crafted presentation closing has the power to leave a lasting impression. Wrap up in style with these 10 ways to end a presentation .

Presenting virtually? Check out these tips on how to ace your next online presentation . 

Captivating your audience from the very beginning is crucial for a successful presentation. The first few moments of your talk can set the tone and determine whether your audience remains engaged throughout or loses interest. 

Start with a compelling opening that grabs their attention. You can use a thought-provoking question, a surprising statistic or a powerful quote to pique their curiosity. Alternatively, storytelling can be a potent tool to draw them into your narrative. It’s essential to establish a personal connection early on, whether by sharing a relatable experience or expressing empathy towards their needs and interests.

Lastly, be mindful of your body language and vocal delivery. A confident and engaging speaker can captivate an audience, so make eye contact, use appropriate gestures and vary your tone to convey passion and sincerity.

In conclusion, captivating your audience from the very beginning requires thoughtful preparation, engaging content and a confident delivery. With Venngage’s customizable templates, you can adapt your presentation to suit the preferences and interests of your specific audience, ensuring maximum engagement. Go on and get started today!

How to Plan a Presentation (in one hour or less)

Which type of “presenter” are you.

There are two types of “presenter” when it comes to pitching, speaking (with slides), doing a keynote, chairing a panel or being a live ‘guest’….

1 – The Plannerina

2 – The Wing – it – Wonder.

  I am probably a wing-it-wonder!

Which one are you? 

In my experience (and I’ve clocked up around 8000 examples from city clients over the years) you usually fit into one of these camps.

When I was producing live shows at the BBC I used to think of Boris Johnson (then Mayor of London) as the pin up Wing-It-Wonder and the former British Prime Minister Theresa May (solid, stable and secure) as the archetypal Plannerina.

The truth is, you do need to PLAN whatever your type.

However, don’t panic.   You don’t necessarily need to prepare for months on end!  If you really have an hour of time to work on your presentation – you can get the main shape of it done within 60 minutes if you know the drill. 

By the way, you can read about plannerinas and wing-it-wonders in my blog about pitching types here…

Click here for the full blog… to hear about plannerinas and wing-it-wonders

Do you know how to plan efficiently?

Clients often ask me…

“Can you OVER prepare for a presentation? It takes me hours…days..months….and my fee paying time is too precious to fritter away!”

One very senior tax lawyer admitted to me the other day that she doesn’t EVER speak at conferences because it takes soooooo long to do the prep, write the script, learn the script, craft the slides and practice her performance (plannerina style).  She hasn’t got the capacity to go through with it.

 She always says NO! When it comes to speaking at a podium and standing in the spotlight.

However, although she is saving time on the one hand – to give her more fee paying hours, she’s missing out on sharing her expertise, being more visible, being seen as a thought leader on the other hand.   She could be missing out on meeting hundreds of new contacts and winning new business for future fee paying clients.

“You don’t have to panic, plan, learn, script, practice and HATE the process of prepping for a presentation.  You can do it in far less time…you just need to speak more regularly”

She looked at me in horror.

In my experience,  you need not spend more than 30 mins on prep if you speak very regularly.  Putting in little and often bursts of energy and time pays dividends.

I have some super easy quick-fix strategies you can adopt so you can spend more time on yourself, your job and your family, and less time on prepping, scripting and worrying about your mind going blank during your presentation.

Quick 5-Step Prep Tips

Here are my quick fix 5 step prep tips you can use to get the bulk of your presentation planned, packaged and poised…in less than an hour (you will need to fill in a few gaps and practice later, but you’ll feel 100% more confident knowing it’s more or less done and dusted)

Stop – clear your head – do nothing for a moment. Get yourself a cup of tea (optional) and have a white board, a big blank page and a nice big colourful pen nearby!

Ask Questions – the 5 Ws.  Who, where, why, what, when…

Who is it for?  A very quick audience overview

Where are you doing it? Which country, venue, what’s the culture/atmosphere like? Will it be hot, cold, rainy, echoey, difficult to hear?

Why ? Simply , why are you doing it, what’s the point? What’s the message likely to be?

What do you want the outcome to be?  I.E., what do you want the audience to take away?  What would you like them to walk away feeling, or thinking? What’s the CTA – Call to action?

When are you doing it? Morning, noon or night.  Will your audience be tired, hungry, grumpy or ready to dash to the bar?  Be mindful of time of day – rule of thumb – if it’s the last item of the day or before lunch – finish 5 mins early! At least.

If you can’t answer all these questions easily – you have 2 choices. 

Either cancel it or go ahead and guess. Fake it ‘til you make it.  You can fill in the gaps later.

Find or imagine your AA - Audience Avatar - do a rough audience audit. It may take some guess work. And ask yourself these questions …. 

Who’s likely to be in the audience?  Choose your avatar and answer for them.  Tip – name your avatar and bring it to life for example “Jacob” - mid 30s, French, alpha type, busy, likes sport, new ways to work with data and very ambitious!

What’s his mindset? What does he care about? Can you answer Jacob’s WIIFM – What’s in it for me?

This might take up to 45 mins – however, once you KNOW why you’re there and what your audience’s needs are – you can plan super-fast.

Sit in Jacob’s shoes for a moment, imagine you are sitting in the audience and say OUT LOUD – what you think might be going through Jacob’s head….

E.g., “I hope this is going to be short, helpful & I need to hear something new”

Brainstorm to create your content starting with the message.  Respond to Jacob’s needs …quick, new and helpful!

 Then think of stories/ stats / details / examples you could share. My advice, choose content and stories that you OWN! 

Check this little video out to help you brainstorm your content…

You Don’t Have to be “A Creative” to Create Great Content

Sometimes the best thing to do is start from scratch and let your mind flow with ideas in no particular order.

Take a look at this video tip and have a go at brainstorming without the filters.

Click on the flipchart to play this useful and super quick video tip…

To brainstorm – all you need is a flipchart!

Then arrange the content in a simple order – beginning – middle – end.

Top and tail with impact!

Make sure you have a top line – a hook.  In response to Jacob’s needs you might start with something like this…

“Here’s a really useful new shortcut to help you finish project GX.”

Tell your stories or share stats & info – but keep them short, to the point, punchy and entertaining.

And make sure you finish on a high – a CTA – call to action or a big ask.  What next?

Even if you haven’t got your script perfectly finished, you are almost there. Even if you have NO slides, you know where you are going and what you are doing more or less.

Now it’s easy to fill in the gaps.

I’d suggest a rough running order with items – rather than a full script at first.

However, if you feel you need a full verbatim script, say it out loud first. You could record yourself and use voice notes to write it in full. Then edit it.

One of the biggest mistakes my wonderful pitching clients make is they like to write the script FIRST, then try and learn the WRITTEN words. 

A written document is very very different from an easy to SAY script. 

At the BBC we’d call the scripts, a “cue”. This was usually the intro to a news item or a guest. It was always very easy to get your mouth around, short, sweet and to the point.  Big ‘clever’ words’ can be tricky to say. 

My advice. Make your script a ‘transcript’.  I.E You say it first, then write it down last!

Make sure you use short sentences and words that are easy, not the sentence (this is a real example) I heard the other day…

 “we collaborate with exceptionally talented and sophisticated partners, who’s accreditations include sociologically proved knowledge based on…..etc etc”

I’d suggest something more like…

“We work with some the world’s best experts”

The more you speak the easier it gets.

Find out what speaker type you are!

Here’s a bit of fun…. find out what your speaker type is in my fun She-Boss Quiz…

Take the She-Boss-speaker-type-challenge – and get your very own video feedback….

Click here to find out if you’re a Plannerina, a Wing-it-Wendy or Bold Babs

Until next time, stop, breathe, don’t sweat it. You’ve got this.

Eyes and teeth 

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Related Content

How to prepare a last-minute presentation efficiently.

Published: July 11, 2023

Updated: July 12, 2023

Learn how to prepare for a presentation from scratch, even when faced with last-minute presentation deadlines.

There are times when you must scramble to get ready for a last-minute presentation. You might have been asked to step in for someone else. Or you may be asked to give an unexpected debrief or an update with only an hour's notice.

Whatever the situation, you still need to put together a solid last-minute presentation.

So, how do you make a presentation without time to prepare? Here are some pointers to help you prepare a last-minute presentation in record time.

1. Keep talking points simple.

"It's always a good idea to keep your message simple when giving a speech,” says communication coach, keynote speaker and author  Dorie Clark , “because it's easier for the audience to follow.” 

Keeping your talking points simple is “especially important,” stresses Clark, “when giving a last-minute presentation because you haven't had much time to prepare! Keeping your talking points simple ensures that you're able to remember the flow of your argument and won't stumble because you're tried to do too much without adequate rehearsal time." 

To create a presentation when you’re pressed for time, limit the key points you’ll discuss to no more than five points and avoid including too many statistics, numbers and facts. 

To quickly create a last-minute presentation, it also helps to use slides, whether it’s  PowerPoint ,  Keynote ,  Prezi , or  Canva , to name a few. But the slides need to be simple, displaying keywords or short phrases that can help the audience follow your talk while serving as a teleprompter for you, allowing you to remember what you have to say. Simplify your slides by picking no more than two fonts. 

When you set out to create a presentation at short notice, you might also think about using software that creates your slides automatically, such as  Canva ,  DeckRobot , or  Haiku Deck.

"Keeping your talking points simple ensures that you're able to remember the flow of your argument and won't stumble because you're tried to do too much without adequate rehearsal time." —Dorie Clark, communication coach

2. Create a concise and timely presentation. 

Planning a presentation for a last-minute talk starts with creating a simple outline for what you want to say. 

To help you achieve this, write down the answers to these two key questions:

• What is the main message I want my audience to know?  You should be able to articulate this in a few concise sentences. Then structure your talk around the main message you want them to remember.
• Why should they care?  Some of the silent questions audience members ask themselves are: Why should I care? What’s in it for me? Why is this important? Again, craft a few concise answers on the benefits they will derive from your presentation.

Go easy on the details. Stick to the bare minimum you need to discuss to accomplish this goal.

What if you have no time at all to prepare for your last-minute presentation?

Let’s say someone has just stepped into your office and asked you to cover for someone at the eleventh hour. How do you create a presentation without panicking?

I posed the question to communication and body language expert Anne-Maartje Oud, CEO and Founder of  The Behaviour Company : 

"When I help executive clients working on their presentation skills,” says Oud, “I teach the following:

• If you have no time to prepare a presentation, rehearse what you would say if you only had one minute.
• Identify key takeaways for the audience with just a few words. For example: after this presentation, I want my audience to know about effective communication, establishing trust, and open gestures.
• Then, very briefly, you write down the things you want to cover.”

An essential part of planning a presentation, especially a last-minute one, is timing the presentation.

Let’s say your presentation is for 30 minutes. Check your timing and edit ruthlessly until you are within 30 minutes. You can use a stopwatch or the timer in your presentation software to accomplish this.

Knowing your exact timing is critical to ensuring your presentation is short and simple. A well-timed presentation can also boost your self-confidence as it will help you stay in control of time and ensure that your presentation doesn’t drag on or feel rushed. 

3. Craft a compelling narrative for your last-minute presentation.

A  story  is a lot easier to remember than a bunch of facts, statistics, numbers or lists. That's because hearing a story fully engages our brains. 

We can usually recall a story about a situation we've experienced or are familiar with. And because we're already familiar with the subject of our story, we'll most likely be able to improvise and add details once we're on stage. This spontaneity will enhance your delivery and move you away from "presenter mode," where you might look like you're reciting facts.

And there are other benefits to using a story in your last-minute presentation besides helping you memorize your speech faster:

• A story will help to make your information more engaging. 
• Stories can  hook  and hold the audience's attention.
• Stories can also assist in conveying your message with greater clarity. 
• Above all, using a story will help your audience remember your message longer.

How can you quickly prepare for a last-minute presentation by using a story? I posed the question to communication coach and theorist Dr. Nick Morgan, president of public speaking consultants  Public Words . 

"Think of a problem the audience has," says Morgan, "for which your expertise (the reason you were asked to speak) is the solution. 

"Now, think of a story that you experienced that illustrates how you solved the problem. A good story has conflict, so begin with that – what was going wrong, and how did you fix it, or see a solution, or help find the solution? Craft your story in terms of problem-solution, and you will hold the audience's attention every time." 

4. Include some audience participation. 

When preparing a last-minute presentation, consider involving the audience as much as you can. For example, when planning your presentation, identify opportunities in your material to ask the audience questions. 

“Remember," says Oud, “your audience is also full of good ideas. Tap into the great knowledge your audience possesses. Let the audience do the work for you. How do they define the topic you are talking about? For example: how do they define establishing trust? How would they establish it? Then, using your own knowledge and expertise, expand on their responses by having them consider things they have not thought of.

"Interaction with the audience creates a more vibrant environment and allows them to ask you those questions that are important to them and that they may have been reluctant to bring up.”

In addition to asking questions throughout your presentation, you can plan a question-and-answer session. Consider preparing a few quick slides to explain your point for potentially complex questions you haven't had time to rehearse. Note the numbers of these slides so you can go to them quickly while answering the question. You can say: "This question comes up frequently. I created a slide to help explain the issue better." Or, "I had a hunch this question might come up. Let me pull out a slide that will clarify the issue."

5. Practice, practice, practice.

"You may not have much time to practice your presentation if it's been assigned to you at the last minute,” says Clark, “but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. You don't want to freeze up in the moment because you're unsure what you want to say or you've forgotten the flow of your prepared remarks.”

Even a little practice, advises Clark, can help you feel more confident. It can make you “aware of tricky parts of the presentation where you'll need to especially concentrate. That confidence typically translates into a strong and more compelling presentation." 

And how do you prepare a presentation if you have no time at all to practice?

Even if you have just 10 minutes to prepare a presentation, use some of this time to practice the beginning of your talk. The beginning is a powerful part of the presentation because that’s when you make your first impression on the audience. A good start signals to the audience that the presentation is worth their time and will pique their interest. Above all, delivering a good opening statement will boost your confidence to carry you through the rest of the talk.

Examples of attention-grabbing opening statements include a story that leads you into your topic, a relevant startling statistic, or a current headline.  Here  are additional ideas on how to craft a compelling opening statement. 

6. Don't let them see you sweat.

You may be tempted to let the audience know you haven’t had much time to prepare for a last-minute presentation. But most public speaking experts say that’s not a good idea. For one thing, the audience may not notice, so why draw attention to it?

Also, if you look nervous and start  speaking too fast  – especially if you signal to your audience that you haven't prepared enough – you may create a self-fulfilling prophecy and see your presentation fall apart.

Instead, fake it till you make it. Create a good presentation and make it seem like you’ve done enough planning and have an important message to convey.

Above all, don’t let them see you sweat, and work on boosting your confidence and lowering your stress level before the presentation. To get expert advice on how to do this, I spoke with  Joe Navarro , ex-FBI special agent and one of the world's leading experts on non-verbal communication. Navarro is now an instructor and private consultant to major corporations. 

Navarro shared this powerful tip to help you relax just before you walk into the presentation room:

"What I like to do and teach my clients," says Navarro, "is find a wall and place both hands on the wall shoulder-width apart, and with one leg back and one forward, lean into the wall as if holding it in place, straining the arms and shoulders muscles, just enough to feel the muscular tension. (It looks like a suspect under arrest.) 

"While in that leaning position, your brain can only handle one task – survival – and whatever insecurities you have about speaking are no longer a priority.

"While in that forward-leaning position – and it doesn't have to take more than thirty seconds – tell yourself something you will speak on that is true or an established fact you want to convey to the audience – just one. With the confidence of that one thing, whatever it is, as you walk out on stage, you will be able to more confidently and easily follow up with other things.

"After thirty seconds or so, stand normally, do a deep exhale, then head out to speak.

"The combination of light physical stress refocuses the brain's priority, and focusing on one well-established fact or truth will give your brain the confidence it needs in that moment."

Deliver Outstanding Presentations on the Fly: The Takeaway

Making a presentation on the fly can be daunting. Following these recommendations can help you walk into your last-minute presentation confidently.

• Have faith in your capabilities. If you’re being asked to give a last-minute presentation, it means that people have confidence in your knowledge and expertise. They trust that you can pull it off. So, believe in yourself and the hard work you’ve done to get to that place where you’re trusted.
• Fake it till you make it. Your audience doesn’t know the flow of your presentation. If you forget a point and remember it later, simply say: "There is one other item I would like to add," or "Let me digress for a moment to mention another point." 
• Relax. Anxiety is a major contributor to losing your train of thought. Stretch your body before entering the room, take some deep breaths, take a glass of water to the room, smile, and get out of yourself and engage the audience. 

A version of this article was originally published on January 20, 2017.

Photo: Getty Images

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How To Make A Presentation – Step By Step Guide

Making presentations is a valuable skill to add to your belt. It makes you an expert in holding non-verbal communication and speaking more visually. Whether it’s for business, school or another form of communication, your presentation depends on five key pillars:

• Platform: Not every platform is tailored to all types of presentations, so choosing the right one is important. For example, Canva or Prezi are great for more creative presentations, while Powerpoint is better for business-oriented ones.
• Content: The main body of your presentation. It forms the spine of your presentation and includes key facts, data and visuals to keep the audience engaged.
• Visuals: Visuals like charts, graphs, photos, and videos help support your content and keep the audience engaged.
• Structure: This is how the content of your presentation flows. It decides whether your audience will understand it or not.
• Bottom line: It’s the takeaway you want the audience to remember.

Creating a presentation isn’t hard once you have the right steps in place. Here’s a complete step-by-step guide to help you make an effective presentation.

Here’s how it goes.

Choose The Presentation Platform

Your presentation platform forms the foundation on which you will create your presentation. The platform can be anything from highly interactive multimedia software to simple presentation apps .

Today, your presentations are no longer bound to be presented in person. You can stream them live over the internet, create an interactive presentation, or even upload them to a cloud storage service.

There is an array of presentation software and tools for every use case. You can:

• Use Canva if you are looking to make a presentation quickly without any technical or design knowledge. You’ll find hundreds of thousands of pre-built designer templates to choose from.
• Use Prezi if you want to add a bit of panache to your presentation, as it is great for creating motion-based presentations in the cloud. Prezi is great for students.
• Create professional diagrams using Visme’s drag-and-drop interface . It contains thousands of icons, images and illustrations to choose from. Perfect for data-oriented presentations.
• Use Google Slides if you want to collaborate with others in real time. With Google Slides, you can make changes and share your presentation online for remote viewers.
• Use Microsoft PowerPoint if you want to create complex animations or advanced transitions. It’s a great choice for experts who tend to manage every nitty-gritty.
• Try Beautiful.ai for AI-powered presentations. AI does most of the job here. All you need to do is just provide it with data.

For those who want to make a presentation in the most user-friendly way, I recommend using Canva . It provides simple templates and an intuitive editor so you don’t have to worry about the technical aspects of creating presentations.

Develop A Persona

Always begin with your audience and the people you’ll be addressing. Before you start writing or researching the topic, answer these questions:

• Who is your target audience ?
• Why are you presenting to them?
• What is the purpose, and what do you want to share with this presentation?

Answers to these questions and knowing your audience’s pain points will help you determine the right direction and content to include in your presentation.

Ignore them and risk the presentation being unfocused and vague.

For instance, if you are presenting an idea to trainees, you have to clarify every point, jargon, and term and explain concepts from the beginning.

But if you are talking to your team, you can expect a high-level understanding and focus only on justifying the problem and devising a solution.

Moreover, not only do you need to know your audience, but you need to know their preferred language.

Why, you ask?

Because when you know their interest and attention span, it’s easier to build content to fit their needs. For example, Gen Z prefers visuals while Millennials prefer structured ideas. Hence, a presentation on EVs (electronic vehicles) could be visual or video-heavy for Gen Z and conceptually detailed for Millennials.

Decide On A Type

For every presentation, there is an end goal, and these goals can be summed up in the following five types of presentations – 

• Informative: Mostly used in educational settings as they help explain a concept or present an idea. For example, if you’re trying to explain the working of an EV, this would be an ideal type to go for.
• Persuasive: A great way to convince or persuade someone about a product or service you offer. For instance, a persuasive presentation works well when presenting EVs as a better alternative than ICEs (Internal Combustion Engines).
• Entertaining: Presentations used to bring out an emotional or aesthetic response from the audience. For example, when presenting the unique features and design of an EV, this type of presentation works well.
• Instructional: Aimed at providing instruction or demonstration on how to use a product or service. For instance, this type of presentation is best used when explaining the various safety features in EVs.
• Inspiring – Inspiring presentations are to motivate people. It can include a company or a personal journey that is inspiring. For instance, a presentation about how EVs are helping create a cleaner and greener future.

Your presentation can aim at one goal, be a mixture of two, or even be a combination of all four. But know that the more layered your presentation is, the more confused your audience could get. So try to focus on one goal and keep it simple.

Platforms like Canva even have different templates for different goals to help you get a kick start.

Know Your Topic Inside Out 

When it is time to present, you need to be confident and presentable to win your audience’s trust.

And you can do this when you know all the ins and outs of your topic.

Focus on the topic’s who, what, where, when, why, and how .

This will help you:

• Be organised
• Answer any questions that come up
• Maintain your train of thought

So, zoom in on your topic and know all that you can to make your slides better.

Create An Outline 

It is typically better to separate the pieces you need before you start building rather than digging into a bucket filled with mixed parts for every piece you need. 

Begin by brainstorming your ideas and creating a rough outline. It will help you organise your thoughts and identify key points you want to cover. 

While working on your outline, be sure to include headings and subheadings and specific talking points for each slide to help structure your content.

For example, an outline for the topic “plant-based diets” would look like this: 

Introduction

• Plant-based sources of protein and essential nutrients
• How To Transition To A Plant-Based Diet

This would be a headstart. You can fill this headings with subheads like this:

• Definition of a plant-based diet
• Plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids
• Plant-based milk alternatives for calcium
• Fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals
• Incorporate plant-based meals gradually
• Finding plant-based alternatives to your favourite dishes
• Recipes and resources for plant-based cooking
• Recap of the plant-based diet benefits

The outline makes it easier to construct and organise the idea sequentially and thoughtfully.

Create Slides And Add Content 

Your outline usually decides how many slides your presentation will have. Once you create it, you can go ahead and add in all the content.

The content of the slides is the real ‘meat’ of your presentation – be it data, writing content , or visuals.

The best part?

You can convert this content into three broad sections:

• Introduction – A compelling and strong introduction that attracts and hooks viewers’ attention.
• Body – The main content – facts and figures, analysis, case studies etc. It supports the core message of your presentation and unfolds slide-by-slide.
• Conclusion – It variably includes key takeaways in a way that lets the viewer remind of what they are taking with them. And we add a CTA, which helps with decision fatigue and adds meaning to your content.  

For instance, here’s an example of how you can structure your presentation on “plant-based diets”

Start with a question to draw in the audience – “Have you ever considered going plant-based?”

Alternatively, use an engaging fact like “There are over 20 varieties of edible plants on this planet!”

Follow this slide with your original idea – the definition of a plant-based diet.

This is where most of your presentation’s content lies. Unfold your thoughts in an organised manner.

Start with a brief overview of the dietary habits associated with plant-based diets and explain why it is becoming increasingly popular.

Then, transition into the benefits of adopting this type of diet: health, environmental, or ethical reasons.

Include visuals like graphs, infographics , and videos to make your presentation more interesting.

Finally, provide ways to incorporate plant-based meals into everyday life with simple recipes and meal plan ideas.

Sum up the main points of your presentation. Remind the audience what they’ve learned and highlight important takeaways that they can use in their own lives.

End with a CTA (call to action) and invite the audience to whatever you’d like them to do – whether it’s trying out one of the recipes you featured or looking into more resources about plant-based nutrition.

Create Your Visual Aids

Here’s a simple fact – the human brain processes visual content 60,000 times faster than text. So when it comes to presentations, visuals can go a long way in helping your audience understand what you’re presenting.

The visual graph below shows the traffic data accumulated through mobile, desktop and all devices with the help of a line graph.

Imagine if this information was penned down in columns, tables, and big excel sheets – boring to read?

So it is for everyone. So, be more visual.

Presentation tools like Canva , Visme , and Piktochart allow you to create custom visuals quickly using CSV files (spreadsheets) and their pre-made templates.

Even PowerPoint has great graphics and animations that you can use to make your slides engaging. But it lacks the functionality to quickly create custom visuals.

When creating a presentation, think about how you are going to support your narrative with visual aids. If speaking in front of an audience, the ‘show-and-tell’ method is highly effective here. Showing both elements (visual + verbal) will help reinforce understanding in the minds of your audience.

Tips To Make An Effective Presentation

An effective presentation requires careful planning and clear and concise delivery to engage the audience and convey information effectively. Here are the tips that can help you achieve your goal –

Keep It Simple & Crisp

Simplicity is vital if you want the idea to be accessible and easy to follow. You can keep your presentation simple and crisp by cutting down on text and big paragraphs and adding more punchy lines and bullet points.

This makes the audience focus on key points and takes away with them the knowledge.

Develop Clear Structure

Things have to be cohesive and arranged on a logical ladder. Imagine yourself as a viewer and think of the best order for your presentation slides.

You might rearrange sections, and slides, cut on content, add more graphs or images, or some humorous comics.

Be Better At Visual

When it comes to presentations, visuals always play as a wild card. It creates a synergetic interaction between the data and the audience making it easier for the audience to identify trends, patterns, and outliers in large data sets. It empowers the audience to correlate and summarise the findings more efficiently.

To make your presentation visual, you can:

• Explain your idea using a story
• Create comics, and
• Illustrate your points with more suitable images and not content-heavy slides.

If you are a non-designer but want to create a visually communicative presentation, Canva can be your assistant. Its straightforward interface makes it painless to prepare any visuals you want to add to your presentation.

Obey The 10-20-30 Rule

Guy Kawasaki, one of the marketing specialists of Apple, author, and a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, said – Obey the 10-20-30 rule to deliver the best slideshow presentation. The 10-20-30 rule is simple – the presentation should NOT have more than 10 slides, last longer than 20 minutes, and use a font size smaller than 30.

It is not an end-all-be-all rule, but it is great to follow as it keeps the presentation on track and does not overwhelm viewers with too many slides.

Plan The Delivery

You can have the best presentation prepared, but it can be a complete flop if you fail to deliver it right. Here are a few tips to give a killer presentation that helps you share your word across.

• Practice as many times as you can. Because that is the only way to get perfect presentation delivery.
• It is always better to memorise your presentation. The less ‘Ummm,s’ you do on stage, the better. But there is nothing wrong with bringing a note card to have your safety shield.
• If you are not delivering the presentation in person and have to share it with a broader audience – Add voiceovers or a pre-recorded video of you to the presentation. In this, Canva, Loom, Beautiful.ai, and Vyond presentation software can be your help.
• Add the Notes – The Notes pane is the place to rack the talking points that you want to talk about when you give your presentation. You can add notes for every slide.
• Connect with your audience. And the best way to do so is – to research better. When you are comfortable with your audience, know their pain points, and understand what solutions they need, you’ll automatically connect with them and be more empathetic.
• A personal story outline
• A provocative (but subtle) statement
• Adding a jaw-dropping statistic or fact
• Asking a question
• Show meaningful visuals or videos that create a build-up of your presentation

Bottom-Line?

Understanding how to plan, create, execute and deliver a presentation is an essential skill if you are a professional, teacher, or student. At some point in time, you will have to give a presentation. Despite being an important aspect, it is rarely taught to anybody, which is why we framed an entire article to help you overcome this challenge

Using these steps and tips, you can create a presentation that:

• Communicates effectively
• Engages your audience
• Ensures a smooth presentation
• Achieves your desired outcome

Following these best practices can create a successful presentation and share your message without making people have forty winks.

Go On, Tell Us What You Think!

Did we miss something? Come on! Tell us what you think about our article on how to make a presentation guide in the comments section.

Ravpreet is an avid writer, prone to penning compelling content that hits the right chord. A startup enthusiast, Ravpreet has written content about startups for over three years and helped them succeed. You can also find her cooking, making singing videos, or walking on quiet streets in her free time.

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Live Q&A for international students to focus on permanent residency pathways

Monday, April 22, 2024 | by Mel Smith

Brock International, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will co-host a live Q&A event this week to provide international students with information on potential pathways to permanent residency in Canada after they graduate.

Attendees from Brock and 10 other Ontario universities will have a rare opportunity to have their questions answered directly by representatives from the IRCC and OINP.

International students are invited to watch two pre-recorded video presentations before attending the live Q&A event from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 26. Students can participate online or join an in-person screening at the International Centre in GLB 107.

Brock International took the lead organizing the session to enhance its services for students and to help establish best practices among licensed practitioners and immigration advising teams in Ontario. International student advising teams across Canada focus their services on student immigration matters like study permits, co-op work permits and the post-graduation work permit. Permanent residency – a popular topic for international students – is often out of the scope of services available due to its complexities and licensing requirements.

For more information, visit ExperienceBU or email Brock International at [email protected]

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