So you have a presentation coming up and, let’s be honest, you really don’t want your audience checking their phones under the table. You want people to get your point, maybe even remember something when they leave the room. That sounds simple, but anyone who’s spent an hour watching a PowerPoint full of text knows it’s not.
Here’s how to give presentations that actually stick—and keep folks awake while you do it.
Start with Who’s in the Room
Every presentation sinks or swims because of the audience. If you ignore who’s listening, you’re already at a disadvantage. Take five minutes, before you make a single slide, to jot down who will be there and what they care about.
Say you’re presenting project updates to upper management. They want high-level insights, not every data point. If your room is full of peers, you can skip basic definitions. You’re not dumbing things down; you’re just connecting in a way that works.
Maybe you don’t know your audience well. You can ask the person who invited you what most people’s experience level is, or even check their LinkedIn profiles. You’d be surprised what a little research will do.
Clear Goals = Better Talks
Vague ideas are hard to talk about. Before you build your slides, ask: What do I want people to walk away with? Are you trying to convince, teach, or just update?
Pick one or two main messages. If you have more, it’s time to cut. For example: “I want this team to see why the new tool will save them time” or “I want people to leave knowing three takeaways about cybersecurity.”
When you know what you want to say, every slide and story gets easier to organize.
Start Strong, Stay Organized
People decide, within minutes, whether to listen or tune out. If you start flat, it’s hard to get them back.
Instead, begin with something that grabs attention—a short story, a surprising fact, or a question for the room. One time, I opened a budget meeting by saying, “What costs more: bad coffee or missing a project deadline?” Suddenly everyone was awake and curious.
Break up your talk into clear sections, like chapters in a book. If you don’t, it all blurs together. Use headlines on your slides so people know where you are.
When you share information, wrap it in simple stories or relatable situations. People remember a quick story about a failed password much better than a dry list of best practices.
Pictures Beat Paragraphs
We’ve all seen slides with 400 words of text. Nobody wants to read that, especially if you’re also talking. Try this instead: one key idea per slide, and use visuals to back it up. Charts, photos, a quick diagram—even a funny meme can help.
Let’s say you’re explaining a process. A simple flowchart is clearer than three bullet lists. For stats, skip the table and use an easy-to-read graph. If it takes longer than two seconds to understand, it needs to be simpler.
If you can, add a quick video or animation. Even a 30-second demo can make an idea real. Visuals grab attention and get your points across quicker.
Get the Room Involved
The longer a talk goes, the more people drift off. If you keep talking without breaks, it’s like being stuck in a lecture. Instead, work in ways for people to take part.
You could ask for a show of hands, throw a question to the group, or build in a poll if you’re online. When I present to big groups, I’ll sometimes split people up for a quick “turn and talk.” You don’t have to plan a whole activity—just look for spots to let people offer opinions or share a story.
Even asking, “Anyone ever had this happen to them?” can wake up the energy again.
Don’t Get Caught Up in Lingo
Industry jargon is easy to fall into, especially if you’re presenting on your home turf. But if even one person is left clueless, you’ll lose them.
Stick with plain, direct words. If you have to use a technical term, pause and explain it in one short sentence. I once heard a tech lead say, “SOC: that’s just a Security Operations Center, basically the IT team’s fire department.” Suddenly, it’s clear.
Keeping it simple doesn’t make you sound less smart—it shows that you respect your audience.
Practice Out Loud—Not Just in Your Head
No one likes being unprepared, but many of us still wing it. Practicing is the only way to spot awkward spots, long rambles, or slides that make no sense.
Try this: Run through your talk once, then again with a timer. If you stumble or go over time, now’s your chance to fix it. Stand up. Use your hands. Play with your voice so you’re not a robot.
Video yourself if you’re brave. You’ll spot habits you didn’t know you had—like mumbling or reading slides. Small tweaks can make a big difference in how people feel about your presentation.
Ask for Feedback—Then Use It
No one gets better in a vacuum. After your talk, don’t settle for “great job!” Ask a friend, or a team member, “What lost you? What should I trim?” Be specific.
If possible, check back with your audience: Were your examples clear? Did the main ideas make sense? People are usually honest if you make it easy for them.
Getting feedback is not just for beginners. Even experienced presenters pick up tips or notice patterns—like talking too fast or skipping Q&A. Over time, small adjustments add up.
Have a Backup Plan Ready
Even solid plans can fall apart. Someone asks a tough question, or the projector dies. Instead of panicking, think through these scenarios now.
Have a quick way to explain ideas if your slides totally fail. Or, jot down two backup examples you can use on the fly. If there’s a question you hope nobody asks—write out your answer, just in case.
By being ready for surprises, you can react calmly and confidently, rather than freezing or stumbling.
Simple Tech Can Help More Than Fancy Tools
There’s a slide-design tool for just about everyone. For most office presentations, PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote are all you need. They have easy templates and let you drop in visuals without fuss.
Try not to rely on advanced effects—animations and auto-timing clips often backfire at the wrong time. If you need charts, try tools like Canva or Piktochart for cleaner designs. Bring your slides on a USB drive, email a copy to yourself, and check the room’s tech in advance.
Sometimes you walk into a room and the projector won’t connect to your laptop. If you’re presenting at a club or networking event—like something at giftdclub.co.uk—ask the organizer what gear they have. It’s easier than redoing slides five minutes before you start.
Wrap It Up—And Give a Next Step
How you end matters. People remember what they heard last. It’s easy to rush through your ending or ramble because the “hard part” is done.
Sum up the main ideas in just a few sentences. For example, “Today we looked at two ways to make our onboarding smoother. If each of you tries one of these this week, we’ll see results by next month.”
Give a clear next step or action. It could be as simple as, “Email me once you’ve tried this process,” or “Download these templates and let me know what works.” The idea is to keep the conversation going after people leave.
Final Thought: No One Is Born a Great Speaker
Honestly, even seasoned presenters have bad days or talks that miss the mark. The best way to avoid boring your audience is to keep improving—mostly by listening, practicing, and experimenting.
If your last talk flopped, consider what didn’t work. Did you skip practice? Was the topic too wide? Did people look confused at the charts? Adjust as you go.
Over time, you’ll get a feel for what keeps a room awake and what makes people tune out. Presentations don’t have to be Broadway shows, but they shouldn’t feel like a root canal either. With a little planning and some honest feedback, you’ll hold the room—maybe even spark a lively discussion that lasts after the projector is off.