Creating Impactful Virtual Presentations

Imagine you've performed an in-depth analysis and uncovered an incredible insight. You’re now excited to share your findings with an influential group of stakeholders. You’ve been meticulous, eliminating biases, double-checking your logic, and ensuring your conclusions are sound. But even with all this diligence, there’s one common pitfall that could diminish the impact of your insights: information overload. In our excitement, we sometimes flood stakeholders with excessive details, dense reports, cluttered dashboards, and long presentations filled with too much information. The result is confusion, disengagement, and inaction. Insights are not our children, we don’t have to love them equally. To truly drive action, we must isolate and emphasize the insights that matter most—those that directly address the problem statement and have the highest impact. Here’s how to present insights effectively to ensure clarity, engagement, and action: ✅ Start with the Problem – Frame your insights around the problem statement. If stakeholders don’t see the relevance, they won’t care about the data. ✅ Prioritize Key Insights – Not all insights are created equal. Share only the most impactful findings that directly influence decision-making. ✅ Tell a Story, Not Just Show Data– Structure your presentation as a narrative: What was the challenge? What did the data reveal? What should be done next? A well-crafted story is more memorable than a raw data dump. ✅ Use Clean, Intuitive Visuals – Data-heavy slides and cluttered dashboards overwhelm stakeholders. Use simple, insightful charts that highlight key takeaways at a glance. ✅ Make Your Recommendations Clear– Insights without action are meaningless. End with specific, actionable recommendations to guide decision-making. ✅ Encourage Dialogue, Not Just Presentation – Effective communication is a two-way street. Invite questions and discussions to ensure buy-in from stakeholders. ✅ Less is More– Sometimes, one well-presented insight can be more powerful than ten slides of analysis. Keep it concise, impactful, and decision-focused. Before presenting, ask yourself: Am I providing clarity or creating confusion? The best insights don’t just inform—they inspire action. What strategies do you use to make your insights more actionable? Let’s discuss! P.S: I've shared a dashboard I reviewed recently, and thought it was overloaded and not actionably created

261 hours per year on PowerPoint. That’s how much time the average person spends working on their slides. That’s a staggering amount of time. What’s worse? Most of it is wasted on formatting! People often ask me how I prepare my PowerPoint presentations. My answer surprises them: “I don’t think in slides. I think in concepts and stories.” For me, slides are not the starting point—they’re the final step. Instead of being constrained by Slide 1, Slide 2…Chart 1, Chart 2, I focus on crafting a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. My way: Story 1st, Slides 2nd This mindset shift happened years ago, and it transformed how I present. Here’s my simple 3-step framework for building impactful presentations: 1️⃣ Set the plot Start by painting a vivid picture of a problem or situation. Create a gap that sparks curiosity and propels your audience out of complacency. Think about why so many stories begin with, “Once upon a time…” It’s an invitation to a journey. 2️⃣ Add the twist Introduce contrast. Show the audience the gap between what is and what could be. Guide them through a transformation. As you alternate between the present and the envisioned future, make the latter irresistibly appealing. 3️⃣ Call to action End on a high note. Inspire your audience with a compelling vision of what’s possible if they embrace your ideas. Give them a clear, actionable next step. Once I’ve nailed the story structure, the data, charts, and slides naturally fall into place. PowerPoint: a tool, not a hindrance With this approach, I’m not constrained by slide sequences or formats. I can adapt to audience questions, improvise, and make the presentation more engaging and memorable. The story drives the presentation, and PowerPoint simply becomes the tool that enhances it. What about you? The next time you start a presentation, take a step back. Are you designing slides—or are you telling a story? Shift your focus. Start with the story, not the slides. And watch your presentations transform from forgettable to unforgettable. If you found this helpful, try this approach in your next presentation, and let me know how it goes!

Most presentations don't fail because of bad slides. They fail because no one feels a connection. They look like lectures. While the best presentations feel like stories. And stories aren’t just entertaining. They’re how humans connect, trust, and remember. Here’s how to make your next presentation unforgettable: 1️⃣ Introduce the Villain ↠ Start with the problem you’re solving ↠ Be specific—what pain points does your audience face? ↠ When they feel the problem, they’ll lean in 2️⃣ Position Your Solution as the Hero ↠ Show how your solution saves the day ↠ Make it aspirational, not just functional ↠ Think: “This could change everything for you.” 3️⃣ Add Personal Touches ↠ Share your “aha” moment: how did you solve this? ↠ Vulnerability creates trust ↠ Your story becomes theirs 4️⃣ Use the Power of Three ↠ People love patterns ↠ Give them three parts: ↠ The challenge, the breakthrough, the transformation 5️⃣ Create a Visual Journey ↠ Your slides should feel like a movie, not a spreadsheet ↠ Bold visuals + concise words = memorable ↠ The simpler, the better 6️⃣ End With a Mic Drop ↠ Leave them with ONE unforgettable message ↠ Tie it back to their pain—and what they can do next ↠ A powerful ending moves people to act 7️⃣ Rehearse Until It Feels Natural ↠ Practice your story—not your slides ↠ Your authenticity is your superpower ↠ The more natural you feel, the more they’ll believe you Great presentations don’t just share information. They spark emotion. Build trust. Inspire action. What strategy resonates most with you? ♻️ Share this to inspire someone to tell their best story and follow Andrea Petrone for more. ---------------- 📌 Want more? Grab your FREE template to create presentations that captivate every audience: https://lnkd.in/evgSDXEX

PRESENTING VIRTUALLY and engaging a remote audience is hard. The pandemic made us all work differently and years later, many of us are still struggling to be at our best online. That's why I really enjoyed this little book VIRTUAL EI from Harvard Business Review which digs into the science of online attention, engagement and digital mindfulness.   The book addresses issues like “WFH is Corroding Our Trust in Each Other”, “The Endless Digital Workday” and “What Psychological Safety Looks Like in a Hybrid Workplace”.   Here’s a few of my takeaways:   🙈 Traditional meeting styles may not work the same for all types of workers. 90% extroverts say virtual meetings are effective but only 70% of introverts agree.   ❓ Too many acronyms or names you don't know? Google increased productivity by 2% (around $400M) by regularly encouraging new hires to “Ask questions, LOTS of questions – and actively solicit feedback on virtual presentations, don’t just wait for it”.   💬 Talking about NOTHING is important. Screen-fatigue is rampant. We need to create space for small talk before (and after?) meetings. Small talk should be an agenda item and not an afterthought.   👂🏽 “Deep listening” is generous. Don’t always jump to an answer. If you’re one of those people who just waits for a gap in the conversation to provide a solution, try stopping yourself. Suspend your own agenda and listen to others more often.   🦜 It’s hard to engage disconnected audiences. Virtual presenters need to be like birds! (I like this one). Virtual presenters should deliberately and compellingly call and elicit a response. Simulate back-and-forth conversations by asking more rhetorical questions. eg. “Are you ready to try something new?”   A Few Ways to Make a Virtual Presentation Interactive: • Use an icebreaker • Keep it simple (10 slides max?) • Ask the audience • Have an interesting background • Try a quiz • Use humour • Make eye contact (with the camera not just the screen) • Don’t forget body language • Make use of effective language • Be aware of 10-15 minute attention spans • Add in some visual and audio effects • Use video • Have a keylight to highlight your face • Let the audience answer anonymously • Get your audience moving • Turn control over to the audience It’s a good book (for your commute?) which you can read in under 90 minutes. And at £11 it’s cheaper than 1 issue of Harvard Business Review magazine.  

Creating an Effective Presentation: Tips for Impactful Communication Creating an effective presentation is more than just compiling slides—it's about telling a compelling story that engages your audience and drives your message home. The art of presentation lies in how well you can communicate your ideas with clarity, simplicity, and impact. Here are some key strategies to keep in mind: ⭐️Start with a Clear Structure: Your presentation should have a logical flow. Begin with a strong introduction that sets the stage, followed by the main content organised into key points, and end with a powerful conclusion. Think of it like a story with a beginning, middle, and end. ⭐️Keep It Simple: Avoid overcrowding your slides with too much text or too many visuals. Focus on the key messages you want to convey and use concise language. The simpler your slides, the easier it is for your audience to follow along and retain the information. ⭐️Use Visuals Wisely: Visual aids can enhance your message, but only if used effectively. Use high-quality images, graphs, and charts that support your points and help to explain complex information more clearly. Remember, visuals should complement your narrative, not overshadow it. ⭐️Engage Your Audience: Ask questions, use anecdotes, or include interactive elements to keep your audience engaged. The more you can involve them, the more memorable your presentation will be. ⭐️Practice, Practice, Practice: Rehearse your presentation multiple times to get comfortable with the content and the flow. This will help you deliver your message more confidently and allow you to focus on engaging with your audience rather than worrying about what comes next. ⭐️Connecting When Presenting Online: In the virtual world, connection is just as important as in-person. Become familiar with the technology so that both you and your presentation appear on screen. This ensures that your audience can see your expressions and gestures, which are crucial for conveying enthusiasm and engagement. Practice switching between your presentation and direct engagement with the camera, so you can maintain a strong connection with your audience throughout. Creating an effective presentation is about more than just the slides; it’s about how you connect with your audience and make your message stick. Whether you're pitching a new idea, sharing research, or leading a training session, following these tips can help ensure your presentation is both impactful and memorable. #PresentationSkills #EffectiveCommunication #PublicSpeaking #Leadership #ProfessionalDevelopment

Excited to dive into the transformative world of presentations today! 🌟 Whether you’re pitching, teaching, or sharing online, the way you present can truly set you apart. Here are the essentials for elevating your presentations from good to unforgettable: 1. Clarity: Simplicity is key. Steve Jobs nailed this with the iPhone launch, offering a clear and compelling vision in just a few words. Use simple language and be direct. Your audience should grasp your message instantly. 2. Conciseness: Ever been captivated by a TED Talk? Their 18-minute limit is a masterclass in being concise yet impactful. Plan your content carefully and cut anything that doesn’t add value. Your message should be memorable for its precision. 3. Engagement: Engagement turns a presentation into a conversation. Brené Brown’s TED Talk on vulnerability uses personal stories and humor to connect deeply with her audience. Mix in stories, use visual aids wisely, and invite interaction to keep your audience hooked. To tie these principles together: • Start strong with a story or fact that grabs attention. • Structure your content clearly from start to finish. • Practice your delivery to be as natural and engaging as possible. • Pay attention to your audience, adapting as needed to keep them engaged. Presentation skills are more than just a professional tool; they’re a way to connect, inspire, and make a lasting impact. Let’s put clarity, conciseness, and engagement at the heart of our presentations and watch how our messages resonate more deeply than ever before. #PresentationSkills #PublicSpeaking #EffectiveCommunication #ProfessionalGrowth https://lnkd.in/g-fPb6Zj

🚫 "You can't engage with people the same way virtually"... is absolutely not true. It's not true. You CAN have the same impact online as in person. Sure, connecting in person has it's merits (like 🍩SNACKS🍩) but a really good speaker who has worked on their craft (hi it's me) can create a buzz, connection and engagement in any space. On any topic. I was on a call with the legendary Areej AbuAli last week and she said to me "I have never seen anyone create such a community spirit on a Zoom chat" and last week I had the pleasure of running a confidence session for the team at Talon and the Teams chat was HOPPING. The whole 90 minutes, the team were sharing, chatting, and typing with me all along. Over 100 people, dialling in remotely, all sharing vulnerabilities and wins from different rooms. We CAN connect virtually, on any topic, to any crowd. But it won't just HAPPEN, we have to work at it. So, how? OK, here's how you do it: 1️⃣ YOU ARE BORING. I AM BORING. Know that. Work to that. We often ASSUME people are just going to listen, but do you? Do you listen intently in meetings or on training sessions? Course you don't! You're thinking about that lasagne you have in the freezer. Assume your audience are busy, distracted, overwhelmed and you need to EARN their attention. It's a more helpful assumption, it will get us working harder and thinking about our content differently. 2️⃣ Slides are not the be all and end all. Slides get in our way when presenting virtually. The moment you share that screen you can't see the audience in the same way. You are looking at your content and so you start "walking through the slides". DEATH TO JOY is "walking through the slides". You know what I mean? The energy changes. Use slides when they have impact. Don't when they don't. Humans NEED novel stimuli. Mix it up. Share them, stop sharing them, share them again. It's a little messier, but I would choose a sligthly messy slide transition with an engaged, listening, connected audience to polished boredom any day. (Far too often we choose polished boredom, that's a rant for another day). 3️⃣ Have fun. And I don't mean this in the empty way your mum told you to "have fun" before doing an egg and spoon race that you knew you'd lose and hate kind of way. I mean in a totally-non-negotiable-why-would-your-audience-enjoy-your-presentation-if-you're-not kind of way. FIND the thing in your slides that you like, that YOU think is cool, that you are interested by. Whether that's Q4 sales data or campaign results or your founder story. Find it, show up from that place. There's SO MUCH we can do to bring energy and enthusiasm to our presentations, that will give you a good starter for 10. And, of course, work with open, willing, engaged, cool ass teams like Talon. 😉 Thank you have a great day!