A few years back, while preparing for an internal company presentation, I thought how to make the presentation exciting and useful? A few good presenters flashed in mind. They told stories, showed enthusiasm, had a sense of humour, followed some structure, used props and had a keen understanding of the audience’s needs. I also read how  Steve Jobs’  keynote presentations continue to attract thousands of views. Based on the learnings, here’s a three part guide to ensure your presentations not only inform but also entertain and inspire. Prepare, Practice and Present.

1. Prepare: Building Your Foundation

Start With the End in Mind
Before crafting your presentation, define the key message you want your audience to take away. This becomes your guiding star. Also consider if the topic is interesting. Will the audience care about the topic?
Ex: Steve Jobs often used “Twitter-friendly headlines”—concise, impactful phrases that encapsulated his message, such as “Apple reinvents the phone.”

Narrate with a Story
A compelling story forms the backbone of a great presentation. Before diving into the specifics of your slides, construct a narrative that weaves together your key points. As Steve Jobs famously demonstrated, storytelling is more impactful than a slew of statistics. Your story should have a clear unifying message that resonates with your audience even after the presentation concludes.

Structure Your Content
Organize your presentation into an easily followed structure. Consider a three-part format: introduction, challenge/resolution, and conclusion that would leave your audience with a clear takeaway message. This approach keeps the audience engaged and ensures your message flows naturally.

Keep It Simple
Avoid losing your audience with lengthy speeches or jargon-heavy language. Keep your language simple, clear, and direct so that it is easy to understand & remember. Your presentation should engage and stimulate your audience, pulling them into your narrative.

Write and Revise
Writing is a powerful tool. You’ll be able to organise and present at a much better level. Begin by drafting your presentation on paper, organizing your thoughts clearly. Integrate meaningful data and examples that support your story. Avoid clutter and aim for clarity and simplicity. A well-organized presentation aids in effective delivery.

2. Practice: Perfecting Your Delivery

Rehearse Relentlessly
Great presentations aren’t born overnight; they are the result of rigorous practice. Follow a structured approach:

• 30 Hours on researching and refining your story.
• 30 Hours on constructing simple, visual slides. (“A picture is worth 1,000 words.” Not only do we remember visual input better, but we also process visual information much much faster in the brain than we do text. Please refer the illustration below)
• 30 Hours on rehearsing the delivery with a focus on clarity, pacing, tone of voice, posture, body language and facial expressions.
• Speak clearly & slowly. Practice in front of a mirror, record yourself, rehearse in front of friends, seek feedback, refine and enhance. Practicing out loud, can help identify and edit any awkward phrasings or speed bumps.

Master Non-Verbal Communication
Audiences respond well to the physical energy and enthusiasm. Your body language is as crucial as your words. Maintain eye contact, use gestures to emphasize key points, and exhibit confident posture. Remember, relaxed and deliberate movements are more engaging than stiff or nervous gestures. If looking someone in the eye makes you uncomfortable, here’s another tip you can try: Look at a person’s forehead instead of directly in their eyes. Smile and nod as you speak to put your audience at ease. Avoid slouching, crossing your arms, having your hands in your pockets, or playing with your hair or clothes. For virtual presentations, make sure to look directly at your webcam. This will help the audience feel as if you’re looking at them, through the screen.

Simulate the Real Environment
Most presenters prepare by flipping through their slides quietly. That process won’t help you build the confidence you’ll need when you’re really standing and speaking in front of an audience. Conduct dress rehearsals in settings similar to your final presentation. Familiarize yourself with the equipments and room setup. This not only reduces technical glitches but also boosts your confidence. Jobs was legendary for his preparation and was even prepared for unexpected surprises. When he faced a technical glitch during the presentation, he casually laughed off the glitch, told a story, and got back to the presentation when his team resolved the issue. It is said, he would rehearse on stage for many hours over many weeks prior to the launch of a major product. He paid attention to every detail of every demo and every font on every slide, making suggestions and improvements. He even paid careful attention to the gestures he made with his hands at key moments, as well as the pace of his delivery. He picked up his vocal pace during some parts of a presentation and slowed down when he wanted the message to sink in. As a result the presentation was delivered flawlessly.

Positive Visualization
Calming your nerves by engaging in relaxation and visualization exercises like deep breathing, before stepping onto the stage can significantly reduce anxiety and enhance your confidence. Don’t worry about what could go wrong. Visualize yourself giving an awesome presentation. Try a power pose to improve your confidence. Anticipate and be prepared to answer audience questions. This mindset fosters a positive performance.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I being concise? Did I stick to the main points I need the audience to remember?
• Is my tone conversational? Did I sound robotic or like I’m reading from a script? 
• Did I use stories effectively, including relatable and specific examples to illustrate points?
• Did I allow pauses in my delivery? 
• Did I appear confident?
• Did I practice making eye contact by addressing different locations around the room?

Being a great public speaker means displaying confidence. That almost always comes from being familiar with your content, speaking clearly, and learning how to tell a story that engages listeners. Expert speakers carefully, painstakingly plan, storyboard, script, design, and rehearse their presentations like an Oscar-winning Hollywood director prepares their film for the big screen.

Rehearse, Rehearse and Rehearse. Record & Review.

3. Present: Captivating Your Audience

Open with Impact
A well-crafted opening sets the tone for the rest of your presentation. You audience will come in a range of different moods. Begin your presentation with a strong, memorable opening— an icebreaker, bold statement, short video, relevant anecdote, story or comparison— to capture the audience’s attention and set the tone.

Engage with Stories and Analogies
Stories and analogies help the audience connect with your message on a personal level. They make complex ideas relatable and memorable. Steve Jobs, for instance, didn’t just introduce products—he told stories that highlighted their significance and innovation.

Humanise the Data
While revealing the iPod, Jobs didn’t talk about it’s storage or weight. He pulled out a device and said “1000 songs in your pocket.” Similarly while revealing the MacBook Air, he didn’t talk about it’s size. He pulled out the MacBook Air from a manila envelope, showing how thin it was. Simplifying concepts with analogies helps the audience understand and remember your message.

Be Concise and Enthusiastic
No matter the subject, a great speaker will use natural charisma, humour and language to convey their points and get the audience excited. Keep your message clear and your enthusiasm palpable. Use humor judiciously to make the session lively but ensure it aligns with your message. Audiences are more likely to engage when they sense your energy.
Ex: When Jobs introduced the MacBook Air, the slide had only one phrase, “There’s something in the air.”

Interactive Engagement
Encourage audience interaction through questions and polls. This breaks monotony and fosters participation. Be prepared to handle questions with grace and confidence, repeating them for clarity and responding thoughtfully. Audience can ask difficult questions! Don’t get defensive. Don’t rush to respond. Be polite and professional. If you are unsure about how to answer a question, you can say “That’s a good question. Let me think about that for a moment.” If a few seconds isn’t long enough to find a good response, you can say, “I might need to think on that some more. Can I get back to you?” 

Close with a Strong Takeaway
End your presentation on a high note. Summarize your key points, inspire with a memorable quote or idea, and leave your audience with a thought-provoking question to ponder.

Conclusion
Delivering an effective presentation is about creating a memorable experience for your audience. By intertwining thorough preparation, relentless practice, and dynamic presentation skills, you can captivate your audience, much like Steve Jobs, and leave a lasting impact.

PS: Thanks to my current & previous employers, for supporting my growth through valuable trainings. Thanks to ChatGPT for helping me finetune this post.

Please click & expand for a wealth of resources & references

How to Give a Killer Presentation – HBR
The Best Public Speakers Put the Audience First – HBR
What the Best Presenters Do Differently – HBR 
How to Rehearse for an Important Presentation – HBR
How to Stop Saying “Um,” “Ah,” and “You Know” – HBR
Tips for Reading the Room Before a Meeting or Presentation – HBR
How to Calm Your Nerves Before a Big Presentation – HBR
The 48-Second Hack to Calm Your Nerves Before a Presentation
To Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking, Stop Thinking About Yourself – HBR 
5 Ways to Project Confidence in Front of an Audience – HBR
6 Ways to Look More Confident During a Presentation – HBR 
8 Ways to Deliver a Great Presentation (Even If You’re Super Anxious About It) – HBR
The Art of the Elevator Pitch – HBR 
What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation – HBR
Be the Most Persuasive Person in the Room
5 Ways Neuroscience Can Help You Give Better Presentations | Psychology Today
How to Master the Art of Public Speaking 
Don’t Just Memorize Your Next Presentation — Know It Cold – HBR 
3 Ways to Nail Your Presentation to the Board – HBR 
To Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking, Stop Thinking About Yourself – HBR
The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why – HBR
Follow These 8 Public Speaking Tips to Nail Your Next Presentation – RD 
How to Present to Investors – PG 
How to Craft a Memorable Message, According to Science – HBR 
Nancy Duarte: The secret structure of great talks – TED 
6 techniques for clear and compelling speech – TED 
Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listen – TED Talk
Making more impactful design presentations | by Chuck Rice | UX Collective