You’re starting a career in finance. What are the most important presentation skills to master?

As we embark on career in finance, mastering effective presentation skills is crucial. This is not only for finance but for each & very profession we have to keep following points in consideration. First, we should overcome anxiety of public speaking. It can be nerve-wracking, but practice is the best way to overcome it. We need to understand the audience and tailor our content accordingly. Keeping our audience engaged by asking questions, seeking their opinions, or using interactive elements. While finance professionals often work with Excel. Use visuals to emphasize key points. Stand confidently, maintain eye contact, and use natural gestures. Tailor your presentation to address the specific needs and interests of your audience.

I think in order to be successful in finance or in any other fields you only need to master the following: 1. Knowing your purpose in discussing a certain matter; 2. Knowing the interest of your audience;3. Knowing the benefits of your topics to your audience; 4. How you are going to organise the details of your topic in order to give a meaningful discussion; and 5 Know how to entertain questions from your audiences :)

In finance, and indeed many other career paths, effective presentation skills are crucial for. Some skills to master are: Clarity & Conciseness: Clearly explain difficult concepts. Eliminate excessive language and concentrate on the most important lessons. Storytelling & Visualisation: Use data-driven stories, lucid graphics, and gripping storylines to draw in your audience. You may be tempted to just present numbers as finance largely deals with numbers, but using charts and graphs passes the message better. Delivery & Confidence: Have a confident tone of voice, project professionalism through your body language, and be ready to field inquiries. Recognise Your Audience: Adapt your presentation to their expertise and requirements.

The very first step in giving a presentation is to first know your audience well in advance. This is the key to a successful presentation. Based on the audience, you would design the presentation accordingly. This would mean what & how it needs to be presented- mode of presentation (CRT/Virtual), numbers, visuals, level of jargon, language, time allotted for the presentation etc. It's like if you have to present to a set of people, you must keep them in the centre of all your communication.

Know your audience: Tailor your content and delivery style to resonate with their level of financial knowledge. Speak plainly for non-financial audiences, but avoid oversimplification for those in the know. Clarity is king: Present complex information in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner. Use visuals like charts and graphs effectively to support your points, not replace them. Engage and connect: Project confidence and enthusiasm to capture your audience's attention. Use storytelling elements and real-world examples to make your message relatable. Practice makes perfect: Rehearse your presentation beforehand to iron out any kinks and ensure smooth delivery. Time yourself to stay within the allotted timeframe.

Whether it's finance or any other field it's really important to understand your interest. To get your career in finance you should be skilled in few things such as numbers, excel, presentation , accountings though in some people called it arts/ skills but you can learn the same things by your hardwork too, nothing is difficult as it seems, Your passion for the area you choose will define your success.

Tailor your communication to your audience, structure your presentation logically, and practice to deliver with confidence. Engage your audience with clear visuals and storytelling to leave a lasting impact.

Actually there is no right or wrong to have your story told, clearly and to the correct audience... What matters more; how it should be attractive to the end, so we all can wait till we reach the lessons out of it. Go that we don't be distracted and use unfamiliar words, terms, or context... So, we need to ask ourselves to structure it the way others can be smoothly follow, feel, reach the complex then find a gateway to fix them

Know the story behind the data. C-levels are not here to hear the data that they can read themselves. They expect the stories behind it and what doest it means to a commercial business.

Clear and well-structured content in finance presentations is paramount for effective communication. The use of clear headings and subheadings allow your audience to follow through the presentation and ensures that your audience understands what they should gain from listening to you. Also, utilise simple languages, visual aids to reinforce key ideas and incorporating relevant examples for clarity. A well-structured presentation prevents confusion and misunderstanding. It also allows you to engage with your audience effectively which is good for finance presentations.

One thing which is a definite No in a presentation is long sentences and paragraphs. Keep it short, preferably in bullets or better still I prefer giving a visualisation in the slide rather than sentences, to capture the attention at the same time giving the presenter an opportunity to speak and deliver the concept.

Know the difference between report and presentation deck. A common mistake I've witnessed is that people tend to share the screen of their Excel and working data. Or even worse, just copy paste their Excel into ppt blindly. Slides should be used as supporting material, do consider to summarize the main points and avoid data overload.

Document or presentation? The way you design, your slides should help you convey the message better. Slides are becoming the visual aid when you speak. It means it will help you to remember key aspects but also will help the audience see what they hear. The purpose of a slide in a presentation is to engage the part of the brain that responsible with visual processing, which by the way it represents more than 70% of the way we process information.

Visualization for all the data by charts and animations Collect all the market survey data and show up them in one table that make the financial decisions clear Proper self confidence dur8bg delivering all the data and figures

1.Simplicity: Keep your slides clean & uncluttered 2.Consistency: Maintain a consistent design theme throughout your slides. 3.Visual Hierarchy: Use visual hierarchy to emphasize key points & guide the viewer's attention. 4.Use of Images: Incorporate relevant images or graphics to enhance understanding & engagement. 5.Limited Text: Keep text on slides concise and to the point. 6.Whitespace: Make use of whitespace to create breathing room & improve readability 7.Contrast: Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background colors 8. Transitions and Animations: Use transitions and animations sparingly and purposefully. 9.Accessibility: Consider accessibility when designing your slides 10.Practice and Preview

If you’re new in the finance space and even newer in the presentation space, knowing your audience is more critical than any other component. I can’t name the number of presentations I’ve been at where keynoters and others fail to engage with the critical pain points that the industry has, or mention anything relevant to the field. If you want to increase your asking price to present, make sure your audience actually benefits from your work.

Leadership is very visual, the more we show they less we talk. We all feel the importance or urgency from the tone of voice and the focus we show by our bodies... Here comes the importance of giving more preparations to our message. Because, if we fail to prepare, we prepared to fail delivering the message

For a successful presentation is delivering your speech with palpable confidence and enthusiasm. How you deliver greatly impacts audience perception of both you and your message. A confident, credible and engaging presence elevates reception and resonance. The delivery extends beyond verbal content alone. Leverage your voice's tonal variety to emphasize points and convey authentic emotion and interest in the material. Sustained eye contact across the room joins you with your audience, fostering rapport. Purposeful body language and gestures reinforce your words' impact.

You would not try a Solo in an orchestra unless you had rehearsed well and knew what you were doing. A presentation is no different. You should know your stuff so you free from the stress of trying to remember what you were going to say and instead (if you are well rehearsed) you can focus on how you are presenting the content.

As a finance professional- a lot of decisions are taken based on your recommendations and expertise. You have to be able to deliver the message - together with your suggestions and solutions in a firm and easy to follow mode, in order to have a clear path to achieve the targets. If you are hesitant or not sure of the numbers - make sure you achieve the 80-20 rule and that you state your assumptions from the beginning, being ready for any roadblocks.

Always ensure to avoid technical jargon and use simple and easy language so that it resonates with everyone irrespective of the audience background.. Ensure in your presentation there is something for the audience to take away once you complete the presentation. This can be achieved if you know the mixture of the audience you are presenting to.. Give examples that are realistic and easy to relate..Always take feedback to look for improvement areas..

The most crucial skill in any presentation is connecting with your audience. Speaking from personal experience, I've learned that the essence of a successful presentation lies not just in the information shared but in the meaningful connection established with the audience. This connection transforms a monologue into a dialogue, making the presentation an interactive and engaging experience. By employing rhetorical devices such as questions, stories, analogies, and humor, I capture my audience's attention, appeal to their emotions, and relate to their experiences. Encouraging interaction, feedback, and participation further deepens this connection, making the audience feel valued and involved.

Story telling is a powerful tool in presentation, I see it as a form of ice breaker and utilize this whenever I begin any presentation. It has a way of helping me settle into the presentation and also gaining the attention of my audience who are probably eager to learn how the story ends and also relate to what I am presenting.

People need social proof. When you can show examples of like minded people who have derived results similar to what you are looking for, it builds hope for the audiencel

Do our best to involve the audience throughout your presentation. Ask questions to create hook, relevance, discussion and participation. Here are common examples: Have you ever... Do you agree... Anyone of you heard this before... Can anyone guess what's... What do you think...

You will inevitably be asked a question you don’t know the answer to. Own it. Do not make something up or cobble together a non-answer. Your best response is to say, “That’s a great (or interesting) question. I don’t know the answer, but I’ll find out and get back to you.” Then, make sure you actually follow through as quickly as possible.

You cannot include the entire story in your slides or within your presentation; therefore, most questions will arise during the Q&A session. As an example in a company valuation presentation the presenter should have a broad understanding of the industry, ESG, business model, financials, valuations, and current trends to adequately address questions from the audience. Furthermore, you should grasp the question in one go, and your answers should also be very specific and clear.

Don’t be too quick to jump in and answer a question i.e. be patient to let the person asking the question finish saying what s/he wants to say. If you do jump in, you run the risk of making presumptions as to what the person is asking, simply because in your mind you are already formulating an answer based on one or two words or phrases you heard without actually paying attention to nuance, context and emotions - all of which may actually point to a deeper issue that may not be so obvious to you. And worse still when you are told that you haven’t actually answered the question, it does not look good for you and you’ve lost your audience.

Q&A sessions are crucial for audience engagement, clarifying points, and gathering feedback. Tailor your language and level of detail to the audience's financial expertise. Practice beforehand to feel comfortable and speak naturally. Pay close attention to each question and acknowledge it before answering. If you don't know the answer, acknowledge that and offer to find out later.

Q&A sessions in presentations are crucial for audience engagement, clarification, and feedback. They enable active participation, clarify misunderstandings, and provide valuable insights for presenters to improve future presentations. Additionally, they foster discussions and knowledge exchange, enriching the overall learning experience.

?? Structure your presentations logically and cohesively, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. ?? Visual Presentation. ?? Audience Awareness. ?? Confidence and Presence. ?? Invest time in thorough preparation and rehearsal before delivering your presentation. Familiarize yourself with the content, practice your delivery, and anticipate potential questions or objections from your audience.

Making stellar decks for clients, office town-halls, etc - you'll find a plethora of resources and tips for it. Here's one interesting thing I learned at my first job and I owe it to my manager - try adding snippets to your emails. Presentations and communication in general should always keep the audience in mind. When sending out emails like PFAs, you can add a snippet of the report/document that you prepared - although it works better if it's a spreadsheet we're talking about. Say you are emailing a sheet with variance analyses done, add a snippet from the file where it says "Variance: 0". Makes your email much more impactful and faster for the recipient to proceed further.

Starting your career in any domain is not only a challenge but an opportunity to stand out ,lead with innovations & value additions. Career in finance unlike others would take time and persistence . Three key elements to be kept in focus and check when you start your career in finance would be 1. Act as a business partner - solution oriented mindset whilst ensuring compliance and control efficiency at the same time 2. Grip/ Discipline over numbers and the processes through which they are being presented 3.Polishing your business and financial acumen. Be a disciple of learning Remember dedication and enthusiasm goes hand in hand. Your passion defines you and announces your expected value addition to any organisation/job role you are to join

Clarity. Don’t get lost in data. Ask yourself, what's the most important message in the data. Communicate that to your audience. Make that message compelling with your voice, gestures and expressions.

Ensure to add a management summary slide; the one slide that people can take away from your presentation and use for further discussions. Send it as your second attachment (full slide deck and summary slide) or if you give a presentation real live, give the summary slide as a paper handout after you finished.