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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.

businesswoman-speaking-from-a-podium-to-an-audience-in-a-conference-room-how-to-give-a-good-presentation

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.

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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. 

Group-of-a-business-people-having-meeting-in-a-conference-room-how-to-give-a-good-presentation

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.

Woman-presenting-charts-and-data-to-work-team-how-to-give-a-good-presentation

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

Content Marketing Manager, ACC

6 presentation skills and how to improve them

How to write a speech that your audience remembers, 3 stand-out professional bio examples to inspire your own, how to make a presentation interactive and exciting, tell a story they can't ignore these 10 tips will teach you how, reading the room gives you an edge — no matter who you're talking to, writing an elevator pitch about yourself: a how-to plus tips, your ultimate guide on how to be a good storyteller, 18 effective strategies to improve your communication skills, similar articles, the importance of good speech: 5 tips to be more articulate, the 11 tips that will improve your public speaking skills, 30 presentation feedback examples, 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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Blog > Effective Feedback for Presentations - digital with PowerPoint or with printable sheets

Effective Feedback for Presentations - digital with PowerPoint or with printable sheets

10.26.20   •  #powerpoint #feedback #presentation.

Do you know whether you are a good presenter or not? If you do, chances are it's because people have told you so - they've given you feedback. Getting other's opinions about your performance is something that's important for most aspects in life, especially professionally. However, today we're focusing on a specific aspect, which is (as you may have guessed from the title): presentations.

feedback-drawn-on-board

The importance of feedback

Take a minute to think about the first presentation you've given: what was it like? Was it perfect? Probably not. Practise makes perfect, and nobody does everything right in the beginning. Even if you're a natural at speaking and presenting, there is usually something to improve and to work on. And this is where feedback comes in - because how are you going to know what it is that you should improve? You can and should of course assess yourself after each and every presentation you give, as that is an important part of learning and improvement. The problem is that you yourself are not aware of all the things that you do well (or wrong) during your presentation. But your audience is! And that's why you should get audience feedback.

Qualities of good Feedback

Before we get into the different ways of how you can get feedback from your audience, let's briefly discuss what makes good feedback. P.S.: These do not just apply for presentations, but for any kind of feedback.

  • Good feedback is constructive, not destructive. The person receiving feedback should feel empowered and inspired to work on their skills, not discouraged. You can of course criticize on an objective level, but mean and insulting comments have to be kept to yourself.
  • Good feedback involves saying bot what has to be improved (if there is anything) and what is already good (there is almost always something!)
  • After receiving good feedback, the recipient is aware of the steps he can and should take in order to improve.

Ways of receiving / giving Feedback after a Presentation

1. print a feedback form.

feedback-form

Let's start with a classic: the feedback / evaluation sheet. It contains several questions, these can be either open (aka "What did you like about the presentation?") or answered on a scale (e.g. from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree"). The second question format makes a lot of sense if you have a large audience, and it also makes it easy to get an overview of the results. That's why in our feedback forms (which you can download at the end of this post), you'll find mainly statements with scales. This has been a proven way for getting and giving valuable feedback efficiently for years. We do like the feedback form a lot, though you have to be aware that you'll need to invest some time to prepare, count up and analyse.

  • ask specifically what you want to ask
  • good overview of the results
  • anonymous (people are likely to be more honest)
  • easy to access: you can just download a feedback sheet online (ours, for example, which you'll find at the end of this blog post!)
  • analysing the results can be time-consuming
  • you have to print out the sheets, it takes preparation

2. Online: Get digital Feedback

get-online-feedback

In the year 2020, there's got to be a better way of giving feedback, right? There is, and you should definitely try it out! SlideLizard is a free PowerPoint extension that allows you to get your audience's feedback in the quickest and easiest way possible. You can of course customize the feedback question form to your specific needs and make sure you get exactly the kind of feedback you need. Click here to download SlideLizard right now, or scroll down to read some more about the tool.

  • quick and easy to access
  • easy and fast export, analysis and overview of feedback
  • save feedback directly on your computer
  • Participants need a working Internet connection (but that usually isn't a problem nowadays)

3. Verbal Feedback

verbal-feedback

"So, how did you like the presentation?", asks the lecturer. A few people in the audience nod friendly, one or two might even say something about how the slides were nice and the content interesting. Getting verbal feedback is hard, especially in big groups. If you really want to analyse and improve your presentation habits and skills, we recommend using one of the other methods. However, if you have no internet connection and forgot to bring your feedback sheets, asking for verbal feedback is still better than nothing.

  • no prerequisites
  • open format
  • okay for small audiences
  • not anonymous (people might not be honest)
  • time consuming
  • no detailed evaluation
  • no way to save the feedback (except for your memory)
  • not suitable for big audiences

Feedback to yourself - Self Assessment

feedback-for-yourself

I've mentioned before that it is incredibly important to not only let others tell you what went well and what didn't in your presentation. Your own impressions are of huge value, too. After each presentation you give, ask yourself the following questions (or better yet, write your answers down!):

  • What went wrong (in my opinion)? What can I do in order to avoid this from happening next time?
  • What went well? What was well received by the audience? What should I do more of?
  • How was I feeling during this presentation? (Nervous? Confident? ...)

Tip: If you really want to actively work on your presentation skills, filming yourself while presenting and analysing the video after is a great way to go. You'll get a different view on the way you talk, move, and come across.

your presentation went well

Digital Feedback with SlideLizard

Were you intrigued by the idea of easy Online-feedback? With SlideLizard your attendees can easily give you feedback directly with their Smartphone. After the presentation you can analyze the result in detail.

  • type in your own feedback questions
  • choose your rating scale: 1-5 points, 1-6 points, 1-5 stars or 1-6 stars;
  • show your attendees an open text field and let them enter any text they want

feedback-with-slidelizard

Note: SlideLizard is amazing for giving and receiving feedback, but it's definitely not the only thing it's great for. Once you download the extension, you get access to the most amazing tools - most importantly, live polls and quizzes, live Q&A sessions, attendee note taking, content and slide sharing, and presentation analytics. And the best thing about all this? You can get it for free, and it is really easy to use, as it is directly integrated in PowerPoint! Click here to discover more about SlideLizard.

Free Download: Printable Feedback Sheets for Business or School Presentations

If you'd rather stick with the good old paper-and-pen method, that's okay, too. You can choose between one of our two feedback sheet templates: there is one tailored to business presentations and seminars, and one that is created specifically for teachers assessing their students. Both forms can be downloaded as a Word, Excel, or pdf file. A lot of thought has gone into both of the forms, so you can benefit as much as possible; however, if you feel like you need to change some questions in order to better suit your needs, feel free to do so!

Feedback form for business

your presentation went well

Template as PDF, Word & Excel - perfect for seminars, trainings,...

Feedback form for teachers (school or university)

your presentation went well

Template as PDF, Word & Excel - perfect for school or university,...

Where can I find a free feedback form for presentations?

There are many templates available online. We designed two exclusive, free-to-download feedback sheets, which you can get in our blog article

What's the best way to get feedback for presentations?

You can get feedback on your presentations by using feedback sheets, asking for feedback verbally, or, the easiest and fastest option: get digital feedback with an online tool

Related articles

About the author.

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Pia Lehner-Mittermaier

Pia works in Marketing as a graphic designer and writer at SlideLizard. She uses her vivid imagination and creativity to produce good content.

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The big SlideLizard presentation glossary

Student response system (srs).

With Student Response Systems (SRS) it is possible to get live student feedback in the classroom. Questions and answers can usually be asked and given anonymously, which increases participation and engagement. An SRS may be used for any grade, including university.

Vocal distractions

In vocal distractions filler words like um, er, and you know are used during a pause.

Leading Questions

Leading questions subconsciously make the respondent think in a certain direction.

Hybrid Audience

A mix between in-person and virtual participants for an event or a lecture is called a hybrid audience. Working with a hybrid audience may be challenging, as it requires the presenter to find ways to engage both the live and the virtual audience.

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4 ways to measure presentation success (and "good job" is not one).

By Michelle Mazur > January 6, 2015

Filed Under Presentations , Public Speaking

“Good job!”

Whenever I hear someone utter these words to me, I cringe.

And it’s not because I’m a perfectionist who doesn’t know to take a compliment or celebrate an accomplishment (ok…I’m a little of both).

It’s because I know what “good job” as a stand alone phrase means. It means:

“Meh” or just ok.

People don’t want to hurt your feelings. Your audience is filled with lovely people. It’s easier to use a platitude like “good job” than it is to say “I’m not that into your presentation” or “Your presentation left me confused and overwhelmed.”

But as speaker – we mistake “good job” to mean we were full of awesome instead of a polite way of saying – you were “ok”.

Never settle for a good presentation. Strive to create an outstanding experience for your audience.

If “good job” doesn’t mean good – then how do you know if your presentation was a success?

Here are 4 better ways to measure your presentation success:

Table of Contents

  • 1 #1 Good job AND….
  • 2 #2 Book another gig
  • 3 #3 Story time
  • 4 #4 Taking the relationship deeper

#1 Good job AND….

Good job by itself is not good, but good job followed by an explanation of what they took away from your talk is an excellent sign that you were effective.

I recently spoke at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Seattle about speaking with confidence. Being the amazing organization that they are, they sent me a lovely thank you note.

Each person wrote exactly what they took away from the presentation. Apparently, teaching them Amy Cuddy’s superman pose for more confidence was a hit. Some people were using it nearly every day.

That’s more than a good job. I made an impact.

Strive for making an impact.

#2 Book another gig

This is every speaker’s dream scenario.

You finish speaking, and a person walks up and says “Good job. My organization needs your message. Let’s talk about how we can get you in front of our group.”

YES, YES, A thousand times YES to this.

You know you’re outstanding when someone wants to help spread your message.

Get their business card and for the love of all things good – FOLLOW UP!

#3 Story time

This is my favorite measure of success.

An audience member approaches and says “Your story reminded me of an experience I had…”

Then she starts sharing her story. It’s such a gift to you: to listen to another person’s story, hearing about her similar (or sometimes not so similar) tale.

This means your message penetrated her heart and her head. Your message is being integrated into the very fabric of who this person is. And she’ll remember how you touched her life.

This is the most intimate, personal, and best measure of presentation success. You have made a difference.

#4 Taking the relationship deeper

I see a presentation as a first date. The audience is getting to know you. You’re getting to know all of those beautiful people.

At the end of the speech, the audience gets to decide if this was a one-time cup of coffee or if they want to see you again.

Seeing you again could mean following you on twitter, buying your book, signing up for your newsletter or giving you their business card. (Most of the time it does not mean buying your high priced thing – that’s a little like having a coffee date followed by buying a house together).

Last summer I gave a presentation and during Q&A an audience member said “I have to leave, but I want your book, and you need to sign it.” He ran to the stage with his money in hand.

The next thing I knew I was surrounded by people who wanted to buy my book and chat. I barely finished my presentation. It was an amazing feeling.

When the audience wants more of you and wants to keep the relationship going, you have changed them and your presentation was a success.

Set your presentation up for excellence. Get feedback, get a coach, but never settle for “good job.”

How are you committing to speaking excellence in 2015? Leave your commitment in the comment section below!

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12 responses to “4 Ways to Measure Presentation Success (And "Good Job" is Not One)”

your presentation went well

Michelle these tips almost apply across the board.

Blogging-wise, business-wise and life-wise build relationships by following up with people who vibe with your message.

If someone loves what you’re doing they’ll sign up for your list or they’ll buy your book.

At that point you may have a fan for life.

Not a bad deal.

Fan the spark of these relationship flames to build a successful business.

Excellent insights here!

your presentation went well

Ryan, I’ve realized over the years I’ve been blogging about speaking – most of my insights can be applied to business, blogging, and so much more.

You’re right speaking like anything else in life is all about relationships.

When you give of yourself freely, expect nothing in return, you’ll make a fan for life for sure.

your presentation went well

Thanks for sharing these, Michelle! I felt my last speech stunk, but I experienced # 3 and 4 on your list, so that made me feel better. 🙂 This year I’m committed to saying less umms during my speeches and carefully studying the videos of great speakers to see how I can improve my own, from body movements to content. I’m excited!

Yay! That is great news Elke. It’s a good idea to look at other great speakers to get inspiration. Just be careful not to take it too far. I read a blog post once from someone who studied Steve Jobs – the way he looked, how he gestured, what he said. Then pretty much copied Jobs (including the black turtle neck sweater) and was a pale imitation of the man.

your presentation went well

Excellent post Michelle. (I’m trying to resist saying “Good job and…”!)

I love your analogy: Someone wanting to buy the speaker’s top product is like a couple having a coffee date and then buying a house together!

It might seem rude to ask someone who said “good job” what they liked in your talk – like looking a gift horse in the mouth, as they say. But for the comment to be of value, the speaker needs to know what went well, to be able to do it again.

(Could be cause for handing them a short feedback sheet, like Charles Greene created so well!)

Thank you Craig!

I think the problem is if they say “good job” and then you ask what they liked, there’s potential to put that person on the spot. If they didn’t really mean, “good job” then they have to think quick to think of something.

At the NSA, we had an interesting chat about how feedback sheets are pretty worthless. I don’t know where I come down on this issue, but the conversation was fascinating.

Absolutely agree – big risk of putting the person on-the-spot.

Sounds like a very intriguing conversation at the NSA. I wonder why people felt the sheets were worthless? Could be a good topic for a future blog post!

They felt like most of the audience don’t want to spend time giving you feedback. That the members of the audience who did leave feedback would be on the extreme ends. The people who loved you will gush and the people who hate you will let you know there disdain. You want feedback from people in the middle.

The other argument was that is not the audience’s job to give you feedback. That the speaker should be seeking that out outside professional engagements.

I agree with the first one more than the second.

[…] No feedback = “good job” results. You know how I feel about the good job outcome. […]

your presentation went well

Great post!! I wish I could learn more about the #4 – what have you found to be best practices to engage the audience after the talk and maintain that relationship?

My favorite is offering something free at the end that takes them deeper into my content. I ask for a business card and tell them to put a star on the back if they don’t want to be added to my list!

It converts like gang busters.

[…] best indicator of a successful presentation is booking more speaking gigs. Giving your presentation is the best marketing you’ve got. It […]

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Presentation Training Institute

Presentation Training Institute

A division of bold new directions training, how to measure presentation success.

You spent weeks planning and preparing and you just finished delivering your presentation, so how do you know if it was a success? In some ways, the success or failure of your presentation should be obvious- did your audience pay attention or were they falling asleep in their seats and fidgeting with their phones? Other times we assume that smiles and the occasional laughter are signs of success. However, it is important to dive deeper and find out whether or not you truly succeeded in your presentation goals instead of making assumptions. After all, you put an enormous amount of time and effort into this presentation so you need to know if you hit the mark or missed it altogether. Here are ways you can really measure your presentation success.

Observe Audience Behavior An informal way to measure presentation success is simply paying attention to the audience’s behavior during the presentation. Are they making direct eye contact with you? Are they raising their hands to ask questions and participate in interactions? Do they appear to look interested in what you are saying? All of these are good signs that your audience was engaged. Conversely, if they were looking down at their phone or tablet, checking the time, dozing off, and looking exasperated, it would be safe to assume they are less than enthusiastic about your presentation.

Observe the Quality of the Discussion Most presenters have a Q&A session at the end of their presentation and offer their audience a chance to discuss the material. You can get an idea of how successful your presentation was by the quality of this discussion. Is the audience eager to ask questions and learn more? Do they seem to have an understanding of the topic? Are they trying to work out the details of your discussion right then and there? All of these are indicators that your presentation went well and resonated with the audience.

Take a Survey A simple way to know if you have achieved your presentation objectives is by asking your audience to provide feedback with a quick survey. Be sure and include open ended questions that encourage audience members to explain their answers. A “good job” is meaningless without an explanation of why it was a good job. You know you have made an impact when audience members list specific examples of things they learned and took away from your presentation.

Post-Presentation Conversations If you have ever sat through a boring presentation then you are familiar with everyone packing up and racing to the door to get out as soon as it’s over. On the other hand, great presenters draw you in and make you want to engage with them even after the presentation is over. If your audience members come up to you afterward and thank you or share feedback with you, you know you have made an impression. If they say something like, “your story reminded me of my own experience,” you know your message resonated with them in a personal way and that’s the mark of a successful presentation.

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How can you make a good presentation even more effective?

This page draws on published advice from expert presenters around the world, which will help to take your presentations from merely ‘good’ to ‘great’.

By bringing together advice from a wide range of people, the aim is to cover a whole range of areas.

Whether you are an experienced presenter, or just starting out, there should be ideas here to help you to improve.

1. Show your Passion and Connect with your Audience

It’s hard to be relaxed and be yourself when you’re nervous.

But time and again, the great presenters say that the most important thing is to connect with your audience, and the best way to do that is to let your passion for the subject shine through.

Be honest with the audience about what is important to you and why it matters.

Be enthusiastic and honest, and the audience will respond.

2. Focus on your Audience’s Needs

Your presentation needs to be built around what your audience is going to get out of the presentation.

As you prepare the presentation, you always need to bear in mind what the audience needs and wants to know, not what you can tell them.

While you’re giving the presentation, you also need to remain focused on your audience’s response, and react to that.

You need to make it easy for your audience to understand and respond.

3. Keep it Simple: Concentrate on your Core Message

When planning your presentation, you should always keep in mind the question:

What is the key message (or three key points) for my audience to take away?

You should be able to communicate that key message very briefly.

Some experts recommend a 30-second ‘elevator summary’, others that you can write it on the back of a business card, or say it in no more than 15 words.

Whichever rule you choose, the important thing is to keep your core message focused and brief.

And if what you are planning to say doesn’t contribute to that core message, don’t say it.

4. Smile and Make Eye Contact with your Audience

This sounds very easy, but a surprisingly large number of presenters fail to do it.

If you smile and make eye contact, you are building rapport , which helps the audience to connect with you and your subject. It also helps you to feel less nervous, because you are talking to individuals, not to a great mass of unknown people.

To help you with this, make sure that you don’t turn down all the lights so that only the slide screen is visible. Your audience needs to see you as well as your slides.

5. Start Strongly

The beginning of your presentation is crucial. You need to grab your audience’s attention and hold it.

They will give you a few minutes’ grace in which to entertain them, before they start to switch off if you’re dull. So don’t waste that on explaining who you are. Start by entertaining them.

Try a story (see tip 7 below), or an attention-grabbing (but useful) image on a slide.

6. Remember the 10-20-30 Rule for Slideshows

This is a tip from Guy Kawasaki of Apple. He suggests that slideshows should:

  • Contain no more than 10 slides;
  • Last no more than 20 minutes; and
  • Use a font size of no less than 30 point.

This last is particularly important as it stops you trying to put too much information on any one slide. This whole approach avoids the dreaded ‘Death by PowerPoint’.

As a general rule, slides should be the sideshow to you, the presenter. A good set of slides should be no use without the presenter, and they should definitely contain less, rather than more, information, expressed simply.

If you need to provide more information, create a bespoke handout and give it out after your presentation.

7. Tell Stories

Human beings are programmed to respond to stories.

Stories help us to pay attention, and also to remember things. If you can use stories in your presentation, your audience is more likely to engage and to remember your points afterwards. It is a good idea to start with a story, but there is a wider point too: you need your presentation to act like a story.

Think about what story you are trying to tell your audience, and create your presentation to tell it.

Finding The Story Behind Your Presentation

To effectively tell a story, focus on using at least one of the two most basic storytelling mechanics in your presentation:

Focusing On Characters – People have stories; things, data, and objects do not. So ask yourself “who” is directly involved in your topic that you can use as the focal point of your story.

For example, instead of talking about cars (your company’s products), you could focus on specific characters like:

  • The drivers the car is intended for – people looking for speed and adventure
  • The engineers who went out of their way to design the most cost-effective car imaginable

A Changing Dynamic – A story needs something to change along the way. So ask yourself “What is not as it should be?” and answer with what you are going to do about it (or what you did about it).

For example…

  • Did hazardous road conditions inspire you to build a rugged, all-terrain jeep that any family could afford?
  • Did a complicated and confusing food labelling system lead you to establish a colour-coded nutritional index so that anybody could easily understand it?

To see 15 more actionable storytelling tips, see Nuts & Bolts Speed Training’s post on Storytelling Tips .

8. Use your Voice Effectively

The spoken word is actually a pretty inefficient means of communication, because it uses only one of your audience’s five senses. That’s why presenters tend to use visual aids, too. But you can help to make the spoken word better by using your voice effectively.

Varying the speed at which you talk, and emphasising changes in pitch and tone all help to make your voice more interesting and hold your audience’s attention.

For more about this, see our page on Effective Speaking .

9. Use your Body Too

It has been estimated that more than three quarters of communication is non-verbal.

That means that as well as your tone of voice, your body language is crucial to getting your message across. Make sure that you are giving the right messages: body language to avoid includes crossed arms, hands held behind your back or in your pockets, and pacing the stage.

Make your gestures open and confident, and move naturally around the stage, and among the audience too, if possible.

10. Relax, Breathe and Enjoy

If you find presenting difficult, it can be hard to be calm and relaxed about doing it.

One option is to start by concentrating on your breathing. Slow it down, and make sure that you’re breathing fully. Make sure that you continue to pause for breath occasionally during your presentation too.

For more ideas, see our page on Coping with Presentation Nerves .

If you can bring yourself to relax, you will almost certainly present better. If you can actually start to enjoy yourself, your audience will respond to that, and engage better. Your presentations will improve exponentially, and so will your confidence. It’s well worth a try.

Improve your Presentation Skills

Follow our guide to boost your presentation skills learning about preparation, delivery, questions and all other aspects of giving effective presentations.

Start with: What is a Presentation?

Continue to: How to Give a Speech Self Presentation

See also: Five Ways You Can Do Visual Marketing on a Budget Can Presentation Science Improve Your Presentation? Typography – It’s All About the Message in Your Slides

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Do You Have What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation?

  • Michael Foley

your presentation went well

Three skills anyone can learn.

Great presentations are all about how well you engage your audience. Here are three ways to do that:

  • Be balanced: Strike the right balance between structure and improvisation during your presentation. Rather than preparing your content in a narrative form, take the time to segment it by topic. Leave room to respond to your audience’s immediate needs, even if that means going off script for a while.
  • Be generous: You goal should be to offer your audience something of value. Let this  principle guide the content you choose to present.
  • Be human: Rehearse to familiarize yourself with your content, but do not memorize it. If you go blank for a moment, don’t apologize and act flustered, just pause, take a breath, collect your thoughts and continue on. Your audience wants you to be relatable.

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Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

Have you ever seen a really great presentation? Honestly, they’re pretty rare.

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  • Michael Foley is an educator and coach, and founder of Clarity Centra l, a communications training and consulting firm based in Chicago. He is also an adjunct lecturer of leadership at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

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9 Tips for Improving Your Presentation Skills For Your Next Meeting

By Hannah Tow , Feb 03, 2020

Improve Presentation Skills Blog Header

Presenting to an audience is one thing, but presenting ideas in a persuasive manner to the key stakeholders of your business is a whole other ball game.

The fact of the matter is that successfully presenting to a room full of people is a skill that’s mastered by very few. It takes practice, practice, and even more practice to start feeling comfortable with everyone’s eyes focused on you so you can effectively get your point across. 

The reality of presenting is that you can’t escape it. Especially as you start to move up in your career. If you’re yearning to improve, this article will walk you through the top nine tips to use to enhance your presentation skills for your next big meeting as well as throughout your life. Let’s get started.

Improve Presentation Skills List Infographic Venngage

9 top tips for improving your presentation skills:

  • Practice speaking in front of others
  • Use less text and more visuals in your presentation
  • Leverage your personality
  • Welcome questions and comments during
  • Be passionate and engaging
  • Maintain eye contact with your audience
  • Obsess over your listeners
  • Focus on confident body language
  • Keep it as short as possible

Constantly practicing, refining and improving upon your presentation skills will not only make you a more confident individual, but you will find that you rise quicker to success in your career. However, having great presentation skills does not just affect your work-life. Great presentation skills are truly life skills that you should integrate into more areas than just the conference room.

1. Practice speaking in front of others 

Presentation Skills Tip 1

Practice always makes perfect. 

It doesn’t matter how well you know what you’re talking about, the moment you have to persuade, engage, or teach in front of an audience, you will probably stumble a bit. This is a natural reaction that affects pretty much everyone when all eyes are pointed in one direction and the anxiety sets in. 

It’s important to remember that the overwhelming feeling of stress you probably feel is the result of your unfamiliarity with the situation, not from your lack of preparedness. The more comfortable you are with taking the stage and having everyone’s attention on you, the less nervous you’ll get. 

The greater confidence you have in your presentation skills will allow you to focus on what actually matters–which is the material that you’re presenting. 

The best way to implement this practice is by starting off small. Prepare a presentation to give to your friends, family, or closest co-workers. This sounds easy, but you will learn that it’s not necessarily who is listening to you that causes nerves, but it’s the fact that all of the attention is on you. 

You’ll become more comfortable with the attention when you begin practicing in front of others more often, which will allow you to effectively present your ideas next time it’s your turn to speak in the conference room.

RELATED: Learn the top ten public speaking tips to better prepare you for your practice sessions. 

2. Use less text and more visuals in your presentation

Presentation Skills Tip 2

We’ve all been there before: sitting at the conference table trying our very best to stay interested and engaged with the presentation before us. The presentation lacks color, images, and all sense of creativity while containing an over-abundance of text and long-form paragraphs. 

These types of presentations are horrible for two reasons: 

The first reason being that the minute you have words on the screen, your audience will direct their attention away from you to begin reading and completely tune you out. 

The second reason is if your presentation skills are poor, not only will your presentation be dull to listen to, but it will be unbelievably boring to look at as well. You’ll quickly find out how easy it is to lose most of the room’s attention when you create a lackluster presentation. 

If you feel lost attempting to design your slides into an exciting work of art, try using creative presentation templates . PowerPoint templates make it simple to produce something beautiful, and they can also make you feel like an accomplished designer after seeing the outcome, such as this business presentation example . 

Business Pitch Deck Template

In addition to nicely designed slides, you should always try to use infographics and charts to help you better summarize the complex information you’re relaying to your audience. It will be much easier for your listeners to understand what you’re explaining when they have something to visualize it with. Plus, there are plenty of resources out there to help you craft these visuals.

Learn how to make an infographic in five easy steps or produce an impressive graph .

If you feel worried that your presentation doesn’t hold enough content, you must remember the main reason for visual aids: 

They are to enhance what you’re speaking about, not lead it! 

If you’ve done enough practicing, you should feel confident in your presentation skills to thoroughly explain your main ideas and you won’t need to rely on the screen anyhow.

TIP: If you’re looking for even more ways to engage your audience with your visuals, check out 120+ presentation ideas that are sure to wow and delight! 

3. Leverage your personality

Presentation Skills Tip 3

As cliche as it sounds, you should always be true to who you are, especially if when you’re presenting. 

It’s incredibly easy to tell if someone is faking it for the sake of their audience, so you should never pretend to act in a way that you don’t typically do. Not only will you feel unnatural and uncomfortable doing it, but you can also risk embarrassment when you try to tell a forced joke and no one laughs or your new-found trait of sarcasm doesn’t sit well with your boss. 

It should bring you comfort knowing that most everyone in your meeting knows who you are. Use this to your advantage and start the presentation by playing up your best personality traits. Use your humor if you’re known to crack jokes or throw in your typical mannerisms.

Funny Slide Template

These little additions will make your presentation feel much more relaxed for everyone involved. In addition to your own unique quirks, you should also bring a level of personability to your meeting.

Be empathetic, smile more, and look around the room.  Doing so will improve your presentation skills, make you more likable, and allow your audience to be more receptive to you. 

In many cases, you may be presenting virtually, rather than in person. You can still allow your personality to shine through and energize your virtual presentation. Lisa Schneider, Chief Growth Officer at Merriam-Webster, wrote for Venngage on how to adapt an in-person presentation into a virtual presentation . Check it out.

4. Welcome questions and comments during your presentation

Presentation Skills Tip 4

Be flexible throughout your presentation. Answer questions and respond to any comments your audience may have either through hand raising or an audience response tool . Don’t worry if it veers you off your script. Chances are if one person has a question or comment, the others in the room are thinking it too. 

Use this as an opportunity to prove how well you understand the material you’re presenting–your audience will take notice.

Also, take some time out at the start or your presentation to ask your audience some icebreaker questions and slowly transition into the more important stuff. 

Taking this minute to talk through anything that your audience is thinking of is a good thing because it means they are engaged with you and really paying attention to the words coming out of your mouth. Doing so will also relax the format of your presentation, allowing you to feel more confident and relaxed as well.

5. Be passionate and engaging 

Presentation Skills Tip 5

When creating your presentation, craft it in such a way that makes your audience curious and makes them have questions for you. A persuasive presentation is the best way to get the positive reactions you are looking for, so be as passionate as you can be about your subject matter to seal the deal. 

Remember that questions and comments during your presentation are a good thing, especially if you’re the one prompting them! 

The more excited you are to present your ideas and show off your expertise, the more excited and engaged your audience will be. Own your subject matter and know what you’re talking about, it’s one of the most important presentation skills to have.

6. Maintain eye contact with your audience

Presentation Skills Tip 6

This is a very obvious tip that will go a long way with your audience. 

When the people you’re speaking to feel like you’re taking notice of them, they are much more likely to take notice of you and pay better attention to everything that you’re saying. 

It’s important to remember that losing eye contact and looking everywhere but at the people that you’re presenting to is a common nervous behavior. Pay extra close attention to whether or not you’re guilty of that, and work to ensure you have your eyes on at least one person.

7. Obsess over your listeners 

Presentation Skills Tip 7

Be receptive to your listeners. You can’t forget that what you’re presenting is for the audience, and it has nothing to do about you! 

Focus on the value you can provide to the people in the room. The more serving you are to them, the greater chance you have at driving your point home and nailing your presentation. 

It’s also important not to forget about those listening to you remotely over video conferencing . Make sure they know you’re aware of them and engage them as well! 

8. Focus on confident body language 

Presentation Skills Tip 8

Smiling, hand gestures, eye contact, and a powerful stance all exude confidence. 

If you don’t have strong body language and are showing physical signs of nervousness (ie. tapping, bouncing, shaking, darting eyes, and more) your audience will have a hard time focusing on the material you’re presenting and hone in on the fact that you’re nervous and probably don’t know what you’re talking about as much as you say you do.

No matter how nervous you are, take a deep breath and pretend otherwise. You might actually start to believe it!

9. Keep it as short as possible

Presentation Skills Tip 9

Every single person’s time is valuable ( especially at work), so don’t waste precious meeting time. If you can say everything you need to in half of the time that is allotted, you should do so. 

Ensure that you’re only sharing the most important information. All of the extra fluff will bore your audience and you will lose their attention very quickly.

It’s a great idea to wrap up your presentation with key takeaways and action items. Doing so will ensure that no matter how quickly your meeting ended, your team understands their next steps. You can send out a quick, summarizing slide deck or an easy to read one-pager for their reference later. These visuals will make sure all of your bases are covered and that everyone is on the same page upon leaving the meeting.

A good presentation makes all the difference. Check out the top qualities of awesome presentations and learn all about how to make a good presentation to help you nail that captivating delivery.

  

Never stop refining your presentation skills 

Possessing great presentation skills doesn’t come naturally to most people–it’s something that’s learned and practiced over time. As with most things in life, you must continuously work on refining your skills to get better and better. 

Use these nine proven presentation tips that we covered in this article to improve your presentation skills and ace different presentation styles . By doing so, you will find that presenting at your key meetings becomes easier and easier and you’ll begin to nail it every single time.

More presentation guides:

How to Make a Persuasive Presentation

120+ Best Presentation Ideas, Design Tips & Examples

33 Presentation Templates and Design Tips to Hold Your Audience’s Attention

Presentation Design Guide: How to Summarize Information for Presentations

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How To Make A Presentation: A Comprehensive Guide

How To Make A Presentation: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you tired of mediocre presentations that leave your audience bored and uninterested?

Presentations are a crucial aspect of communication in the modern world, whether in the workplace, school, or social settings. The purpose of a presentation is to convey information and ideas engagingly and persuasively, but building a presentation can be challenging. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide on how to make a presentation.

In this guide, you’ll discover critical principles and techniques for creating a presentation that captivates your audience and leave a lasting impression. From understanding your audience and developing a clear structure to using visuals and multimedia to enhance your message, we’ll take you through every step of the presentation-making process.

This blog will teach you how to make a presentation, whether you’re a professional presenter or just starting out.

So saddle up, and let’s get started on your path to being a master presenter.

Introduction

The introduction of your presentation is your first chance to impact your audience. It assists you in engaging your audience and setting the tone for the remainder of your presentation. Here are some tips for an effective introduction:

Purpose of the Presentation

Declare the purpose of your presentation, why it is necessary, and what you expect to accomplish. This will help your audience understand the significance of your message and why they should listen.

Overview of Key Points

Provide an overview of your key points , what you will discuss, and what the audience can expect. This will give your audience a clear idea of the content of your presentation and make it easier for them to follow along.

Preparation

Preparation is vital to ensuring the success of your presentation. A well-prepared presentation can leave an impact on your audience and assist you in achieving your objectives. Here are some tips to help you prepare effectively:

Research Topic and Gather Information

If you want to learn how to make a good PowerPoint presentation , research is the key. Thoroughly research your topic and collect all necessary information to support your main points. This will give you the confidence to present your information effectively and answer any questions from your audience.

Choose Appropriate Visual Aids

Choose appropriate visual aids, such as PowerPoint graphics , images, or videos, to enhance your presentation and support your key points. Ensure that your visual aids are professional, clear, and easy to understand.

Plan the Structure and Flow of the Presentation

To guarantee that your message is appropriately presented, prepare the structure and flow of your presentation. Start with an attention-grabbing introduction, state your key points clearly, and conclude with a memorable closing statement .

Rehearse the Presentation

Rehearse your presentation to ensure that you are familiar with the material and confident in your delivery. Practice before a family member or a friend to get feedback and make changes.

Body of the Presentation

The body of your presentation is where you deliver the heart of your message. It is the opportunity to engage your audience, provide clear and concise information, and support your key points. Here are some tips for an effective body of your presentation:

Start with an Attention Grabber

Start with an attention-grabbing statement, question, or story to engage your audience and capture their attention. This helps establish the tone for the remainder of your presentation and keeps your audience engaged.

Clearly State Key Points and Support them with Examples

Clearly state your key points and support them with relevant examples, data, or visual aids. This will help reinforce your message and ensure your audience understands your information.

Use Visual Aids Effectively to Enhance Understanding

If you want to learn how to make a presentation interesting, use visual aids, such as slides, images, or videos. It can enhance understanding and support your key points. Ensure that your visual aids are clear, easy to understand, and professional.

Engage the Audience with Interactive Elements

Engage your audience with interactive elements, such as questions, activities, or polls, to keep them interested and involved in your presentation.

Maintain a Professional Demeanor and Pace

Maintain a professional demeanor and pace throughout your presentation. Maintain intense eye contact with your listeners and speak clearly.

Conclude with a Summary of Key Points and a Strong Closing Statement

Conclude your presentation by summarizing your key points and a strong closing statement. This will assist in reinforcing your message and create a lasting effect on your audience.

One of the most important aspects of how to give an effective presentation is the delivery of your presentation.

The delivery of a presentation is critical to its success. It is how you communicate with your audience and bring your message to life. Here are some public speaking tips for presenting effectively:

Project Confidence and Energy

Project confidence and energy when delivering your presentation. Speak clearly, use appropriate gestures, and maintain good eye contact with your audience. This will help to engage your audience and create a positive impression.

Maintain Eye Contact and Engage with the Audience

To learn how to make a presentation interactive , you must maintain eye contact with your audience and engage them in your presentation. This will help create a connection and ensure that your audience pays attention.

Use Appropriate Body Language

Use appropriate body languages, such as gestures and facial expressions, to enhance your message and create a positive impression.

Address Any Technical Issues Before Starting

Address any technical issues, such as problems with audio or visual aids, before starting your presentation. This will ensure that your delivery is smooth and professional.

The conclusion is the final section of your presentation and is your opportunity to leave a lasting impression on your audience. For more conclusion slides check out our library.

Here are some tips for a strong conclusion:

Summarize Key Points

Summarize your important points to remind your audience of your presentation’s core idea. This will assist in emphasizing your message and guarantee that your audience understands it clearly.

Address Any Remaining Questions from the Audience

Address any remaining questions from the audience. This will ensure that all of their concerns are addressed and that your audience leaves with a clear understanding of your message.

End on a Memorable Note

End your presentation on a memorable note. This could be a quote , a final thought, or a call to action. Something that your audience will remember long after the presentation is over.

After your presentation, it is essential to evaluate your performance and make improvements for future presentations. Here are some follow-up tips:

Evaluate the Presentation

Examine your presentation to see what went well and what may be enhanced for future presentations. Ask for feedback from your audience and use it to make improvements.

Share Presentation Materials

Share your presentation materials with your audience if requested. This will allow them to review your message and information later.

Provide Feedback to Others

Provide feedback to others involved in the presentation, such as co-presenters or support staff. By doing so, they will be able to perform better and provide even greater presentations in the future.

Wrapping It Up

Creating an effective presentation is a combination of art and science. It requires a deep understanding of your audience, a clear structure, and the use of visuals and multimedia to enhance your message. With the knowledge gained from this comprehensive guide, you now have the ability to make good presentations that are next level, and that can captivate your audience.

Remember that providing information, interacting with your audience, and creating a lasting impression are all important components of a successful presentation. So, embrace your creativity, be confident, and have fun with your presentations! The more you practice, the better you will get, and you will soon be renowned as the master presenter in your industry.

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14 effective presentation tips to impress your audience

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Anete Ezera July 15, 2022

An effective presentation can communicate key ideas and opinions, save time, and contribute to your overall success as a business, but good presentation skills don’t come naturally to everyone. In this blog post, you’ll find 14 effective presentation tips you can implement in your next presentation to make it a success. 

Whether you’re preparing for an important presentation at work or school, or you’re looking for ways to generally improve your presentation skills, you’ll find these presentation tips useful. We’ve gathered a list to help you impress your audience from the get-go. You’ll find tips for creating and presenting your slides, talking in front of an audience, and other effective presentation techniques to help you stand out. 

Confident businessman talking into microphone during seminar. Happy male professional is giving presentation to colleagues. He is wearing smart casuals.

Most common presentation mistakes

Before we list our top effective presentation tips, let’s explore the most common presentation mistakes. If you’ve made one or more mistakes in this list, you’re not alone. Most people have made at least one mistake. However, what’s important is to be aware of these errors and try avoiding them next time.

#1 A poor start

One of the most common mistakes people make is undermining the importance of the first few minutes or seconds of their presentation. 

Let’s say you’ve practiced your key talking points meticulously and gone over your slides a million times, but when you’re in the spotlight and need to say your first line, do you know exactly what to say to wow the audience? 

The start of your presentation is crucial. Not only because how you start sets the tone for the rest of your presentation, but also because people generally require around 8 seconds to decide whether they find the subject interesting enough to keep listening. Starting your presentation with a captivating intro is even more important than you think. To ensure you start off right, read our guide on how to start your presentation . 

#2 Lack of preparation

Yes, even though it’s clear that you should prepare before giving a presentation, it’s still a common mistake amongst presenters. Preparing content and talking points is an obvious start, but there are other steps that you might be overlooking.

Before you even join a meeting or walk into a room where you’re going to present, consider the technical requirements and get familiar with the equipment. If you’re presenting online, make sure to test-run your presentation and the visual aids you’re going to use. The last thing you want is a broken video link, poor audio, or a weak connection when you’re presenting. 

Also, consider the questions your audience might want to ask you about the topic. Think about how you’d answer those questions, or do even further research to really impress the audience with your answers. 

Explore other ways to prepare for a presentation to feel even more confident when presenting.

effective presentation tips

#3 Losing track of time

It’s great to feel passionate about your topic. However, you’ll have to consider your audience’s level of interest and knowledge. Some details might seem fascinating to you, and you’d like to talk about them for hours, but for your audience, too much information will drain their energy and lose their attention. 

Therefore, make sure to keep track of time. Also, consider your audience’s interests. A concise presentation is always better than a long one with a ton of information. Plus, you’ll have a higher chance of keeping your audience’s attention throughout the presentation. 

Effective presentation tips

Now that we’ve looked at some of the most common presentation mistakes – let’s dive into effective presentation tips that’ll help you excel in future presentations. 

#1 Tell a story

Stories connect, inspire, and empower people. Telling a story can entice action, help understand an idea, and make people feel connected to the storyteller. It’s also one of the most effective presentation tips. A study by organizational psychologist Peg Neuhauser found that a well-told story is easier to remember than facts, which makes it a highly effective learning technique. 

With that in mind, telling a story when you’re presenting can engage your audience and make it a more memorable experience. You can either share a personal story or a historical event, just make sure to have a clear connection between the story and the topic you’re presenting. 

effective presentation in a company

#2 Work on your body language

Body language can make a huge difference in how your presentation is perceived. It’s one of the presentation tips you definitely shouldn’t overlook. 

Body language says a lot about a person’s confidence level, emotions, state of mind, and even credibility. For the audience, it’s a way to understand what the person is saying and how interested they are in the topic. 

Therefore, work on your body language to better convey the message you’re trying to communicate. Practice in front of a mirror before your presentation and be conscious of your hand gestures and facial expressions. 

#3 Understand your audience

Before crafting your presentation, you must know who you’re speaking to. Understanding the interests, demographics, professional background, and other valuable information of your audience is crucial in making your speech successful. 

Back view of large group of business peoplein a board room. Someone is presenting in front.

If you’re speaking at an event, contact the organizers to get more information about other speakers and the audience. If you’re presenting at work, you may already know your audience fairly well. Use this information to your advantage and create content you know they’ll resonate with.

#4 Use high-quality visuals

What’s one of the most effective presentation techniques? Use of visuals. They play a crucial role in your presentation. However, only high-quality visuals will make a good impression and effectively communicate your message. Use high-quality visuals like images, videos, graphs, maps, and others to really land your point. 

Using visuals is a great way to convey your ideas as they’re easier to process than text. If you’re not sure where to find great visuals, check out our blog post on presentation visuals for five free resources.

P.S. the Prezi library holds a variety of images, videos, GIFs, stickers, and other visuals, including different charts and maps to spice up your presentation. It’s all available in your dashboard .

#5 Use data visualizations

Do you want to showcase statistics or other datasets in your presentation? Use data visualizations to make your data stand out and impress your audience. 

There’s nothing more boring than a bunch of data presented in a flat way. If you want to tell a story with your data, use interactive infographics or slides enriched with eye-catching visuals. Showcasing data will make your ideas appear more trustworthy and credible. 

Prezi Design offers a range of templates to choose from. You can start creating data visualizations from scratch or choose a template and edit the data there. 

#6 Make it engaging with interactive elements

It’s not easy to deliver an engaging presentation. People can easily get distracted or try to multitask, especially in the virtual environment. Sometimes, it’s difficult to focus on the speaker and the written text. Other times, the content just isn’t impressive enough to hold the audience’s attention. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

You can make your presentation more engaging for everyone by including interactive content like graphs and charts. With interactive data visualizations, you’ll make the data discovery process more engaging and exciting for your audience. 

Your audience will be able to hover over data points and click on certain icons or datasets to discover information on their own. Interactive visualizations will make the presentation more memorable and impressive. 

As you can see in the example below, you can discover different data by engaging with the infographic. 

#7 Stay consistent with fonts and color styles

You want your presentation to look visually appealing and highlight essential information. To make that happen, stay consistent with font styles and color schemes throughout your presentation. 

Use one or two fonts max to make the text easy to read and understand. Also, use a carefully selected color scheme that’s not too distracting. If you’re using Prezi Design, you can easily copy and paste styles by right-clicking on your data visualizations and selecting “copy styles.” This makes it easier to stay consistent and saves time when picking matching colors. 

#8 Structure your presentation properly

Before creating your presentation, think about its structure. What’s the main idea you want to convey? Use that as your starting point, and only include information that adds value to the narrative. 

Plan out the first topics carefully to properly introduce your argument. Add the essential information in the middle part of your presentation. Lastly, close your presentation with a summary of the main points and leave your audience with an afterthought. Also, plan when you’re taking questions and for how long. 

For more insight, watch this tutorial on how to structure your presentation:

#9 Practice your public speaking skills

Public speaking may not be your forte, but you can get better with practice. Don’t decline a great opportunity to share your ideas with a larger audience just because you feel nervous speaking in front of a group of people. 

One of the best ways to improve your public speaking skills is to practice in front of your family or friends – people you feel comfortable with. Also, focus on the topic you’re presenting and get excited about the idea you want to convey. This way you’ll appear more confident and feel less nervous about public speaking. 

Explore other public speaking tips from Jessica Chen, the founder, and CEO of Soulcast Media: 

#10 Show your slides next to you on-screen

If you’re presenting on Zoom or in a virtual meeting , think twice before you share your screen. The days of hiding behind slides are over. People want to see and connect with other people, not sit through another run-of-the-mill screen share. To do that, use Prezi Video to showcase all your content right next to you in your video feed. 

As a result, your presentation will look more engaging than a traditional virtual presentation . Also, your audience will have the chance to read your body language and follow along with what you’re saying even better. 

If you already have your slides prepared, don’t worry – you can easily integrate them into Prezi. 

See Prezi Video in action and check out our video templates to get started.

#11 Calm down before presenting

Being in front of an audience can feel nerve-racking. However, there are ways to calm down before presenting that will make you feel more centered and confident. The last thing you want is all your hard work to go to waste just because of stress. 

Try breathing exercises or a five-minute guided meditation before presenting. The trick is to remove all distractions and focus on the present moment so you’re not overthinking right before starting your presentation. Also, be fully prepared and know exactly what to say and when which will help you feel more collected. If you want to discover other ways to feel and look more confident, read how not to be nervous before a presentation . 

#12 Use transitions and animations 

Add movement to your slides with transitions and animations. You’ll make your presentation more visually appealing and engaging. However, be careful not to overwhelm your audience with your choice of transitions and animations. 

Choose a transition that matches your presentation visually and use it throughout your presentation. Consider what animations will be relevant to your audience and select a few to add to your slides. Don’t overdo it. Keep the focus on the message you’re trying to convey, and use animations to only support that message. 

#13 Be enthusiastic 

When you’re in a room with a positive and enthusiastic person, you can’t help but feel uplifted as well. High-energy people have this effect on others. Most importantly, a lot of people tend to mimic people’s behavior and mirror their energy when they feel a connection or relate to them. That’s called the chameleon effect . 

effective presentation tips

When you’re presenting, you want your audience to feel curious about what you’re presenting. You may also want to leave your audience feeling uplifted, interested to know more, or inspired. To have that effect on others, try to convey those emotions when presenting. Practice your speech, slow down your narration at times, or take a pause after you’ve delivered a statement, and use different presentation techniques to present your project and really drive your points home. 

#14 End your presentation in a memorable way

The first few minutes of your presentation are crucial for captivating your audience’s attention. However, don’t underestimate the importance of ending your presentation as powerfully as you started it. 

The way you end your presentation will play a crucial part in how your audience will remember it. You want to make a memorable impression by closing your presentation with a summarizing statement, a rhetorical question, a call to action, or another impactful way. Discover 10 ways you can end your presentation in our guide.  

Young woman sharing her views with team in office meeting.

There are a lot of factors to consider when creating and delivering a presentation. You want your slides to look professional and visually appealing while conveying your main points. You also want to look and sound confident even if you’re nervous about public speaking. Whatever your concerns may be, remember that preparation is essential. Practice and dedication are the keys to giving a successful presentation . Make sure to follow these effective presentation tips to excel in your future presentations. If you’re interested in creating a captivating presentation with Prezi, contact us to learn more or try it for free . 

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Self-Assessment • 18 min read

How Good Are Your Presentation Skills?

Understanding your impact.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

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How do you feel when you have to make a presentation? Are you well prepared and relaxed, confident that your performance will have the desired impact on your audience? new score

Or is the thought of standing on a podium, holding a microphone, enough to give you stage fright?

Enjoy it or not, presenting – in some form – is usually a part of business. Whether you get up in front of formal audiences on a regular basis, or you simply have to make your voice heard in a meeting, you're using presentation skills.

Many believe that good presenters are born, not made. This is simply not true . Sure, some people are more relaxed and comfortable speaking in front of others – but everyone can learn the skills and techniques they need to increase their level of confidence and performance when presenting.

From sales pitches to training lectures, good presentation and public speaking skills are key to many influential roles in today's business world. The good news about presenting is that you can improve with practice.

So do you have the skills you need to do a good job? And how effective are you when you have to "perform?" Take this short quiz to help you assess your skills.

Instructions

For each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Please answer questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry if some questions seem to score in the "wrong direction." When you are finished, please click the "Calculate My Total" button at the bottom of the test.

Becoming a Better Presenter

Effective presentations are a mixture of a variety of elements. You have to know what your audience wants. You need to prepare good, interesting, engaging content. You must be confident in presenting the material, you have to know how to manage your environment successfully, and you need to make sure that your message has maximum impact.

Balancing all four elements is no easy task. And, when combined with the natural anxiety often felt before giving presentations, it's no wonder that many people struggle with this skill. In fact, fear of public speaking is extremely common.

However, you don't have to remain fearful and stressed by the thought of giving a presentation. With the right tools and material, along with planning and preparation, you can present with energy and confidence.

Let's now look in detail at those four key elements of effective presentations:

  • Understanding your audience.
  • Preparing your content.
  • Delivering confidently.
  • Controlling the environment.

Understanding Your Audience

(Questions 2, 5, 9)

The success of most presentations is generally judged on how the audience responds. You may think you did a great job, but unless your audience agrees with you, that may not be the case. Before you even begin putting your PowerPoint slides together, the first thing you need to do is understand what your audience wants. Try following these three steps:

Determine who the members of the audience are.

Find out what they want and expect from your presentation. What do they need to learn? Do they have entrenched attitudes or interests that you need to respect? And what do they already know that you don't have to repeat?

Create an outline for your presentation, and ask for advance feedback on your proposed content.

When what you say is what your audience wants or needs to hear, then you'll probably receive positive reinforcement throughout your presentation. If you see nods and smiles, or hear murmurs of agreement, for example, then this will motivate you to keep going and do a great job.

When your audience is satisfied, it doesn't matter if your delivery wasn't absolutely perfect. The primary goal of the people listening to your presentation is to get the information they need. When that happens, you've done a good job. Of course, you want to do a great job, not just a good job – and that's where the rest of the tips can help.

Preparing Your Content

(Questions 6, 11, 13, 14)

The only way to satisfy your audience's needs and expectations is to deliver the content they want. That means understanding what to present, and how to present it. Bear in mind that if you give the right information in the wrong sequence, this may leave the audience confused, frustrated, or bored.

If you provide the information in a well-structured format, and you include various techniques to keep the audience engaged and interested, then they'll probably remember what you said – and they'll remember you.

There are a variety of ways to structure your content, depending on the type of presentation you'll give. Here are some principles that you can apply:

Identify a few key points -  To help the audience retain the messages you're giving them, use the chunking principle to organize your information into five to seven key points.

Don't include every detail -  Good presentations inspire the audience to learn more, and ask further statements to maximize their understanding of the issue.

Use an outline -  At the beginning, tell your audience what you intend to cover, and let them know what to expect. This helps build anticipation and interest from the start.

Start and end strongly -  Capture people's interest as soon as you begin, and leave them with a message they won't forget. It's tempting to put all of your effort into the main body of the presentation. However, if you don't get people's attention at the start, they'll probably lose interest, and not really hear the rest anyway.

Use examples -  Where possible, use lots of examples to support your points. A lecture is often the least interesting and engaging form of presentation. Look for ways to liven things up by telling stories, talking about real-life examples, and using metaphors to engage your audience fully.

A special type of presentation is one that seeks to persuade. Monroe's Motivated Sequence , consisting of five steps, gives you a framework for developing content for this kind of presentation:

1. Get the attention of your audience - Use an interesting 'hook' or opening point, like a shocking statistic. Be provocative and stimulating, not boring or calm.

2. Create a need - Convince the audience there's a problem, explain how it affects them – and persuade them that things need to change.

3. Define your solution - Explain what you think needs to be done.

4. Describe a detailed picture of success (or failure) - Give the audience a vision; something they can see, hear, taste, and touch.

5. Ask the audience to do something right away - Get the audience involved right from the start. Then it's usually much easier to keep them engaged and active in your cause.

To brush up on your skills of persuasion, look at The Rhetorical Triangle . This tool asks you to consider your communication from three perspectives: those of the writer, the audience, and the context. It's a method that builds credibility and ensures that your arguments are logical.

Delivering Confidently

(Questions 1, 4, 7, 10)

Even the best content can be ineffective if your presentation style contradicts or detracts from your message. Many people are nervous when they present, so this will probably affect their delivery. But it's the major distractions that you want to avoid. As you build confidence, you can gradually eliminate the small and unconstructive habits you may have. These tips may help you:

Practice to build confidence – Some people think that if you practice too much, your speech will sound rehearsed and less genuine. Don't necessarily memorize your presentation, but be so familiar with the content that you're able to speak fluently and comfortably, and adjust as necessary.

Be flexible – This is easier to do if you're comfortable with the material. Don't attempt to present something you just learned the previous night. You want to know your material well enough to answer statements. And, if you don't know something, just admit it, and commit to finding the answer.

Welcome statements from the audience – This is a sign that a presenter knows what he or she is talking about. It builds audience confidence, and people are much more likely to trust what you say, and respect your message.

Use slides and other visual aids – These can help you deliver a confident presentation. The key point here is to learn how much visual information to give the audience, and yet not distract them from what you're saying.

Keep your visuals simple and brief – Don't use too many pictures, charts, or graphs. Your slides should summarize or draw attention to one or two items each. And don't try to fit your whole presentation onto your slides. If the slides cover every single detail, then you've probably put too much information on them. Slides should give the overall message, and then the audience should know where to look for supporting evidence. Manage your stress – Confidence has a lot to do with managing your stress levels. If you feel particularly nervous and anxious, then those emotions will probably show. They're such strong feelings that you can easily become overwhelmed, which can affect your ability to perform effectively. A little nervousness is useful because it can build energy. But that energy may quickly turn negative if nerves build to the point where you can't control them.

If you have anxiety before a presentation, try some of these stress management tools:

Use physical relaxation techniques , like deep breathing and visualization, to calm your body and ease your tension.

Use imagery to help keep calm, and visualize yourself delivering a successful presentation.

Learn strategies to build your self-confidence in general. The more assured you are about yourself and your abilities, the better you'll feel when you get up in front of people, and say what you want to say.

When you present with confidence and authority, your audience will likely pay attention and react to you as someone who's worth listening to. So "pretend" if you need to, by turning your nervousness into creative and enthusiastic energy.

For other tips on delivering confidently, see Delivering Great Presentations , Speaking to an Audience , Managing Presentation Nerves , and our Skillbook Even Better Presentations .

Controlling the Environment

(Questions 3, 4, 8, 12)

While much of the outside environment is beyond your control, there are still some things you can do to reduce potential risks to your presentation.

Practice in the presentation room – This forces you to become familiar with the room and the equipment. It will not only build your confidence, but also help you identify sources of risk. Do you have trouble accessing your PowerPoint file? Does the microphone reach the places you want to walk? Can you move the podium? Are there stairs that might cause you to trip? These are the sorts of issues you may discover and resolve by doing one or two practice presentations.

Do your own setup – Don't leave this to other people. Even though you probably want to focus on numerous other details, it's a good idea not to delegate too much of the preparation to others. You need the hands-on experience to make sure nothing disastrous happens at the real event. Test your timing – When you practice, you also improve your chances of keeping to time. You get a good idea how long each part of the presentation will actually take, and this helps you plan how much time you'll have for statements and other audience interactions.

Members of the audience want you to respect their time. If you end your presentation on time or early, this can make a huge, positive impression on them. When speakers go over their allowed time, they may disrupt the whole schedule of the event and/or cause the audience unnecessary inconvenience. Be considerate, and stick to your agenda as closely as possible.

Presenting doesn't have to be scary, or something you seek to avoid. Find opportunities to practice the tips and techniques discussed above, and become more confident in your ability to present your ideas to an audience. We all have something important to say, and sometimes it takes more than a memo or report to communicate it. You owe it to yourself, and your organization, to develop the skills you need to present your ideas clearly, purposefully, engagingly, and confidently.

This assessment has not been validated and is intended for illustrative purposes only. It is just one of many that help you evaluate your abilities in a wide range of important career skills.

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Hello, This was really an excellent overview with concise instructions, using clear communication methods. I found the article to be captivating and poignant. Thank You

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Storytelling

How to improve your presentation with storytelling

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Have you ever met anyone who doesn’t appreciate a good story? Stories stick, while information fades out.

So why risk your audience fading out of your presentation and refocusing on what they’ll have for lunch that day, while you’re standing there sharing that data you worked so hard to collect? Why not be the person that said something, that they will later share with their friends over lunch?

We don’t need science to tell us how much we enjoy stories. But if we do, then according to the latest researches on the subject – people retain 65 to 70 percent of information shared via a story versus only 5 to 10 percent of information conveyed through statistics.

And even more intriguing – stories are basically easier to recall because descriptive tales can activate up to 7 areas of the human brain (versus the 2 areas that get activated by facts and figures). And with that many areas of the mind engaged, listeners actually experience the story, instead of only processing it.

Influence of storytelling on the brain

Illustration by MagdaGogo

On the other, less scientific side, if we think about it – the reason we enjoy a nice story is not because it’s simply easier to remember, but also because it’s personal, relatable and brings all the important data to life.

So whether you are talking about the details on the latest marketing campaign you worked on, the growth of your country’s economy, or even on the health benefits of eating apples – it all comes down to how well you actually say it.

But don’t worry, if mankind can manage to build the Large Hadron Collider than you can easily become the wizard of storytelling. And for that reason, our team put down a brief list of some good tips we believe to be great starting points on your quest to becoming an impressive storyteller.

Storytelling Wizard

It’s all in the opening

Novelists have been aware of this for some time now – one of the most important things in a book is the opening. Stephen King himself spends months and even years coming up with the perfect opening sentence.

“There’s one thing I’m sure about. An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. It should say: Listen. Come in here. You want to know about this.”

The same goes to presenting. It only takes seconds to get defocused, and it takes just as much to get interested. If you lose your audience’s attention at the very beginning, chances are you won’t be able to get it back throughout the rest of your presentation.

So, next time you find yourself on the stage – start your presentation with a ‘bang’. Provide your listeners with a hook so they want to find out more.

Don’t forget about the visual aspect

Of course, words will always be words, but let us help you decide on that ‘bang’. According to one infographic, you only have 8 seconds to capture the listener’s attention with great creative, before they ‘scroll’ away. And we all know how we fall and easily remember good visuals, whether it’s a nice photograph, a touching video or a beautifully drawn bar chart.

‘Infographic’ has been the buzzword for couple of years now – and there’s a real reason behind it. Infographics are one of the best ways to convey complex information in a visually appealing format. While they are no longer the only way to tell a visual story, they still remain a staple.

SlideCamp Infographic Slide

PowerPoint slide from SlideCamp

So, go on, quickly sign up and enrich your presentation with some eye-catching infographics.

Tell a personal story

First-hand experiences the teller actually witnessed – always make for good stories. Even if it’s a story that has been passed on from a generation to a generation, an effective one still has an element of how that story relates directly to the teller.

Be relatable

And when you do tell that personal story – try to be as much relatable as possible. A personal story should show you in an honest, and even in a less than flattering light. People connect more easily with other people’s imperfections, your flaws make you more human – thus more connectable. So don’t brag, but relate.

We are turning to the the writers, the masters of storytelling, for this one too. And according to George Orwell and his rules for writing – (1) you should never use a long word where a short one will do, and (2) If it is possible to cut a word out, you should always cut it out.

So, always try to talk less and say more. Try and skip all the sentences that don’t contain any ‘information’. And if they don’t actually hold any, then they should at least be interesting for listening.

Be humorous

Which brings us to our next tip – use humor. That doesn’t mean you should tell an actual joke (which can also work), but everyone enjoys an intentional pun here and there. Making your audience smile (and even laugh) will help you maintain their concentrations and attentions high.

Avoid clichés

Clichés have the wonderful ability of ruining a perfectly good story. People, being so overdosed by clichés, tend to simply not acknowledge their presence in a story. So even if your point is wonderful, choosing a cliché saying to express it with will only force your listeners to not notice it. You should always try to make your story authentic and avoid all forms of clichés. That means you should skip those overly repeated lessons to be learned, sayings and even cliché words. Learn from the best

Doesn’t matter if you’re playing chess or getting ready for a presentation, the basic rule always applies – if you want to get better, learn from the best

From now on, when you bump into a nice TED talk , don’t just absorb the information, but focus on the way those great speakers deliver it. There are even some on ‘storytelling’ .

So, next time you are preparing for a presentation remember that a good story might just make your pitch from mundane to magnificent.

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Speaking about Presenting

7 Mental Strategies to Help you Recover from a Presentation Disaster

by Olivia Mitchell | 24 comments

your presentation went well

The complaints started within the first half hour of the course:

“I don’t understand what this means”.

“This is too hard for us”.

“This doesn’t work for the presentations that I have to do.”

By the end of the day I was exhausted and dispirited.

At some point in your presenting career something similar may happen to you – your content simply doesn’t land for your audience, your technology breaks down or you don’t get the result you were hoping for.

Here are seven mental strategies to help you recover from a presentation disaster. You’re likely to resonate with some and not others. Choose what works for you.

1. Allow yourself some time to dwell on the disappointment

We live in a society that encourages us to “think positive” all the time. But uncomfortable emotions are a normal part of life. Accepting the disappointment will allow you to let it go more easily and move on. If in the past you’ve stewed about failure in a way that disrupts your life, then give yourself a time limit to experience the disappointment and then use the mental strategies below to help you move on.

2. Practice Self-compassion

We often talk to ourselves in very harsh ways. For example:

“Oh, you’re such a loser. You should have known that somebody was going to ask that question and you should have researched the answer. You came across like a total pillock.”

Can you imagine talking to your best friend like that. No. you’d be more likely to say to them:

“That was a very tricky question that audience member asked. You couldn’t have predicted that. And you did your best to answer it.”

Talk to yourself like you would talk to your best friend.

3. It doesn’t mean anything about you

It’s easy when it comes to a disastrous presentation to conclude that you are the disaster, that you’re incompetent and unworthy.

But this is not the case.

My husband Tony used to do some amateur acting and so had the experience of repeating the same play with the exact same script several days in a row. Some nights the audience expressed their enjoyment and appreciation loudly, some nights nothing. Exact same script, exact same performance. Different audience.

Coming back to your presentation, it could simply be the audience. But even if it was your content that was wrong, or your technology that broke down, your presentation disaster doesn’t mean anything about you as a person.

4. Put it into perspective

There are two ways of doing this:

  • Imagine yourself 10 years from now. How will you feel then about this presentation? Will you even remember it?
  • How disastrous is this presentation compared to other things in your life that have gone wrong or could go wrong? Your health or the health of a loved one? A breakdown of a relationship? Most disastrous presentations are not that bad.

5. Look for the silver lining

Whenever something goes wrong with a presentation, it’s an opportunity to work out why it went wrong, and to improve how you do things next time you present. For example, with my experience with the confused course participants I could look for how to make the material clearer and how to pre-empt participant concerns before they happened.

6. Who knows whether it’s good or bad

Humans are great at making meaning. As soon as an event happens, we’ll evaluate it and slap a label on it – good or bad.

You may have come across the classic story from the Chinese Taoist tradition about a farmer and his horse:

One day his horse runs away. And his neighbor comes over and says, to commiserate, “I’m so sorry about your horse.” And the farmer says “Who Knows What’s Good or Bad?” The neighbor is confused because this is clearly terrible. The horse is the most valuable thing he owns. But the horse comes back the next day and he brings with him 12 feral horses. The neighbor comes back over to celebrate, “Congratulations on your great fortune!” And the farmer replies again: “Who Knows What’s Good or Bad?” And the next day the farmer’s son is taming one of the wild horses and he’s thrown and breaks his leg. The neighbor comes back over, “I’m so sorry about your son.” The farmer repeats: “Who Knows What’s Good or Bad?” Sure enough, the next day the army comes through their village and is conscripting able-bodied young men to go and fight in war, but the son is spared because of his broken leg.

This story can go on forever, alternating between events which seem good, and those that seem bad.

In this spirit, you don’t know whether this disastrous presentation is good or bad. In fact…

7. Devastating failure often sets the stage for later success

your presentation went well

“What’s failure in your life that has set the stage for a later success?”

The answers to this question are mind blowing. Some of these people suffered devastating professional failures which contributed directly to stunning achievements.

Use these strategies next time you have a disappointing experience with a presentation. And let me know what strategies you’ve found useful to recover from a presentation disaster.

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24 Comments

Craig Hadden (@RemotePoss)

Great tips, Olivia. I really like the ones about self-compassion and perspective. So true. (And I’d not heard the horse story before – that’s a good way of looking at life!)

Olivia Mitchell

Thank you Craig

jeena

The story of man and horse not only suitable for presentation disaster but also it gives us a life lesson.Thank you Olivia for the support.

Absolutely Jeena, and most of the strategies in my post can be applied to our life challenges as well.

Finola austin

Please unsubscribe me. There is a legal obligation to provide this option- don’t see a link fir unsubscribe. Thanks

RAB

Clear link at bottom of email…?

Hi Finola, I have unsubscribed you. My emails are sent through a professional email provider that provides an unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email, so not sure what happened there. Olivia

Marcel

Russian greatest poet Alexander Pushkin wrote poetry about 200 years ago. Here are original and translated versions: ?, ??????? ??? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??????????? ??? ? ???? – ??? ?????? ???????, ? ????? – ?????????? ????, ? ?????? – ???-????????????…

How many blissful revelations The spirit of enlightment hides! And then experience born of lapses And genius antinomy-wise And chance, the heavenly inventor…

Thank you Marcel, that is quite beautiful.

GS Vallentyn

Awesome tips. I feel much better. Thank you!

It seems Russian language too difficult for this site even to dispaly))

Will Smith posted motivational speech recently about role of a failure in our life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFf6rhcYkXw

Great message in that video.

Emmy

Olivia thank you so much for boosting my courage on public speaking, I’m doing better now.

Yay Emmy! That’s great to hear. So pleased for you :-).

Gift

wow, thanks so much. I can’t wait to try again

Phillip

“Who Knows What’s Good or Bad?”.This did it for me, was feeling awful about my presentation. Thank you.

Natrah

Hi Olivia. Hope you have a good day. I really appreciate this writing. I am undergraduate students and just now my groupmate presentation get a lot of critics from my lecturer thus, as a leader I feel sad to see them with their slides being ignored just like that. I totally blame myself because I was the one who divided what parts they should do and what they should write because they said they just will go with my planned. Although, they didn’t blame me and apologize for their mistakes in the writing and slides, I still feel it was my fault. It is not easy to cope with this feeling but somehow your writing help me to go through it. Thank you so much.

Parisa

This was very helpful! I feel much better. Thanks.

Zadie

My husband left me heartbroken for 6 months. After i came in contact with R.buckler11 @ gmail [.] com, my Husband came back quickly. Keep up the good work …………

Tif

I think it’s important for kids to learn how to deal with and understand their emotions from an early age since doing so will help them avoid many difficult situations in the future. Healthy relationships are the cornerstone of positive well-being, which is why I have singled out for myself a relationship counselors online https://ca.calmerry.com/relationship-counseling/ where you can find relationship counselors online. Any relationship issues that are lowering one’s quality of life can be resolved with the help of relationship therapy or counseling.

jamesruiz163

What physical or emotional symptoms of stress do you notice in yourself, and how do you try to manage them to keep yourself healthy?

Anna

Thank you for sharing these invaluable strategies for navigating presentation mishaps. It’s comforting to know there are ways to bounce back from challenging moments during public speaking. Allowing ourselves to acknowledge and process disappointment is crucial, as you rightly pointed out. Sometimes, we’re urged to embrace positivity constantly, but acknowledging and experiencing those uncomfortable emotions is a natural wellness center part of our journey. Setting a limit on dwelling allows for a healthier transition to moving forward.

gorilla tag

In an effort to maintain one’s health, which physical or emotional manifestations of stress do you personally observe and how do you attempt to regulate them?

Kerry Smith

Unfortunately, mental disorders in young people are not at all uncommon. However, the cannabis industry now has a variety of products, such as CBD, for treating mental disorders. I’m not young anymore and to relieve stress I use these https://westcoastbud.io/ cannabis concentrates in small doses and it gives excellent results. I advise you to pay attention to this site.

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Central Jersey, Group 4 first round - Girls basketball recap

  • Published: Feb. 21, 2024, 7:23 p.m.
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Halley Cottrell led the way for third-seeded Monroe, tallying 21 points as it defeated 14th-seeded Long Branch 53-32 in Monroe Township.

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Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves among first Xbox exclusives to hit other consoles

The multiplatform strategy is here

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Pentiment offers players a choice of Andreas’ background as he speaks to a farmer, with manuscript pages hovering over the scene

Grounded and Pentiment are coming to Nintendo Switch as the first of four games moving away from Xbox exclusivity. Nintendo announced the release dates during its February Nintendo Direct presentation on Wednesday. Grounded is slated for its Nintendo Switch debut on April 16, while Pentiment will hit the console on Thursday.

Hours after the Nintendo event, Microsoft confirmed Hi-Fi Rush is coming to PlayStation 5 on March 19 followed by Sea of Thieves to PS5 on April 30. ( Pentiment and Grounded will both come to PS5, too.)

Microsoft announced last week that four former Xbox exclusives were coming to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch — but it didn’t say which games. A report from The Verge suggested it was Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment would come first, followed by Grounded and Sea of Thieves. Both Grounded and Pentiment are developed by Obsidian Entertainment, a studio acquired by Microsoft in 2018, while Hi-Fi Rush is from Bethesda Game Studios and Sea of Thieves is by Rare. Now the plan has come into view.

Here’s the rundown:

  • Pentiment — PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch on Feb. 22
  • Hi-Fi Rush — PS5 on March 19
  • Grounded — PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch on April 16
  • Sea of Thieves — PS5 on April 30

Grounded , a cooperative backyard survival game , was released in 2022 for Xbox consoles and Windows PC after an early access period that began in 2020. Pentiment was Obsidian’s next game released after Grounded; it’s both a historical role-playing game and a murder mystery. The story book-stylized game takes place during the 16th-century Holy Roman Empire, and it’s full of juicy drama and great fonts . Sea of Thieves is known for its multiplayer pirate hijinks, while Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythm-based RPG.

The hope is that expanding these two games to new consoles like Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 gives the games new life and a new audience. A game like Sea of Thieves , which requires online multiplayer, is a perfect choice to kick off the PS5 console and inject new life into the game.

Elsewhere in the announcement, Nintendo showcased several new games coming to Nintendo Switch online today: Battletoads in Battlemaniacs , Blast Corps , R.C. Pro-Am , and Snake Rattle N Roll . Notable, these games are all from Rare, so they’re all technically Xbox games, too.

Update: This story has been updated to include new details on Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush .

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