What do you do if your presentations and meetings lack impact?

If presentations and meetings lack impact, I I evaluate the content and structure to ensure clarity and relevance to the audience. Incorporating storytelling techniques and visuals helps engage participants and convey key messages effectively. I also focus on improving delivery skills, such as voice modulation and body language, to enhance engagement and convey confidence. Seeking feedback from attendees allows me to identify areas for improvement and refine future presentations. Additionally, I explore innovative formats or interactive elements to make meetings more dynamic and participatory. By continuously refining presentation skills and adapting to audience needs, I ensure that presentations and meetings leave a lasting impact.

One time during my work, I had to provide training to my team on a new system for patient management but I quickly realized that they weren't engaged, just flat information. I learned that the key is not just to inform them about but to engage. Start with a clear, compelling story that connects emotionally to your audience. Use visuals not just as decorations, but as integral parts of your narrative. And finally, foster interaction—ask questions, seek opinions, and encourage dialogue. By transforming passive listeners into active participants, your presentations will not only gain impact but also inspire action and lasting impressions.

Absolutely, engagement is everything that is needed. Ask questions to check understanding, pair them team into small groups and assign exercises that will force engagement. In a virtual setting it could be hard but encourage everyone to have their cameras up except on rare cases.

Know your team first ! Personally, their lives then their stories and their professional track records; after that call meetings and talk to your team like talking to friends, asking for continous feedbacks as a brainstorming session. Keep always track of the meetings.

Most people are visual learners and need to see things a couple of times before they remember. Create engaging slides that provide actionable insights and relate to common examples and scenarios using the audience names to describe case studies.

My first time presenting to execs was a nightmare. I was jittery and couldn't get the details right—too much here, too little there. That disaster turned out to be my best teacher on presentations and influence. The key takeaway? Always ask for direct feedback. Here are 3 questions often in my rotation right after I present: 1. What were the main points you remember from my presentation? I'm working on clarity. 2. Did you find your attention drifting at any point? Let me know how I can keep you hooked next time. 3. Did my presentation prompt you to think or act differently? I’d love to hear what worked and what didn’t. I ask in a regular 1:1, or follow up via Slack/email after I present. It's easy, fast, and you learn a ton.

a) Start by clarifying what you want to achieve with your presentation or meeting. Before an executive meeting at P&G, leaders define specific decision points to ensure the discussion is focused and fruitful. b) Employ positive body language to connect with your audience. Influential leaders like Oprah Winfrey use expressive gestures to enhance their communication. c) Incorporate polls, Q&A sessions, and interactive tools to keep the audience engaged. Google uses live polls during large team meetings to gather instant feedback. d) Frame your points within stories that resonate emotionally with your audience. Apple’s presentations often include customer stories or scenarios that illustrate the practical benefits of their products.