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Presentation Skills 101: A Guide to Presentation Success

Getting the perfect presentation design is just a step toward a successful presentation. For the experienced user, building presentation skills is the answer to elevating the power of your message and showing expertise on any subject. Still, one can ask: is it the same set of skills, or are they dependable on the type of presentation?

In this article, we will introduce the different types of presentations accompanied by the skillset required to master them. The purpose, as always, is to retain the audience’s interest for a long-lasting and convincing message.

Table of Contents

The Importance of Presentation Skills

Persuasive presentations, instructional presentations, informative presentations, inspirational presentations, basic presentation skills, what are the main difficulties when giving a presentation, recommendations to improve your presentation skills, closing statement.

Effective communication is the answer to reaching business and academic goals. The scenarios in which we can be required to deliver a presentation are as diverse as one can imagine. Still, some core concepts apply to all presentations.

 We define presentation skills as a compendium of soft skills that directly affect your presentation performance and contribute to creating a great presentation. These are not qualities acquired by birth but skills you ought to train and master to delve into professional environments.

You may ask: is it really that evident when a presenter is not prepared? Here are some common signs people can experience during presentations:

• Evasive body language: Not making eye contact with the audience, arms closed tightly to the body, hands in pockets all the time.
• Lack of interest in the presenter’s voice: dull tone, not putting an effort to articulate the topics.
• Doubting when asked to answer a question
• Irksome mood

The list can go on about common presenter mistakes , and most certainly, it will affect the performance of any presented data if the lack of interest by the presenter is blatantly obvious.  Another element to consider is anxiety, and according to research by the National Institute of Mental Health, 73% of the population in the USA is affected by glossophobia , which is the fear of public speaking, judgment, or negative evaluation by other people.

Therefore, presentation skills training is essential for any business professional who wants to achieve effective communication . It will remove the anxiety from presentation performance and help users effectively deliver their message and connect with the audience.

Archetypes of presentations

Persuasive presentations aim to convince the audience – often in short periods – to acquire a product or service, adhere to a cause, or invest in a company. For business entrepreneurs or politicians, persuasive presentations are their tool for the trade.

Unless you aim to be perceived as an imposter, a proper persuasive presentation has the elements of facts, empathy, and logic, balanced under a well-crafted narrative. The central pillar of these presentations is to identify the single factor that gathered your audience: it could be a market need, a social cause, or a revolutionary concept for today’s society. It has to be something with enough power to gather critiques – both good and bad.

That single factor has to be backed up by facts. Research that builds your hypothesis on how to solve that problem. A deep understanding of the target audience’s needs , concerns, and social position regarding the solution your means can offer. When those elements are in place, building a pitch becomes an easy task. 

Graphics can help you introduce information in a compelling format, lowering the need for lengthy presentations. Good presentation skills for persuasive presentations go by the hand of filtering relevant data and creating the visual cues that resonate with what your audience demands.

One powerful example of a persuasive presentation is the technique known as the elevator pitch . You must introduce your idea or product convincingly to the audience in a timeframe between 30 seconds and less than 2 minutes. You have to expose:

• What do you do 
• What’s the problem to solve
• Why is your solution different from others 
• Why should the audience care about your expertise

For that very purpose, using engaging graphics with contrasting colors elevates the potential power of your message. It speaks professionalism, care for details, and out-of-the-box thinking. Knowing how to end a presentation is also critical, as your CTAs should be placed with care.

Therefore, let’s resume the requirements of persuasive presentations in terms of good presentation skills:

• Identifying problems and needs
• Elaborating “the hook” (the element that grabs the audience’s attention)
• Knowing how to “tie” your audience (introducing a piece of information related to the hook that causes an emotional impact)
• Broad knowledge of body language and hand gestures to quickly convey your message
• Being prepared to argue a defense of your point of view
• Handling rejection
• Having a proactive attitude to convert opportunities into new projects
• Using humor, surprise, or personal anecdotes as elements to sympathize with the audience
• Having confidence
• Be able to summarize facts and information in visually appealing ways

You can learn more about persuasive presentation techniques by clicking here .

In the case of instructional presentations, we ought to differentiate two distinctive types:

• Lecture Presentations : Presentations being held at universities or any other educative institution. Those presentations cover, topic by topic, and the contents of a syllabus and are created by the team of teachers in charge of the course.
• Training Presentations : These presentations take place during in-company training sessions and usually comprise a good amount of content that is resumed into easy-to-take solutions. They are aimed to coach employees over certain topics relevant to their work performance. The 70-20-10 Model is frequently used to address these training situations.

Lecture presentations appeal to the gradual introduction of complex concepts, following a structure set in the course’s syllabus. These presentations often have a similar aesthetic as a group of professors or researchers created to share their knowledge about a topic. Personal experience does tell that course presentations often rely on factual data, adequately documented, and on the theoretical side.

An example of a presentation that lies under this concept is a Syllabus Presentation, used by the teaching team to introduce the subject to new students, evaluation methods, concepts to be learned, and expectations to pass the course.

On the other hand, training presentations are slide decks designed to meet an organization’s specific needs in the formal education of their personnel. Commonly known as “continuous education,” plenty of companies invest resources in coaching their employees to achieve higher performance results. These presentations have the trademark of being concise since their idea is to introduce the concepts that shall be applied in practice sessions. 

Ideally, the training presentations are introduced with little text and easy-to-recognize visual cues. Since the idea is to summarize as much as possible, these are visually appealing for the audience. They must be dynamic enough to allow the presenter to convey the message.

Those key takeaways remind employees when they revisit their learning resources and allow them to ruminate on questions that fellow workers raise. 

To sum up this point, building presentation skills for instructional presentations requires:

• Ability to put complex concepts into simpler words
• Patience and a constant learning mindset
• Voice training to deliver lengthy speeches without being too dense
• Ability to summarize points and note the key takeaways
• Empathizing with the audience to understand their challenges in the learning process

The informative presentations take place in business situations, such as when to present project reports from different departments to the management. Another potential usage of these presentations is in SCRUM or other Agile methodologies, when a sprint is completed, to discuss the advance of the project with the Product Owner.

As they are presentations heavily dependent on data insights, it’s common to see the usage of infographics and charts to express usually dense data in simpler terms and easy to remember. 

Informative presentations don’t just fall into the business category. Ph.D. Dissertation and Thesis presentations are topics that belong to the informative presentations category as they condense countless research hours into manageable reports for the academic jury. 

Since these informational presentations can be perceived as lengthy and data-filled, it is important to learn the following professional presentation skills:

• Attention to detail
• Be able to explain complex information in simpler terms
• Creative thinking
• Powerful diction
• Working on pauses and transitions
• Pacing the presentation, so not too much information is divulged per slide

The leading inspirational platform, TEDx, comes to mind when talking about inspirational presentations. This presentation format has the peculiarity of maximizing the engagement with the audience to divulge a message, and due to that, it has specific requirements any presenter must meet.

This presentation format usually involves a speaker on a stage, either sitting or better standing, in which the presenter engages with the audience with a storytelling format about a life experience, a job done that provided a remarkable improvement for society, etc.

Empathizing with the audience is the key ingredient for these inspirational presentations. Still, creativity is what shapes the outcome of your performance as people are constantly looking for different experiences – not the same recipe rephrased with personal touches. The human factor is what matters here, way above data and research. What has your experience to offer to others? How can it motivate another human being to pursue a similar path or discover their true calling?

To achieve success in terms of communication skills presentation, these inspirational presentations have the following requirements:

• Focus on the audience (engage, consider their interests, and make them a part of your story)
• Putting ego aside
• Creative communication skills
• Storytelling skills
• Body language knowledge to apply the correct gestures to accompany your story
• Voice training
• Using powerful words

After discussing the different kinds of presentations we can come across at any stage of our lives, a group of presentation skills is standard in any type of presentation. See below what makes a good presentation and which skills you must count on to succeed as a presenter.

Punctuality

Punctuality is a crucial aspect of giving an effective presentation. Nothing says more about respect for your audience and the organization you represent than delivering the presentation on time . Arriving last minute puts pressure on the tech team behind audiovisuals, as they don’t have enough preparation to test microphones, stage lights, and projector settings, which can lead to a less powerful presentation Even when discussing presentations hosted in small rooms for a reduced audience, testing the equipment becomes essential for an effective presentation.

A solution for this is to arrive at least 30 minutes early. Ideally, one hour is a sweet spot since the AV crew has time to check the gear and requirements for your presentation. Another benefit of this, for example, in inspirational presentations, is measuring the previous presenter’s impact on the audience. This gives insights about how to resonate with the public, and their interest, and how to accommodate your presentation for maximum impact.

Body Language

Our bodies can make emotions transparent for others, even when we are unaware of such a fact. Proper training for body language skills reduces performance anxiety, giving the audience a sense of expertise about the presented topic. 

Give your presentation and the audience the respect they deserve by watching over these potential mistakes:

• Turning your back to the audience for extended periods : It’s okay to do so when introducing an important piece of information or explaining a graph, but it is considered rude to give your back to the audience constantly.
• Fidgeting : We are all nervous in the presence of strangers, even more, if we are the center of attention for that moment. Instead of playing with your hair or making weird hand gestures, take a deep breath to center yourself before the presentation and remember that everything you could do to prepare is already done. Trust your instincts and give your best.
• Intense eye contact : Have you watched a video where the presenter stared at the camera the entire time? That’s the feeling you transmit to spectators through intense eye contact. It’s a practice often used by politicians to persuade.
• Swearing : This is a no-brainer. Even when you see influencers swearing on camera or in podcasts or live presentations, it is considered an informal and lousy practice for business and academic situations. If you have a habit to break when it comes to this point, find the humor in these situations and replace your swear words with funny alternatives (if the presentation allows for it). 

Voice Tone plays a crucial role in delivering effective presentations and knowing how to give a good presentation. Your voice is a powerful tool for exposing your ideas and feelings . Your voice can articulate the message you are telling, briefing the audience if you feel excited about what you are sharing or, in contrast, if you feel the presentation is a burden you ought to complete.

Remember, passion is a primary ingredient in convincing people. Therefore, transmitting such passion with a vibrant voice may help gather potential business partners’ interest.  

But what if you feel sick prior to the presentation? If, by chance, your throat is sore minutes before setting foot on the stage, try this: when introducing yourself, mention that you are feeling a bit under the weather. This resonates with the audience to pay more attention to your efforts. In case you don’t feel comfortable about that, ask the organizers for a cup of tea, as it will settle your throat and relax your nerves.

Tech Skills

Believe it or not, people still feel challenged by technology these days. Maybe that’s the reason why presentation giants like Tony Robbins opt not to use PowerPoint presentations . The reality is that there are plenty of elements involved in a presentation that can go wrong from the tech side:

• A PDF not opening
• Saving your presentation in a too-recent PowerPoint version
• A computer not booting up
• Mac laptops and their never-ending compatibility nightmare
• Not knowing how to change between slides
• Not knowing how to use a laser pointer
• Internet not working
• Audio not working

We can come up with a pretty long list of potential tech pitfalls, and yet more than half of them fall in presenters not being knowledgeable about technology.

If computers aren’t your thing, let the organization know about this beforehand. There is always a crew member available to help presenters switch between slides or configure the presentation for streaming. This takes the pressure off your shoulders, allowing you to concentrate on the content to present. Remember, even Bill Gates can get a BSOD during a presentation .

Presentations, while valuable for conveying information and ideas, can be daunting for many individuals. Here are some common difficulties people encounter when giving presentations:

Public Speaking Anxiety

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, affects a significant portion of the population. This anxiety can lead to nervousness, trembling, and forgetfulness during a presentation.

Lack of Confidence

Many presenters struggle with self-doubt, fearing that they may not be knowledgeable or skilled enough to engage their audience effectively.

Content Organization

Organizing information in a coherent and engaging manner can be challenging. Presenters often grapple with how to structure their content to make it easily digestible for the audience. Artificial Intelligence can help us significantly reduce the content arrangement time when you work with tools like our AI Presentation Maker (made for presenters by experts in presentation design). 

Audience Engagement

Keeping the audience’s attention and interest throughout the presentation can be difficult. Distractions, disengaged attendees, or lack of interaction can pose challenges.

Technical Issues

Technology glitches, such as malfunctioning equipment, incompatible file formats, or poor internet connectivity, can disrupt presentations and increase stress.

Time Management

Striking the right balance between providing enough information and staying within time limits is a common challenge. Going over or under the allotted time can affect the effectiveness of the presentation.

Handling Questions and Challenges

Responding to unexpected questions, criticism, or challenges from the audience can be difficult, especially when presenters are unprepared or lack confidence in their subject matter.

Visual Aids and Technology

Creating and effectively using visual aids like slides or multimedia can be a struggle for some presenters. Technical competence is essential in this aspect.

Language and Articulation

Poor language skills or unclear articulation can hinder effective communication. Presenters may worry about stumbling over words or failing to convey their message clearly.

Maintaining appropriate and confident body language can be challenging. Avoiding nervous habits, maintaining eye contact, and using gestures effectively requires practice.

Overcoming Impersonal Delivery

In virtual presentations, maintaining a personal connection with the audience can be difficult. The absence of face-to-face interaction can make it challenging to engage and read the audience.

Cultural and Diversity Awareness

Presenting to diverse audiences requires sensitivity to cultural differences and varying levels of familiarity with the topic.

In this section, we gathered some tips on how to improve presentation skills that can certainly make an impact if applied to your presentation skills. We believe these skills can be cultivated to transform into habits for your work routine.

Tip #1: Build a narrative

One memorable way to guarantee presentation success is by writing a story of all the points you desire to cover. This statement is based on the logic behind storytelling and its power to connect with people .

Don’t waste time memorizing slides or reading your presentation to the audience. It feels unnatural, and any question that diverts from the topic in discussion certainly puts you in jeopardy or, worse, exposes you as a fraud in the eyes of the audience. And before you ask, it is really evident when a presenter has a memorized speech. 

Build and rehearse the presentation as if telling a story to a group of interested people. Lower the language barrier by avoiding complex terms that maybe even you aren’t fully aware of their meaning. Consider the ramifications of that story, what it could lead to, and which are the opportunities to explore. Then, visualize yourself giving the presentation in a natural way.

Applying this technique makes the presentation feel like second nature to you. It broadens the spectrum in which you can show expertise over a topic or even build the basis for new interesting points of view about the project.

Tip #2: Don’t talk for more than 3 minutes per slide

It is a common practice of presenters to bombard the audience with facts and information whilst retaining the same slide on the screen. Why can this happen? It could be because the presenter condensed the talk into very few slides and preferred to talk. The reality is that your spectators won’t retain the information you are giving unless you give visual cues to help that process. 

Opt to prepare more slides and pace your speech to match the topics shown on each slide. Don’t spend more than 3 minutes per slide unless you have to introduce a complex piece of data. Use visual cues to direct the spectators about what you talk about, and summarize the principal concepts discussed at the end of each section.

Tip #3: Practice meditation daily

Anxiety is the number one enemy of professional presenters. It slowly builds without you being aware of your doubts and can hinder your performance in multiple ways: making you feel paralyzed, fidgeting, making you forget language skills or concepts, affecting your health, etc.

Meditation is an ancient practice taken from Buddhist teachings that train your mind to be here in the present. We often see the concepts of meditation and mindfulness as synonyms, whereas you should be aware that meditation is a practice that sets the blocks to reach a state of mindfulness. For presenters, being in the here and now is essential to retain focus, but meditation techniques also teach us to control our breathing and be in touch with our body signals when stress builds up. 

The customary practice of meditation has an impact on imagination and creativity but also helps to build patience – a skill much needed for connecting with your audience in instructional presentations.

Having the proper set of presentation skills can be quite subjective. It goes beyond presentation tips and deepens into how flexible we can be in our ability to communicate ideas.

Different presentations and different audiences shape the outcome of our efforts. Therefore, having a basic understanding of how to connect, raise awareness, and empathize with people can be key ingredients for your career as a presenter. A word of advice: success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes dedication and patience to build communication skills . Don’t condition your work to believe you will be ready “someday”; it’s best to practice and experience failure as part of the learning process.

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• PRESENTATION SKILLS

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• A - Z List of Presentation Skills
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• What is a Presentation?
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Presentation Skills

Presenting information clearly and effectively is a key skill in getting your message across. Today, presentation skills are required in almost every field, and most of us are required to give presentations on occasions. While some people take this in their stride, others find it much more challenging.

It is, however, possible to improve your presentation skills with a bit of work. This section of SkillsYouNeed is designed to help.

Many people feel terrified when asked to talk in public, especially to bigger groups. However, these fears can be reduced by good preparation, which will also lay the groundwork for making an effective presentation.

There are Different Types of Presentations, but They’re All Presentations

There are any number of occasions when you may be asked to speak in public or to a group of people. They include:

• Presenting or making a speech at a conference or event.
• Objecting to a planning proposal at a council meeting.
• Making a speech at a wedding.
• Proposing a vote of thanks to someone at a club or society.
• On behalf of a team, saying goodbye and presenting a gift to a colleague who is leaving.
• Seeking investment or a loan to help you set up a new business.

These can all be considered presentations.

They do not, however, all require the same approach. You would not, for example, use PowerPoint to thank a colleague who was leaving. It would be unusual (though it has been done) to use it in a speech at a wedding. However, a conference audience would be somewhat surprised NOT to see slides projected onto a screen.

It follows, therefore, that there is no single set of rules that apply to all presentations. There are, however, some things that every presentation opportunity has in common. These include:

You will present better if you have prepared effectively . This does NOT necessarily mean that you have written out your speech verbatim and rehearsed it until you know it off by heart—although that might work for some people. It does, however, mean that you have to be confident that you are saying the right thing, in the right way, to the right people.

You need to be clear about your audience and your message . Every presentation will be better if you have clearly considered the message that you want or need to convey, and how best to convey it to your audience. These two pieces of information drive your style, structure, content, and use of visual aids.

You must never overrun your allocated time .  In other words, don’t outstay your welcome. Almost every speech or presentation is better if it is shorter. Nobody minds going for coffee early or finishing before they expected to do so. Everybody minds being held up.

Generally speaking, your audience starts on your side. As a rule, your audience is there (more or less) voluntarily. They have chosen to listen to you, and they want to enjoy your presentation. The occasion is yours to lose.

An Important Point

There is one very important point to remember: if what you’re doing or saying is not working, do something else.

One of the worst feelings as a presenter is that you have lost your audience. You know that’s happened, but you continue to stumble through your remaining PowerPoint slides for the next 15 minutes, as your audience checks their phones and wishes it was coffee time. You think you have no choice, but that’s not actually true.

When you present, you are in charge of the room . The audience has effectively handed you control and is sitting back waiting for you to do something. You may have prepared a specific talk, but if you see that isn’t working, you can always change it. You are, after all, the expert.

You can, for example:

• Skip through some slides to a section that they may find more interesting;
• Ask your audience whether there is particular information that they were expecting that you are not providing;
• Suggest that everyone looks a bit sleepy, and maybe it would be better to start questions early, or have a discussion; or
• Ask the audience at the start of the presentation what they are expecting and what they want you to cover. That way, you can tailor the presentation to fit their expectations.

Just as when you are facilitating, you want to help your audience get the most out of your presentation. The best way to do that is to accept feedback—which may include smiles, nods of interest, or people getting their phones out.

Quick Guide to Effective Presentations

If you need to improve your presentation skills quickly, then a really good place to start is with our Top Tips for Effective Presentations .

This will give you some ‘quick wins’ that will help you improve your presentations. If you’re already an experienced presenter, this page should be a useful refresher, or even take your skills from good to great.

Our tips include general ideas about connecting with your audience, information about the importance of voice and body language, and detailed tips about preparing slide-shows.

The most important tip of all, however, is to remember that it's all about your audience.

Keep that in mind, and your presentation skills will almost instantly improve.

If you have more time to develop your presentation skills…

…then the Presentation Skills section of SkillsYouNeed is designed to help.

Our Presentation Skills section is split into two parts.

• The first gives you a step-by-step guide to putting together and delivering a professional and effective presentation .
• The second provides more detailed information about presenting and communicating in particular circumstances .

You can either use our step-by-step guide to walk you through the presentation preparation and delivery process, or you can focus on particular areas that are an issue for you.

Preparing for Your Presentation

The guide starts by explaining What is a Presentation?

We define a presentation as a means of communication that can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting or briefing a team. Effective presentations usually require careful thought and preparation—although this preparation need not take very long.

Preparation is the most important part of making a successful presentation.  Our page on Preparing For A Presentation explains what information you need before you can really start to plan your presentation and decide what you are going to say. The most important aspects include the objective of the presentation, the subject, and the audience.

Irrespective of whether the occasion is formal or informal, you should always aim to give a clear, well-structured delivery. To do so, you need to organise your presentation material . You can either do this in your head, or use a technique like mind-mapping to help you identify links and good flow.

By the time you come to write your presentation , you should know exactly what you want to say and the order in which you want to say it. You may want to use one of the standard presentation structures, such as ‘What, Why, How?’. You will also find it helpful to consider how to tell your story most effectively, and to use stories in your presentation to illustrate points. There is more about this in our page on writing your presentation .

You also need to decide on your presentation method . Presentations range from the formal to the informal. Your choice of presentation method will depend on many factors, including the audience, the venue, the facilities, and your own preferences.

Visual aids can add another dimension to your presentation, helping to hold your audience’s attention, and also act as a reminder of what you wanted to say. However, they need handling with care. Only use visual aids if they are necessary to maintain interest and assist comprehension . If visual aids are not used well, they can ruin a presentation.

See Working with Visual Aids to avoid falling into the trap of the dreaded ‘ Death by PowerPoint’ .

A particular case of visual aids is the use of data in a presentation.

There are times when using data in a presentation can really help you to tell the story better. It is, however, important not to blind your audience with statistics. You also need to remember that many people find numbers difficult to understand. Our page on Presenting Data gives some hints and tips about using data effectively in a presentation situation.

On the Day of the Presentation

There are a number of aspects to delivering your presentation on the day.

The practicalities of how you manage your presentation can make a significant difference to its success, and to your nerves! For example, turning up early means that you have will have a chance to see the room, and ensure that you can operate all the necessary equipment. There is more about how to cope, including managing sound systems, audio-visual equipment and lecterns in our page on Managing the Presentation Event .

Many people also feel very nervous before and during a presentation. This is entirely normal, and can even be helpful if you can channel it in the right way. There are some tried and tested strategies and techniques to manage your nerves so that you can concentrate on delivering an effective and engaging presentation.

See Coping with Presentation Nerves for some ideas that will help.

How you present yourself can also affect how your audience responds to your presentation.

You need to fit with your audience's expectations if they are not going to spend quite a large chunk of your presentation dealing with the differences between expectations and reality.

For more about aspects of self-presentation, see our page on Self-Presentation in Presentations .

You also need to consider how to manage your presentation notes .

Few people are able to give a presentation without notes. You will need to know your own abilities and decide how best to make the presentation. You might manage your talk by using full text, notes on cue cards, keywords on cue cards, or mind maps. There is more about this in our page on Managing your Presentation Notes .

After the presentation, you may be faced with a question-and-answer session. For many people, this is the worst part of the event.

Decide in advance how and when you wish to handle questions. Some speakers prefer questions to be raised as they arise during the presentation whilst others prefer to deal with questions at the end. At the start of your presentation, you should make clear your preferences to the audience. See our page on Dealing with Questions for more ideas about how to make the question session pleasant and productive, rather than something to dread.

Presenting Under Particular Circumstances

You may find that you need to give a presentation under certain circumstances, where your previous experience is less helpful.

Circumstances that may be new to you include:

• Giving a Speech , for example, at a wedding.

One particular special case is attending public consultation meetings.

Our pages on Attending Public Consultation Meetings , and Managing Public Consultation Meetings provide information to help whether you are a concerned member of the public, or responsible for organising a public meeting.

You may also find yourself required to organise or manage a press conference.

Although this may not strictly be what you would describe as a ‘presentation’, it is nonetheless an event at which you are required to present your organisation in a particular light.

Our page on Managing a Press Conference gives some ideas about how best to do that.

Finally, should you be unlucky enough to be involved in a serious crisis or disaster that affects your organisation, our page on Crisis Communications gives some ideas about how to manage press and public relations on these occasions.

Start with: What is a Presentation? Top Tips for Effective Presentations

See also: Personal Appearance Interpersonal Communication Skills

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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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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Most Important Presentation Skills (With Examples)

• Most Common Skills
• What Are Soft Skills?
• What Are Leadership Skills?
• What Are What Are Hybrid Skills?
• What Are Teamwork Skills?
• What Are Communication Skills?
• What Are Organizational Skills?
• What Are Personal Skills?
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• What Are Decision Making Skills?
• What Are Negotiation Skills?
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• What Are Adaptability Skills?
• What Are Internal Analysis?
• What Are Multitasking Skills?
• What Is Professional Networking?
• What Is Nonverbal Communication?
• What Are Critical Thinking Skills?
• Presentation Skills
• What Is Accountability?
• What Is Emotional Intelligence?
• Verbal Communication Skills

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Presentation skills are important to your professional and personal life. Effective presentation skills can help you get ahead in your career. With the proper presentation skills, you’ll open up new doors for professional growth and be a more confident individual overall.

Whether you want to know the different types of presentation skills or improve your presentation skills, we’ll cover what presentation skills are, how to improve your ability to present, and showcase your new skills.

Key Takeaways:

Presentation skills are important in the workplace because they can be used for meetings, interviews, and conferences.

Some presentation skills examples include research, organization, and adaptability

Practice as much as possible before a presentation so that it becomes muscle memory, however, to engage the audience, be flexible with your presentation’s performance.

Good presentations are informative, engaging, and precise.

Different types of presentation skills

How to improve your presentation skills, examples of using presentation skills, presentation skills faq, final thoughts.

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Being a skilled presenter requires a constellation of hard and soft skills . Some different types of presentation skills include research, planning, and organization.

Below are more common types of presentation skills. As you read through this list, think about where you’re naturally strong and where you could do with some improvement:

Research. The first step of any successful presentation is the research and preparation phase. First and foremost, you have to become an expert on the content you hope to deliver. It’s also essential to research your audience to know which information is most pertinent for them.

Planning. Once you’ve completed your research, it’s time to develop a plan. During this phase, you’ll prioritize which information gets put front-and-center, and which is less vital for your ultimate goal.

Before you start drafting your presentation, it’s crucial to keep your goal at the forefront: what do you want the audience to do after listening to your presentation?

Organization . Audiences prefer presentations that are well-thought-out and delivered in a logical order. Before you even step foot in the room, you should know what you need to do to set up, have all your notes in order, and be aware of your allotted time.

Verbal communication. No surprises here, verbal communication skills are downright essential for an effective presentation. Even if you have very rigid notes to follow, being quick on your feet to answer questions or alter your content for the audience’s benefit will serve you well during presentations.

Nonverbal communication . Good body language means standing up straight, not fidgeting too much, and maintaining eye contact with your audience members.

Public speaking . Some people get nervous just thinking about speaking publicly. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it is crucial to keep your nerves under wraps for delivering the most effective presentation possible. Audiences are less likely to trust presenters who don’t appear confident.

Memorization. We’ve all seen presentations where the presenter is just reading directly off his Powerpoint slides – we don’t need to tell you that those presentations are unequivocally bad. It’s fine to have notes as a reference, but the more time you can spend looking at your audience rather than the sheet in front of you, the better.

Writing. Being a good writer will help keep your presentation organized and give a boost to your credibility. Before you can commit your content to memory, you need to develop that content.

Story-telling. Not all presentations require story-telling, but it can be a very effective method of grabbing your listeners’ attention. It can be a hypothetical story that presents a question or problem, a real story that leads into your main argument, or a story that continues throughout to illustrate the duller facts your presentation covers.

Rhetorical skills . Rhetoric is all about persuasion: how are your words going to induce action from the listener(s)? Rhetorical appeals are classified under three headings: ethos, logos, and pathos.

Ethos establishes credibility in the speaker and trust in the listeners through confident delivery and expert testimony. Logos covers your presentation’s logical thrust through statistics, models, comparisons, analogies, etc. Pathos is your presentation’s emotional appeal, supported by vivid language and stories that promote certain values.

Active listening . Pay attention to which parts of your presentation are grabbing listeners and which are falling flat. If your audience’s eyes start glazing over or phones start coming out, you know you’re losing them.

Adaptability . Like the above point, being able to adapt on the fly sets top-tier presenters apart from merely good ones. For instance, if you can tell your presentation isn’t working, you can open up the floor and ask questions as a way of determining your audience’s priorities.

Delivery. We bet you’ve heard some of the same Dad jokes multiple times in your life. Sometimes they’re hilarious, and sometimes they induce an eye-roll. The difference? Delivery. Pace, timing, tone, and enunciation/inflection are all important elements of good delivery.

Technical skills . All right, you’re all set with the perfect presentation, you walk into the room, and the A/V setup isn’t what you were expecting. Well, if you followed our advice above, you showed up a bit early and had time to fix it.

Analysis . Phew, your presentation is done. Time to forget about presenting until the next one comes up, right? No siree – now is the time for you to take a step back and evaluate your performance.

To improve your presentation skills, you should watch and learn what works and doesn’t work from others and practice with an audience of friends. Here are more ways to improve your presentation skills:

Watch and learn. You’ve seen presentations before, but to prepare for your own, try watching presentations to learn what works and what doesn’t. If you’re presenting at a conference, attend other presentations and pay attention to how the audience responds. Your audience probably won’t be much different.

Practice. Practice makes perfect, as the saying goes. Rehearse what you want to say, either on your own or with an audience of friends. You can even record yourself speaking and pinpoint weak areas and strengths . The more you perform your presentation, the more comfortable you’ll be delivering the real thing.

Visualize success. What speakers often forget is that audiences want you to do well. They’re there (more or less) of their own volition, and they want to hear what you have to say. Take that nervousness you’re feeling and transform it into excitement.

Exercise/drink water beforehand. The human body responds to stressful situations with a whole host of unwelcome physical side effects. If you stay hydrated and get some light exercise in beforehand, you’ll flush the adrenaline and cortisol (stress hormones) right out of your body.

Adopt a power stance and smile. Just as exercise and hydration help keep your body regulated, so does powerful body language . Standing straight with shoulders squared and a smile on your face, and your body will be tricked into thinking you’re in a confident and commanding position.

Engage your audience. The best presenters are also first-class entertainers. Don’t go overboard and start practicing your comedy routine, but lightening the mood with a joke or two can go a long way. Be sure to greet your audience enthusiastically.

Don’t get defensive if you’re stumped. There might be moments when an audience member asks a question, and you don’t have an answer . Don’t try to equivocate or dodge the question because people will see what you’re doing. It’s okay not to know everything, but pretending you do will only deteriorate your listeners’ faith in you.

Keep it concise. People won’t be upset if you wrap up earlier than expected, but they might be a little peeved if you start running over your allotted time. Cut irrelevant information, and your audience will thank you .

Take your time. All right, so we just suggested keeping things short, and now we’re telling you to take your time. What gives? Well, you should always include a bit of padding in your presentation. For example, if your presentation is meant to be a half-hour, try to get it down to 25 minutes, so you have some wiggle room.

Presentation skills cover a range of abilities that allow one to effectively engage their audience and get information across in a clear way. In today’s world, the persuasive power of presentations is more important than ever.

There are many different example scenarios in which you might give a presentation:

Delivering a presentation to colleagues, employees, or subordinates about new technology, processes, goals, etc.

Drumming up investor interest, either for a new business or for your current business’s expansion.

Teaching your team a new skill.

Deciding between two or more alternative options or solving a problem with a current system.

Progress reports.

Selling a product or service to a client.

Motivational speech

Interviewing for a new job or promotion

Saying goodbye to a colleague (or introducing a new one )

Giving a speech at a family function, like a wedding.

What are the four types of presentation?

The four types of presentation are: informative, instructional, arousing, and persuasive. Informative presentations briefly educate your audience on a specific topic. Instructional presentations teach your audience more thoroughly and generally come with more details and/or directions.

Arousing presentations are meant to evoke some kind of emotion in the audience. Persuasive presentations are designed to convince the audience of a particular viewpoint.

What are the four P’s of presentation?

The four P’s of presentation are planning, preparation, practice, and performance. As the four P’s imply, you need to plan and prepare your presentation, as well as practice. Finally, you need to be aware of your performance during your presentation to make sure you use your skills in an engaging manner.

What is the 10-20-30 rule of presentation?

The 10-20-30 rule is for a slide presentation and means you should use no more than 10 slides, present no longer than 20 minutes, and use no less than 30-point font. Considering these factors helps make a presentation efficient with its time. Remember you want to take your time and be direct with your information. Using the 10-20-30 rule helps you find a balance between these needs.

What is the most important part of using presentation skills?

An important part of using presentation skills would be speaking the language of the audience. Knowing your audience helps you get your point across. To help speak the language of the audience, you can use appropriate analogies and anecdotes and avoid any foreign words.

For example, if you are presenting a topic to a group of college freshmen about a topic you’re an expert in, try to use language that they would understand. Using language the audience will understand helps you get your point across better.

Whether you’re a natural showman or a super-shy introvert , keep the above tips in mind to improve your presentation skills. Because the chances are, you’ll have to give a presentation at some point in your life. With a little practice, you’ll have audiences clamoring for more.

Johns Hopkins Carey Business School – Presentation Skills

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Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.

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Throughout academic and professional life, people have to give presentations. There are endless reasons to present, from presenting the results of research to proposing a new invention. Learning presentation skills helps presenters know what to practice when preparing a presentation and makes them more confident and capable when presenting.

Presentation Skills Definition

A presentation is a form of communication in which a speaker delivers information to an audience. For instance, researchers often present their research to scholars in their field, while businessmen often present their company progress to colleagues.

• Presentation skills are the skills required to deliver engaging, effective presentations.

Developing strong presentation skills is important because presentations are vital to professional communication. Effective presentations can enhance a speaker's academic and professional credibility.

The 5 Ps of Presentation Skills

Remembering the "5 Ps of Presentation Skills" can help presenters plan an organized, compelling presentation.

First, it's crucial to identify the purpose of a presentation, which is its goal. For instance, the purpose might be convincing the audience to agree with your perspective on a debate, trying to secure a scholarship, or defending a thesis for a grade. To determine the purpose of a presentation, presenters can ask themselves questions like the following:

Why am I giving this presentation?

Who am I giving this presentation to?

What do I want the audience to learn from this presentation?

What do I want to get out of delivering this presentation?

Identifying the overall objective of giving the presentation is important because all parts of the presentation should support that purpose. Once you've identified the purpose, keep it in mind as you develop all aspects of the presentation.

Next, you should organize your presentation. Reflect on how you can achieve the goal you determined in the previous step. Often there are guidelines for presentations, like in school when teachers specify a required time limit or format. Make sure to follow those guidelines and plan out how you will meet your goal in following them. When planning a presentation, presenters can ask themselves the following questions:

What format should this presentation be delivered in?

How long should this presentation be?

How can the information be broken down into succinct sections?

Is it possible to include creative or comedic elements while staying organized and professional?

Presenters should also consider the context they are giving the presentation in when planning a presentation. How many people will be in the room? How will the room be set up? Will the presentation be over a video conferencing platform or face-to-face? All of these things can impact how the presenter should set up the presentation to keep the audience engaged and ensure they understand the material.

For example, in a face-to-face presentation to a small audience, a presenter can schedule a time for the audience to ask questions. However, in a recorded presentation emailed to the audience, the presenter should include an email or other form of contact for audience members to reach out with questions.

Preparation

After planning the presentation out, you can then prepare the details. Follow the plan you made in the previous step and bring all of your materials together. This step includes writing an outline or a script of what you will say and what details to include, such as texts or visual and auditory materials. Presenters can ask themselves the following questions when preparing their presentation:

Does this presentation accomplish the main goal?

Does this presentation address all of the important points of this topic?

Is this presentation organized, neat, and easy to follow?

Are there any distracting visual materials, or are they used sparingly?

It is often challenging to write a word-for-word script of what to say in a presentation. Contextual factors such as time constraints and questions from the audience can disrupt such a script and throw the presenter off. Instead, crafting a detailed outline of what topics to discuss is typically an easier approach to a presentation.

Once you have finished preparing the presentation, you must practice it. Giving yourself time to practice will allow you to note any parts of the presentation that should be tweaked or taken out. Practicing presentations also help you understand how much time it takes and whether you need to shorten or lengthen them.

When practicing a presentation, the presenter should have a clear voice, appropriate tone, and a confident attitude. Practicing these elements will help make them easier to come by on the day of the presentation, even if you are nervous.

Finally, you can deliver your presentation. If things do not go according to plan, the best approach is always to go with the flow. If you have sufficiently practiced your presentation, you should have an in-depth understanding of the material you are presenting. Distractions or challenges will not decrease your knowledge of the topic, so even when things go off-plan, speak confidently from the heart about what you know and your presentation will remain strong.

Presentation Skills Tips

The following tips and tricks can help presenters ensure effective, engaging presentations.

7 Presentation Skills

Practicing these seven presentation skills can help people polish their presentations.

Know Your Audience

When planning and delivering a presentation, remember who your audience is. For instance, are they experts in the field of study or beginners? This knowledge will determine what kind of vocabulary you can use and the level of detail with which you can discuss the topic. Knowing your audience is also connected to understanding the purpose of your presentation. For example, if the purpose of a presentation is to get a good grade in English class, then you should present with your English teacher's knowledge and expectations in mind.

Choose Your Tone of Voice

The tone of voice directly impacts the audience's levels of engagement in a presentation and can thus make or break a presentation. Presenters should speak confidently and persuasively when appropriate but always maintain a professional, respectable tone. They should avoid slang words and words with judgmental connotations, such as "duh" or "obviously." Instead, they should make their point through strong, well-explained evidence.

Pace Yourself

Alongside using an appropriate tone, presenters must also speak in a steady, even manner. Talking too fast or too slow will make it difficult for the audience to stay engaged. Instead, speak at a medium pace, just as you would if you were having a normal conversation.

People often start babbling when they get nervous. Speaking too fast during a presentation can confuse the audience and reduce the strength of the presentation. Practicing ahead of time will help you avoid this.

Watch Your Body Language

Engaging presenters appear strong and confident. To achieve this, you should check for the following body language before presenting:

Stand/sit up straight

Make eye contact with the audience

Use hand gestures when appropriate

Use various facial expressions

Proper body language can also mask nervousness when public speaking. Smile and stand up straight even if you're nervous and you will appear confident to your audience!

Be Succinct

To keep the audience's attention during a presentation, you should strive to get straight to the point. Visual aids should use short bullet points whenever possible and summarize the most important points of your ideas. You can go into more detail when speaking out loud, but still, try to stick to the most vital information.

Stay on Subject

A good way to keep your presentation to the point is by staying on topic. It can be tempting to go on tangents when public speaking by telling extra stories or going into too much detail about a topic. However, going down rabbit holes like that can distract your audience and cause them to lose focus. Instead, outline the most essential points you want to present and practice presenting just those ideas.

There's a reason practicing is mentioned more than once in this article. Practice entering the space you will present in, practice setting up your presentation if there are visual aids, and practice presenting the information all the way through. You should strive to reach a point where you can deliver the presentation without looking at many notes. Also, try to anticipate questions the audience will have and how you will address them.

Improving Presentation Skills

People can always improve their presentation skills, even if they think they have mastered them. To improve presentation skills, you can follow the following steps.

Be Interested

It is easier to give a compelling conversation when you are passionate about your presentation. If you have any input into what you present, try to select a topic you are genuinely interested in researching, writing, and talking about .

Know Your Topic

Do not try to present beyond your scope of understanding. Present information that you understand entirely and can thoroughly explain. This will increase your confidence and help ensure questions do not catch you off guard.

Take Deep Breaths

Giving a presentation can be overwhelming. Take a few deep breaths while you practice and before you present. This will calm any nerves and help ensure you speak calmly and steadily.

Taking care of your health can also improve your presentation! Drink water to stay hydrated and eat before you present!

Oftentimes, especially in school, people have to present in groups. Presenting with others can be challenging because each group member might have a different presentation style. It is extra important to practice a presentation several times with a group so everyone is on the same page about the purpose, what tone to use, how to pace the speech, and how to keep the audience engaged. Coordinating schedules with other group members to plan and practice the presentation can be tricky, so be sure to get started on the project long before the presentation date. Hence, everyone has time to contribute to and run through the presentation.

Benefits of Presentation Skills

Developing strong presentation skills can help in many areas of life. People have to give presentations in all kinds of scenarios, including when they are:

Completing assignments for school classes

Defending academic research

Applying for college scholarships

Explaining the results of a project at work

Trying to earn a promotion

Developing presentation skills can help people fearlessly approach the above situations and more. When strengthening presentation skills, people also strengthen their public speaking, professional communication, and writing and design skills. Mastering all of these makes people strong candidates for a variety of jobs and can make them more confident, capable people overall.

Presentation Skills Examples

Strong presentation skills can make or break a presentation. They can define the difference between letter grades, earning scholarships, and securing jobs. The following example demonstrates how presenters can apply the above skills in delivering an effective presentation.

Tony and Abigail are assigned to present the themes of Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre (1847). They have to give a five-minute presentation to their English teacher and the other students in their English class. What are the first steps they should take?

First, they must coordinate their schedules to ensure they have sufficient time to work on the presentation. They have a month before the due date, so they decide to meet once a week to plan independent tasks and coordinate their work.

At the first meeting, they should decide the purpose of their presentation and plan how to address it. Their goal is to inform the class and their teacher about Jane Eyre 's themes and demonstrate their understanding of the novel. They decide that they can do this through a PowerPoint presentation, in which they devote one slide to each theme. They select four themes and decide to discuss two each.

Next, they begin preparing the presentation. They use a shared PowerPoint to work independently but contribute to the same project. They use concise bullet points on the slides about the themes and write a more detailed outline for what to discuss when projecting those slides. They also include some images to help their audience visualize their points. Since they are presenting in school, they select formal vocabulary and use a calm, steady, professional tone.

In the week leading up to the deadline, Tony and Abigail meet up a few times to practice the presentation. They pretend they are walking into the classroom they will present in, and they make sure they can pull up the display on their computers without any problems. Once they have run through the presentation several times, they feel ready to present. On presentation day, they eat a filling breakfast, drink lots of water, and take some deep breaths. They make a few jokes while presenting but stay professional and on topic. They successfully deliver an engaging presentation!

Presentation Skills - Key takeaways

• To develop a presentation, identify the purpose, plan how to address it, prepare the materials, and practice presenting it.
• Presenters should know their audience, use a professional, steady tone of voice, and make eye contact with listeners.
• Presents should be succinct and stay o topic to keep the audience focused.
• When delivering a group presentation, start far in advance to coordinate schedules and presentation styles.

Frequently Asked Questions about Presentation Skills

--> what are the 7 presentation skills.

Know your audience, choose your tone of voice, pace yourself, watch your body language, be succinct, stay on subject, and practice. 

--> What are the 5 P's of presentation skills?

Purpose, Plan, Preparation, Practice, Present 

--> What are the qualities of a good presentation?

A good presentation is organized, succinct, and thoroughly practiced. The presenter should be enthusiastic and confident and speak with a professional tone at a steady pace. They should use some creative features and make eye contact with the audience. 

--> How can I give a good presentation?

To give a good presentation you should be knowledgeable about the topic and practice your presentation several times. You should know your audience and make consistent eye contact with them. You should also stand up straight, smile, and vary your facial expressions. 

--> What is the importance of presentation skills?

Developing strong presentation skills is important because presentations are a vital part of professional communication. Effective presentations can enhance a speaker’s academic and professional credibility. 

Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

Which of the following presentation skills impacts the audience’s engagement the most?

Which of the following should presenters not do?

What is the best speed to speak when delivering a presentation?

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John is preparing a presentation about the Krebs cycle. He identified his purpose, planned how he will address it, prepared a detailed presentation, and presented it to his entire science class. What did he do wrong?

He should have practiced his presentation before delivering it.  

Choosing tone of voice  

Frequently look down at their notes  

What is the first step when developing a presentation?

Identifying the goal of the presentation  

Sam is reflecting on his presentation and asking himself how long it should be and if it can be broken down into succinct sections. Which of the 5Ps of presentations is he addressing?

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• Listening and Speaking

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Important Presentation Skills for Workplace Success

• What Are Presentation Skills?

Steps To Create a Presentation

Skills that help make an effective presentation, how to make your skills stand out.

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Whether you’re a high-level executive or an administrative assistant, developing your presentation skills is one key way to climb in an office-based job. Leaders make decisions based on information shared in presentation format, and hardly any business changes its mind without first seeing a persuasive presentation.

It is important for any office employee to know what steps go into creating an effective presentation and what presentation skills are most important to employers. Highlighting these skills will also help you stand out during your job search.

Key Takeaways

• Presentation skills are what you need to know to be able to give an engaging, effective presentation.
• The steps to creating a successful presentation are preparation, delivery, and follow-up.
• Employers want to know you have the necessary skills to research, analyze, and create a presentation, plus the communication skills needed to deliver it and field questions afterward.
• You can highlight your skills to employers through your resume, cover letter, and interview.

What Are Presentation Skills? 

Presentation skills refer to all the qualities you need to create and deliver a clear and effective presentation. While what you say during a presentation matters, employers also value the ability to create supporting materials, such as slides.

Your prospective employer may want you to deliver briefings and reports to colleagues, conduct training sessions, present information to clients, or perform any number of other tasks that involve speaking before an audience.

Giving engaging and easy-to-understand talks is a major component of the strong  oral communication skills  that are a  job requirement  for many positions. Not all presentations take place in a formal meeting. Many presentation skills are relevant to one-on-one consults or sales calls.

Any presentation has three phases: preparation, delivery, and follow-up. All presentation skills fit into one of these three phases.

Preparation 

Preparation involves research and building the presentation. Consider the audience you'll be presenting to and what most interests them. This may mean crafting the entire text (or at least writing notes) and creating any slides and other supporting audio/visual materials.

You will also have to make sure that the appropriate venue is available, properly set up beforehand, and ensure the projector (if you'll need one) works and connects with your laptop.

You'll also want to practice your presentation as many times as you need to to feel comfortable delivering it with ease and confidence within the time allotted for the presentation.

Skills related to preparation include conducting research related to your presentation topic, devising charts and graphs depicting your research findings, and learning about your audience to better tailor your presentation to their needs. You'll also need to create digital slides, using statistics, examples, and stories to illustrate your points and effectively to persuade the audience.

Preparing handouts or digital references is an added courtesy that will help the audience pay attention because they won't be preoccupied with note-taking.

Your delivery is the part of the presentation that the audience sees. A good delivery depends on careful preparation and confident presentation and requires its own distinctive  skill set . 

Skills related to delivery include giving an attention-grabbing opening for a talk, providing a summary of what will be covered to introduce the presentation and provide context, and using  body language  and eye contact to convey energy and confidence.

Make sure you pause to emphasize key points, modulate your vocal tone for emphasis, and articulate your speech clearly and smoothly.

Don't be afraid of injecting humor or speaking with enthusiasm and animation—these techniques can help you in projecting confidence to your audience.

Summarize key points at the conclusion of the presentation, and be sure to have a plan for how you'll field any audience questions.

Presentation follow-up includes properly breaking down and storing any equipment, contacting any audience members with whom you agreed to communicate further, and soliciting, collecting, and analyzing feedback.

In some presentations, you may collect information from audience members—such as names and contact information or completed surveys—that you also must organize and store.

Skills related to follow-up include creating an evaluation form to solicit feedback from attendees, interpreting feedback from evaluations, and modifying the content and/or delivery for future presentations. Other follow-up skills include organizing a database of attendees for future presentations, interviewing key attendees to gain additional feedback, and emailing presentation slides to attendees.

To create and deliver the most effective presentation takes a variety of skills, which you can always work to improve.

You must be able to look honestly at your performance, assess the feedback you get, and figure out what you need to do to get better. That takes  analytical thinking .

More importantly, you need to have a firm grasp of the information you are about to communicate to others. You need to analyze your audience and be prepared to think quickly if asked questions that force you to demonstrate that you are fully aware of the material and its implications.

The kind of analytical skills you need to be an effective presenter include problem sensitivity, problem-solving , reporting and surveying, optimization, and predictive modeling. It also helps to be adept at strategic planning, integration, process management, and diagnostics. With these skills, you'll be better able to objectively analyze, evaluate, and act on your findings.

Organization

You do not want to be the person who spends half of their presentation time trying to find a cable to connect their laptop to the projector. Many things can and do go wrong just before a presentation unless you are  organized .

Presentation preparation also means keeping track of notes, information, and start/stop times. You will want to proofread and fine-tune all the materials you plan to use for the presentation to catch any mistakes. Make sure you time yourself when you rehearse so you know how long it will take to deliver the presentation.

A presentation that's finished in half the time allotted is as problematic as one that's too long-winded.

Some key organizational skills to work on include event planning, auditing, benchmarking, prioritization, and recordkeeping. Make sure your scheduling is on point and pay close attention to detail. Quick thinking is an important skill to have for when things inevitably go wrong.

Nonverbal Communication

When speaking to an audience, the way you present yourself can be just as important as how you present your information. You want to appear confident and engaging. You can do this through good posture, the use of hand gestures, and making eye contact with the audience.

Practice your  nonverbal communication  by filming yourself doing a practice presentation and observing your body language carefully. Your physical bearing and poise should convey a degree of comfort and confidence in front of an audience, while active listening , respect, and emotional intelligence will help you in facilitating group discussions.

Presentation Software

Microsoft PowerPoint is the dominant software used to create visual aids for presentations. Learn to use it well, including the special features outside of basic templates that can really bring a presentation to life. Even if someone else is preparing your slideshow for you, it will help to know how to use the software in case of last-minute changes.

Other software that is good to learn includes Microsoft Office, Apple Keynote, Google Slides, and Adobe Presenter.

Public Speaking

You need to appear comfortable and engaging when speaking before a live audience, even if you're not. This can take years of practice, and sometimes  public speaking  just isn't for certain people. An uncomfortable presenter is a challenge for everyone. Fortunately, public speaking skills can improve with practice . Some skills to work on include articulation, engagement, and memorization. You should be able to assess the needs of the audience and handle difficult questions. Controlling your performance anxiety will help you communicate more effectively.

Research is the first step in preparing most presentations and could range from a multi-year process to spending 20 minutes online, depending on context and subject matter. At the very least, you must be able to clearly frame research questions, identify appropriate information sources, and organize your results. Other useful skills include brainstorming, collaboration , comparative analysis, data interpretation, and deductive and inductive reasoning. Business intelligence is a skill that will help you evaluate what information you need to support the bottom line, while case analysis and causal relationships will help you parse and evaluate meaning.

Verbal Communication

Public speaking is one form of  verbal communication , but you will need other forms to give a good presentation. Specifically, you must know how to answer questions. You should be able to understand questions asked by your audience (even if they're strange or poorly worded) and provide respectful, honest, and accurate answers without getting off-topic. Use active listening, focus, and empathy to understand your audience. Skills such as assertiveness, affirmation, and enunciation will help you restate and clarify your key points as it relates to their questions or concerns.

You may or may not need a written script, but you do need to pre-plan what you are going to say, in what order you will say it, and at what level of detail. If you can write a cohesive essay, you can plan a presentation.

Typical writing skills apply to your presentation just as they do to other forms of writing, including grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and proofreading. The ability to build outlines, take notes, and mark up documents will also be useful.

More Presentation Skills

In addition to the skills previously mentioned, there are other important skills that can apply to your presentation. The other skills you need will depend on what your presentation is about, your audience, and your intended results. Some of these additional skills include:

• Summarizing
• Providing anecdotes to illustrate a point
• Designing handouts
• Recognizing and countering objections
• Posing probing questions to elicit more detail about specific issues
• Awareness of ethnic, political, and religious diversity
• Receiving criticism without defensiveness
• Refraining from speaking too often or interrupting others
• Anticipating the concerns of others
• Product knowledge
• SWOT analysis format
• Supporting statements with evidence
• Multilingual
• Working with reviewers
• Consistency
• Developing and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Developing a proposition statement
• Creating and managing expectations

Include skills on your resume. If applicable, you might mention these words in your  resume summary  or  headline .

Highlight skills in your cover letter. Mention one or two specific presentation skills and give examples of instances when you demonstrated these traits in the workplace.

Show your presentation skills in job interviews. During the interview process, you may be asked to give a sample presentation. In this case, you will want to embody these skills during the presentation. For example, you will want to demonstrate your oral communication skills by speaking clearly and concisely throughout the presentation.

PennState. " Steps in Preparing a Presentation ."

Harvard Division of Continuing Education. " 10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills ."

Northern Illinois University. " Delivering the Presentation ."

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What are Presentation Skills and How to Improve Them?

Discover this blog to learn all about Presentation Skills and their vital significance in the professional realm and also learn how to improve them. This blog will also explore the importance of Presentation Skills, and how you conquer any presentation challenge. Read more to learn!

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Table of Contents  

1) What are Presentation Skills?  

2) Why are Presentation Skills important?  

3) Top 25  Presentation Skills

4) How to enhance your Presentation Skills?  

5) Conclusion 

What are Presentation Skills?  

Presentation Skills refer to a set of abilities that enable individuals to effectively convey information, ideas, or messages to an audience. It goes beyond simply speaking in front of people, involving a combination of verbal and non-verbal communication techniques that captivate and engage listeners. These skills are essential in various aspects of life, from professional settings to academic environments and even in personal interactions. 

At its core, Presentation Skills involve the art of delivering a message in a clear, concise, and compelling manner, guided by the fundamental principles of presentation skills . A skillful presenter considers all the advantages and disadvantages of presentations. They can capture the attention of their audience, hold their interest throughout the Presentation, and leave a lasting impact. These skills are priceless in a wide range of scenarios, such as delivering sales pitches, training sessions, public speeches, academic Presentations, or even social gatherings. Now that you know the definition of Presentation Skills, let's move on to learning their importance and the key elements of a Presentation .  

Why are Presentation Skills important?  

Presentation Skills are of paramount importance in the modern interconnected world. Let's have a look at the  Importance of Presentation Skills :  

1) Career advancement : In the professional realm, Presentation Skills are essential for career growth. Whether seeking a promotion, new job opportunities, or aiming for leadership roles, the ability to deliver compelling Presentations sets individuals apart from their peers. Employers value employees who can confidently articulate ideas, pitch proposals, and represent their organisations with poise and charisma. 

2) Building credibility: A skilled presenter exudes confidence and expertise, which enhances their credibility. When conveying information convincingly and concisely, they gain the trust of their audience. Credibility is vital in winning over clients, investors, and stakeholders, as well as in establishing oneself as a thought leader in a particular field. 

3) Effective leadership : Great leaders are often excellent communicators. Presentations Skills enable leaders to inspire and motivate their teams, promoting a sense of unity and purpose. Leaders who can articulate their visions clearly can rally their followers and drive their organisations towards success. 

4) Influencing decisions: Whether in business or academia, the ability to influence decisions through persuasive Presentations is invaluable. A well-crafted Presentation can sway opinions, secure funding for projects, or convince others to take specific actions. 

5) Enhancing teaching and learning: In educational settings, teachers and professors rely on effective Presentations Skills to engage and educate their students. Presenting complex concepts in an accessible and engaging manner promotes better understanding and retention of information. 

6) Confident public speaking: For many people, public speaking is a daunting task. However developing advanced Presentation Skills can help individuals overcome their fear of speaking in front of large audiences, boosting their confidence and self-assurance. 

7) Establishing personal brand: Presentations offer an opportunity to showcase one's personality, expertise, and unique perspective. By mastering Presentations Skills, individuals can establish a distinct personal brand that resonates with their audience and sets them apart from competitors. 

8) Networking and communication: Advanced Presentation Skills enhance networking abilities. Engaging presentations can leave a lasting impression on potential clients, collaborators, or partners. Strong communication skills foster better relationships in both personal and professional spheres. 

9) Successful pitching: Entrepreneurs and startups rely on compelling Presentations to attract investors and secure funding for their ventures. A persuasive pitch can mark the difference between launching a successful business and remaining stagnant. 

10) Personal growth: Learning and honing Presentations Skills promote personal development. It encourages individuals to refine their communication abilities, think critically about their messages, and continuously seek ways to improve their Presentations. 

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Top 25 Presentation Skills

In the realm of presentations, certain key skills can make a significant difference in delivering a compelling and impactful message. One can explore these skills by going through various presentation skills interview questions and answers . It will also aid you in preparing your best to ace in giving a presentation.Here are some essential Types of Presentation Skills that every presenter should strive to master:  

Clarity of expression  

The ability to portray ideas clearly and concisely is fundamental in a presentation. A skilled presenter organises thoughts effectively, avoiding jargon or convoluted language that might confuse the audience. They convey complex concepts in a simple manner, ensuring that their message is easily understood. 

Confident body language  

Non-verbal communication plays a vital role in presentations. A confident presenter uses positive body language, standing tall and maintaining an open posture. They use purposeful hand gestures to emphasise key points, and their facial expressions reflect their emotions and enthusiasm for the topic. 

Eye contact  

Establishing eye contact with the audience builds a connection and instils trust. A skilled presenter looks at different sections of the audience, they make everyone feel engaged and involved in the presentation. 

Voice modulation  

A monotonous voice can quickly lose the audience's attention. Effective presenters use voice modulation, varying their tone, pitch, and pace to add interest and emphasis to their speech. They adjust their voice according to the content and the emotions they want to convey. 

Confidence and poise  

Confidence is the backbone of a successful Presentation. Even if a presenter feels nervous, projecting confidence and poise can reassure the audience and create a positive impression. 

Using engaging openings  

A powerful opening captures the audience's attention from the beginning of the presentation. Skilled presenters use compelling stories, shocking statistics, thought-provoking questions, or intriguing facts to hook the audience and draw them into the presentation. 

Using well-structured content  

Organising the Presentation in a logical and coherent manner is essential. Presenters create a clear introduction that introduces the topic, a well-developed Structure that presents key points, and a concise conclusion that reinforces the main message. 

Using visual aids  

Effective use of visual aids, like slides, charts, and videos, can enhance the audience's understanding and retention of information. Presenters ensure that their visual aids are visually appealing, relevant and support the spoken content rather than overwhelm it. 

Audience engagement  

Skilled presenters actively involve their audience throughout the presentation. They ask questions, seek opinions, and incorporate interactive activities to keep the audience engaged and interested. 

Handling Q&A sessions  

Anticipating and preparing for potential questions demonstrates expertise and readiness. A skilled presenter confidently responds to audience's questions. They provide insightful answers and address any concerns. 

Time management  

Presenters respect their audience's time by adhering to the allocated time frame. They manage their time wisely, ensuring that they cover all essential points without rushing or going overtime. 

Adaptability  

Presenters need to be adaptable, ready to adjust their approach based on the audience's reactions and engagement levels. They can switch strategies if something is not working or if they need to address unexpected challenges. 

Active listening  

Active listening is a crucial skill for presenters, not just for the audience. While presenting, it's essential to pay attention to the audience's reactions and feedback. Doing this enables presenters to adapt their delivery and content in real-time, ensuring that the presentation remains relevant and resonates with the audience.  

Storytelling  

Storytelling is a powerful tool to make Presentations memorable and relatable. Influential presenters weave relevant anecdotes, case studies, or personal experiences into their Presentations to connect emotionally with the audience. 

Preparation and rehearsal  

Proper preparation is crucial for a successful presentation. Skilled presenters thoroughly research their topic, practice their delivery, and rehearse in front of a mirror or with friends to gain feedback and build confidence. 

Closing with impact  

An impactful conclusion leaves a lasting impression on the audience. Skilled presenters summarise the main points, reiterate their key message, and may end with a call to action or a thought-provoking statement. 

Self-awareness

Self-awareness involves monitoring one's own emotions and reactions, which enables individuals to respond effectively in various situations. During Presentations, self-awareness can help one remain personable and handle feedback well. It can also soothe nervousness, allowing individuals to perform better. 

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How to enhance your Presentation Skills? 

Presentation Skills are essential for individuals in various professional fields. While presenting a project proposal, giving a sales pitch or delivering a keynote speech, the way you present your ideas can significantly impact your message's effectiveness. To help you improve your presentation skills, here are some pointers to consider when you prepare a presentation :

Master presentation tools 

Utilising Presentation tools like PowerPoint or Prezi can enhance the visual appeal of your Presentation. Take the time to learn these software programs' features and experiment with different templates, fonts, and colours. Additionally, practice using the software so that you can smoothly navigate through your slides during your Presentation. 

Practice breathing exercises 

Deep breathing exercises can help your mind relax and release tension before and during your Presentation. Try slowly inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth, which will help regulate your breathing and calm your nerves. Practice deep breathing exercises daily to develop a habit of relaxation. 

Stay hydrated 

Speaking for an extended period can strain your vocal cords and lead to a dry throat. Stay hydrated by drinking enough water before and during your presentation. Avoid excessive caffeine or sugary drinks, as they can dehydrate you or impact your energy levels. 

Incorporate exercise 

Regular exercise can improve your well-being and boost your energy levels. Engage in physical activity, such as exercising, walking, running, or yoga, to reduce stress and increase endorphin production. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can contribute to your overall confidence and ability to deliver engaging Presentations. 

Arrive early for a smooth start 

Arriving early at the venue is crucial. Not only does it alleviate travel stress, but it also provides you with essential preparation time. Considering potential traffic delays and unforeseen events ensures that you reach your destination well ahead of your Presentation slot. By doing so, you'll have time to meet with on-site technicians, test your equipment, and establish a connection with fellow attendees before stepping onto the stage. 

Familiarise yourself with the room 

Early arrival allows you to explore the Presentation room thoroughly. Take note of its layout, acoustics, and lighting. Where will you stand during your talk? Experiment with different spots to find the optimal position for projecting your voice effectively. Familiarity with the room enhances your confidence and stage presence. 

Learn from other presenters 

While waiting for your turn, observe other presenters. Listen attentively to their speeches—note their tone, pacing, and engagement level. Pay attention to any relevant data or insights they share. This not only helps you understand the room dynamics but also provides an opportunity to incorporate relevant points into your own Presentation. By referencing what you've heard from previous speakers, you can create a more engaging and interactive experience for your audience. 

Use notes cards wisely 

Rather than relying on a full script, consider using note cards with key talking points. These cards serve as prompts to keep your presentation organised without making you sound overly rehearsed or robotic. Remember that authenticity matters; use the note cards as a guide while allowing yourself the flexibility to connect naturally with your audience. Remember, when you step onto that stage, it's not about you—it's about delivering valuable content and connecting with your listeners. 

Conclusion  

All in all, Presentation Skills are a vital aspect of effective communication and can greatly impact personal, academic, and professional success. By understanding the key elements of a compelling Presentation and incorporating various techniques, individuals can hone their abilities and leave a lasting impression on their audiences. 

Want to master the art of impactful Presentations? Explore our Presentation Skills Courses and elevate your communication prowess!  

Frequently Asked Questions

The 5 Ps of Presentation Skills are Planning (structuring your message and objectives), Preparation (researching and organising content), Practice (rehearsing to enhance delivery), Performance (engaging the audience with effective communication techniques), and Post-Presentation (evaluating feedback to improve future presentations).

The four types of Presentation Skills include verbal communication, non-verbal communication, visual aids, and audience engagement.

The Knowledge Academy’s Knowledge Pass , a prepaid voucher, adds another layer of flexibility, allowing course bookings over a 12-month period. Join us on a journey where education knows no bounds.

The Knowledge Academy offers various Presentation Skills courses , including Business Writing Course, Data Analysis Skills, and Presenting with Impact Training. These courses cater to different skill levels, providing comprehensive insights into Key Elements of Presentation .  

Our Business Skills blogs covers a range of topics related to Presentation Skills Training, offering valuable resources, best practices, and industry insights. Whether you are a beginner or looking to advance your Presentation skills, The Knowledge Academy's diverse courses and informative blogs have you covered.  

The Knowledge Academy takes global learning to new heights, offering over 30,000 online courses across 490+ locations in 220 countries. This expansive reach ensures accessibility and convenience for learners worldwide.  

Alongside our diverse Online Course Catalogue, encompassing 17 major categories, we go the extra mile by providing a plethora of free educational Online Resources like News updates, Blogs , videos, webinars, and interview questions. Tailoring learning experiences further, professionals can maximise value with customisable Course Bundles of TKA .  

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Healthcare Leadership: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

Industry Advice Healthcare Leadership

There’s an immense need, now more than ever, for effective leadership in healthcare. Specifically, the global pandemic has highlighted the importance of innovative healthcare leaders who are able to quickly formulate effective solutions. Additional challenges such as healthcare accessibility and affordability require effective forward-thinking leaders.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can make a mark in healthcare today, here’s an overview of what healthcare leadership is, why it’s important, and what makes an effective leader in the healthcare system.

What is Healthcare Leadership?

Leadership is often defined as an ability to manage a team effectively. This definition, however, is only a part of what makes an effective leader. Healthcare leadership isn’t about maintaining the status quo, but identifying challenges in the system and finding solutions to those problems.

According to Dr. Robert Baginski, the program director of Northeastern University’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) in Healthcare Leadership program, “Healthcare leadership is taking an active role in the direction of healthcare today.” It involves more than managing a healthcare organization, overseeing staff, or dealing with insurance. Baginski continues to explain that “Healthcare leadership ideally should be guiding healthcare in the direction that we feel it should go in the future.”

Importance of Leadership in Healthcare

Effective leadership in healthcare is incredibly important, especially when considering the expense of modern care. Here’s a closer look at the various ways that effective leadership can make a lasting impact.

1. Improves Quality of Care

Effective leadership is integral to quality healthcare . If a healthcare team is uncoordinated or unfocused, patients often pay the price. Great leaders facilitate communication, boost productivity, and put others first. This ability is critical to quality patient care since healthcare often requires a rapid response to issues that arise. In such situations, communication and efficiency are vital.

2. Creates Adaptable Leaders

One of the most prominent examples of needing adaptability in healthcare is the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the American Psychological Association identified seven crucial leadership qualities necessary for combatting the pandemic.

• Effective stress management
• Empathy and optimism when sharing information
• Building trust with expertise and dependability
• Honesty and transparency
• Consistent communication
• Openness to feedback
• Should be role models

When unpredictability and uncertainty is rampant, effective leadership is crucial. An excellent leader won’t just be able to navigate a stressful situation but also lead others through it and find solutions for the future.

3. Encourages Forward-Thinking

Leadership and management are often used as synonyms, but the reality is that leadership involves much more than the day-to-day operations of a business. Healthcare in particular has a need for leaders who are looking to the future of healthcare and how to improve it.

While healthcare leadership is important to every country, according to the World Population Review , the United States has higher healthcare costs than any other country. Furthermore, while the number of uninsured individuals in the U.S. is lower than ever , the healthcare system is highly dependent on access to this type of coverage.

According to a report from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker , compared to similar countries, the United States has:

• The highest pregnancy-related mortality rate
• A higher-than-average rate of diabetes and congestive heart failure
• A higher percentage of reported medication and treatment errors than the majority of comparable countries

According to Baginski, improvements to the healthcare system are possible with effective leadership. “Ideally, I feel healthcare should be looking to the future, toward solutions where we can provide the best and the most healthcare to those who need it most, regardless of insurance status, access to money, or where they live.”

4. Produces Innovative Leaders

One of the most prevalent challenges facing the healthcare industry today is the chronic shortage of healthcare professionals . An increasing number of healthcare professionals are experiencing burnout, and approximately 47 percent of healthcare workers in the U.S. are planning to leave their current position within the next three years. A 2022 survey of 1,000 healthcare staff found that 48 percent don’t believe their organization is doing enough to address burnout.

The healthcare industry is in need of leaders who are able to identify the problems that are leading to burnout and resolve them. Baginski explains that good leaders do two things differently when compared to ineffective leaders:

• Identification: Recognizing problems as they arise, and proactively considering potential problems. For example, the same survey reported that 57 percent of healthcare workers are concerned that their highly repetitive tasks will ultimately lead to burnout.
• Innovation: Finding solutions to those problems and contributing to the future of healthcare. To address the repetitive tasks in healthcare, many healthcare workers are hopeful that technology and automation will improve their overall experience and allow them to focus more closely on patient care.

What Makes a Healthcare Leader Effective?

Individuals who take on a leadership role in healthcare need several skills to be effective. Five essential leadership skills in healthcare are:

• Mentorship: An effective leader doesn’t stand above others but seeks to foster leadership qualities in them.
• Challenging the status quo: Leaders aren’t content with the status quo but are always seeking opportunities to innovate and improve.
• Educating others: In addition to mentoring others at the individual level, effective leaders seek to educate others outside of their direct influence.
• Humility: An effective leader isn’t afraid to accept feedback or criticism. Since much is unknown about healthcare, mistakes are often inevitable. A good leader will admit their mistakes or skill and expertise gaps.
• Creating opportunities for others: Leaders always look to the future. Instead of sole personal improvement, an effective leader will prioritize helping the next generation of healthcare professionals obtain leadership traits.

One of the most detrimental traits to quality healthcare is complacency. Self-satisfaction often leads to stagnation rather than proactivity. An effective leader recognizes their limitations and understands that there’s always something new to learn. According to Baginski, “Bad leadership is keeping things as they always have been because that’s the way they’ve been done previously. That doesn’t get you anywhere.”

Ready to Develop Your Leadership Skills?

If you’re hoping to advance your career in healthcare to a leadership position, it’s important to ensure that you’re prepared. One of the best ways to obtain the relevant skills and qualifications to advance to a leadership role is to obtain a relevant degree.

“Get all of your education and your experience first, and then get all of your information before you address that problem,” says Baginski. “Learn how to critically assess information and get all your ducks in a row before you start to confront change.”

If you want to become a more effective leader and advance your career, consider obtaining Northeastern University’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) in Healthcare Leadership . This degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to take your first steps into a successful leadership role.

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