How to craft your presentation into a story

We give presentations all the time and pay close attention to how we make our slides. We labour over the layout, colours, fonts, transitions, and animations – all visual. Most of us don’t pay enough attention to the story we are going tell and how we are going to tell it.

We all love stories, and that’s what you should be telling during your presentation. Like all stories, there should be a narrative that has a start, a middle and an ending. Stories that have a challenge to be surmounted and/or emotions, are more compelling.

Start (1-3 slides):

• Have a descriptive, optimistic title. Cryptic or one-word titles are not recommended.
• Start with an introduction that gives context and defines the presentation. If there is a problem or challenge, try to give it a positive spin. Instead of presenting a reactive plan, present it as a strategic, forward-looking plan.
• What is the overarching story you want to convey? Is it one of resilience, adaptability, or innovation?
• You could start with saying what a great organization/team you are and highlight 1 or 2 recent achievements. Even if this has nothing to do with what you are talking about, it builds a connection with audience and generates positive energy.

Middle (3-10 slides):

• Build the story and try to include anecdotes, experiences, and emotions.
• Simple phrases like “I was very happy…” or “I was frustrated by …” bring in emotions and a personal touch.
• Make fun of yourself. Tell a relevant joke, but don’t overdo it. Humour is a powerful presentation tool but must be used wisely.
• Use charts and visuals but don’t flood the audience with numbers. Exact numbers can be given as hand-outs or a report, if needed. Your presentation should show the big picture.
• Proceed to say what was done or should be done.

End (2-3 slides):

• This should be the key take-away message.
• Regardless of the topic, make it an opportunity for the audience.
• Any call-to-action or to-dos.
• Thank you (1 slide). If you end abruptly without a Thank you slide, it leaves the audience feel cheated because they were expecting more.

Let us take an example:

Your hospital's revenues are dropping because of increased competition. You must present a cost-cutting budget to the board. How do you craft a story?

Title: "Navigating Change: Our Path to Financial Resilience" (positive spin)

Slide 1: Title Slide

“Today’s subject is no laughing matter, but hopefully we can all smile while leaving this room.”

Slide 2: Introduction - Setting the Stage

• Begin with a compelling opening, such as a relevant statistic or a brief story.
• Mention the challenges our hospital faces: increased competition and declining revenues.

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Slide 3: The Story of Our Hospital

• Share our hospital's rich history, our mission, and the vital role we play in the community.
• Highlight past successes and achievements to create a positive atmosphere.

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Slide 4: The Challenge: Increased Competition and Declining Revenues

• Present the specific factors contributing to our current financial situation.
• Utilize data and visuals to illustrate the revenue decline and competitive landscape.

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Slide 5: The Turning Point: Embracing Change

• Explain that we've reached a turning point where change is necessary for our future.
• Introduce the cost-cutting budget as our strategic response to these challenges.

Slide 6: Our Path to Financial Resilience: The Budget Plan

• Provide an overview of the key elements of the budget plan, focusing on efficiency and optimization.
• Use visuals to show the projected impact on our finances.

"Our budget plan is like a well-balanced diet for our finances - low on junk, high on essentials."

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Slide 7: Positive Outcomes and Benefits

• Describe the expected benefits of implementing the budget, including financial stability and long-term growth.
• Emphasize how this approach aligns with our hospital's mission and values.

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Slide 8: Employee-Centric Approach

• Reiterate our commitment to preserving employee well-being and job security during the transition.
• Share examples of how staff will be supported.

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Slide 9: Engaging the Board: Collaboration and Expertise

• Explain how the board's involvement and expertise will contribute to the success of the budget.
• Encourage questions and discussion from the board.

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Slide 10: Mitigating Risks and Contingency Plans

• Address potential concerns and risks associated with the budget.
• Present strategies for risk mitigation and contingency plans.

Slide 11: Transparency and Accountability

• Stress the importance of transparency in budget management and ongoing reporting.
• Describe accountability measures to track progress and results.

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Slide 12: The Future: A Resilient Hospital

• Paint a vivid picture of our hospital's future once the budget is implemented.
• Conclude with a strong call to action and express optimism about our future.

Thank you for being part of the solution!

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