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About Me Slides: How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation

From conference talks to client demos, it’s always essential to include an About Me slide in any presentation you are giving. Introducing yourself early into the presentation helps build a better rapport with the audience.

You can start with several fun facts about me slide to break the ice or go for a more formal professional bio to explain your background and what makes you qualified to talk about the topic at hand. At any rate, your goal is to get the audience on your side by revealing some of your personality. 

How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation: 4 Approaches 

It’s a good practice to include self-introduction slides at the beginning of your presentation. If you are looking to answer how to introduce yourself professionally, typically somewhere after the title, opening slide , and the main agenda. However, the presentation structure will be somewhat different depending on whether you are presenting to a new audience or a group of people familiar with (e.g., your team, clients, or business partners). 

Here are four about me slide ideas you can try out, plus an About me template you can use to present yourself in a presentation. 

1. Mention Your Name and Affiliations

Start with the introduction basics. State your name, company, title/position, and several quick facts about who you are and what you do. Even if you present to a familiar audience, a brief recap is always welcome. 

To keep things a bit more engaging, consider adding some lesser-known facts about yourself. For example:

• Your interests 
• Recent accomplishments
• Testimonial/quote from a team member 
• Fun nicknames you got 

The above can be nice ice breakers for less formal team presentations, project updates, or catch-ups with clients. 

Here are several unique About Me examples you can try out:

For a client case study presentation : 

“Hi, I’m Lynda, Chief Customer Success Specialist with Acme Corp. (Also, someone you thought was a chatbot for the first few encounters)

47 NPS | 15% Churn Rate | 40% repeat purchase rate”

For a team after-action review presentation :

Mike, Project Manager at Cool Project

(aka Maximizer)

Personal Project stats:

387 Slack messages answered

56 cups of coffee consumed

Project profit gross margin: $1.2 million 

2. Work On Your Elevator Pitch 

One of the best ways to introduce yourself in a presentation is to share a punchy elevator pitch. This works extra well if you are presenting to a new audience. 

An elevator pitch is a concise statement (1-2 sentences) that summarizes your unique strengths, skills, and abilities and explains how these can benefit your listener. 

It’s nice to have one ready for your presentations and networking in general since it helps you immediately connect with new people and communicate your value. 

Writing a solid elevator pitch may require several attempts and iterations. But the sooner you start — the faster you’ll arrive at the best formula! 

To get your creative juices flowing, here are several elevator pitch ideas you can incorporate in an introduction slide about yourself. 

For professionals: 

“Certified Salesforce Administrator, data visualization specialist, and analytics for top SaaS brands. I help businesses make more sense of their data to drive better outcomes”.

For a mentor :

“Adjunct professor of creative writing at Columbia University, published author, former lifestyle editor at Esquire, the New York Times. I can teach you how to find, shape, pitch, and publish stories for web & print.”

For a student: 

“Third-year Marine Biology student at Denver State Uni. Volunteer at Lake Life Protection NGO, climate change activist, looking to expand my research about water conservation”.

3. Answer Popular Questions or Assumptions 

If you are a frequent presenter , chances are you get asked a lot of the same “About Me questions” after your speeches and during the networking bits. So why not address a roaster of these in your About Me slide? Select 4-5 most common questions and list them as quick FAQs on your slide deck. 

4. Focus on Telling a Story 

Strong introductions are personable. They are meant to offer a sneak-peak into your personality and the passion behind your work. That’s why for less formal presentations, you can (and should!) start with a short personal story. 

Remember: reliability is important to “click” with your audience. 

For instance, neuroscience research of political ads recently found that ads featuring real people performed better than those with genetic stock footage. Among viewers, emotional engagement and memory encoding (recall) increased dramatically when political ads showed relatable people. 

The same holds true for commerce. In 2015, GE launched a viral “What’s the Matter With Owen?” video ad series to attract more young talent to the company. The clips featured a relatable protagonist, struggling to explain what his work at GE entails e.g. that the company isn’t building railroads, but actually does some very innovative pilots. Many engineers related to the promo and work applications to GE shoot up by 800% ! 

As the above examples show, a good relatable story can go a long way. So think about how you can make a PowerPoint presentation about yourself more representative of who you really are as a person. 

How to Give a Presentation About Yourself: 4 Fool-Proof Tips

On other occasions, you may be asked to give a full-length “about me” presentation. Typically, this is the case during a second interview, onboarding , or if you are in attending a training program or workshop where everyone needs to present themselves and their work. 

Obviously, you’ll need more than one good about me slide in this case. So here’s how to prepare a superb presentation about me. 

What to Put in a Presentation About Yourself?

The audience will expect to learn a mix of personal and professional facts about you. Thus, it’s a good idea to include the following information: 

• Your name, contact info, website , social media handles, digital portfolio .
• Short bio or some interesting snippets. 
• Career timeline (if applicable).
• Main achievements (preferably quantifiable).
• Education, special training.
• Digital badging awards , accolades, and other types of recognition.
• Something more personal — an interest, hobby, aspiration. 

The above mix of items will change a bit, depending on whether you are giving an interview presentation about yourself or introduce yourself post-hiring. For example, in some cases a dedicated bio slide may be useful, but other times focusing on main achievements and goals can be better.

That being said, let’s take a closer look at how to organize the above information in a memorable presentation. 

P.S. Grab an about me slide template to make the design process easier! 

1. Create a List of “Facts About Me”

The easiest way to answer the “tell me about yourself” question is by having an array of facts you can easily fetch from your brain. 

When it comes to a full-length about me presentation , it’s best to have a longer list ready. To keep your brainstorming process productive, organize all your ideas in the following buckets: 

• Key skills (soft and hard)
• Educational accolades, training
• Accomplishments and other “bragging rights”
• Personal tidbits (a.k.a. fun facts ) 

Once you have a list, it gets easier to build a series of slides around it. 

2. Think Like Your Audience 

Most likely you’d be asked to make a presentation about yourself by a recruiter. There’s a good reason why many ask this — they want to determine if you are a good “cultural fit” for their organization. 

After all, 33% of people quit within the first 3 months of accepting a new job. Among these:

• 43% of employees quit because their day-to-day role was different than what they were told it would be during the hiring process.
• 32% cite company culture as a factor for leaving within the first three months. 

About me presentations often serve as an extra “filter” helping both parties ensure that they are on the same page expectations- and work style-wise. Thus, when you prepare your slide deck, do some background company research. Then try to align the presentation with it by matching the company tone, communication style, and cultural values. 

3. Include Testimonials and Recommendations

Use the voice of others to back up the claims you are making in your presentation. After all, trumping your own horn is what you are expected to do in such a presentation. But the voices of others can strengthen the claims you are personally making. 

Depending on your role and industry, try to sprinkle some of the following testimonials: 

• LinkedIn recommendations
• Quotes from personal or professional references
• Social media comments 
• Data metrics of your performance
• Funny assessments from your colleagues/friends 

The above not just strengthen your narrative, but also help the audience learn some extras about you and your background. Testimonial slides can be of help for this purpose.

4. Include a Case Study 

One of the best ways to illustrate who you are is to show what you are best in. Remember, an about me presentation often needs to “soft sell” your qualifications, experience, and personality. 

One of the best ways to do that is to showcase how you can feel in a specific need and solve issues the business is facing. 

So if you have the timeframe, use some of the ending slides to deliver a quick case study. You can present: 

• Short retrospective of a past successful project
• Before-after transformations you’ve achieved 
• Spotlight of the main accomplishments within the previous role 
• Main customer results obtained
• Specific solution delivered by you (or the team you’ve worked with) 

Ending your presentation on such a high note will leave the audience positively impressed and wondering what results you could achieve for them.

To Conclude 

It’s easy to feel stumped when you are asked to talk about yourself. Because there are so many things you could mention (but not necessarily should). At the same time, you don’t want to make your introduction sound like a bragging context. So always think from the position of your audience. Do the facts you choose to share benefit them in any way? If yes, place them confidently on your About Me slides! 

1. Personal Self Introduction PowerPoint Template

Use This Template

2. Self Introduction PowerPoint Template

3. Meet the Team PowerPoint Template Slides

4. Introduce Company Profile PowerPoint Template

5. Modern 1-Page Resume Template for PowerPoint

6. Modern Resume Presentation Template

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Introduce Yourself, Introduction, Presentation Ideas Filed under Presentation Ideas

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How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

By Krystle Wong , Jul 20, 2023

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

Ideas and insights from Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning

Powerful and Effective Presentation Skills: More in Demand Now Than Ever

When we talk with our L&D colleagues from around the globe, we often hear that presentation skills training is one of the top opportunities they’re looking to provide their learners. And this holds true whether their learners are individual contributors, people managers, or senior leaders. This is not surprising.

Effective communications skills are a powerful career activator, and most of us are called upon to communicate in some type of formal presentation mode at some point along the way.

For instance, you might be asked to brief management on market research results, walk your team through a new process, lay out the new budget, or explain a new product to a client or prospect. Or you may want to build support for a new idea, bring a new employee into the fold, or even just present your achievements to your manager during your performance review.

And now, with so many employees working from home or in hybrid mode, and business travel in decline, there’s a growing need to find new ways to make effective presentations when the audience may be fully virtual or a combination of in person and remote attendees.

Whether you’re making a standup presentation to a large live audience, or a sit-down one-on-one, whether you’re delivering your presentation face to face or virtually, solid presentation skills matter.

Even the most seasoned and accomplished presenters may need to fine-tune or update their skills. Expectations have changed over the last decade or so. Yesterday’s PowerPoint which primarily relied on bulleted points, broken up by the occasional clip-art image, won’t cut it with today’s audience.

The digital revolution has revolutionized the way people want to receive information. People expect presentations that are more visually interesting. They expect to see data, metrics that support assertions. And now, with so many previously in-person meetings occurring virtually, there’s an entirely new level of technical preparedness required.

The leadership development tools and the individual learning opportunities you’re providing should include presentation skills training that covers both the evergreen fundamentals and the up-to-date capabilities that can make or break a presentation.

So, just what should be included in solid presentation skills training? Here’s what I think.

The fundamentals will always apply When it comes to making a powerful and effective presentation, the fundamentals will always apply. You need to understand your objective. Is it strictly to convey information, so that your audience’s knowledge is increased? Is it to persuade your audience to take some action? Is it to convince people to support your idea? Once you understand what your objective is, you need to define your central message. There may be a lot of things you want to share with your audience during your presentation, but find – and stick with – the core, the most important point you want them to walk away with. And make sure that your message is clear and compelling.

You also need to tailor your presentation to your audience. Who are they and what might they be expecting? Say you’re giving a product pitch to a client. A technical team may be interested in a lot of nitty-gritty product detail. The business side will no doubt be more interested in what returns they can expect on their investment.

Another consideration is the setting: is this a formal presentation to a large audience with questions reserved for the end, or a presentation in a smaller setting where there’s the possibility for conversation throughout? Is your presentation virtual or in-person? To be delivered individually or as a group? What time of the day will you be speaking? Will there be others speaking before you and might that impact how your message will be received?

Once these fundamentals are established, you’re in building mode. What are the specific points you want to share that will help you best meet your objective and get across your core message? Now figure out how to convey those points in the clearest, most straightforward, and succinct way. This doesn’t mean that your presentation has to be a series of clipped bullet points. No one wants to sit through a presentation in which the presenter reads through what’s on the slide. You can get your points across using stories, fact, diagrams, videos, props, and other types of media.

Visual design matters While you don’t want to clutter up your presentation with too many visual elements that don’t serve your objective and can be distracting, using a variety of visual formats to convey your core message will make your presentation more memorable than slides filled with text. A couple of tips: avoid images that are cliched and overdone. Be careful not to mix up too many different types of images. If you’re using photos, stick with photos. If you’re using drawn images, keep the style consistent. When data are presented, stay consistent with colors and fonts from one type of chart to the next. Keep things clear and simple, using data to support key points without overwhelming your audience with too much information. And don’t assume that your audience is composed of statisticians (unless, of course, it is).

When presenting qualitative data, brief videos provide a way to engage your audience and create emotional connection and impact. Word clouds are another way to get qualitative data across.

Practice makes perfect You’ve pulled together a perfect presentation. But it likely won’t be perfect unless it’s well delivered. So don’t forget to practice your presentation ahead of time. Pro tip: record yourself as you practice out loud. This will force you to think through what you’re going to say for each element of your presentation. And watching your recording will help you identify your mistakes—such as fidgeting, using too many fillers (such as “umm,” or “like”), or speaking too fast.

A key element of your preparation should involve anticipating any technical difficulties. If you’ve embedded videos, make sure they work. If you’re presenting virtually, make sure that the lighting is good, and that your speaker and camera are working. Whether presenting in person or virtually, get there early enough to work out any technical glitches before your presentation is scheduled to begin. Few things are a bigger audience turn-off than sitting there watching the presenter struggle with the delivery mechanisms!

Finally, be kind to yourself. Despite thorough preparation and practice, sometimes, things go wrong, and you need to recover in the moment, adapt, and carry on. It’s unlikely that you’ll have caused any lasting damage and the important thing is to learn from your experience, so your next presentation is stronger.

How are you providing presentation skills training for your learners?

Manika Gandhi is Senior Learning Design Manager at Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning. Email her at [email protected] .

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How important is Personal Presentation in the Workplace?

• June 21, 2022

The short answer …VERY!

Personal presentation is how you portray yourself to other people. It includes the way you look, speak and move and is part of your communication skills. Communication is one of the most important life and work skills you need to be successful 🤓

Your personal presentation is made of: 👗Appearance – from wearing well presented clothes. 🗣Body Language – From the way you smile to the way you shake hands and your ability to make eye contact.

🧠Behaviour – your attitudes and behaviours towards situations and people are part of your your personal branding.

Within the first few seconds, we are judged based on our appearance and body language 😬

✨ Tips for making the most out of your Personal Presentation include:

✅ Dressing for the occasion. Don’t change your entire style every time you have to present. This is about adapting your own style to the situation.

✅ Practice power moves – Standing tall, power stances first thing in the morning, shoulders back – these contribute to looking confident.

✅ Affirmations – Make a list of your “I am” statements for those important occasions.

I am currently taking bookings for 1 day corporate workshops on Personal Presentation. If this is something you are interested in please feel free to email me at:  [email protected]

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Your In-Person Presentation Skills Need a Refresh

• Deborah Grayson Riegel

Live presentations are making a comeback.

As most workplaces and institutions shift to a hybrid model, many of us are getting back to presenting in rooms where the audience is physically present. If you’ve also started to make this shift, here are four in-person presentation skills that could probably use some refreshing:

• Look at your audience to form a personal connection. Making eye contact can be hard to do, particularly if you’re feeling nervous, trying to read your slides, or were brought up in a culture that considers assertive eye contact to be rude. Furthermore, with neurodiverse professionals — for some of whom making eye contact can feel challenging and even antithetical to learning — forcing it can undermine efforts to take in and deliver meaningful information.
• Where there are psychosocial or cultural barriers, one option is to make “eye-adjacent” contact, where you look at someone’s mouth, nose, forehead, or a spot on the horizon just past their eyes. For those who feel comfortable and want to practice improving their eye contact, start small. Aim to make brief but meaningfully connections by looking at different members of your audience.
• Prepare beforehand to avoid sounding scripted. Practice delivering the content orally at least three times before the actual presentation, so that you have “muscle memory” of the content.
• Use prompts to engage people. Intentionally engaging your audience in person can  facilitate learning and understanding, give participants opportunities to ask questions, and makes you come across as a more confident, competent presenter.
• Pay attention to your body language. Using facial expressions, hand gestures, and moving around the space you’re presenting in (if you are able and open to doing so) can increase the energy of the room, help people feel more involved or included, and even make you more interesting to watch and listen to.

Three years ago, the way we shared presentations at work (and school) drastically changed. Anyone used to presenting in person had to adapt, revise, and change their public speaking strategies. Whether you were a student sharing work with your class, a sales associate pitching to prospects, a consultant advising clients, or in any other field, you likely shifted your mindset and skills to make the most of presenting virtually.

• Deborah Grayson Riegel is a professional speaker and facilitator, as well as a communication and presentation skills coach. She teaches leadership communication at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and has taught for Wharton Business School, Columbia Business School’s Women in Leadership Program, and Peking University’s International MBA Program. She is the author of Overcoming Overthinking: 36 Ways to Tame Anxiety for Work, School, and Life and the best-selling Go To Help: 31 Strategies to Offer, Ask for, and Accept Help .

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How Personal Presentation plays an important role in the workplace?

What is personal presentation in the workplace and why is personal presentation important?

What is personal presentation in the workplace?

Personal presentation is how you portray yourself to other people. Your personal presentation includes everything from the way you look , to the way you speak and move . Personal presentation is part of the communication skills, and communication is one of the five important life and work skills you need to build as a professional. Personal presentation means the way you present yourself in everyday situations, including the most stressful ones like job interviews.

Your personal presentation is made of several elements including (but not limited to) the following:

Physical appearance

Your physical appearance is a major part of your personal presentation. It includes everything we can see about you from wearing clean clothes, having clean and brushed hair and being well-groomed to the colour and style of your clothes and accessories.

Body language

Your body language plays an essential part in your personal presentation. From the way you smile to the way you shake hands and your ability to make eye contact, your non-verbal communication significantly impacts your personal presentation.

Attitudes and behaviours

We can consider that your attitudes and behaviours towards situations and people are part of your personal presentation (and your personal branding ) . The way you speak to and get along with others definitely impacts your personal presentation and what people think about you. Are you being friendly, kind and polite every time you can?

Why is personal presentation important?

With the above definition of personal presentation, it seems essential to learn how to give the right impression through how we look, what we say, and what we do .

We know that within the first few seconds, we are judged based on our appearance and body language. No matter how relevant and interesting our message is, if our personal presentation is not appropriate, people will hardly listen to our message. Working on our personal presentation is the first step to develop effective presentation skills .

Our personal presentation is helping us to fit in by following certain codes of conduct and corporate styling principles. When getting ready to facilitate a workshop, I always adapt my personal presentation to the company I visit with a focus on the company’s industry. No matter how comfortable and fashionable my workout outfit looks, it is not relevant or appropriate to my activity.

A few years back, I was helping a client getting back to the workplace as a chef. She was having a multiple of interviews, she had amazing cooking skills but still couldn't find a job. She decided to use my personal branding and image consulting services to boost her success. The first (and last) coaching session was enough to understand what was going wrong and to adjust the situation. My talented coachee came to our session dressed for interviews and I could immediately spot that her issue was based on her personal presentation. She looked beautiful but she was overdressed for the occasion. She was wearing high heels, a lot of make-up, a complicated hairstyle and fake nails. I looked at her from a recruiter’s point of view and understood why nobody would hire her! The only thing a recruiter can think is that she will be late in the morning to get ready, she will then spend hours in the bathroom to stay stunning, she will never be able to stand on those heels all day, and she might lose a nail or two in the cooking pots and plates. My client dressed like that with the best intentions, to give a positive first impression; it was just not appropriate and relevant to the situation. Together, we selected a few appropriate outfits making her look like a chef at work instead of a fashion icon. Immediately after our session, she dared to reapply to her favourite opportunity and successfully got the job. I guess the lesson here is to dress for the occasion .

How to make the most from your personal presentation?

As mentioned above, the best thing to do is to dress for the occasion. Dressing for the occasion doesn’t mean that you need to change your entire style and feel like wearing a Halloween costume every time you get out. Dressing for the occasion is about adapting your own style to the situation . It might mean being more classy, trying to look more serious or professional, or if you are evolving in a creative environment it might mean showing off your creativity.

When feeling lost about the dress code, simply observe people around you; how do people dress on such occasions, what do they wear when working in this company? It will give you some guidance to pick and choose your outfit and accessories.

Because your personal presentation isn’t only about your appearance, you will pay attention to your body language and non-verbal signals as well as your behaviours.

Maud Vanhoutte

Related articles:

Dressing for job interviews: 10 Dos and Don'ts

How to express your style when wearing a medical coat

Why first impression matters

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How to be clear on your audience expectations

Nov 25, 2017 by maurice decastro in presentation skills.

How clear are you on your audience expectaions?

A presentation, meeting or training course that doesn’t meet audience expectations can be a very disheartening experience.

We live in an extremely fast paced and busy world where most of us are overwhelmed with information .

When we give up some of our extremely valuable time to listen to someone share their ideas, we need to be absolutely certain that they will respect it. If you promise one thing but deliver something else, you will quickly lose peoples attention, trust and regard.

When audience expectations aren’t met it leads to disappointment and frustration

How many presentations have you attended where the speaker told you how much they know, have achieved and how great their company is but didn’t tell you how they can help you?

Perhaps you’ve been to one of those presentations which could have been given in at least half the time, or communicated just as effectively in an email.

Maybe you expected to learn something new in a presentation, only to sit patiently for 20 minutes hearing what you already knew or could easily have worked out for yourself.

How do you do meet audience expectations?

1 . be clear.

If you’re going to get them to do an exercise then tell them in advance and be sure to tell them exactly why.

Don’t leave it for them to work it out or simply tell them that’s what you always do. Ask yourself why you are really doing it and what tangible difference it will make to them.

If you can’t come up with a really good answer then leave it out.

2. Don’t make them guess

Demonstrate how much you value their time by letting them know the rationale behind what you are sharing. Share its personal significance  and benefits to them.

Don’t make them guess or leave the room without a clue.

Just because you know, it doesn’t mean they can read your mind. If we set audience expectations well in advance we avoid the risk of them leaving the room feeling let down.

3. Know them

Find out as much as you possibly can about who they are and what help they need before you present to them.

Find out how they like to be presented to or prefer to learn. Don’t make assumptions.

4. Speak to them

Don’t just ask them what challenges they have.

Let them know up front why you believe your content, material, message and approach will help them. If it’s at all possible, try to speak with them before you begin crafting your presentation.

5. Do your homework

Just because you’ve been saying or doing the same thing for years, don’t assume that it works for everyone.

We are all different; do your homework and establish in advance whether what you have to offer will be of value to your audience. If you believe it won’t then be honest and tell them. Whilst we don’t like turning business away we have declined to work with some clients over the years because we don’t believe we can help them.

6. Craft  a conversation

If someone challenges you or asks a question, don’t just tell them that’s the way it is and ask them to simply accept it. Open up a meaningful conversation.

7. Keep your promise

Give them what they’ve asked for and what you’ve promised.

Don’t pad  your presentation out.

If you promise to help them feel more confident whilst presentin then give them the tools to do so.

If you need help managing audience expectations:

– Book yourself onto a powerful  public speaking course .

– Invest in some really good one to one  public speaking coaching .

– Get yourself some excellent  presentation training

Image: Courtesy of shutterstock.com

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Personal appearance is an often-disregarded part of communication and presentation skills.

When you are speaking in public, you may be representing your organisation or just yourself. It is still  you  at the front. It is  you  that the other person, group or audience sees and before you have time to open your mouth and say anything, certain assumptions, both consciously and subconsciously, have been made.

First impressions are very important - they can be about attitude as well as dress.

Visual impact is at least as important as verbal impact. People will very quickly make assumptions based on your personal appearance, including your facial expressions, the clothes you wear, how well-groomed you are and your body language.

Clothes and Grooming

Perhaps the most obvious element of personal appearance, and certainly the easiest one to change, is what you wear and how well-groomed you look.

Nobody is likely to be able to tell you exactly what is appropriate attire in any given situation. There will, however, be plenty of people to tell either you or someone else if you get it wrong. The questions that you have to ask are:

What sort of external image is appropriate to the organisation you represent?

What image will fit with the event that I am attending?

Only you can answer these questions.

Some organisations are happy for people to be casually dressed. This is particularly true in the technology industry.

Other organisations may expect smarter attire, especially if you are representing the organisation at an external event. There is, however, a whole range of options from smart casual to smart business. This can be especially challenging for women, although it is also more obvious if men get it wrong, and wear/don’t wear a suit at the wrong times.

It is important to be suitably dressed within expected limits.

You should also ensure that you are appropriately groomed. This does not mean that women have to spend two hours putting on make-up before attending an event. It does, however, mean that you should be clean, your clothes should be clean and ironed, and that your hair should be tidy.

Nobody expects you to be packaged into something you are not. However, your appearance is a reflection of your own self-esteem. You should aim to present yourself to your best possible advantage. Whilst you might be casually dressed when working within your organisation, a more formal approach may well be preferable when representing your organisation at an external meeting.

Good grooming and a tidy appearance is always preferable, whether casually or more formally dressed. It presents a much more professional appearance.

It also suggests that you think that you are relatively important: that you matter. This is important if you wish to be taken seriously. Nobody is going to respect someone who does not look like they respect themselves.

Facial Expressions

Little can be done to alter your face, but a lot can be done about the expression that is on it!

It does not matter how the day started or what minor crisis has occurred along the way. People have not come to this event or meeting to see you looking gloomy. If you do not look interested and enthusiastic about what you are saying, why should anyone else care?

It is your duty—to yourself as well as to the organisation that you represent—to convey a calm, friendly and professional exterior, whatever you may feel inside. Try to smile and appear optimistic and confident. More to the point, try to convey how you (should) feel about a subject in which you are an expert: at least interested and capable, and preferably enthusiastic.

Paradoxically, simply behaving as though you are confident can actually help you to become more confident. This is very much a ‘virtuous circle’.

For more on this see our page: Non-verbal Communication: Face and Voice .

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

he reflection you see in the mirror is not necessarily a true likeness of the face known to family, friends and colleagues because they see you off-guard, in repose, concentrating on a task, or listening to them.

Most people unconsciously change their expression when looking into the mirror.

It is quite natural to ‘play to a mirror’, possibly by raising an eyebrow, pulling a face or smiling at the reflection. This is why people often feel self-conscious when they see a ‘ bad ’ photograph of themselves.

The Real You:

It is human nature to make compromises. We all change our approach depending on the people we meet and what we feel is expected from us.

Your 'on-duty' self, the one who functions in public, is different from your 'off-duty' self, the one concerned with home, family and friends.

These differing roles all require their own particular qualities and skills in personal communication and can also call upon different requirements of attitude and personal appearance. Your external image, your personal appearance, is how you are seen by the world, whereas the real you (not a role model or the person you would like to be) is someone who is honest with themselves.

See our page: Body Language for more information.

Understanding body language is one of the most important aspects of personal presentation. The image conveyed by the physical self should support and enhance what is being communicated verbally. If the visual image differs widely from the spoken message, it is often the non-verbal account that is believed.

The way you sit and stand, your gestures and mannerisms and your facial expressions will say far more about you and how you are feeling at any given time than the words you are using. When individuals are nervous or uneasy, their behavioural 'bad habits' become more pronounced.

Awareness of your body language, of how you behave under pressure, what signals you are unconsciously giving, how nerves and stress affect you physically, can help you understand how you 'come across' to others. It can also explain how the wrong impression is sometimes given and how confusion can occur.

Working on body language is a way of improving personal presentation.  For example, when concentrating on something rather hard, your expression may look troubled, when in reality you are not anxious at all, just absorbed. This does not mean you should go around with a fixed smile on your face. However, you do need to be aware that your physical self might send one set of signals when your mind is involved elsewhere.

Body language can also be used as a mask to convey contrary feelings. How often have you nodded firmly when you did not understand a word, smiled when your instinct was to scowl, or clapped enthusiastically at the end of a talk that nearly put you to sleep?  In these cases you were not being hypocritical, but using body language positively as the mechanism of good manners.

Our gestures are part of our personalities, a part of how we express ourselves. Hand and arm movements can add emphasis, aid explanation and convey enthusiasm. They only become a negative signal when repeated so often that they become irritating to the observer. Listeners can become so side-tracked by the sight of someone constantly playing with their hair, tapping on the table with a pen, etc., that they no longer listen to the spoken word.  These negative signals can break down the communication process.

Positive and Negative Body Language

Positive body language includes:

• Maintaining eye contact with the person you are speaking to.
• Smiling (if appropriate) but especially as a greeting and at the end of a conversation.
• Sitting squarely on a chair, leaning slightly forward (this indicates you are paying attention).
• Nodding in agreement.
• A firm handshake.
• Presenting a calm exterior.
• Looking interested.

Negative body language includes:

• Not looking at a person when speaking.
• Tapping a foot, fingers etc.
• Rocking backwards and forwards.
• Scratching.
• Continually clearing your throat.
• Fiddling with hair, ear lobes, jewellery, jacket, glasses, etc.
• Picking at fingers or finger nails.
• Repeatedly looking at your watch or a clock in the room.
• Standing too close to others.
• Inattention to a person who is speaking.

A final thought

You may believe that personal appearance shouldn’t matter. You might, quite rightly, believe that you are much more than the clothes that you wear, or whether you remembered to brush your hair that morning, or if you look grumpy.

It is, of course, true that each of us is far more than our appearance. However, when we meet someone new, we inevitably make judgements about them. With nothing else to go on, we rely on appearance. How you look does matter, therefore, even if you wish it did not. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and you want it to be the right one.

Continue to: Positive Body Image Self-Presentation in Presentations

See also: Building a Personal Brand Reflective Practice Interview Skills

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10 Slides to use in a Personal Presentation

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We have encountered so far two uses of personal presentation. One of them became more common in the past years, as the freelancing scene is burgeoning. 

As you guessed, the personal presentation is used by freelancers as an extended business card. It includes the services the freelancers provide, their work process, recommendations, and any relevant information they want to share with potential clients. But we will discuss this in a further article. 

In this article, we will cover the other use of the Personal Presentation, also known as the Interview Presentation, as a part of the hiring process for middle – senior positions. You reached a point in your career when a simple interview or CV is not enough to fully convey your potential. So, this is where a personal presentation comes in. 

Giving a presentation will let you showcase your public speaking skills, knowledge about the position you are applying for, and the field you are working in. This will also help potential employers to better understand the value you are to bring to the company. 

Reaching this level in your career comes with high expectations, and the classic PowerPoint templates won’t do you good. There is always the option of going with solid white background and standard font, but take into consideration the aesthetics of the organization. Or choose to work with a specialist that will highlight your attributes and channel your personality. 

1. Cover slide

The first impression matters and we are not talking only about your physical appearance, but also your digital one. No one is judging you for how you look or how you dress, it all varies from company to company. Yes, you do need to give your best professional appearance and your presentation alike. 

Employers can tell from the cover slide how much interest you put in the presentation. Make a first impression that lasts, get their attention from the beginning, and don’t let go. 

You can also download some cover slide templates from here: 

Cover slide templates

2. About me (similar to CV, the most important info)

Your audience has already seen your application, and your CV, they probably went through your social accounts such as Linkedin. This is the time to paint them a picture of yourself, and how you want them to see you from now on, both on a professional and personal level. 

In a middle-senior position, some personal details are essential to creating a bond, as the employer is looking for someone that they can work with, that they can bring into the team. 

Don’t go into specific details in this part, you are going to talk about your career, achievements, and skills later. 

3. Career (where have you worked and what have you done there)

As in a CV, there is no need to present all the jobs you had had. Choose those who are relevant to the job you are applying and if you are specifically fond of one, you can mention it. 

Pick 3 or 4 previous positions, mention the company you worked for, and from there you can extend to your main responsibilities and key learnings. It is important to present them as part of your story, not just bullets on the slide and we also recommend making a connection between those positions and the one you are applying for. 

4. Achievements and Training

This can be a slide or two slides sections. To differentiate yourself from other candidates, ensure the achievements you are listing focus on the results rather than your duties. Quantify your achievements through specific situations and the results you gained.

You don’t need to brag about yourself, but most people forget that they also need to sell themselves (their results and their knowledge) in this personal presentation. Put out those achievements that would apply to the job and can even enter scenarios on how those situations can help you in the new job. 

5. Skill Set

This is about you, about the skills that you worked to get. Again, it’s not about just listing the skills you have, bringing out examples, and experience, and telling on how you acquired that skill. 

Before making out this list, research a few things about the company, what are they looking for in employees, what the job will require of you and what are the values of the company. This way it will come easier when presenting the skills that you have and that will help you with the new position.  

6. Experience in the position applying 

It’s not just the previous jobs you have, it’s the experiences you got from them. So rather than presenting the old jobs, talk about specific projects/situations that would apply to this one. 

Talk about what happened, how you handled it, what were the results, and what have you learned from there. Ask yourself first how will this help me in the position that I am applying for. When you figured that out, the presentation will go smoother.  

7. Your added value to the company

With all the experience you have and the research done on the company and the job, this is the time to tell your interviewers what is your vision of the company. 

Using the skills you presented, explain how can you be an asset to them and what value will you add to the company. 

8. First actions on the job

All the stories have built up the person standing right now in front of the committee. What they want to know now is what actions you would take if you got the position. Don’t go after some revolutionary actions, keep your feet on the ground and analyze what are the needs of the company and what can you do about them.

For every action you put on the presentation, think of the small steps and the resources you need to do that action. As a follow-up to this slide, have prepared a few notes with the results you are expecting from them. 

9.  Final statement 

The final statement needs to be a strong selling point, you can point out some of the skills and experience. Put all of this in a way that will bring benefits to the company.  

Why you are the best candidate for this position and how will that bring value to the company? 

10. References & Contact Info

Ask a previous employer for a short recommendation, remember to mention the name and the position of the author. The other references can be on your CV, and in this slide have just one written recommendation that is relevant for the job. 

You arrived at the final slide, inviting your audience to a small Q&A while the reference is still displayed. They already have your contact info, but it’s recommended to put it on the final slide. Have the presentation ready to be sent to the committee if necessary. 

Before preparing or delivering a personal presentation, consider these tips:

• As you have seen in the article, we mention a lot that the information you put in the presentation is relevant to the job you are applying for; 
• Research the company and the job;
• Keep in mind that your physical and digital appearance can denote how much you have prepared for this interview and how much you want the position;
• You don’t need to be a presentation designer, you can always keep it simple. Though, avoid using regular templates, and personalize the presentation to your aspect;
• Have the presentation ready to be delivered before the interview.

We can always help you prepare the specific presentation and you can take your time to prepare for the interview. Send us a message and let’s talk about you!

For more tips on preparing presentations and free templates subscribe to our newsletter. 

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   Home » Articles & News » Personal Presentation – an Overview

Personal Presentation – an Overview

• Young Professional

What is Personal Presentation and Why is It Important?

Personal presentation is a communication skill , and communication is one of five important life and work skills you can build as a Young Professional .

Personal presentation means the way you present yourself in everyday situations, and more stressful ones like job interviews. How you appear to the world can have a major impact on your ability to get a job. It’s said that an employer will make a judgement about you in the first 30 seconds after meeting you, which is then quite hard to change during the interview (though not impossible!). So it’s important to make a good impression.

You are your own brand, and what you do and say, as well as your appearance, is all part of that. This means dressing smartly, being clean and having good personal hygiene, and carrying yourself well. Presentation means making a strong first impression and appearing professional.

Whilst employers shouldn’t judge you on how you look, appearing neat and confident is important to show that you’ve made an effort. To be a professional you need to dress the part, which means appropriate clothing for your industry. It could be a suit and tie, or for some jobs particularly in the creative industries there’s more of a relaxed vibe. Whatever the dress code presenting yourself well means you’ve done your research and taken the time to fit in. Standing out can be good but you don’t want to be the only person in the office wearing trainers.

Developing and Demonstrating Good Self Presentation.

It’s fairly easy to improve your personal presentation. Start by looking into the sort of clothes people wear in your chosen industry. For an interview it’s good to wear a slightly smarter version of this. If in doubt it’s a safe bet to wear a suit or trousers/skirt and a blouse or smart top for an interview. Even in a casual role you want to show you take the job seriously at the interview. Make sure everything is clean, dry, and not wrinkled. Laying your outfit out the night before is a good idea, especially if you work in an office environment this will help you ensure you look the part every day.

Another part of personal presentation which isn’t as obvious is confidence. If you are confident people will be able to tell when you walk into a room, and will view you as well presented. If you don’t feel confident you can use the ‘fake it ’til you make it’ trick – stand tall, pull your shoulders back, make eye contact and smile. Tell yourself you are confident and you might find that soon you are.

You are a whole person, and as such everything you say or do in public counts towards the impression of you that others create. This includes social media, so make sure your accounts are presenting you in the best possible way. If you’ve got things on there you don’t think are particularly professional change your security settings, or remove them. It’s really important to make sure you’re aware of what you put out there!

Showing you have good personal presentation is as simple as turning up on time, dressed professionally and appropriately, and appearing confident and enthusiastic about the role. If you get that right you’ll make a great first impression, and can go on to talk about your excellent communication , teamwork and people skills – which all go towards presenting you in a positive way. If you use the STARRS method as well you’ll certainly impress.

Further reading:

• How Interviewers Know When To Hire You in 90 Seconds
• What really happens in the opening moments of a job interview
• Self-Presentation in Presentations

Getting life/work ready

Have you thought about boosting your life and work skills .

Developing the 5 most important skills for life and work is something you can do for free, in your own time. You can start building those skills with Youth Employment UK wherever you are on life’s journey. It can be a big help when you don’t know what to do next.

Boosting your Young Professional life and work skills means you can:

• Boost your confidence
• Feel like you’re taking charge of your life
• Find out more about yourself and what you genuinely want/need in life
• Give yourself more options – both now and later down the line

The 5 top life and work skills are:

• Communication
• Problem solving
• Self-management
• Self-belief

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Personal Presentations

A simple exercise in which each participant prepares a personal presentation of him/herself sharing several important experiences, events, people or stories that contributed to shaping him or her as an individual. The purpose of personal presentations is to support each participant in getting to know each other as individuals and to build trust and openness in a group by enlarging the social arena.

Save time and effort designing your workshops

Support each participant in getting to know each other as individuals and to build trust and openness in a group by enlarging the social arena.

Attachments

Instructions

Each participant prepares their personal presentation: a short presentation about “3 things (experiences, events, people, stories) that have contributed to shaping the person I am today.”

The presentation should be visualized using words and symbols on a single flip-chart paper. Give participants about 15-20 minutes to prepare this.

Facilitator notes

It can be effective for one facilitator to do his/her presentation before participants be their own. This helps role model personal storytelling and supports participants to select their own things to share.

Presentations: Each participant gets 3 minutes (or more depending on time and group size) to present his/her presentation to the whole group. Encourage focus and active listening.

It is very important to create a safe and inviting space since individuals will share personal stories. In some cases, individuals may share experiences that generate emotion in themselves and/or within the group. As a facilitator, remind participants that this is normal and welcome. If individuals become very emotional, follow-up with them individually after the session.

If you are a smaller group, where time is not limited, facilitators can invite members of the group to ask questions to each person immediately after his/her presentation.

Source: Hyper Island toolbox

Hyper Island designs learning experiences that challenge companies and individuals to grow and stay competitive in an increasingly digitized world. With clients such as Google, adidas and IKEA, Hyper Island has been listed by CNN as one of the most innovative schools in the world

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With quarterback Cam Rising back at the spring game, Utah can finally breathe again — and contend in the Big 12

Rising’s debut goes for 208 yards, two touchdowns and a restored hope in the future..

(Courtesy of Utah Athletics) Quarterback Cam Rising throws during Day 1 of Utah football spring practices on Tuesday, March 12, 2023 at the University of Utah.

Utah wide receivers coach Alvis Whitted had to prepare himself for this one.

The question posed to him was fairly innocuous: “Is it nice to have Cam Rising back under center?”

But Whitted leaned forward in his chair, smirked slightly and gave the group the look — you know, the one you give out of the corner of your eye when only you and another person know something.

“Oh, man,” he started with a chuckle. “Night and day, man. That’s all I can say. It is so refreshing to have him back there.”

Rising’s absence has hung over Utah’s program for the past year. There were dark times in 2023, a season that saw the Utes limp from being a College Football Playoff contender to going 8-5 and losing in the Las Vegas Bowl to Northwestern.

The offense shuffled from Bryson Barnes to Nate Johnson to eventually Luke Bottari at quarterback. Things hit rock bottom when the Utes didn’t even score a touchdown against Oregon, getting blown out 35-6 on national television. The hard part: The score should have been worse.

But Rising is back now. And hope has returned behind the flowing-haired helmet that Utah missed seeing so much.

In his debut in Utah’s spring game, Rising went 15 of 19 for 208 yards and two touchdowns. It equated to a passer rating of 208.6.

Finally, Utah can breathe again.

“It was a little surreal,” Rising, 24, said of coming back from his yearlong knee injury. “... It was a hard year last year. Just to have that [day] was amazing.”

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) takes some snaps during warmups, before PAC-12 football action between the Utah Utes and the UCLA Bruins, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.

On the football side, none of what Rising did should be taken too seriously. He wore a yellow jersey so he couldn’t get hit. He spent most of his afternoon throwing to wide-open receivers.

At one point, he hit wide receiver Dorian Singer on a 40-yard go-route down the sideline and no defender was within 5 yards of him. It was supposed to be a fourth down and 6. That wouldn’t happen in a Big 12 game.

But the feeling of Rising coming back — and the moments it produced — was tangible.

Early in the day, Rising dropped back on a fourth and 3 and found fellow tight end Brant Kuithe for a first down. Kuithe also missed 2023 with an injury — one of many players to go down for Utah.

The crowd stood up and cheered cathartically. It was like watching a play from 2022 again — back when Utah had a fully healthy roster and was a national contender.

With the fans still clapping, Rising took a shot to Money Parks for a 57-yard touchdown on the next play. There was the offense that went to back-to-back Rose Bowl.

“Exactly what we hoped it would be,” head coach Kyle Whittingham said of Rising’s day. “He was accurate. He moved well in the pocket. Had great pocket presence to him, which he always does. Got through his progressions quick and got the ball out on time. Really couldn’t have asked anything more than what he gave us today.”

Rising didn’t miss any part of spring. He is fully recovered from a knee injury that took months to heal.

A year ago, Rising sat out of spring practice and hoped to return for the opening game. But the timeline kept getting pushed back further and further, until he was shut down for the year at the end of October.

All the knowledge of Utah’s offense went with him. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig had to distill everything down to nuts and bolts. The passing efficiency went to 104th in the country.

A running joke was that Rising had a doctorate in Ludwig’s offense, something you can’t replace.

“I definitely feel like I got the doctorate,” Rising said. “Six years to prove it.”

It’s why when Rising stepped on the field on the first day of spring, every coach immediately relaxed. They swung by each other’s offices after practice and remarked how calming it was to have Rising at the helm.

There was a recalibration of what 2023 was supposed to be, but was taken away.

“Veteran player and manages the offense,” Whitted said. “And really [he is] managing our guys. Letting them know the expectations for us. … The throws that he makes, the anticipation, just his knowledge of the offense. It shows and he makes some spectacular throws. It is pretty cool to see.”

In the stands for Utah’s spring game, many fans were still wearing Rose Bowl shirts and memorabilia from 2022. When they looked down at the field, they saw the quarterback who took them to that game.

“He is back to his old self,” Whittingham said.

For Utah and its fans, it means the expectations can come back too. Finally.

Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible

Real Salt Lake settles for 1 point from a frustrating match vs. Columbus

Read the full list of lds temple recommend questions, including the new garment instructions, scott d. pierce: don’t like jon bon jovi you will after watching new docuseries., opinion: it’s time to end the quiet cruelty of property taxes, tribune editorial: building a needed hospital. throwing public money at sports palaces. seeing that freedom of speech can be ugly., wnba mock draft: utah’s alissa pili expected to join caitlin clark, cameron brink in first round, featured local savings.

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These 4 Charts Show Plunging Expectations for Fed Rate Cuts

The hot March CPI report has bond traders significantly paring back rate cuts in 2024.

Expectations have collapsed for Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2024 after the third hotter-than-expected inflation report in a row.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index rose 3.5% in March from year-ago levels, well above forecasts for a 3.4% increase and a jump from February’s 3.2% inflation rate.

In the bond market, expectations now center on the Fed making its first cut in the federal-funds rate in September. Before Wednesday’s CPI report, the average expectation was that the central bank would lower rates by a quarter of a percentage point in June from the current target range of 5.25%-5.50%. In contrast, at the start of this year, the Fed had been expected to start cutting rates in March.

“In one word, the report was discouraging for the Fed and the prospects of a June cut. Inflation is proving sticky,” Bank of America economists wrote Wednesday morning.

Federal-Funds Rate Target Expectations

Fed rate cuts hinge on inflation outlook.

With the economy continuing to grow at a healthy pace, the Fed’s ability to start cutting rates has been seen as heavily dependent on continued progress in reducing inflation after upward pressure on prices hit a 40-year peak in 2022.

The higher-than-predicted inflation reading for March followed above-forecast CPI reports in January and February, fueling worries that the progress seen in reducing inflation during 2023 has stalled out.

With Fed officials emphasizing the need to feel comfortable with the inflation outlook before beginning to lower rates, the bond market reacted sharply to Wednesday’s CPI report.

When Will the Fed Cut Rates?

In the futures market, where bond traders place bets on the direction of interest rates, odds that the Fed will cut rates at its June policy-setting meeting plunged from 56% on Tuesday to just under 19% following the CPI report, according to the CME FedWatch Tool .

Federal-Funds Rate Target Expectations For June Meeting

Bond traders also now predict that the Fed will hold rates steady even at its July meeting. The first rate cut is now seen as more likely to come in September. Bond traders peg the odds of the Fed lowering the funds rate to a 5.00%-5.25% target at 46%, compared with 32% odds of rates still being at current levels and a 20% chance of rates being cut by half a point.

“In addition to the jobs report released last week , [the March CPI report] complicates the timing of the Fed’s rate cuts. With this latest data, there is a strong case to push out the timing of the first cut past mid-year,” wrote Pimco economist Tiffany Wilding.

Federal-Funds Rate Target Expectations For September Meeting

Expectations for the number of rate cuts in 2024 have also changed dramatically. Coming into the year, investors were anticipating five cuts starting in March. That has now been scaled back to slightly favoring two cuts, with a target range of 4.75%-5.00% to close out the year. Bond traders still see a more than 30% chance that only one cut will be in the offering in 2024.

Federal-Funds Rate Target Expectations For December Meeting

The author or authors do not own shares in any securities mentioned in this article. Find out about Morningstar’s editorial policies .

More on this Topic

March CPI Report: Why Is Inflation Still So Sticky? Rising housing costs and higher gas prices are to blame. Sarah Hansen

Forecasts for March CPI Report Show More Mixed Signals on Inflation With progress stalled toward reducing inflation, the March report could further dim the outlook for Fed rate cuts. Sarah Hansen

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U.S. Department of Commerce

Was this page helpful, by the numbers: continuing to outpace expectations, u.s. economy gains over 300,000 jobs in march.

GDP and Personal Income Rise in All 50 States and the District of Columbia

Job creation in March exceeded expectations, with 303,000 jobs added to the U.S. economy, according to the latest report from the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Nearly 15.2 million jobs have been created under President Biden and unemployment has remained under 4 percent—the longest stretch in 50 years.

In addition, according to the latest statistics from Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, both real gross domestic product — or GDP—and personal income increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the fourth quarter of 2023. GDP increased in 18 of the 23 industry groups, with manufacturing and retail leading growth nationally. Construction activity, meanwhile, grew in 45 states and the District of Columbia.

For 2023, real—or inflation-adjusted—GDP increased in 49 states and the District of Columbia, while current dollar personal income increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. GDP increased in 17 of the 23 industry groups, with retail, professional, scientific, and technical services, and health care and social assistance, leading contributors to GDP growth nationally for the year. Wages also continue to rise. According to BLS, over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 4.1 percent.

“Over 15 million jobs have been created since President Biden took office and we continue to see economic growth in all 50 states and the District of Columbia,” said Secretary Raimondo. “That’s an extraordinary story of progress and a clear testament of President Biden’s commitment to building the economy from the middle out and bottom up.”

As part of his  economic agenda , President Biden is committed to creating more jobs in the United States and an economy that works for all Americans. For more information, see President Biden's statement on the March Jobs Report.

By the numbers is a blog series that showcases the Commerce Department’s economic indicators and how they impact the American economy.

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Canada to unveil budget as experts doubt fiscal targets

Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will have to find ways to amp up savings or raise taxes when she delivers the budget on Tuesday, as new heavy spending plans in the run-up further risks weakening government finances, economists say.

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