Ideas and insights from Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning
When we talk with our L&D colleagues from around the globe, we often hear that presentation skills training is one of the top opportunities they’re looking to provide their learners. And this holds true whether their learners are individual contributors, people managers, or senior leaders. This is not surprising.
Effective communications skills are a powerful career activator, and most of us are called upon to communicate in some type of formal presentation mode at some point along the way.
For instance, you might be asked to brief management on market research results, walk your team through a new process, lay out the new budget, or explain a new product to a client or prospect. Or you may want to build support for a new idea, bring a new employee into the fold, or even just present your achievements to your manager during your performance review.
And now, with so many employees working from home or in hybrid mode, and business travel in decline, there’s a growing need to find new ways to make effective presentations when the audience may be fully virtual or a combination of in person and remote attendees.
Whether you’re making a standup presentation to a large live audience, or a sit-down one-on-one, whether you’re delivering your presentation face to face or virtually, solid presentation skills matter.
Even the most seasoned and accomplished presenters may need to fine-tune or update their skills. Expectations have changed over the last decade or so. Yesterday’s PowerPoint which primarily relied on bulleted points, broken up by the occasional clip-art image, won’t cut it with today’s audience.
The digital revolution has revolutionized the way people want to receive information. People expect presentations that are more visually interesting. They expect to see data, metrics that support assertions. And now, with so many previously in-person meetings occurring virtually, there’s an entirely new level of technical preparedness required.
The leadership development tools and the individual learning opportunities you’re providing should include presentation skills training that covers both the evergreen fundamentals and the up-to-date capabilities that can make or break a presentation.
So, just what should be included in solid presentation skills training? Here’s what I think.
The fundamentals will always apply When it comes to making a powerful and effective presentation, the fundamentals will always apply. You need to understand your objective. Is it strictly to convey information, so that your audience’s knowledge is increased? Is it to persuade your audience to take some action? Is it to convince people to support your idea? Once you understand what your objective is, you need to define your central message. There may be a lot of things you want to share with your audience during your presentation, but find – and stick with – the core, the most important point you want them to walk away with. And make sure that your message is clear and compelling.
You also need to tailor your presentation to your audience. Who are they and what might they be expecting? Say you’re giving a product pitch to a client. A technical team may be interested in a lot of nitty-gritty product detail. The business side will no doubt be more interested in what returns they can expect on their investment.
Another consideration is the setting: is this a formal presentation to a large audience with questions reserved for the end, or a presentation in a smaller setting where there’s the possibility for conversation throughout? Is your presentation virtual or in-person? To be delivered individually or as a group? What time of the day will you be speaking? Will there be others speaking before you and might that impact how your message will be received?
Once these fundamentals are established, you’re in building mode. What are the specific points you want to share that will help you best meet your objective and get across your core message? Now figure out how to convey those points in the clearest, most straightforward, and succinct way. This doesn’t mean that your presentation has to be a series of clipped bullet points. No one wants to sit through a presentation in which the presenter reads through what’s on the slide. You can get your points across using stories, fact, diagrams, videos, props, and other types of media.
Visual design matters While you don’t want to clutter up your presentation with too many visual elements that don’t serve your objective and can be distracting, using a variety of visual formats to convey your core message will make your presentation more memorable than slides filled with text. A couple of tips: avoid images that are cliched and overdone. Be careful not to mix up too many different types of images. If you’re using photos, stick with photos. If you’re using drawn images, keep the style consistent. When data are presented, stay consistent with colors and fonts from one type of chart to the next. Keep things clear and simple, using data to support key points without overwhelming your audience with too much information. And don’t assume that your audience is composed of statisticians (unless, of course, it is).
When presenting qualitative data, brief videos provide a way to engage your audience and create emotional connection and impact. Word clouds are another way to get qualitative data across.
Practice makes perfect You’ve pulled together a perfect presentation. But it likely won’t be perfect unless it’s well delivered. So don’t forget to practice your presentation ahead of time. Pro tip: record yourself as you practice out loud. This will force you to think through what you’re going to say for each element of your presentation. And watching your recording will help you identify your mistakes—such as fidgeting, using too many fillers (such as “umm,” or “like”), or speaking too fast.
A key element of your preparation should involve anticipating any technical difficulties. If you’ve embedded videos, make sure they work. If you’re presenting virtually, make sure that the lighting is good, and that your speaker and camera are working. Whether presenting in person or virtually, get there early enough to work out any technical glitches before your presentation is scheduled to begin. Few things are a bigger audience turn-off than sitting there watching the presenter struggle with the delivery mechanisms!
Finally, be kind to yourself. Despite thorough preparation and practice, sometimes, things go wrong, and you need to recover in the moment, adapt, and carry on. It’s unlikely that you’ll have caused any lasting damage and the important thing is to learn from your experience, so your next presentation is stronger.
How are you providing presentation skills training for your learners?
Manika Gandhi is Senior Learning Design Manager at Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning. Email her at [email protected] .
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Presentation, /prɛzənˈteɪʃɪn/, /prezənˈteɪʃən/.
Other forms: presentations
The noun presentation means the official giving, or presenting, of something. The presentation of diplomas at a graduation ceremony is the part that makes many of the parents in the audience cry.
A presentation can be a ceremony of giving some gift or award, and it can also be a demonstration or show — like a dog training presentation at your local pet store. Another meaning of presentation is a style of displaying something — like the presentation of plants and flowers in the florist's window or the presentation of food on a buffet table. In the 1600s, presentation was commonly used to mean "show or play," as in "a theatrical presentation ."
To improve your fluency in English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), learn this academic vocabulary list that includes words selected from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state standards.
Vocabulary is key to performing well on Common Core-aligned tests for English Language Arts as well as for building literacy in social studies, science, and technical subjects. This collection features common tier-2 words that are taught and tested in Grades 9 and 10. These words are used in a variety of contexts, exhibit different shades of meaning based on those contexts, and appear commonly in classroom instruction and on standardized assessments. Here are links to our lists for the collection: List 1 , List 2 , List 3 , List 4 , List 5 , List 6 , List 7 , List 8
Vocabulary is key to performing well on Common Core-aligned tests for English Language Arts as well as for building literacy in social studies, science, and technical subjects. This collection features common tier-2 words that are taught and tested in Grade 6. These words are used in a variety of contexts, exhibit different shades of meaning based on those contexts, and appear commonly in classroom instruction and on standardized assessments. Here are links to our lists for the collection: List 1 , List 2 , List 3 , List 4 , List 5 , List 6 , List 7 , List 8
Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement..
Definition of presentation noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Questions about grammar and vocabulary?
Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.
Create a presentation
Create presentations from scratch or start with a professionally designed, fully customizable template from Microsoft Create .
Tip: If you have Microsoft Copilot it can help you create a presentation, add slides or images, and more. To learn more see Create a new presentation with Copilot in PowerPoint.
Open PowerPoint.
In the left pane, select New .
Select an option:
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To use a prepared design, select one of the templates.
To see tips for using PowerPoint, select Take a Tour , and then select Create , .
Add a slide
In the thumbnails on the left pane, select the slide you want your new slide to follow.
In the Home tab, in the Slides section, select New Slide .
In the Slides section, select Layout , and then select the layout you want from the menu.
Add and format text
Place the cursor inside a text box, and then type something.
Select the text, and then select one or more options from the Font section of the Home tab, such as Font , Increase Font Size , Decrease Font Size , Bold , Italic , Underline , etc.
To create bulleted or numbered lists, select the text, and then select Bullets or Numbering .
Add a picture, shape, and more
Go to the Insert tab.
To add a picture:
In the Images section, select Pictures .
In the Insert Picture From menu, select the source you want.
Browse for the picture you want, select it, and then select Insert .
To add illustrations:
In the Illustrations section, select Shapes , Icons , 3D Models , SmartArt , or Chart .
In the dialog box that opens when you click one of the illustration types, select the item you want and follow the prompts to insert it.
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Unleashing engagement: 4 ways to reimagine stale presentations.
Lux Narayan is the CEO and co-founder of StreamAlive , a leading audience engagement platform for live sessions.
In my career, I’ve given more presentations than I can count. In fact, I think I’ve been presenting for a living all along. As a founder, I motivated hundreds of employees, as a TED speaker , I connected with like-minded leaders and as an amateur stand-up comedian, I facilitated connection through laughter.
And for as many successful presentations I've given, I've still failed many times—some stand-up sets left me yearning for a sitcom laugh track to fill the silence after a flopped joke. There were corporate presentations where I could not keep the audience’s attention, rendering my message ineffective. But the underlying truth of every presentation I've ever given is a desire to engage, connect and make my audience feel seen.
Today in the workplace, more technology than ever before is competing for our limited attention. In remote and hybrid environments, virtual meetings and presentations fill our calendars, but few are efficient or productive. According to a 2022 study from meeting analytics startup Read AI, 40% of virtual meeting participants have below-average or poor engagement, and 22% don’t say a single word. With more meetings on the calendar than ever, productivity and employee satisfaction can both take a huge hit from low meeting engagement.
I’ve spent a fair part of my life designing presentations that capture audiences’ attention and I’ve found ways to cut through the noise. Here are my four most essential pieces of advice for guaranteeing engagement in every presentation you lead, so your presentations can feel more like conversations.
Shifting your mindset from "presenting" to "listening" is the key to hosting effective virtual meetings. No matter their size, online meetings that put attendees at the center of the conversation and invite everyone to participate create an environment that mimics successful in-person meetings. Presenters can stimulate spontaneous conversation and ensure that every attendee feels included by focusing on asking questions and listening for understanding.
It may seem counterintuitive to ask a keynote presenter to present less, but presentations, especially virtual ones, often feel too much like monologues. In many meetings, it has become the norm for most participants to be "cameras off," further emphasizing the disconnect between the presenter and the audience.
A good presenter focuses on dialogue and looks for information from their audience to guide them on how to move forward, adjusting the presentation in real time. In a classroom, lecturers can poll students to check for understanding. Poor or inconclusive responses can indicate that the presenter needs to go over the material in more detail.
After all, "listening" to your audience does not always mean they are communicating verbally. It just means they are being heard.
In a perfect world, your audience is full of ideas and eager to participate, but in reality, they likely need some encouragement. Building avenues for engagement into your presentation is often the best way to facilitate discussion.
To break through the monotony, find a way to "interrupt" your audience. Pausing for questions is not enough. Polls, interactive maps, games and other tools bring a light, easy tone to your content, as well as acting as a natural break and signaling to the audience that it’s time to speak up.
Participatory meeting culture goes beyond added visual elements. To truly upgrade the audience’s experience, encourage attendees to lead the discussion, foster the conversation and connect. At StreamAlive, we lean heavily on our virtual platform’s native chat function to engage with participants. For example, in our live streams and demos, we visualize the chat in real time and use AI to collect every question and link shared in the chat. That way, we can answer "FAQs" in our post-event email.
Directing attendees to the chat creates a sense of community anchored in the "now" and founded in shared interests, which drives better engagement. I encourage presenters to explore tools outside of their video conferencing platform’s integrated features to push the boundaries of creativity when presenting. Marketplaces like Zoom’s Essential Apps are a goldmine of resources to help level up your presentations beyond the status quo.
Visual aids are crucial to the 65% of people identified as visual learners . Instead of using unrelated stock images merely to break up text, reinforce your message with strategic visuals woven into your storytelling. Each image should clearly contribute to the narrative of the presentation, and be used to reinforce key points and create a cohesive story. In the case of our platform, audiences contribute to live, onscreen visuals (like real-time polls or interactive maps, for example) that help ensure everyone is included in the conversation. The visuals evolve with audience participation.
With longer, text-based presentations, attendees might zone out, missing crucial information. To counteract this, mimic the flow of normal conversation. Think about how long it is appropriate to monopolize a dinner table conversation before inviting someone else to participate by asking a question. The same holds true for punctuating your presentation with helpful images and audience participation. We are used to engaging in short bursts and engagement is rich when conversation flows naturally.
Structuring your presentation with a clear visual flow means images will serve as "breadcrumbs" to help attendees follow along and reconnect if their attention lapses. Summarize what has happened so far and give your audience a preview of what will happen next.
Improving virtual meetings involves more than new technologies or adding features; it requires rethinking engagement strategies. Focus on listening, engaging and visually guiding your audience to transform routine sessions into dynamic, effective communication platforms. This approach will improve the overall meeting experience, making virtual gatherings something participants look forward to.
Remember, as Maya Angelou once wrote, "At the end of the day, people won’t remember what you said, they'll remember how you made them feel."
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IMAGES
COMMENTS
presentation: [noun] the act of presenting. the act, power, or privilege especially of a patron of applying to the bishop or ordinary for instituting someone into a benefice.
Apply the 10-20-30 rule. Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it! 9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule. Simplicity is key.
PRESENTATION definition: 1. a talk giving information about something: 2. an occasion when prizes, qualifications, etc. are…. Learn more.
Choose the presentation format. Colors & styles. Determine the use of metaphors and visual slides. Final touches and polishing your presentation. Proofreading and polishing process. Prepare your speech. Rehearse, rehearse and rehearse. "Presenting" (your presentation) How to give a memorable presentation.
A presentation is a communication method for delivering information to an audience. It typically involves a demonstration, illustration, or speech crafted to inform, persuade, inspire, or share a new idea. Presentations require every speaker to deliver their message with compelling elements. To ensure effectiveness, you need to know the basic ...
A presentation is a means of communication that can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting or briefing a team. A presentation can also be used as a broad term that encompasses other 'speaking engagements' such as making a speech at a wedding, or getting a point across in a video conference.
CREATE THIS PRESENTATION. 2. Persuasive presentation. If you've ever been swayed by a passionate speaker armed with compelling arguments, you've experienced a persuasive presentation . This type of presentation is like a verbal tug-of-war, aiming to convince the audience to see things from a specific perspective.
A speaker giving a presentation using a projector. A presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience.Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product. [1] Presentations usually require preparation, organization, event planning, writing, use of visual aids ...
PRESENTATION meaning: 1. the way something is arranged or shown to people: 2. a talk giving information about something…. Learn more.
[countable] a meeting at which something, especially a new product or idea, or piece of work, is shown to a group of people presentation on/about somebody/something The sales manager will give a presentation on the new products.; Several speakers will be making short presentations.; The conference will begin with a keynote presentation by a leading industry figure.
Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired ...
Definition: A presentation is a form of communication in which the speaker conveys information to the audience. In an organization presentations are used in various scenarios like talking to a group, addressing a meeting, demonstrating or introducing a new product, or briefing a team. It involves presenting a particular subject or issue or new ideas/thoughts to a group of people.
14 meanings: 1. the act of presenting or state of being presented 2. the manner of presenting, esp the organization of visual.... Click for more definitions.
To do that, simply go up to the Home tab and click on New Slide. This inserts a new slide in your presentation right after the one you were on. You can alternatively hit Ctrl+M on your keyboard to insert a new blank slide in PowerPoint. To learn more about this shortcut, see my guide on using Ctrl+M in PowerPoint.
Any company that has a pitch deck, executive summary, sales presentation, or any kind of internal document can repurpose them into external-facing content pieces — without pain. Presentation Examples - Short Form. Here are some short-form examples with curated to help inspire you. Presentation Examples - Standard Form
Presentation skills are the abilities and qualities necessary for creating and delivering a compelling presentation that effectively communicates information and ideas. They encompass what you say, how you structure it, and the materials you include to support what you say, such as slides, videos, or images. You'll make presentations at various ...
A presentation communicates a message, an idea or information to a group. It is similar to a report, but with a key difference-the human element. A. ... A presenter should be aware of whether the purpose is to create awareness or to build new skills or to change attitudes. For instance, professional firms or businesses use presentations for ...
Presentation definition: an act of presenting.. See examples of PRESENTATION used in a sentence.
Effective communications skills are a powerful career activator, and most of us are called upon to communicate in some type of formal presentation mode at some point along the way. For instance, you might be asked to brief management on market research results, walk your team through a new process, lay out the new budget, or explain a new ...
The noun presentation means the official giving, or presenting, of something. The presentation of diplomas at a graduation ceremony is the part that makes many of the parents in the audience cry.
1 [uncountable] the act of showing something or of giving something to someone The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. The presentation of prizes began after the speeches. The Mayor will make the presentation (= hand over the gift) herself. Members will be admitted on/upon presentation of a membership card. a presentation copy (= a free book given by ...
Create a presentation. Open PowerPoint. In the left pane, select New. Select an option: To create a presentation from scratch, select Blank Presentation. To use a prepared design, select one of the templates. To see tips for using PowerPoint, select Take a Tour, and then select Create, . Add a slide.
During new hire onboarding, HR needs to explain what benefits employees will receive, how to file complaints, where employees can find information, and other important hiring details. Educational presentations. While informative presentations are typically used in the business world, educational presentations are usually used in academics.
Structuring your presentation with a clear visual flow means images will serve as "breadcrumbs" to help attendees follow along and reconnect if their attention lapses.
New Zealand. Internal presentation suggesting loss of 4492 health staff 'should be dismissed' - Commissioner; Watch live: Children affected, up to 400 people contacted after meth 'lolly' found in food parcel; Wellington Girls College students say Education Ministry put them at risk; Māori-Crown relations shake-up means fewer jobs and more tension
New rules allow 'emergency' IRA withdrawals, you define the emergency. The rules changed this year, courtesy of the 2022 legislation known as Secure 2.0.Now, you can withdraw up to $1,000 to cover ...
For many, generative AI is changing what it means to create, solve problems, communicate, and even learn. It's not just teachers and students embracing this new technology; education leaders are also turning to AI to improve operational processes and provide equitable access to resources among other opportunities.
What is the recommended method of wall support definition in Robot Structural Analysis. Use linear support option to define supports along wall edge. Follow the steps. Open Geometry Supports. Go to linear tab. Select required support type (or create New if necessary) Click wall edge to be supported. Note Using linear supports allow for presentation of linear reactions from Diagrams for members ...
PARIS — The Kamila Valieva doping saga, one of the most controversial, arduous and infuriating scandals in Olympic history, reaches its long-awaited conclusion Wednesday evening at the base of ...
The data keep telling us that inflation is basically over as a problem. This morning we got the latest report on producer prices, and it was "soft."That's a good indicator for the much more ...