Five Key Elements of a Great Presentation

When you're presenting to coworkers or in a conference, a strong presentation can create buy-in, generate interest, get you noticed, and even further your career.

Whenever you are presenting, a clear and well-designed presentation slides can go a long way toward furthering your career.

This is true because it shows that you are projecting confidence and competency when communicating, you are able to engage and impress the audience through the things you say and the things you show.

It is not always easy to pull off a great presentation. A confident speaker or a seasoned presenter can still be foiled by badly designed presentation slides and likewise, great presentation slides can't make up for the lack-of-preparation.

Very often I asked myself, what makes a great presentation?

Even though I present quite frequently and spend lots of time ensuring my slides are properly designed and that messages are thought through thoroughly, well, there is always room for improvements.

Let me outline the key elements that every successful presentation needs.

#1. Clear objective

I couldn’t stress this more. A clear objective is so important to ensure you know what you want to achieve in the presentation.

Should your audience walked away impressed and well informed or will they be confused? Your objective will define that.

So before you do anything, ensure that you have a clear objective. This will drive your direction and everything from what you will say to how you will design your slides.

#2. Add value to your audience

We must always provide value when we present. It’s quite painful to sit through an hour-long sales pitch.

That’s not what your audience wants to hear. No one wants to hear a talk that doesn’t teach them anything. I see many speakers spend most part of the presentation talking about the company.

Is that what your audience wants to hear. Does that even add value to your whole presentation?

Every presentation should offer value to its audience. Sharing key strategies, offering enlightening data or insights, or telling a story that may help the audience learn something.

We need to add value and earn the trust of our audience so that they believe in the things that we share.

#3. It's well-rehearsed

Practice, practice, practice. Even very season presenters need practice. Rehearse your presentation well. Know what slide will come up next.

Internalize your message, know your stories. You want to be able to present with confidence syncing with your slides. Rehearse until you are so familiar with your slides and with what you will say without even looking at your slides.

A well-rehearsed presentation also helps you get rid of the huh and hmmm and you know all the unnecessary filler words that can be so annoying.

#4. The presentation deck engages the audience

Do you know that 80% of all presentations are frustrating? If you have attended many presentations in your course of work, you will realize that most presentations out there are difficult to understand. Slides are text-heavy.

Sometimes cluttered with unnecessary information making slides looking like a document or a report. Being humans, It's impossible to read lengthy text while also listening attentively to the speaker.

Reading make your audience tired and having too much information on a single slide will make your audience want to switch off and at times leave the presentation. Design your slides so that they show key messages in large visible font sizes.

Use pictures and diagrams instead of writing too many words. Design your slides for your audience to see, and not for them to read.

This makes it easy for your audience to follow you while you present and gives them a great experience. This will engage your audience.

#5. DO NOT end your presentation with a slide that shows Thank you, The End, or Q&A

Just as you would start your presentation with a clear objective, you too must end your presentation with a clear call-to-action.

The final slide in your presentation must also provide value. DO NOT end your presentation with a slide that shows Thank you, The End, or Q&A.

Notice that quite often we stay behind after the presentation to answer questions from the audience. The final slide stays on the screen for the whole duration.

You don’t want Thank You to be the last thing that your audience remembers from your presentation.

There are many other things that you can show on your final slide. Company mission and vision statement, key learning from the content of your presentation, action plans you want your audience to act upon.

Or if you have nothing nice to show, then show your company logo really big on the final slide. Use the last slide for branding.

These 5 key elements are powerful strategies to create high-impact presentations.

Apply these 5 key elements in your next presentation, and you'll see more engagement and improved conversions. You will be noticed, be respected, and will be the focus of what people talk about.

Remember to use these 5 key elements in every presentation to Wow your audience and discover new opportunities surrounding you.