Presentation Science Archives

A Recipe for Cooking Presentation Ideas: Important Questions to Ask

creativity

presentation creativity

presentation ideas

presentation tips

Mar 20, 2017

Everything starts with an idea. Writers invoke Muses for inspiration; scientists gather data to make a breakthrough; and speakers brainstorm before preparing a presentation. This all sounds so simple in writing, but when you’re faced with the actual task of coming up with ideas, you might find yourself in a barren and lonely land. All too often, creative people struggle against creative block, a seemingly dead-end state that leaves them high and dry.When you’re stuck in this state, things can get ugly, especially since you can do nothing to nudge your presentation forward. You can neither start structuring your outline nor begin designing your pitch deck. Without that elusive idea, you have no topic. You have nothing to work with—and this can discourage you and force you to drop your speaking engagement right there and then.

Overcome Creative Block and Get Your Ideas Flowing

Fortunately, there is an antidote to creative block. But before you solve this problem, you need to acknowledge its three main causes first: high expectations, fear of failure, and the pressure of unrealistic deadlines. Once you understand its triggers and the proper ways to address them, all you have to do is wait for fresh ideas to bubble up from the depths of your mind.

Here are some of the things you can do to overcome creative block:

Get up early to brainstorm. According to an infographic posted on Ragan, 55 percent of writers who write early in the morning overcome writer’s block. The same can be said about presenters who brainstorm earlier during the day. Mornings can inspire you to be proactive and productive for the rest of the day, so get up early to rack your brain for ideas.

Remove all distractions. The same infographic also found that 47 percent of people who removed distractions like gadgets were able to improve their concentration and creativity. When brainstorming, make sure you give yourself enough time and space, with no one and nothing around to interrupt your thoughts.

Do other creative exercises. When you’re stuck inside your head, you can’t just sit around and do nothing. You need to do something else—something that’s not related to the presentation you’re working on. You can go and write a poem, watch TV, sing, dance, or cook. Do anything that freshens you up, and sooner or later, you’ll be able to tap into that well of ideas that’s lying dormant in your mind.

Cut yourself some slack. High expectations and the pressure to succeed can bar your thought factory. You might involuntarily shut your brain off if you’re too afraid to come up with a mediocre idea. There’s only one way to fix this, and that is to take the pressure off of yourself. Remember, you’re still in the brainstorming phase—nothing you come up with on this stage is final.

Questions to Kick Off the Brainstorming Process

Once you overcome your creative block, it’s time to kick off the brainstorming process. While it’s true that anything goes during this stage, it’s still important to acknowledge the issue the right way. Here are some of the most crucial questions to ask when conjuring ideas for a presentation:

1. What do you have that you can share?

Always keep your knowledge and passion in mind. Select a subject matter that you’re familiar with and that you like. This will help cut down your research time and allow you to focus more clearly on your message. If you know what you’re talking about, your credibility will soar into new heights. Knowledge about the topic will allow you to satiate the audience’s desire to learn. Likewise, if you like what you’re talking about, your confidence will rise. The audience can pick up enthusiasm, so when they sense that you’re excited about your talk, they will be excited too.

2. How can you improve the audience’s lives?

The audience is the star of the presentation, so make sure you consider how your talk can be relevant to them. Ask yourself, what pain point am I trying to target? How can my proposed solution fit into the audience’s lives? Does my message resonate with them? How are they likely to respond and react to my talk? Answering these questions will lead you to the right direction.

3. What is the outcome you desire?

From the start, you need to make your goals clear. Identify the purpose of your presentation and the aims it tries to achieve. Spell out your call to action—don’t just leave it for the audience to guess.

4. Which perspective can make you a thought leader?

Make your presentation worthwhile by differentiating yourself from the crowd. Blaze new paths with your speech, and make sure that the audience can clearly see what makes you unique. As a thought leader, you’ll be able to add value to your industry. You’ll be an important asset that consumers and entrepreneurs alike will respect and uphold.

5. Can you structure your topic as a narrative?

Ideally, the topic you choose should be narrative-driven since presenters are expected to be master storytellers. People are more responsive to stories because they make presentations more memorable. They create an emotional bond that allows the audience to get to the heart of the message.

6. Can you simplify the message without sacrificing its value?

Finally, ask yourself, can I condense this thought into a shorter presentation? Can I make it more concise without losing the core message? To make your talk as brief as it can be, make sure you only have one focus. Cut anything that’s not related to the core idea.Before jumping with both feet into a speaking engagement, make sure that you have a strong idea in your arsenal. That idea is the cornerstone of your presentation—without it, you’re stuck with nothing. Take the aforementioned tips so you can craft a speech that’s grounded on a worthwhile concept.

Resources:

Anderson, Meghan Keaney. “The 5 Questions You Should Ask to Nail Your Product Messaging.” Hubspot. December 27, 2012. blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/33981/The-5-Questions-You-Should-Ask-to-Nail-Your-Product-Messaging.aspx#sm.0000w6nx4vstbcwkqnc12umt2kzcxAzzarello, Patty. “A Guide to Brief and Effective Workplace Communication.” Ragan. October 15, 2015. www.ragan.com/WritingEditing/Articles/50282.aspxBates, Claire. “Blanking Out: How Stress Can Shut Down the Command Center in the Brain.” Daily Mail. April 11, 2012. www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2127686/How-stress-shut-command-centre-brain.htmlDixon, George. “How to Choose Your Presentation Topic.” Presentation Magazine. January 2, 2012. www.presentationmagazine.com/how-to-choose-your-presentation-topic-10871.htmDlugan, Andrew. “The Secret of Choosing Successful Speech Topics.” Six Minutes. October 25, 2010. sixminutes.dlugan.com/speech-topicsLong, Kristin. “Infographic: The Most Effective Ways to Beat Writer’s Block.” Ragan. October 9, 2015. www.ragan.com/WritingEditing/Articles/50255.aspxMitchell, Olivia. “9 Ways to Edit Your Presentation.” Speaking About Presenting. n.d. www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/edit-presentationParker, Roger. “Mark Twain’s Advice for Authors Writing Brand-Building Books.” Personal Branding Blog. May 18, 2011. www.personalbrandingblog.com/mark-twains-advice-for-authors-writing-brand-building-booksSambuchino, Chuck. “7 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block.” Writer’s Digest. May 5, 2013. www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/7-ways-to-overcome-writers-block

6 Useful Mobile Applications for Public Speakers

Mobile Applications

public speaking tips

Mar 15, 2017

In this era, dependence on technology has never been higher, flow of information is better than ever, and communication is faster.One gift of technology is the smartphone. Whatever brand you have, the ease of use and accessibility a smartphone offers means flexibility, especially when the Internet is concerned. This 24/7 connectivity is practically why these mobile gadgets are essential.With smartphones come applications, software programs you can install and update through the App Store for Apple, Google Play for Android, and Microsoft Store for Microsoft (there are also desktop and laptop apps for the corresponding operating system). From games to social media to even fitness trackers and mobile banking, to name a few, apps essentially make your phone a very personal gadget. There are even apps that can help public speakers. Here are six of them:

Camera Apps

What’s better than practicing in front of a mirror? Watching yourself practicing.Open your pre-installed camera app (or use other notable ones are Camera Awesome and Filmmaker Pro), adjust the settings to your preference, place your phone a reasonable distance away, and record while you rehearse. When you’re done, watch it. You get to see what your audience-to-be will see: how you look, your gestures, eye contact, etc. Instead of focusing on just your face, you get a fuller and bigger picture of how you do onstage.The best aspect is that you get to be part of the crowd that will watch you speak. If you can spot glaring errors, then you can bet others will too. By then, you’d know what to fix and polish.This isn’t just limited to your camera though. Any video-recording device is fine. If you have a camcorder, you can use it. Your phone’s built-in camera is one option of many.

TED App

The annual TED Conference is arguably one of the biggest public-speaking events. Professionals from different countries and industries respect and admire the gathering since it features a collection of the world’s bests. As such, it sets a high standard for presenters and serves as an inspiration for many budding public speakers.What if you can bring the wide coverage of the TED Talks anytime, anywhere? Enter the TED app, released by the same organization and peppered with the same features as the website, like videos, reviews, comments, etc. With good connectivity, you have talks on different subjects right at your fingertips. You can watch the best speakers, learn and emulate their onstage tricks and styles, and create your own. Who knows? You might even be one of them soon.

SpeakerClock

Every talk has an allotted time limit for speakers. Be it less than or more than 10 minutes, you need to tailor your speech to fit the time you have.Enter SpeakerClock. Using the same look and design of a TED Talk timer, and with a little imagination, it gives the sense that you’re speaking in a TED Conference. No need to feel the pressure though. That’s why you’re practicing not going over your time limit. That way, you know which points you need to emphasize more and longer.Of course, there are other timer apps out there, but none like SpeakerClock. Who doesn’t want to feel like they’re a TED speaker?

Metronome Beats

You’ve been practicing with a time limit; how fast are you going with your speech? Musicians use a metronome to measure beat and tempo, ticking per a time signature. Transpose that to a public speaking context, and you have Metronome Beats, an app that works just like a metronome with just a few swipes and adjustments.In a way, you could liken your speech to a music piece: allegro (fast) to adagio (slow) then allegro again and adagio again, making sure the right parts are accented by the right combination of pace and strength, until the finale. Making sure the beat and tempo of your piece are harmonic is a great way to ensure that a) you emphasize your main points by slowly talking about them (adagio) and b) you set the pace of your whole speech to fit within your timeline.

Ummo

What if you had an app that records your speech as you practice, provides a transcription, and counts how many filler words you said? You don’t have to imagine.Ummo works exactly like that. When looking at your transcript, you get an idea of how many “uhms,” “ahs,” “likes,” etc., you uttered. You can then work on reducing them. There are also two bonuses. With a full transcript, a short analysis can identify where filler words were used the most and whether your diction and pronunciation is clear enough for even a computer to create an almost-accurate copy—homonyms and punctuation the obvious areas of problem. Still, an app that does a lot of things for your benefit is great in anybody’s book.

Rhetoric – The Public Speaking Game

The only game in this list, Rhetoric was initially made by John Zimmer and Florian Mueck as a board game in 2011. It crossed over to the digital world as both an improvement tool for public speakers of different calibers and a fun method of bonding with friends and/or family. Best of all is that you don’t have to play it alone.The rules are the same with the board game, and it plays out like a real gaming app (think Monopoly on your phone). All in all, if you’re looking for a game where players take turns speaking, then Rhetoric is your cup of tea.There are many tools that can help improve your public-speaking skills, and apps on your smartphone are just a few options. Traditional practice and hard work are still the best ways to get better, but you need to have great self-discipline. If anything, that’s the best quality to have: the mindset that you can always be better if you work hard enough and learn more than expected.

Resources:

Avery, Ryan. “5 iPhone Apps for Public Speakers.” How to Be a Speaker. n.d. www.howtobeaspeaker.com/5-iphone-apps-for-public-speakersBrown, Christopher. “5 Presentation Apps that Will Calm Your Nerves When Speaking in Public.” Lifehack. n.d. www.lifehack.org/454813/5-presentation-apps-that-will-calm-your-nerves-when-speaking-in-publicLloyd-Hughes, Sarah. “10 Great Public Speaking Apps for Killer Presentations.” Ginger Public Speaking. n.d. www.gingerpublicspeaking.com/public-speaking-apps/?utm_referrer=https://www.google.com.phScheinin, Richard. “The Best Apps for Improving Your Public Speaking.” July 17, 2016. The Mercury News. www.mercurynews.com/2016/07/17/the-best-apps-for-improving-your-public-speakingStudach, Melissa. “6 Apps that Will Turn You Into an Expert Public Speaker.” Inc. June 9, 2016. www.inc.com/melissa-studach/6-apps-that-will-turn-you-into-an-expert-speaker.htmlZimmer, John. “Rhetoric. The App Is Here!” Manner of Speaking. July 24, 2016. www.mannerofspeaking.org/2016/07/24/rhetoric-the-app-is-here“Mobile Apps for Public Speakers and Presenters.” SlideShop. December 23, 2016. blog.slideshop.com/2016/12/23/mobile-apps-for-public-speakers-and-presenters“The 7 Best Apps 4 Public Speakers.” Meeting Application. May 1, 2015. blog.meetingapplication.com/7-apps-4-public-speakers

Can Hosting a Webinar Expand Your Audience?

Powerpoint

powerpoint designer

Presentation Agency

presentation design

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Web Seminar

webinar

Webinar Presentation

Mar 13, 2017

Hosting a webinar is an incredibly effective way to expand your audience and grow your business, brand, or personal profile. With the rise of digital communication and remote working, webinars have become a preferred tool for engaging with broader audiences, providing value, and building meaningful connections. By offering a blend of valuable content, interactivity, and convenience, webinars allow businesses and individuals to reach and attract new audiences far beyond traditional geographical limitations.Here’s how hosting a webinar can help you expand your audience and the key benefits that come with it.

1. Global Reach Without Geographical Boundaries

One of the biggest advantages of hosting a webinar is the ability to connect with audiences from all over the world. Unlike in-person events, webinars are not restricted by physical location, travel costs, or venue capacity. This means you can engage with a global audience, reaching people who might never have been able to attend your events otherwise.

How It Expands Your Audience:

Attract International Participants: Webinars allow you to promote your event online, reaching potential attendees from different regions and time zones.
Reduce Barriers to Entry: With no need for travel or accommodation, more people are likely to register for your event, increasing your overall reach.

Example:

A software company can host a product demo webinar and attract attendees from multiple countries, increasing awareness of their product in regions where they may not have had a physical presence.

2. Cost-Effective Way to Attract New Leads

Webinars are a cost-effective way to generate new leads and grow your audience. Compared to in-person events, webinars typically require fewer resources, such as venue costs, catering, and travel expenses. This makes them an affordable option for companies and individuals looking to attract and engage new prospects.

How It Expands Your Audience:

Lower Costs, More Accessibility: Webinars allow more people to attend without high registration fees, making them more accessible to your target audience.
Lead Generation Opportunities: During the registration process, you can capture valuable contact information such as email addresses and business details. These contacts can then be nurtured as leads.

Example:

A marketing agency can host a free webinar on social media strategies, collecting registration details and using the webinar as a lead magnet to build their email list and follow-up with potential clients.

3. Content Longevity Through Recordings

One of the major benefits of hosting webinars is that they can be recorded and reused, giving your content longevity and allowing you to reach an even wider audience long after the live event has ended.

How It Expands Your Audience:

On-Demand Access: By offering recordings of your webinar, you can attract people who weren’t able to attend the live session. This extends your content’s reach and gives new viewers a chance to engage with your brand.
Repurposing Content: You can repurpose your webinar content into other forms such as blog posts, social media snippets, or eBooks, which can reach different segments of your audience.

Example:

A thought leader in the health industry can record their wellness webinar and offer the replay on their website, YouTube, or other platforms, allowing more people to watch it over time and increasing overall visibility.

4. Targeted Audience Through Niche Topics

Webinars are highly customizable, making it easy to target specific audiences based on your niche or area of expertise. By offering specialized, valuable content, you can attract a more engaged and relevant audience that is genuinely interested in your products or services.

How It Expands Your Audience:

Attract Interested Participants: Niche topics help attract participants who are specifically interested in the subject matter, leading to a more engaged audience.
Establish Expertise: By delivering expert insights, you position yourself or your business as a thought leader, which can attract a dedicated following.

Example:

An e-commerce consultant can host a webinar on “Improving Conversion Rates for Online Retailers,” attracting business owners specifically looking to enhance their online sales, which could lead to more targeted and engaged leads.

5. Interactive and Engaging Content

Webinars allow you to interact directly with your audience in real-time through Q&A sessions, polls, chat features, and live demonstrations. This interactive element helps build stronger connections and allows attendees to feel more involved in the event.

How It Expands Your Audience:

Build Rapport with New Audiences: Engaging with attendees during the webinar helps establish a relationship and builds trust, encouraging future interaction and loyalty.
Address Pain Points: By allowing your audience to ask questions or vote in polls, you can better understand their needs and provide tailored solutions, increasing the likelihood of converting them into long-term followers or customers.

Example:

A SaaS company hosting a live Q&A during a product demo webinar can address specific questions from potential customers, providing direct value and boosting confidence in their product.

6. Partnerships and Co-Hosted Webinars

Collaborating with other brands, influencers, or industry experts on webinars can significantly expand your audience. By partnering with someone who already has an established following, you can leverage their audience while also adding credibility to your event.

How It Expands Your Audience:

Tap into Existing Networks: When you co-host a webinar, your partner will promote the event to their own audience, giving you access to potential new followers or customers.
Cross-Promotional Opportunities: Cross-promotion with partners can introduce your brand to a larger, highly relevant audience, leading to greater exposure.

Example:

A fitness app could co-host a webinar with a well-known nutritionist to discuss the benefits of diet and exercise, promoting the event to both the app’s user base and the nutritionist’s followers, thus expanding the audience for both.

7. Social Media Promotion

Social media platforms offer a significant opportunity to promote your webinar to a broader audience. By sharing your event across multiple platforms and encouraging your audience to share it as well, you can attract a wide range of participants from different demographics.

How It Expands Your Audience:

Viral Reach: Social media sharing can exponentially increase the visibility of your webinar. The more your event is shared, the greater your reach becomes.
Targeted Ads: Platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram offer targeted ad options that allow you to promote your webinar to specific audiences based on their interests, professions, or demographics.

Example:

A digital marketing agency can use Facebook Ads to promote their webinar on “SEO for Small Businesses,” targeting users who have shown interest in digital marketing, SEO, or entrepreneurship.

8. Networking and Building Relationships

Webinars provide a great opportunity to build relationships with your audience, industry experts, and peers. Participants get a sense of your expertise and personality, and you can use webinars to establish lasting connections.

How It Expands Your Audience:

Networking Opportunities: Hosting a webinar gives you a platform to connect with potential customers, collaborators, or industry influencers who may promote your brand to their own networks.
Follow-Up Engagement: After the webinar, you can continue engaging with participants through email follow-ups, social media, or even inviting them to future events.

Example:

An entrepreneur hosting a webinar on “Scaling Your Startup” could follow up with attendees by offering additional resources, starting discussions on LinkedIn, or inviting them to future networking events, thus growing their professional network and audience.

Conclusion

Yes, hosting a webinar can significantly expand your audience by providing value in a flexible, accessible format. From increasing brand awareness to generating leads and nurturing relationships, webinars offer a highly effective platform for reaching new people and deepening connections with your existing audience.By focusing on content that delivers real value, promoting your webinars across multiple channels, and engaging your participants in real-time, you can grow your reach, establish authority in your niche, and achieve your business goals. Whether you’re a small business, an individual entrepreneur, or a large corporation, webinars are an essential tool for expanding your audience in today’s digital landscape.

Becoming a Better Presenter: From Bad to Superb Presentation Skills

presentation skills

presentation tips

public speaking

Mar 08, 2017

Have you ever come across a speaker who knocked you breathless with his or her speech? A speaker who pulled you to the edge of your seat and made you feel like you’re part of a privileged audience? At least once in your professional career, you’ll be granted the chance to be that speaker. You’ll find yourself holding the opportunity to make an impact and leave a lasting impression that will resonate with the audience for a long time.

It doesn’t matter if you’re ready or not. Circumstances don’t choose their preys. You’ll have no choice but to take the limelight when the moment strikes, so bask in its glory while you can. No excuse is good enough to turn down an opportunity to be great at something. Greatness doesn’t happen by accident, and mastery doesn’t come in a snap. You need to invest both time and effort to be a better presenter.

Below are some aspects of public speaking that you can hone with dedication and perseverance.

Man smiling while looking at a tablet in a bright, modern space. He is wearing a light blue sweater and the background is blurred, suggesting he is indoors. The screen displays an engaging flipbook, adding to his sense of delight.

Building Around Your Core Message

You can’t plunge head-first to a speaking engagement without fully understanding your core message. Take time to get your thoughts straight and identify the essentials of your speech. Don’t treat your presentation like a dumpster for ideas. If you cover too much material, your audience will end up either bored or boggled. In a typical public speaking setup, less is more, so know what to include in your talk and what to leave out. Once you have a tight grip on your message, structure your thinking so that you can present your ideas in a way that’s both interesting and comprehensible.

The Audience as Your Touchstone

You can’t preach to an audience that you know nothing or little about. Unless you speak with their interests in mind, don’t bother speaking at all. The audience is an important part of your presentation that you can’t ignore. You need to know their pains, opinions, desires, and goals. What do they understand about the topic? Where do they stand about the issue? How can you challenge them to think differently? How can you improve their lives?

Your presentation will be for nothing if the audience remains unreceptive to your message. Make sure your ideas don’t fall on deaf ears. Speak on a personal level to encourage your listeners to engage in a conversation with you. When you make the mistake of being self-righteous, you’ll lose the game. Remember, the goal is to communicate effectively, not to look impressive.

Crafting a Killer Slide Deck

Your supporting visuals can have a huge bearing on the success of your presentation, so make sure you use the right design elements across all your graphics. Do away with bullets, long texts, and cheesy slide transitions. Be consistent with the font, and stick to a simple color scheme. If you’re going to use an image, don’t go hunting in the clipart library—use high-quality stock images and authentic photos instead. If you need assistance for PowerPoint design, collaborate with a slide design artist who can take the aesthetics of your presentation to the next level.

Fine-tuning Your Presentation

How many stage presenters does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Four. One to do the actual task, and three to help him rehearse the act.

That may be a pathetic attempt at comedy, but it sums up the importance of constant practice in public speaking. Once you have your content and design all figured out, it’s time to put everything you’ve worked hard on to the test. Demonstrate your presentation to three qualified people, and elicit their feedback and reactions. Make sure to address everything they have to say. Find time to practice your gestures and rehearse your speech. Learn the piece by heart, and don’t stop until the day of your presentation. Don’t worry about over-practicing—there’s no such thing.

A Word on Authenticity and Confidence

Presentation jitters are natural, but that doesn’t mean you should let them overpower you. Don’t beat yourself up for having the urge to shy away from the spotlight. Although it’s true that the audience don’t want to see how nervous you are, they will likely empathize with you if you fail to keep your composure onstage. You’ll be amazed at how many people can relate to the nerve-racking feat that is public speaking. Just take deep breaths and remember who you are and what you’re there for. Tell yourself, “I have something unique that the audience wants, and I’m going to go ahead and share it.” Stamp out your self-doubt by letting your personality shine through. If you stick to the real you, the audience will be more willing to receive your message.

The Performance of a Lifetime

Take every public speaking assignment like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Prepare for it like it’s the performance of your life. If you look at it this way, you’ll be able to prepare thoroughly and put your best foot forward. While onstage, you need to project a good stage presence. You can do this by dressing professionally, establishing eye contact, taking full control of your voice, and breathing evenly. It would also do you and everyone else good if you respect your audience’s time by sticking to the schedule.

Of Passion and Enthusiasm

If there’s one thing you should be while delivering a speech, it’s enthusiastic. Nothing beats the warm vigor of a presenter brimming with passion about his or her speech. If you’re passionate, the audience will be too because passion is infectious. When all’s said and done, energy is more impactful than eloquence.

Becoming a better presenter will serve you well throughout your professional career. It will open new opportunities that you’ve never had before. Take your presentation skills to the next level, and watch as you get closer to finding success.

Resources:

Cummings, Harriet. “You Could Be a Better Presenter, Here’s How.” Distilled. August 21, 2014. www.distilled.net/resources/you-could-be-a-better-presenter-heres-how

Kaye, Jezra. “For Great Public Speaking, a Little Daily Practice Goes a Long, Long Way.” Speak Up for Success. n.d. speakupforsuccess.com/practice-a-little-every-day

Kim, Larry. “20 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills.” WordStream. November 3, 2016. www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2014/11/19/how-to-improve-presentation-skills

Malone, Sean. “10 Tips to Become a Better Presenter.” Virtual Studio. August 17, 2010. www.virtualstudio.tv/blog/post/13-10-tips-to-become-a-better-presenter

Singer, Thom. “Get Noticed: 7 Tips for Better Presentation Skills.” Pragmatic Marketing. February 17, 2015. pragmaticmarketing.com/resources/get-noticed-7-tips-for-better-presentation-skills

“Authentic Public Speaking: Why Being Real Makes All the Difference.” Presence Training. January 18, 2014. presencetraining.co.uk/authentic-public-speaking-real-difference

“Enthusiasm: Bringing Passion to Your Performance.” Voice and Speech. n.d. voiceandspeech.com/articles/enthusiasm.html

Creating a Solid Presentation Outline

presentation outline

presentation tips

Mar 06, 2017

Speech outlines are often overlooked in presentations. They’re dismissed as a waste of time by amateur presenters who don’t realize their relevance. Why flesh out your speech when you can go straight to writing it whole, they’d argue. Most professional speakers, however, claim the opposite. They know better, and they understand that time spent mulling over a presentation’s basic framework is never wasted time. In fact, they consider it as time well-spent.

Think of your speech outline as the blueprint of your presentation. It’s there mostly as an assurance that your speech is coherent, focused, and ready to be brought to life. It will help you clear your presentation anxiety, so you’ll feel less apprehensive about muddling it up with ambiguous ideas and obscure statements. Crafting a speech outline is a critical step to make sure that your presentation is ready to go.

The Importance of Preparing a Speech Outline

Your speech outline will help you see your core message clearly and without obstruction. It will force out from your mind the key logical elements of your presentation—the bits that, together, form your speech skeleton.

An outline is a good way to find out, possibly for the first time, exactly what it is you want to say. It will help you organize your material and put your thoughts together in a way that yields a comprehensible output. It will ground you and keep you on topic from the time you write that first draft to the moment you deliver the actual presentation. And the best part is that it’s easier than it seems. You don’t need a flurry of words to make one—you need ideas. Cues and fragments would do, as long as they mean something to you.

As the backbone of your speech, the outline will help you enhance the logic of your content and the sequence of your narrative. It will improve the flow and style of your presentation so that whatever you share to the audience will be received with interest and understanding. Laying out the basics of your presentation will help you look at the bigger picture without delving deep into the details.

Structuring Your Speech Skeleton

Speech outlines, like many write-ups, usually follow a three-part structure. This basic formula is something that anyone who has ever read or written anything can easily recognize:

Introduction – where you tell your audience what you’re going to tell them
Body – where you actually tell them
Conclusion – where you tell them again what you just told them

It’s an easy enough way of framing a speech. Structuring your outline this way will help you determine which sections of your presentation need to be given more importance.

The Brainstorming Stage

Before you can write your outline, you need to go through one more stage: brainstorming. This will jumpstart your creative process by allowing you to explore all possibilities, exhaust all means, and let your stream of consciousness flow. In this stage, you’ll have to experiment with different concepts to come up with the basics of your presentation. Decide on your topic to keep your speech firmly grounded. Define your goals and identify how to achieve them. Determine the essence of your presentation from the audience’s perspective. Of course, whatever you decide on while brainstorming won’t necessarily be set in stone. They can still change as you move forward. Brainstorming will only help you create idea maps in your mind so that you can organize your thoughts before outlining.

Part One: Introduction

The Introduction is where you establish the topic and the core message. This is where you define the problem, state your goal, and tell the audience how they can benefit from it. It’s concise in form, but it encapsulates the theme well. Your first few minutes onstage is your chance to establish your credibility and assert your qualifications. This is where you establish your right to speak on the topic.

Professional speakers will agree that, more than anything, an introduction must grab the audience’s attention and compel them to listen. This is why the most memorable presentations use humor as an opening salvo. A bit of wit is effective in offsetting the somberness of later discussions.

Part Two: Body

The Body contains the bulk of your talk because this is where you elaborate and flesh out your main points. It’s your opportunity to give credence to your claims and present supporting points to your arguments. You can either support your premise by introducing factual evidence, or you can dismiss opposing arguments. The body is also where your story solidifies—you can tell a narrative that relates back to your core message.

Part Three: Conclusion

The Conclusion is where you recap your main points—the pieces of information you want your audience to remember. This is where you neatly wrap up your main arguments and reiterate your core message to tie every aspect of your speech together. Before you step out of the limelight, you should’ve already established your call to action. Move the audience to join your cause and suggest future actions that they can take. But most important of all, you need to make your closing remarks memorable. Dress them up so you’ll end with a bang that will resonate with your audience long after you’re done talking.

The initial draft of your outline is unlikely to be the final draft. Writing is a process, after all. You’ll have to constantly review and revise your work until the finished output is seamless. Instead of a tedious hurdle, see this as an opportunity to shape and refine your speech to perfection. Don’t worry, the outline is 60% of the work, so once you’re done with it, you’re more than halfway to finishing your presentation.

Resources:

Dlugan, Andrew. “Don’t Skip the Speech Outline.” Six Minutes. February 29, 2008. sixminutes.dlugan.com/speech-preparation-3-outline-examples

Dugdale, Susan. “Sample Speech Outline.” Write Out Loud. n.d. www.write-out-loud.com/sample-speech-outline.html

Guay, Matthew. “Presentations 101: The Absolute Basics of Making a Presentation.” Envato Tuts Plus. February 18, 2014. computers.tutsplus.com/tutorials/presentations-101-the-absolute-basics-of-making-a-presentation–cms-19551

Hansen, Brianna. “7 Techniques for More Effective Brainstorming.” Wrike. November 16, 2016. www.wrike.com/blog/techniques-effective-brainstorming

Pfeifer, Tom. “Start with Your Speech Skeleton: Add Some Tasty Skin.” Tom Pfeifer. n.d. tompfeifer.wordpress.com/tag/how-do-i-frame-a-speech

Zomick, Brad. “How to Write an Outline: 5 Techniques and 5 Learning Resources.” Skilled Up. May 29, 2013. www.skilledup.com/articles/how-to-write-an-outline-techniques-resources

“Building a Speech: Starting with an Outline.” Boundless. n.d. www.boundless.com/communications/textbooks/boundless-communications-textbook/organizing-and-outlining-the-speech-10/principles-of-organization-51/building-a-speech-starting-with-an-outline-206-6814

“Creating a Presentation Outline.” Think Outside the Slide. n.d. www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/lesson-1-creating-a-presentation-outline

“How to Create a Presentation Outline.” eHow. n.d. www.ehow.com/how_2057469_create-presentation-outline.html

“Speech Outline Example (Informative or Persuasive).” My Speech Class. n.d. www.myspeechclass.com/outline.html

“The Rough Draft Outline.” Boundless. n.d. www.boundless.com/communications/textbooks/boundless-communications-textbook/organizing-and-outlining-the-speech-10/outlining-56/the-rough-draft-outline-223-7317

Corporate Forecast: The Future of Company Presentations

Future of Presentations

Powerpoint

powerpoint designer

presentation

Presentation Agency

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Feb 26, 2017

As technology evolves and business practices adapt, the landscape of corporate presentations is rapidly changing. The future of company presentations lies in interactivity, engagement, data visualization, and digital accessibility. Here’s a look at the key trends shaping the future of corporate presentations and how businesses can stay ahead.

1. Data-Driven Storytelling

With the rise of big data and analytics, companies are increasingly relying on data-driven presentations to inform stakeholders, demonstrate progress, and make business cases. The future of presentations will focus on turning complex data into compelling narratives that drive decision-making.

Why It’s Important:

Simplifies Complexity: Data-driven storytelling breaks down complex information into digestible and relatable narratives.
Informs Decision-Making: Presenting data in a clear and engaging way helps decision-makers better understand the insights and make informed choices.

How to Do It:

Use tools like Tableau or Power BI to visualize data and incorporate it into your presentations.
Focus on creating a narrative around the data that leads your audience to a conclusion or call to action.

2. Interactive Presentations

Gone are the days of one-sided presentations. Future presentations will increasingly focus on interactivity, allowing the audience to participate in the experience, whether through live polling, real-time feedback, or interactive content.

Why It’s Important:

Engages the Audience: Interactivity keeps the audience engaged and makes them feel involved in the presentation.
Improves Retention: Allowing the audience to interact with content helps reinforce the key messages and increases information retention.

How to Do It:

Incorporate tools like Mentimeter or Poll Everywhere to allow for live audience interaction and polling.
Use touchscreens or interactive elements to let your audience explore data or visual elements in real time.

3. Virtual and Hybrid Presentations

As more businesses move toward remote and hybrid work environments, virtual presentations will continue to rise. These presentations must cater to both in-person and remote audiences, blending live interaction with digital elements.

Why It’s Important:

Increases Flexibility: Virtual presentations allow businesses to reach a global audience, breaking down geographical barriers.
Enhances Accessibility: Hybrid presentations cater to both in-person and remote participants, ensuring everyone can access the content.

How to Do It:

Use platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet to host virtual presentations.
Ensure that your presentations are accessible and engaging for both in-person and remote attendees by using high-quality visuals, interactive elements, and clear audio.

4. Personalized Content

Tailoring presentations to the needs and preferences of different audiences will become more prevalent in the future. With advancements in AI and data analytics, businesses can create personalized presentations that deliver content specific to each viewer’s needs and interests.

Why It’s Important:

Increases Relevance: Personalized content resonates more with the audience, leading to higher engagement and better outcomes.
Improves Audience Connection: By addressing specific pain points or opportunities for each audience segment, personalized presentations create stronger connections with viewers.

How to Do It:

Use audience segmentation and data analytics to customize presentations for different groups or stakeholders.
Incorporate AI-powered tools to dynamically adjust content based on audience feedback or preferences.

5. Immersive Technology

As virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) technology continues to evolve, the future of presentations will include immersive experiences. Companies will be able to create VR and AR presentations that allow audiences to experience products or data in an interactive, 3D environment.

Why It’s Important:

Enhances Engagement: Immersive technologies capture attention and provide a more engaging, interactive experience.
Differentiates Your Brand: Using cutting-edge technology sets your presentations apart and positions your company as innovative.

How to Do It:

Explore VR and AR platforms that can integrate with presentations, such as Oculus or Microsoft HoloLens.
Develop immersive demos, virtual walkthroughs, or 3D data visualizations to enhance audience engagement.

6. Mobile-First Presentations

As more professionals rely on mobile devices for work, presentations must be optimized for viewing on smartphones and tablets. Presentations of the future will be mobile-friendly, allowing viewers to access and interact with content on the go.

Why It’s Important:

Increases Accessibility: Mobile-friendly presentations ensure that your content can be accessed anytime, anywhere, increasing reach.
Improves Convenience: Mobile optimization provides a better viewing experience for users who prefer to consume content on their phones or tablets.

How to Do It:

Use responsive design principles when creating presentations, ensuring that content adapts to different screen sizes.
Choose presentation platforms like Prezi or Microsoft Sway, which are designed to be mobile-friendly.

7. AI-Assisted Presentations

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how presentations are created and delivered. AI tools can assist with everything from generating content to analyzing audience engagement in real time. Presenters can leverage AI to tailor their content dynamically and make data-driven adjustments.

Why It’s Important:

Saves Time: AI tools automate the process of creating content and slides, reducing preparation time.
Enhances Personalization: AI can analyze audience reactions and preferences to suggest tailored content during the presentation.

How to Do It:

Use AI-powered tools like Beautiful.ai or Zoho Show to create presentation designs automatically based on content.
Integrate AI analytics platforms to gather audience feedback in real-time and adjust content flow accordingly.

8. Sustainability and Paperless Presentations

As companies strive to meet sustainability goals, the push for paperless presentations is increasing. Digital presentations eliminate the need for printed handouts and physical materials, reducing a company’s environmental footprint.

Why It’s Important:

Supports Sustainability Goals: Going digital aligns with environmentally conscious business practices and reduces paper waste.
Increases Accessibility: Digital presentations can be shared electronically, making them more accessible for remote attendees and those who prefer digital formats.

How to Do It:

Provide digital versions of handouts, brochures, or data sheets during presentations.
Use tools like Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Prezi to share presentations with participants via email or cloud links.

9. Engaging Visual Storytelling

The future of presentations will rely heavily on visual storytelling, where data and narratives are presented through compelling imagery and minimal text. Rather than bombarding audiences with bullet points, companies will focus on creating visually immersive stories that resonate emotionally with viewers.

Why It’s Important:

Increases Engagement: Visual storytelling captivates audiences and keeps them focused on the core message.
Simplifies Complex Information: Complicated data or processes are easier to understand when presented visually, especially with infographics or flowcharts.

How to Do It:

Incorporate high-quality visuals, including images, charts, and icons, to replace excessive text.
Create a narrative arc in your presentation, starting with a problem or challenge and leading to a solution or success story.

10. Remote Presentation Tools

With the increase in remote work and virtual meetings, the demand for effective remote presentation tools is growing. Presenters need platforms that allow them to deliver seamless presentations to a global audience, while engaging with participants in real time.

Why It’s Important:

Reaches a Global Audience: Remote tools allow businesses to connect with stakeholders worldwide without the need for in-person meetings.
Improves Collaboration: Tools that offer real-time collaboration make it easier to share ideas, gather feedback, and engage participants remotely.

How to Do It:

Use remote-friendly platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Webex to deliver presentations to virtual audiences.
Encourage real-time collaboration with tools that allow shared editing, live Q&A, and interactive whiteboards.

11. Focus on Accessibility

As inclusivity becomes a key value for companies, ensuring presentations are accessible to all participants, including those with disabilities, is paramount. Future presentations will incorporate design practices that make content accessible, including closed captions, screen reader compatibility, and color-blind-friendly palettes.

Why It’s Important:

Promotes Inclusivity: Ensuring presentations are accessible to everyone helps foster a more inclusive environment.
Increases Reach: Accessibility features like captions or sign language interpretation help reach a broader audience, including individuals with hearing or visual impairments.

How to Do It:

Use tools like PowerPoint’s closed captioning feature or Zoom’s live transcription to make your presentations accessible to hearing-impaired audiences.
Select color palettes that are legible for color-blind viewers and ensure text size is large enough for easy readability.

12. On-Demand Presentations

Future presentations will not just be confined to live events. Businesses are moving toward offering on-demand presentations that can be viewed at the convenience of the audience. This makes presentations more accessible, especially for global teams operating in different time zones.

Why It’s Important:

Increases Flexibility: On-demand presentations allow participants to access content at their convenience, ensuring no one misses out due to scheduling conflicts.
Expands Audience Reach: By making presentations available on-demand, companies can reach a wider audience long after the live event is over.

How to Do It:

Record your live presentations and make them available on your company’s website, YouTube channel, or internal platforms.
Use platforms like Vimeo or Wistia to host on-demand presentations with features like analytics to track engagement.

Final Thoughts

The future of corporate presentations will be shaped by advancements in technology, a greater emphasis on data and interactivity, and a focus on accessibility and sustainability. By staying ahead of these trends and incorporating AI, data visualization, immersive technologies, and remote-friendly tools, companies can deliver presentations that are not only informative but also engaging and impactful. Adapting to these changes will position businesses to connect with diverse audiences and foster deeper engagement in the years to come.

Presentation Tips to Counterpunch Your Nerves

Powerpoint

powerpoint designer

Presentation Agency

presentation tips

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Feb 07, 2017

Even experienced presenters can feel nervous before stepping in front of an audience. The fear of public speaking can cause anxiety, shaking, or even mental blocks, but with the right techniques, you can manage and overcome these nerves. The key is to counterpunch your nerves with strategies that build confidence and calm your mind.Here are some presentation tips to help you manage nerves and deliver with confidence:

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

Preparation is the best antidote to nerves. The more you practice your presentation, the more familiar you’ll become with the material, and the less likely you are to feel anxious. Rehearse your presentation out loud multiple times so that you can deliver it naturally and confidently.Why It Works:

Builds Familiarity: Repeated practice helps you internalize your content, making it easier to recall under pressure.
Increases Confidence: The more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel about delivering your presentation smoothly.

How to Apply It:

Practice in front of a mirror, record yourself, or rehearse in front of friends or colleagues.
Pay attention to your pacing, tone, and body language during rehearsals.

Example: Run through your presentation 3-5 times before the actual event to ensure you’re fully prepared and can anticipate any challenging sections.

2. Breathe Deeply

Deep breathing is a simple yet effective technique to calm your nerves and reduce anxiety before and during your presentation. It helps regulate your heart rate and relaxes tense muscles, allowing you to regain control when you feel overwhelmed.Why It Works:

Reduces Physical Symptoms: Deep breathing helps reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heart or shaky hands.
Centers Your Focus: Focusing on your breath shifts your attention away from negative thoughts or fears, helping you stay present and grounded.

How to Apply It:

Before starting your presentation, take a few deep breaths—inhale slowly through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth.
Use deep breathing during your presentation if you start to feel nervous.

Example: Take three slow, deep breaths before you walk on stage or begin your virtual presentation to help calm your mind and body.

3. Visualize Success

Visualization is a powerful technique that involves imagining yourself successfully delivering your presentation. By visualizing a positive outcome, you can reduce anxiety and boost your confidence, making it more likely that you’ll perform well in reality.Why It Works:

Boosts Confidence: Visualization helps replace negative thoughts with positive ones, making you feel more confident and in control.
Prepares Your Mind: When you visualize success, you mentally rehearse the actions and behaviors that will lead to a positive outcome.

How to Apply It:

Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking confidently onto the stage, delivering your presentation smoothly, and receiving positive feedback from your audience.
Visualize every detail, from your body language to the way you articulate your key points.

Example: Before your presentation, spend a few minutes visualizing yourself delivering the presentation confidently and receiving applause from the audience.

4. Channel Nervous Energy into Enthusiasm

Nervous energy doesn’t have to be a bad thing—it can be channeled into enthusiasm and passion. Instead of trying to suppress your nerves, use that energy to engage more with your audience and bring excitement to your presentation.Why It Works:

Turns Anxiety into Positivity: Channeling your nervous energy into enthusiasm helps transform anxiety into something positive and productive.
Engages the Audience: Passionate delivery captures the audience’s attention and makes your presentation more compelling.

How to Apply It:

Focus on the message you’re passionate about and let that passion drive your delivery.
Use gestures, facial expressions, and a lively tone to express enthusiasm.

Example: If you’re excited about a new project, let that excitement show in your voice and body language, turning nervousness into positive energy.

5. Start with a Strong Opening

The first few moments of your presentation are critical for setting the tone and calming your nerves. Starting with a strong opening—whether it’s a personal story, a surprising fact, or a thought-provoking question—can help you gain control and establish confidence from the get-go.Why It Works:

Builds Momentum: A strong opening helps you gain confidence early in the presentation, making it easier to maintain your composure throughout.
Captures Attention: A compelling opening immediately grabs the audience’s attention, allowing you to focus on delivering your message instead of worrying about nerves.

How to Apply It:

Plan and rehearse your opening several times so that you feel confident in delivering it smoothly.
Choose an opening that resonates with your audience and relates to the main message of your presentation.

Example: Start with a surprising statistic or a personal anecdote that ties into your presentation topic to establish credibility and engage the audience from the beginning.

Final Thoughts

Overcoming presentation nerves requires preparation, mental focus, and the right techniques to calm your body and mind. By practicing your presentation, using deep breathing, visualizing success, channeling nervous energy into enthusiasm, and starting with a strong opening, you can counterpunch your nerves and deliver with confidence. These tips will help you transform anxiety into positive energy that enhances your performance and engages your audience.

10 Gimmicks to Start Your Presentation Strong

business

presentation

presentation tips

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Jan 31, 2017

Your first few minutes onstage is an opportunity to capture your audience’s attention. If you want your listeners to be all ears when you start talking, prove from the outset that your presentation is worth their time. Your opening remarks will set the tone of your talk, so you should make them as gripping as possible.Don’t waste your introduction on platitudes and pleasantries. There are better ways to form first impressions and establish a connection with the audience.

1. Kick off with a dramatic pause.

Silence makes people apprehensive. That’s why it’s a powerful tool to start a presentation. Before you deliver your speech, take a moment to pause and amble around the stage while keeping a confident stance. Even the audience members who are busy with their gadgets won’t be able to resist the dramatic pull of the moment you’ve created. A whole minute or two of silence will draw all eyes on you.

2. Appeal to the audience’s imagination.

Take your audience to a different space and time. Introduce a “what if” scenario that they can delve into and explore. The power of imagination will reel them in and make them a willing audience to your presentation.For better effects, use props and visual aids such as videos or an informational design Try a gimmick that has never been done before. Take one of Bill Gates’s TED Talks, for example. While introducing his talk about malaria, he released a scourge of mosquitoes from a jar. The mosquitoes were, of course, malaria-free, but Gates didn’t tell the audience that until after a minute or so.

3. Drop a series of rhetorical questions.

If you want your audience to participate in your presentation, ask rhetorical questions that stimulate the mind. They may not engage with you physically, but they’ll be with you mentally, pondering over your questions and framing their own answers.

4. Relay your message through storytelling.

The human brain is hardwired to love stories. If you have an interesting narrative to tell, share it. You’ll establish a stronger connection with your audience if you do so. The vulnerability is a powerful tool if you use it to communicate a message.

5. Turn heads with a contrarian statement.

One of the easiest ways to grab an audience’s attention is by contradicting a universally accepted concept. Whether your listeners agree with you or not, they’ll be at the edge of their seats to hear what you have to say, no matter how unconventional it may be. Just make sure that the statement you make offends nobody.

6. Underline a shared pain point.

If there’s a common problem you share with the audience, express it. You can win their sympathy and make yourself relatable by doing so. Your presentation will be more relevant if you can address something that the audience is concerned about.For example, everyone can relate to the frustration of creating website passwords. There seems to be no end to the list of requirements needed: the number of characters, the types of characters, the capitalization of letters, the inclusion of numbers, and so on. Discussing a topic like this captures your audience’s interest because you’re shedding light to a common issue they think is unique to them. You’re uniting the audience and bringing them to a common ground where your sentiments and theirs are one.

7. Promise something irresistible.

What do great presentations have in common? They all leave something for the audience. It doesn’t matter if it’s an idea, a tangible object, a lingering feeling, or a solution to a pressing issue. As long as it’s something that the audience finds useful, it can increase the value of your presentation.

8. Use multimedia to catch attention.

Words can make an impact, but videos and graphics often send a clearer message when used properly. If you’re unsure about how multimedia can complement your talk, use a multimedia presentation PowerPoint service that will do all the work for you. That way, your slides will not only look professional but also engaging.

9. Break the ice with a joke.

Popular opinion will claim that jokes are a good way to kickstart a presentation, but professional speakers should know better. Strictly speaking, it’s your sense of humor that elicits smiles and chuckles from the audience. It’s the humor, not the joke, that lightens up the atmosphere. So the more you can make the audience crack up and feel at ease without forcing a joke, the better.

10. Add a twist to an old saying.

Quotations are a common way to start a speech, but you can make yours stronger by tweaking it a bit. A cliché will sound fresher if you add your own take to it. For example, you can say, “To err is human, and to forgive is simply an acknowledgement of the error.”Of course, this will only work in a casual and laid-back presentation. If you’re opting for a more serious delivery, you can use proverbs or references to historical events instead.Coming up with an exciting presentation grabber is a task that takes time, effort, and talent. If you do it right, it pays off in the end.

Creating an Effective Financial Presentation

business

financial presentation

presentation

presentation design

presentation tips

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Jan 29, 2017

An effective financial presentation is key for communicating important data, whether it’s for investors, board members, or internal teams. The goal is to present complex financial information in a clear, concise, and compelling manner. An impactful financial presentation not only makes the data easy to understand but also helps the audience grasp key insights and make informed decisions.Here are steps and best practices for creating an effective financial presentation.

1. Define the Purpose and Key Message

Before diving into data, it’s essential to define the purpose of your presentation. Whether you’re giving a quarterly earnings report, pitching a new investment, or reviewing financial performance, having a clear objective will help you focus your content and message.

How to Do It:

Identify Key Takeaways: Decide on 2–3 key messages or takeaways for your audience. For example, are you highlighting profitability growth, cost-cutting measures, or the impact of market trends?
Tailor Content to the Audience: Understand your audience’s knowledge level and interests. For example, executives may want big-picture financial insights, while a finance team might need more detailed data and metrics.

Example:

In a quarterly earnings presentation for investors, your key messages might focus on revenue growth, profitability, and future outlook, with charts and numbers supporting each point.

2. Start with an Executive Summary

An executive summary at the beginning of your presentation helps set the stage for what you’ll cover. It allows your audience to quickly understand the context and key findings before diving into detailed financial data.

How to Do It:

Summarize Key Points: Provide a brief overview of the presentation’s objectives and key financial metrics (revenue, net income, cash flow, etc.).
Highlight Major Insights: Identify any trends, changes, or standout metrics that will be discussed in more detail later in the presentation.

Example:

For an earnings report, the executive summary might highlight total revenue, year-over-year growth, and net profit, as well as an upcoming product launch that will impact the next quarter.

3. Use Visuals to Simplify Complex Data

Financial presentations often contain large volumes of data that can be difficult to digest. Well-designed visuals help simplify and clarify this information, making it easier for the audience to follow and interpret.

How to Do It:

Use Charts and Graphs: Visual aids like bar charts, pie charts, and line graphs are ideal for comparing financial metrics over time, displaying proportions, or showing trends.
Limit Data Per Slide: Avoid cramming too much data onto a single slide. Focus on one key metric or insight per slide to maintain clarity.
Highlight Key Figures: Use bold colors, callouts, or icons to emphasize important numbers or insights. This draws attention to the most critical points.

Example:

In a revenue performance slide, use a line graph to show revenue growth over the past five years, with key years or quarters highlighted to illustrate significant growth or decline.

4. Provide Context for the Numbers

Numbers alone don’t tell the full story. It’s important to provide context around the financial data to explain what it means, why it matters, and how it impacts your company’s performance or strategy.

How to Do It:

Explain the “Why”: For every key metric, explain why it’s important and what factors are driving the results. For instance, if operating expenses increased, highlight what led to the change (e.g., investments in R&D, marketing).
Compare with Benchmarks: Provide comparisons to past performance, industry benchmarks, or competitor metrics to give the audience a sense of relative performance.
Use Trends: Where possible, show trends over time (monthly, quarterly, annually) to illustrate how performance has evolved.

Example:

If you’re reporting an increase in gross margin, explain that it’s due to improvements in production efficiency or changes in product pricing strategies. Compare the current margin to last year’s margin and industry averages.

5. Highlight Key Financial Metrics

While financial presentations include a lot of data, certain metrics are especially important depending on your audience. Highlighting key performance indicators (KPIs) ensures that the most relevant numbers are given the attention they deserve.

Key Metrics to Include:

Revenue and Profitability: Show total revenue, net income, gross margin, and profit margins.
Cash Flow: Include cash flow statements, particularly focusing on operational, investing, and financing cash flows.
Cost Structure: Break down operating expenses, COGS (cost of goods sold), and major cost categories.
Liquidity and Solvency: Show metrics like working capital, current ratio, and debt-to-equity ratio to give insights into financial stability.
Growth Metrics: Highlight year-over-year (YoY) growth rates for revenue, earnings, and other financial metrics.

Example:

In an investor presentation, dedicate slides to key metrics like revenue growth, operating margin, and return on investment (ROI), with charts and explanations of any major fluctuations.

6. Address Risks and Opportunities

Every financial presentation should address potential risks and opportunities that could impact future performance. By providing a balanced view, you help your audience make informed decisions and show that you’re aware of factors that may affect future outcomes.

How to Do It:

Identify Risks: Highlight potential risks such as market volatility, regulatory changes, or operational challenges. Quantify the potential financial impact where possible.
Explore Opportunities: Share opportunities for growth, such as new markets, product launches, cost-cutting initiatives, or strategic investments. Support these opportunities with data or projections.
Provide Mitigation Plans: For each risk, outline how your company plans to mitigate the potential impact. Similarly, explain how you plan to capitalize on the identified opportunities.

Example:

In a financial forecast presentation, you might highlight economic risks such as inflation or rising material costs, while also discussing opportunities like expanding into a new geographic market or launching a new product line.

7. Simplify the Language

Not all of your audience will be financial experts, so it’s important to present financial data using simple, straightforward language. Avoid jargon and technical terms unless your audience is familiar with them, and ensure that your message is easy to understand.

How to Do It:

Explain Financial Terms: If you need to use terms like EBITDA, leverage, or net income, provide simple definitions or explanations.
Use Plain Language: Avoid overcomplicating the narrative. Focus on what the numbers mean rather than just listing metrics.
Be Concise: Keep explanations brief and to the point. Use bullet points to break down information into digestible parts.

Example:

Instead of saying, “Our EBITDA margin increased due to improved SG&A efficiencies,” you could say, “Our earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation increased because we reduced selling, general, and administrative costs.”

8. End with a Clear Conclusion and Call to Action

Conclude your financial presentation by summarizing key points, providing actionable insights, and outlining the next steps. A strong conclusion reinforces your main messages and leaves your audience with a clear understanding of the actions needed moving forward.

How to Do It:

Summarize Key Findings: Recap the most important metrics and takeaways, such as financial health, growth potential, or areas that need improvement.
Provide Actionable Recommendations: If applicable, offer suggestions or action points for how to address challenges or capitalize on opportunities.
Include a Call to Action: Encourage your audience to take the next step, whether it’s approving a budget, making an investment decision, or scheduling a follow-up meeting.

Example:

At the end of an investment pitch, conclude by summarizing your company’s strong financial performance, highlighting upcoming growth opportunities, and providing a clear CTA such as “We encourage you to schedule a meeting to discuss investment opportunities.”

Final Thoughts

An effective financial presentation is not just about presenting data—it’s about telling a clear, compelling story backed by numbers. By defining your key message, simplifying complex data, using visuals, and providing context, you can deliver a financial presentation that engages your audience and drives action. Always keep your audience in mind, and tailor your content, language, and visuals to ensure your presentation is clear, insightful, and actionable.

The Importance of Eye Contact During Presentations

eye contact

Powerpoint

presentation

presentation science

presentation tips

Jan 22, 2017

Eye contact is one of the most powerful non-verbal communication tools in a presentation. It helps establish a connection with your audience, builds trust, and boosts your confidence as a speaker. Here’s why eye contact is essential and how to master it during presentations.

1. Builds Trust and Credibility

When you make eye contact with your audience, you show sincerity and openness, which helps establish trust. People are more likely to believe and engage with speakers who look them in the eye.Why It’s Important:

Establishes Trust: Eye contact conveys honesty and confidence, making the audience more receptive to your message.
Increases Credibility: Maintaining eye contact with different audience members throughout your presentation makes you appear more credible and authoritative.

How to Do It:

Practice making eye contact with individuals for a few seconds before moving to another person in the audience.
Avoid staring at just one person or section of the room; make an effort to scan the audience evenly.

2. Engages the Audience

Eye contact makes your audience feel included and valued, increasing their engagement. When you connect with people visually, they are more likely to stay focused on what you’re saying.Why It’s Important:

Keeps Attention: Audience members are more likely to pay attention when they feel directly involved in the conversation.
Increases Interaction: Eye contact creates a two-way communication flow, encouraging audience participation and feedback.

How to Do It:

Look at different sections of the audience throughout your presentation, as though you’re having a conversation with them.
Use eye contact to emphasize key points and gauge reactions from the audience.

3. Boosts Speaker Confidence

Maintaining eye contact can make you feel more confident and in control during your presentation. When you see positive reactions from the audience, it reinforces your performance and helps you stay focused.Why It’s Important:

Increases Confidence: Seeing audience members respond to your message can make you feel more confident and reduce nervousness.
Creates Focus: Eye contact helps you stay grounded and present, preventing distractions or wandering thoughts.

How to Do It:

Practice in front of a mirror or with a small audience to become more comfortable making eye contact.
Start by making brief eye contact, then gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable.

4. Helps Gauge Audience Reactions

Eye contact allows you to read your audience’s non-verbal cues. You can assess whether they are engaged, confused, or bored, and adjust your presentation style accordingly.Why It’s Important:

Adapts Your Delivery: By observing audience reactions, you can gauge whether your message is resonating and make adjustments on the fly.
Improves Engagement: If you notice that your audience is disengaged, you can use eye contact to regain their attention and refocus their interest.

How to Do It:

Look for signs of confusion or disengagement, such as blank stares or fidgeting, and adjust your tone, pace, or content to re-engage the audience.
Use eye contact to acknowledge positive audience responses, such as nodding or smiling.

Final Thoughts

Eye contact is a powerful tool that can enhance your connection with the audience, boost your confidence, and make your presentation more engaging. By mastering eye contact, you can create a more dynamic, effective presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your audience. Practice this skill, and watch how it transforms your delivery.