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] .
Let’s talk
Change isn’t easy, but we can help. Together we’ll create informed and inspired leaders ready to shape the future of your business.
© 2024 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.
- Privacy Policy
- Copyright Information
- Terms of Use
- About Harvard Business Publishing
- Higher Education
- Harvard Business Review
- Harvard Business School
We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies and revised Privacy Policy .
Communication
Presentations (HBR 20-Minute Manager Series)
Presentations (HBR 20-Minute Manager Series) ^ 16865
Want to buy more than 1 copy? Contact: [email protected]
Product Description
Publication Date: March 11, 2014
Feeling stressed about your upcoming presentation? Whether you're nervous about how you'll organize your thoughts or how you'll articulate them on the big day, Presentations provides the quick guidelines and expert tips you need to: (1) Craft your message, (2) Prepare and rehearse effectively, (3) Engage your audience, and (4) Manage Q&A sessions. About HBR's 20-Minute Manager Series: Don't have much time? Get up to speed fast on the most essential business skills with HBR's 20-Minute Manager series. Whether you need a crash course or a brief refresher, each book in the series is a concise, practical primer that will help you brush up on a key management topic. Advice you can quickly read and apply, for ambitious professionals and aspiring executives-from the most trusted source in business. Also available as an ebook.
This Product Also Appears In
Buy together, related products.
The HBR Essential 20-Minute Manager Collection (5 Books) (HBR 20-Minute Manager Series)
HBR 20-Minute Manager Boxed Set (10 Books) (HBR 20-Minute Manager Series)
HBR 20-Minute Manager Collection (8 Ebooks) (HBR 20-Minute Manager Series)
Copyright permissions.
If you'd like to share this PDF, you can purchase copyright permissions by increasing the quantity.
Order for your team and save!
- Shopping Cart
Advanced Search
- Browse Our Shelves
- Best Sellers
- Digital Audiobooks
- Featured Titles
- New This Week
- Staff Recommended
- Suggestions for Kids
- Fiction Suggestions
- Nonfiction Suggestions
- Reading Lists
- Upcoming Events
- Ticketed Events
- Science Book Talks
- Past Events
- Video Archive
- Online Gift Codes
- University Clothing
- Goods & Gifts from Harvard Book Store
- Hours & Directions
- Newsletter Archive
- Frequent Buyer Program
- Signed First Edition Club
- Signed New Voices in Fiction Club
- Harvard Square Book Circle
- Off-Site Book Sales
- Corporate & Special Sales
- Print on Demand
- All Our Shelves
- Academic New Arrivals
- New Hardcover - Biography
- New Hardcover - Fiction
- New Hardcover - Nonfiction
- New Titles - Paperback
- African American Studies
- Anthologies
- Anthropology / Archaeology
- Architecture
- Asia & The Pacific
- Astronomy / Geology
- Boston / Cambridge / New England
- Business & Management
- Career Guides
- Child Care / Childbirth / Adoption
- Children's Board Books
- Children's Picture Books
- Children's Activity Books
- Children's Beginning Readers
- Children's Middle Grade
- Children's Gift Books
- Children's Nonfiction
- Children's/Teen Graphic Novels
- Teen Nonfiction
- Young Adult
- Classical Studies
- Cognitive Science / Linguistics
- College Guides
- Cultural & Critical Theory
- Education - Higher Ed
- Environment / Sustainablity
- European History
- Exam Preps / Outlines
- Games & Hobbies
- Gender Studies / Gay & Lesbian
- Gift / Seasonal Books
- Globalization
- Graphic Novels
- Hardcover Classics
- Health / Fitness / Med Ref
- Islamic Studies
- Large Print
- Latin America / Caribbean
- Law & Legal Issues
- Literary Crit & Biography
- Local Economy
- Mathematics
- Media Studies
- Middle East
- Myths / Tales / Legends
- Native American
- Paperback Favorites
- Performing Arts / Acting
- Personal Finance
- Personal Growth
- Photography
- Physics / Chemistry
- Poetry Criticism
- Ref / English Lang Dict & Thes
- Ref / Foreign Lang Dict / Phrase
- Reference - General
- Religion - Christianity
- Religion - Comparative
- Religion - Eastern
- Romance & Erotica
- Science Fiction
- Short Introductions
- Technology, Culture & Media
- Theology / Religious Studies
- Travel Atlases & Maps
- Travel Lit / Adventure
- Urban Studies
- Wines And Spirits
- Women's Studies
- World History
- Writing Style And Publishing
HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations (Harvard Business Reveiw Guides)
TAKE THE PAIN OUT OF PRESENTATIONS. Terrified of speaking in front of a group? Or simply looking to polish your skills? No matter where you are on the spectrum, this guide will give you the confidence and the tools you need to get results. Written by presentation expert Nancy Duarte, the HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations will help you: • Win over tough crowds • Organize a coherent narrative • Create powerful messages and visuals • Connect with and engage your audience • Show people why your ideas matter to them • Strike the right tone, in any situation
There are no customer reviews for this item yet.
Classic Totes
Tote bags and pouches in a variety of styles, sizes, and designs , plus mugs, bookmarks, and more!
Shipping & Pickup
We ship anywhere in the U.S. and orders of $75+ ship free via media mail!
Noteworthy Signed Books: Join the Club!
Join our Signed First Edition Club (or give a gift subscription) for a signed book of great literary merit, delivered to you monthly.
Harvard Square's Independent Bookstore
© 2024 Harvard Book Store All rights reserved
Contact Harvard Book Store 1256 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel (617) 661-1515 Toll Free (800) 542-READ Email [email protected]
View our current hours »
Join our bookselling team »
We plan to remain closed to the public for two weeks, through Saturday, March 28 While our doors are closed, we plan to staff our phones, email, and harvard.com web order services from 10am to 6pm daily.
Store Hours Monday - Saturday: 9am - 11pm Sunday: 10am - 10pm
Holiday Hours 12/24: 9am - 7pm 12/25: closed 12/31: 9am - 9pm 1/1: 12pm - 11pm All other hours as usual.
Map Find Harvard Book Store »
Online Customer Service Shipping » Online Returns » Privacy Policy »
Harvard University harvard.edu »
- Clubs & Services
- Presentations
Harvard Business Review
Group Slides account.
HBR Ascend. Discovering Your Strengths
Based on Peter F. Drucker article in Harvard Business Review
- Business & Money
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Amazon Prime includes:
Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.
- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
- Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
Buy new: $12.95 $12.95 FREE delivery: Friday, April 19 on orders over $35.00 shipped by Amazon. Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com
Return this item for free.
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
Buy used: $10.24
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime.
If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.
Other Sellers on Amazon
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Image Unavailable
- To view this video download Flash Player
Follow the author
Presentations (HBR 20-Minute Manager Series) Paperback – March 11, 2014
Purchase options and add-ons.
- Craft your message
- Prepare and rehearse effectively
- Engage your audience
Don't have much time? Get up to speed fast on the most essential business skills with HBR's 20-Minute Manager series. Whether you need a crash course or a brief refresher, each book in the series is a concise, practical primer that will help you brush up on a key management topic. Advice you can quickly read and apply, for ambitious professionals and aspiring executives--from the most trusted source in business. Also available as an ebook.
- Part of series 20-Minute Manager
- Print length 112 pages
- Language English
- Publisher Harvard Business Review Press
- Publication date March 11, 2014
- Dimensions 4.9 x 0.4 x 6.8 inches
- ISBN-10 9781625270863
- ISBN-13 978-1625270863
- See all details
Frequently bought together
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Editorial Reviews
About the author.
Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, 11 international licensed editions, books from Harvard Business Review Press, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review provides professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact.
Product details
- ASIN : 1625270860
- Publisher : Harvard Business Review Press (March 11, 2014)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 112 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781625270863
- ISBN-13 : 978-1625270863
- Item Weight : 3.49 ounces
- Dimensions : 4.9 x 0.4 x 6.8 inches
- #282 in Running Meetings & Presentations (Books)
- #1,104 in Communication Skills
- #1,199 in Communication & Social Skills (Books)
About the author
Harvard business review.
Harvard Business Review Press is a leading global book publisher and a division of the Harvard Business Review Group. HBR Press publishes for the general, professional, and academic markets on the topics of leadership, strategy, innovation, and management. Recent bestselling titles include HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself, Playing to Win, A Sense of Urgency, Leading the Life You Want, Conscious Capitalism, The Founder’s Mentality, HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Mental Toughness, and The First 90 Days.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
- Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..
Top reviews from other countries
- Amazon Newsletter
- About Amazon
- Accessibility
- Sustainability
- Press Center
- Investor Relations
- Amazon Devices
- Amazon Science
- Start Selling with Amazon
- Sell apps on Amazon
- Supply to Amazon
- Protect & Build Your Brand
- Become an Affiliate
- Become a Delivery Driver
- Start a Package Delivery Business
- Advertise Your Products
- Self-Publish with Us
- Host an Amazon Hub
- › See More Ways to Make Money
- Amazon Visa
- Amazon Store Card
- Amazon Secured Card
- Amazon Business Card
- Shop with Points
- Credit Card Marketplace
- Reload Your Balance
- Amazon Currency Converter
- Your Account
- Your Orders
- Shipping Rates & Policies
- Amazon Prime
- Returns & Replacements
- Manage Your Content and Devices
- Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
- Conditions of Use
- Privacy Notice
- Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
- Your Ads Privacy Choices
Brought to you by:
HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations
By: Nancy Duarte
Available exclusively through HBR.org: Ebook + Video! Purchase of the "HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations" ebook includes a 20-minute video case study. This video features author Nancy Duarte…
- Length: 256 page(s)
- Publication Date: Oct 9, 2012
- Discipline: Organizational Behavior
- Product #: 11150-PBK-ENG
This item is no longer available. Try our website search to find available products, or contact us for assistance.
TAKE THE PAIN OUT OF PRESENTATIONS. Terrified of speaking in front of a group? Or simply looking to polish your skills? No matter where you are on the spectrum, this guide will give you the confidence and the tools you need to get results. Written by presentation expert Nancy Duarte, the "HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations" will help you: (1) Win over tough crowds, (2) Organize a coherent narrative, (3) Create powerful messages and visuals, (4) Connect with and engage your audience, (5) Show people why your ideas matter to them, and (6) Strike the right tone, in any situation.
Available exclusively through HBR.org : Ebook + Video! Purchase of the "HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations" ebook includes a 20-minute video case study. This video features author Nancy Duarte walking you through tips covered in the Guide and is available to download (as an mp4 file) or to stream online. Duarte uses a former client, Alta Devices, to clearly illustrate how you can apply the techniques discussed in her book. Get it now--this Ebook + Video is available only through HBR.org .
If you'd like to purchase multiple copies of this ebook and video case study to share with your team, please visit our corporate sales page for information on quantity discount rates: http://hbr.org/books/direct-and-bulk-sales
Oct 9, 2012
Discipline:
Organizational Behavior
Harvard Business Press Books
11150-PBK-ENG
256 page(s)
We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience, including personalizing content. Learn More . By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies and revised Privacy Policy .
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Read more on Business communication or related topics Power and influence, Presentation skills and Public speaking Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of ...
A Checklist for More Persuasive Presentations. We all know the basics of good presentation skills: don't read from a script; don't overwhelm your audience with verbose slides; and the like ...
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 ...
No matter where you are on the spectrum, this guide will give you the confidence and the tools you need to get results. Written by presentation expert Nancy Duarte, the "HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations" will help you: (1) Win over tough crowds, (2) Organize a coherent narrative, (3) Create powerful messages and visuals, (4) Connect with ...
Get up to speed fast on the most essential business skills with HBR's 20-Minute Manager series. Whether you need a crash course or a brief refresher, each book in the series is a concise, practical primer that will help you brush up on a key management topic. Advice you can quickly read and apply, for ambitious professionals and aspiring ...
For more than 30 years, the TED conference series has presented enlightening talks that people enjoy watching. In this article, Anderson, TED's curator, shares five keys to great presentations: Frame your story (figure out where to start and where to end). Plan your delivery (decide whether to memorize your speech word for word or develop bullet points and then rehearse it-over and over). Work ...
Harvard Business Review Guides are for busy professionals looking for quick answers to common challenges. They're packed with useful tips and practical advice in a brief, easy-to-read format. ... HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations: Author: Harvard Business Review: Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press, 2010: ISBN: 1422172910 ...
Harvard Business Review Guide to Persuasive Presentations page 5 ... Harvard Business Review Guide to Persuasive Presentations page 7 How to Make Your Case in 30 Seconds or Less An elevator pitch can help capture an investor's attention, open the door to a job, or win vital support for a new project. by Nick Wreden
Get up to speed fast on the most essential business skills with HBR's 20-Minute Manager series. Whether you need a crash course or a brief refresher, each book in the series is a concise, practical primer that will help you brush up on a key management topic. Advice you can quickly read and apply, for ambitious professionals and aspiring ...
Presentations Nancy Duarte HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW PRESS Boston, Massachusetts H5981.indb iii 7/16/12 9:05 AM This document is authorized for use only by Stacy Petroski ([email protected]). Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Please contact [email protected] or 800-988-0886 for additional copies.
Command the room--whether you're speaking to an audience of one or one hundred. If you read nothing else on public speaking and presenting, read these 10 articles. We've combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you find your voice, persuade your listeners, and connect with audiences of any size. This book will inspire you to: Win ...
Written by presentation expert Nancy Duarte, the HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations will help you: • Win over tough crowds • Organize a coherent narrative • Create powerful messages and visuals • Connect with and engage your audience • Show people why your ideas matter to them • Strike the right tone, in any situation.
Elevating your teams' communication skills has never been easier thanks to the HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations. It's one of 20 titles on HBR's "Ideas with Impact List," which honors books that are adopted widely inside organizations. Not to mention, the only book out of 75 in the HBR Guide Series to be recognized.
Harvard Business Review. Group Slides account. All decks 1. HBR Ascend. Discovering Your Strengths. Jan 31, 2017 175 1.
Harvard Business Review Press is a leading global book publisher and a division of the Harvard Business Review Group. HBR Press publishes for the general, professional, and academic markets on the topics of leadership, strategy, innovation, and management. Recent bestselling titles include HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself, Playing to ...
130 reviews65 followers. August 22, 2020. A way too simplistic book on "improving" your presentation skills. It just lacks depth. It's in one's best interest to skip it & read some other authoritative book in this genre.Key points:• Define your goal i.e. why are you giving a presentation• Explaining new data.•.
Available exclusively through HBR.org: Ebook + Video! Purchase of the "HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations" ebook includes a 20-minute video case study. This video features author Nancy Duarte walking you through tips covered in the Guide and is available to download (as an mp4 file) or to stream online. Duarte uses a former client, Alta Devices, to clearly illustrate how you can apply the ...