PowerPoint Presentation Tips

"Death by PowerPoint" is real—here’s how to avoid it. Too many slides overwhelm. Too few bore.   The solution? Make every slide tell a story. “A good speech is like a pencil; it needs a clear point.”   — Unknown Here’s how to create presentations people remember: --- 1️⃣ Use Minto’s Pyramid   - Start with the End: Lead with your main message.   - Support with Logic: Back it up with key facts. --- 2️⃣ Make Every Slide a Mini-Story   Think of each slide as part of a bigger narrative:  - Title/Header:      Grab attention with a headline that sparks interest.   - Subtitle:      Tease what’s next to keep the audience curious.   - Content and Visuals:      Use words and images together to drive your point home.   - Kicker:      End with impact—leave them thinking. --- 3️⃣ Build Flow Like a Comic Strip   Slides are more than placeholders; they’re steps in a journey.  - Use headers to guide.   - Use kickers to leave an impression.   - Ensure each slide builds on the last. --- The Goal?   Your presentation isn’t just slides—it’s a journey your audience wants to take. Lead with clarity. Build with structure. End with impact. --- What’s your go-to presentation tip?   Let’s share strategies in the comments. If this helped you, pass it along to someone preparing their next big talk.   Follow Jay Mount for more insights on presentations and storytelling.

Think about the last presentation you sat through. Do you remember anything from it? Probably not. Most presentations fail because they are: ❌ Overloaded with bullet points ❌ Devoid of emotion ❌ Data dumps with no clear story The good news? You can make your presentation unforgettable with these 7 simple shifts: 1. Start with a Hook, Not an Intro Most presenters begin with "I'm excited to be here today..." and lose the audience immediately. Fix: Grab attention from the start. Example: “Your company is losing $10M a year—and you don’t even know why.” 2. Tell a Story, Not Just Data People remember stories, not statistics. Instead of listing facts, wrap them in a compelling narrative. Fix: Use the “Problem → Struggle → Solution” technique. Example: "Before using our system, Sarah’s team spent 3 hours a day on reports. She tried different tools, but nothing worked—until she found our solution. Now? Just 15 minutes a day." 3. Use Contrast & Surprise The brain is wired for novelty. If your presentation sounds predictable, people will tune out. Fix: Vary your tone, pace, and visuals. Drop in an unexpected question, statistic, or pause to keep them engaged. 4. Say Less, Mean More Too much information overloads the audience. They’ll remember nothing. Fix: Cut the fluff. Stick to one core message per slide, per section, per speech. 5. Make It Visual Bullet points don’t inspire. Images and metaphors do. Fix: Instead of saying “Our product is faster,” show a race car next to a bicycle. 6. End with a Bang, Not a Fizzle Most presentations end with “Thank you” and no real impact. Fix: Leave them with one key idea and a clear next step. Example: “If you only take away one thing today, let it be this…” 7. Master the Pause Most speakers talk too fast and leave no room for ideas to sink in. Fix: Silence is power. Pause after key points to let them land. 💡 A great presentation isn’t about information—it’s about transformation. Make your next one impossible to forget. What’s the most memorable presentation you’ve ever seen? Drop a comment below! ⬇

What makes a keynote truly resonate with an audience? I was recently helping a colleague prepare for his first keynote presentation. He knows that I spend a lot of time on keynote stages and that I enjoy coaching others who do as well. Stepping onto a keynote stage can feel daunting, but managing that adrenaline and delivering a compelling message comes down to preparation. When preparing a keynote, many people focus on gathering information. I encourage them to think instead about building a bridge of comprehension so the audience can clearly follow and connect with the message. One framework I often share is what I call the 5 P’s of keynote preparation. 1️⃣ Purpose. Define your goal. What exactly do you want your audience to Know, Feel, and Do? A clear purpose acts as a filter for what makes it into your keynote and ensures the content is relevant and meaningful. 2️⃣ Prime. Your keynote actually begins before you step on stage. Think carefully about your talk’s title and how it is announced. When you prime your audience well, they arrive ready and eager to hear your message. 3️⃣ Plan. Our brains crave structure. Instead of a wandering list of ideas, package your keynote logically. One framework I often use is “What? So What? Now What?” It keeps ideas concise, establishes relevance, and makes them easier to remember. 4️⃣ Premise. Avoid starting with “I’m glad to be here.” Capture attention immediately with a thoughtful question, a compelling story, or a surprising insight. Make it clear where you are taking the audience. 5️⃣ Presence. How you deliver matters just as much as what you say. Keep your posture strong and balanced, gesture with intention, use the space around you, and vary your vocal tone and pacing. These 5 P’s can help strengthen your keynote and improve any high-stakes communication. Always happy to help in crafting your keynote or delivering one to your firm. A quick glimpse at my keynote address at TiEcon last year, where I used the 5 P’s to prepare my own presentation. 👇

Your first words can make or break your presentation. Here are 12 ways to introduce your idea powerfully: 1. Start with a myth-busting question: Example:  Take a common myth related to your industry. Ask: "How many of you believe this is true?" Then say: “I’m here to bust this myth!” 2. Quote a thought leader to “borrow” authority: Example: "Steve Jobs once said, 'Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.'" 3. Share a surprising statistic to hook the audience: Example: "Did you know that 90% of the data in the world today was created in the last two years alone?" Bonus: To enhance impact, repeat the number afterwards (e.g. “90%!”) 4. Tell a story to connect emotionally. Example: "Let me tell you about a little girl who changed her community with a simple idea." 5. Show a captivating visual to spark conversation. Example: "This is what the future might look like" Bonus: If you used AI to create the image, credit it. 6. Ask a question the audience relates to. Example: "By a show of hands, how many of you have experienced this issue personally?" 7. Use humor to lighten the mood. Example: Use a relevant joke or funny observation about the topic or industry. Watch-out: Don’t use a clichéd joke and expect the audience to laugh. 8. State a bold claim to challenge assumptions. Example: "I'm here to tell you that the traditional schooling system is failing our students today." 9. Play an audio clip to engage the senses. Example: "Listen to this sound—it's the rate of a heart beating in a high-stress situation." 10. Begin with historical context for background. Example: "Back in 1920, this technology was just a wild idea—today, it's a reality that's changing everything." Watch-out: Don’t use a long, boring historical fact. 11. Present a problem to highlight a need. Example: "What if I told you 70% of our project failures stem from a single overlooked factor?" 12. Use a prop to help visualize concepts. Example: "This ordinary-looking pen has a story that might just change how you view writing forever." A powerful starter makes a great first impression. And creates momentum to spark off your talk. Remember: Fortune favors the prepared. So save this- it'll come in handy before your next presentation. Want to impress the next time you speak? Follow Nausheen I. Chen to never miss a tip. P.S. Which starter will you pick?

Last night, former President Obama and First Lady Michelle reminded us of the power of compelling storytelling in their speeches at the Democratic National Convention. But what’s the secret behind these moments of excellence? Jon Favreau, Obama’s former director of speechwriting, shared five golden rules that are just as applicable to our business presentations as they are to political speeches. Here are five insights you can apply when delivering your next presentation, whether on stage, in a meeting, or in the boardroom: 1. The story is more important than the words Too often, we focus on the right words, but the real question is, “What story am I telling?” Before writing a speech, Favreau would always begin with a conversation, drawing on Obama’s ability to outline a clear narrative first and build the words around it. Always start with the story you’re trying to convey—it’s the backbone of your message. 2. Keep it simple Long presentations may feel thorough, but they are often forgettable. Favreau emphasized brevity: aim for twenty minutes or less. "A speech about everything is a speech about nothing." Narrow your message down to the essential points. 3. Address counterarguments upfront Don’t wait for the Q&A to address objections. In business, as in politics, it's key to acknowledge opposing views and deal with them during your presentation. When Obama delivered his Health Care Reform Plan, he anticipated objections and tackled them head-on. 4. Empathy is key Knowing your audience isn’t enough. You have to step into their shoes. Obama’s speeches resonated because they were written in a language his audience understood. Whether you're presenting to colleagues, clients, or an entire audience, connect by understanding their challenges and perspectives. 5. Persuasion requires inspiration Logic alone won’t motivate. The best way to connect is through stories that touch the heart. In Obama’s 2008 victory speech, Favreau chose the story of Ann Nixon Cooper, a 106-year-old woman who had seen the full spectrum of progress in America. Her story was the perfect reminder that change, though slow, is always possible. Whether you're stepping on stage or presenting in the boardroom, these timeless tips from Obama’s speechwriting playbook can help you connect with your audience, deliver your message effectively, and inspire action. What stories are you sharing in your presentations? #Leadership #PublicSpeaking #Storytelling #Empathy #Inspiration

You’ve heard the advice, “Use stories in your presentations because people respond to stories!” Great advice. BUT… Your story won’t grab your audience’s attention and communicate your message unless it has these 6 elements. In fact, it could even have the opposite effect! Every story you use as the foundation of your high-stakes presentations needs to have: 1. A logical structure. A story needs a beginning, middle, and end with clear turning points between each section. Don't just jump between ideas randomly. Map your presentation flow on paper first so you can physically move sections around. The most persuasive structure builds toward your most important point. 2. An Emotional structure. In the middle of your story, create a rise of conflict where tension builds. This might be when your audience realizes their current approach isn't working or market conditions are changing rapidly. Plan moments where this tension rises before providing a cathartic resolve. Your audience will stay engaged through this emotional journey from tension to resolution. 3. A clear goal. The protagonist in your story must have something they're seeking–an objective that drives the narrative forward. In your presentation, position your audience as the hero pursuing something important. Whether it's reconciliation of different viewpoints or finding the solution to a pressing problem, make sure this goal is crystal clear. 4. Meaningful conflict. Every story needs the hero to face obstacles. This conflict might be with themselves, with others, with technology, or even with nature.  When preparing your presentation, identify what's standing in the way of progress. Is it internal resistance? Market challenges? Technical limitations? Acknowledging these conflicts shows you understand the real situation. 5. A resolution. Every narrative needs to resolve the conflict, though resolution doesn't always mean a happy ending. It could end positively (comedy), negatively (tragedy), or be inconclusive, requiring your audience to take action to determine the outcome. For business presentations, this inconclusive ending can be particularly effective as it prompts decision and action. 6. A lesson worth learning. While rarely stated explicitly (except in fairy tales), every story teaches something. Your presentation should leave your audience with a clear takeaway about what approaches to emulate or avoid. The quality of your story often determines the quality of your high-stakes presentations. Take time to really think through the stories you’re using. Hand-selecting the best ones will help you leave a lasting impact on your audience. #Presentation #StorytellingInBusiness #PresentationSkills

One great presentation can do what multiple applications can't. Over the years, my presentations have earned awards, speaking invitations, and opportunities I never applied for. Most recently, at MAA MathFest 2024, someone from the audience approached me and said: "Your talk was so engaging. You made such a complex topic accessible." On the spot, he invited me to speak to high school students in Chicago. Full expenses paid + speaker fee. Here is the framework I use every single time... (You might want to save this.) 1. Know your audience before you make a single slide → Kids? Public? Policy makers? Academics? → Your job is to design your talk to suit them. → Picture one person in the audience, let's call them "Bola." 2. Map out the entire talk first → Write the takeaway from each slide in one sentence. → Connect each slide logically to the next. → Ask yourself: Will Bola digest this information? 3. Ditch the jargon → Would Bola understand this? → If not, go back to the drawing board. → Use simple, plain English. 4. Make it visual → One message per slide. Big font. Bullet points. → Use visuals or illustrations instead of text (if possible.)  → The moment your audience starts reading your slides, you've lost them. 5. Practice as you build each slide → After creating each slide, ask: What will I say here? → This reveals what to add, remove, or fix as you go. → Once done, practice the full presentation again. 6. Never read off your slides during delivery → Deliver like you're telling a story. → Everything on screen is just supporting visuals. → Know your slides inside out. Keep eye contact. 7. Use your body language intentionally → Don't stare at the ceiling, ground, or stand frozen. → Your movement and energy speak louder than words. → This automatically communicates confidence and authority. Great presentations aren’t about showing how smart you are. They’re about making your audience feel something... curiosity, clarity, and inspiration. That’s what makes you memorable. And that’s what opens doors. --- PS: What's ONE thing that's helped you improve your presentations? PPS: Want to see this framework in action? Link to the Chicago talk is in the comments. ♻️ REPOST if this was useful. Thanks!

Keynote writing tip I use to stand out. (Not just storytelling) Most people follow this timeline: 1. Begin 2. Middle 3. End Try this instead: 1. Before-we-begin-story → Gets the audience ready 2. Introduce a problem → Make us care about this 3. Build the challenge → Now we want you to win 4. Show the solution → Build it out step by step 5. Power-ending → Short summary for impact 6. CTA time → Make us take action NOW This framework does three things: It shows a transformation. It makes us care deeply. It creates urgency. All of that is needed for a successful keynote. Good keynotes are 20% about content. And 80% about psychology. Your listeners don't owe you anything. But you owe it to them to make them want to listen. Peak their interest. Make them care. Make them win. That will have your listeners wanting more. PS: What step is the hardest for you?

Most keynote talks don’t fall flat on stage. They fall flat in the preparation. Here’s the exact 3-step process I use, from the first briefing call to walking on stage, without cluttered slides or last-minute panic. Step 1: Ask directive questions Before I write a single line, I use the briefing call to understand the room. Not just who’s attending, but what actually needs to change. I always get clarity on: • What do you want the audience to do differently afterwards? • Why does this matter to them right now? • What problem am I there to solve? • What level is the room at? If these answers aren’t clear, the talk won’t land, no matter how good the content is. Step 2: Write a high-level outline Once I understand the room, I map the journey. Beginning, middle, end. I order the ideas so they move the audience, make them easy to remember, and end with a clear action. This is also where I create a short title for each section, usually no more than five words, to sharpen the thinking and keep the talk focused. Step 3: Build visuals that carry the story Only then do I create slides. I avoid text as much as possible and use reference images that do the heavy lifting. Repeating visual motifs helps link ideas without overexplaining. By the time I walk on stage, I know exactly who I’m speaking to, what needs to shift, and how the story gets us there.

🌟Behind the Scenes of Public Speaking 🌟 I've often received messages complimenting me on how my public appearances and addresses come across as being effortless. As senior representatives of the larger industry and our organisation, we’re often invited to speak at events and share our insights on stage or in front of a camera. The first time going up on an imposing stage in front of an audience, or the first time facing a camera, can be overwhelming to anyone. But remember, while it may seem like public speaking comes naturally to some, this ability isn’t necessarily innate—it can be practised, honed, and carefully crafted over time. What appears effortless on stage is often times a product of deliberate preparation. Sharing the 5 principles I follow to ensure my presentations are impactful: 🗒 In-Depth Research: Mastering the subject matter is crucial. This is a continuous process and needs dedication. I dive deep into data, trends, and case studies regularly, to make sure I have relevant and compelling insights at my fingertips - and not just for a speaking engagement. ➡ Deliberate Practice: Rehearsing just before an engagement will only take you so far. It’s about refining your delivery style, flow of thoughts and anticipating transitions, over a period of time. Only then will you truly own the material - so that it feels completely natural. 🗣 Personalised Delivery: The best speeches are the ones that mirror natural conversations. So, as you delve into the exercise of learning and practising public speaking, you will find that the best way to structure what you have to say, is to keep it as close as possible to your natural conversation style. This approach fosters authenticity, ensuring the message lands in a way that feels completely you. 👥 Audience-centric Approach: Understanding who you are speaking to —what they care about, what challenges they face, what is relevant to the context of the engagement — will help you fine-tune and tailor your message for maximum impact. 🔄 Continuous Refinement: Actively seek feedback after each and every talk, in order to continuously refine your technique. This cycle of reflection and improvement is key to evolving as a communicator. The magic of public speaking often lies in the unseen hours of preparation that goes before it. What seems effortless in public is, in fact, shaped before and after the actual delivery.