powerpoint presentation skills course

• Microsoft PowerPoint 365

Testimonials (146 reviews)

• Microsoft Office

Premium video tutorials

Award-winning instructors

Personalized learning

Get certified

Learn at your own pace

Mobile (learn on-the-go)

Unlimited tests and quizzes

Regularly updated content

Want to create effective PowerPoint presentations but don’t know where to start? Whether you are new to PowerPoint or have some experience and want to improve your skills, this online course has something for everyone, covering beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons in PowerPoint.

In 51 engaging lessons you will learn basic techniques including how to use themes and layouts, add audio visual components to your presentations and more. You will also learn intermediate and advanced techniques such as how to add animations, print, reuse and copy slides plus more.

Whether you use PowerPoint for work or study, these tutorials will start you on your journey to becoming a PowerPoint pro!

The course is PowerPoint 2019 and Microsoft 365 compliant (previously known as Office 365). Video tutorials are recorded in Microsoft PowerPoint 365 / 2019.

For older versions of PowerPoint, visit our course for Microsoft PowerPoint versions 2010-2016 .

Once enrolled, our friendly support team and tutors are here to help with any course related inquiries.

Accreditations and approvals

Deborah Ashby

Course introduction 1 lesson free lesson, hello and welcome to powerpoint.

In this lesson, we will be introduced to the instructor who will share the course outline, communicate the scope, any assumptions/pre-requisites and give a high-level overview of what to expect.

Modern Slide Layouts 2 lessons

The golden rules of good slide design.

In this lesson, we will discuss modern slide layouts and show examples of engaging, slick presentations. We will run-through presentation tips, things to consider when designing slide-decks and also things to avoid. This lesson will contain lots of examples of good and bad presentations.

Resources and Inspiration

In this lesson, we'll look at a number of free resources for high-quality images, icons and videos for use in presentations. We'll also discuss where to go for inspiration when it comes to slide layouts, use of color, iconography, and images.

Essential PowerPoint Skills 8 lessons Free Lesson

Launching powerpoint and the start screen.

We'll examine the different ways to launch PowerPoint and run through the functionality available on the Start Screen.

Get To Know the PowerPoint Interface

Get familiar with the different areas that make up the PowerPoint Interface. This includes the ribbon structure, groups, commands, dialog launchers, scroll bars and the status bar. This lesson is also designed to familiarize you with important PowerPoint terminology.

The Quick Access Toolbar (QAT)

We introduce the Quick Access Toolbar which allows users to execute frequently used commands with one-click. We also learn how to add commands to the Quick Access Toolbar using two different methods.

Contextual Menus and Ribbons

We will learn about the mini-toolbar for quick formatting and explore the options available in the right-click contextual menus. We'll also cover the concept of contextual ribbons that only appear when needed.

Accessing Help and Search Features

In this lesson, we will learn how to access help on demand whilst working in PowerPoint using the F1 key and the search bar. We will also learn how to turn the Help ribbon on through PowerPoint options to access training, community forums and blogs.

Creating and Saving a New Presentation

Let's create our first new presentation using a blank template. We'll learn how to save presentations locally and to the cloud, and understand how this determines how the presentation is saved going forward.

Diving In to PowerPoint Templates

Let's explore the pre-designed templates available in PowerPoint. We will learn how to search for templates, browse categories, pin favourites, load them, make changes and save them for reuse.

Working with Slide Layouts

In this lesson, we will learn all about the different slide layouts available in PowerPoint. We'll learn how to create new slides and apply different layouts to each, paying attention to text placeholders and content icons.

Let's Get Started - Slide Workshop! 27 lessons Free Lesson

"title slide" - start with a bang - part 1.

We will create an eye-catching title slide using the title slide layout. Then, we'll create a title slide manually from a blank slide using text boxes and basic shapes.

"Title Slide" - Start with a Bang! - Part 2

Selecting and aligning objects on a slide.

In this important lesson, we will learn how to select objects and use alignment tools, distribution tools, grouping, gridlines and guides to position multiple objects on the slide. A must for a professional looking presentation!

"About Us" - Using Images, Icons and Text - Part 1

We will create an 'About Us' slide and learn how to insert pictures, icons and text. We will also learn the basics of moving and resizing objects and some simple but effective formatting techniques.

"About Us" - Inserting Images, Icons and Text - Part 2

"divider slide" - shapes, fills and format shapes - part 1.

We will create a divider slide to separate different topics in a presentation. We will also learn how to download, save and use high-quality large images as the slide background and use the merge and union facility to merge a picture across multiple shapes.

"Divider Slide" - Working with shapes, merge and union and icons - Part 2

We will finish creating a divider slide to separate different topics in a presentation. We will also learn how to add quote text, a slide number and apply font formatting properties. 

Managing Slides

A simple lesson where we will learn how to duplicate and modify slides, replace images and change the z-order of objects on a slide. We will also learn how to re-organize and arrange slides using the thumbnail view and slide sorter view.

Dividing up a Presentation with Sections

We will learn how to divide up a presentation into manageable chunks to assist with editing, navigation and organization.

"Meet the Team" - Crop and Fill

An introduction to a very useful pairing - crop and fill. We will create a 'Meet the Team' slide and fill shapes with pictures that fit perfectly without distortion.

"Our Services" - Shapes, Pictures and Animation - Part 1

In this lesson, we will start to build an 'Our Services' slide. In part 2 of this lesson, we will build the background using shapes, images and crop and fill, and then apply animation to this slide. 

"Our Services" - Animated Bullets - Part 2

In part 2 of this lesson, we will learn how to add bulleted lists and apply animation. 

Slide Transitions

Transitions explained! We will learn the importance of smooth transitions between slides, how to apply transitions to one or more slides, the different types of transition and how to manage and remove transitions.

"Our History" - Creating a Timeline - Part 1

We will learn about a number of techniques to create an engaging timeline slide using SmartArt, fill colors and the eyedropper utility. 

"Our History" - Creating a timeline - Part 2

We will finish creating an engaging timeline using shapes, shape effects, icons and formatted text. 

"Our Process" - Creating a Process Flow Chart - Part 1

We will create a cross-functional process flowchart using flowchart shapes. This includes: inserting and formatting tables, connecting shapes with lines and connectors, resizing objects and adding text. 

"Our Process" - Creating a process flow chart - Part 2

We will create a cross-functional process flowchart using flowchart shapes. This includes, formatting shapes with shape effects, connecting shapes with lines and connectors, resizing objects and adding text.

"Our Products" - More Shapes, Pictures, and Text - Part 1

In part 1 of this lesson, we will build an 'Our Products' home page using shapes, pictures, text and formatting options. 

"Our Products" - Working with Hyperlinks - Part 2

In part 2 of this lesson, we will build 4 more slides and learn how to hyperlink to them from the home page. 

"Company Statistics" - Creating Graphs and Charts

We will learn how to create a column, sunburst and map chart to tell the story of their data visually. Create charts on-the-fly or use data already stored in an Excel worksheet.

Formatting Charts and Graphs - Part 1

We explore the extensive formatting options available on the Chart Options contextual ribbon. Change the color scheme, switch the data around, add data labels, axis labels, chart titles and a legend.

Formatting Charts and Graphs - Part 2

Explore the extensive formatting options available on the Chart Options contextual ribbon. Change the color scheme, switch the data around, add data labels, axis labels, chart titles and a legend.

"Contact Us" - Rotating Shapes - Part 1

In Part 1 of this lesson, we will begin to put together a Contact Us slide. We will use shapes and learn how to rotate shapes but keep the image horizontal. 

"Contact Us" - Hyperlinks - Part 2

In Part 2 of this lesson, we will complete the 'Contact Us' slide. We will insert social media icons, contact information and hyperlinks to emails and external websites.  

"Closing Slide" - Using Video in Slides

We will see where to go for free motion videos to use in presentations. Create a closing slide using a motion background, shapes, transparencies and use the contextual ribbon to control playback.

Adding Animation Effects - Part 1

In part 1 of this lesson, we will get the opportunity to reorganize slides, add new sections and then apply animation effects to slides 1 and 2. 

Adding Animation Effects - Part 2

In part 2 of this lesson, we will continue to apply different entrance, emphasis and animation effects as well as modify the effect options. 

Working with Touch 2 lessons

Draw with touch.

This lesson is aimed at touch device users. We will learn how to switch between mouse and touch mode and start to explore the commands available on the Draw ribbon to annotate presentations.

Ink to Text, Shape and Math

We will learn how to turn handwritten notes, shapes and mathematical equations into typed text.

Preparing a Presentation for Delivery 4 lessons

Checking spelling and grammar.

We will learn how to customize our proofing tools in PowerPoint Options and then run a spelling and grammar check prior to sharing the presentation with others.

Adding Comments and Notes

We will learn how to add comments to a PowerPoint presentation and how to delete, respond to and manage comments in a presentation that has been sent to them. We will also learn how to add speaker notes to slides and view the notes whilst presenting.

Slide Show Settings

We will tour the different options available to setup a slide show. This includes learning about how to make a presentation run automatically by rehearsing timings.

Rehearse Timings and Custom Slide Shows

We will look at how to create a slide show using timings and a custom slide show. 

Delivering a Presentation 1 lesson

Presenter tools and features.

In this lesson, we will run a slide show and explore the in-presentation features such as blacking out the screen, using annotations, turning on subtitles and switching pointer options.

The Info Tab 2 lessons

Adding and removing document properties.

We will look at how to add document properties (metadata) to assist with searching for presentations. We will also see how to remove all metadata from a presentation prior to sending the document to external clients/customers.

Protecting a Presentation

We will look at how to protect a presentation from editing or limit who can access a presentation by setting read-only access, encrypting with a password and marking as final.

Printing, Exporting and Sharing 3 lessons

Exporting a presentation to other file formats.

We will learn how to export a presentation to another file format such as a PDF, video, animated gif, and more.

Printing a Presentation

We explore the different Print Options available: how to select a printer, print to PDF, set printer properties and define what you want to print and the layout.

Sharing a Presentation

In this final lesson, we will learn how to share a copy or a link to a presentation with others and control if colleagues can edit or simply view it.

Course Close 1 lesson

Thank you and goodbye.

The instructor will close out the course by saying goodbye, recapping some of the skills learnt to remind student of how far they've come.

Download syllabus

Certificates

You can earn 2 certificates with this course

Certificate of Training

Rewarded upon successful completion of your training course.

Certificate of Achievement

Rewarded upon successful completion of your training course and test.

Share course

Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Email

See what our customers are saying...

“Well designed course that teaches all the basics.”         Sandra Schorde

“This is a brilliant course and Deb Ashby is a wonderful teacher. The whole process of producing an appealing presentation was made easy through a step-by-step guide. Thank you, Deb! ”         Veronica

“Excellent, very user friendly course. Really enjoyed the fact that a ppt was fully built over the course of the lessons. A very clever way of incorporating the teaching of each skill.”         Stacey McNutt

“Very detailed, great course!”         Rafael Ruiz

“Excellent instructor. ”         Betty Anne Manning

“Very Good Course”         RANI SARKAR

“Absolutely loved this course. So easy to follow. Great pace and amazing presenter. Learnt a lot. Have recommended to several work mates.”         Salina

“this course was so well put together,specific and interesting .”         Silvia Blue

“I was pleased by how much I learned about great design details and formatting for power point!”         Pauline Copello

“Deb is so easy to listen to, and she does an excellent job talking through her steps. I felt this course was very thorough for a beginner-level course.”         Christina K. Bateman

Others who bought this course also viewed

© 2024 GoSkills Ltd. Skills for career advancement

Please select an account type

I want to learn on my own

I want to learn and study on my own. I am not part of a team.

I want to train my team

I would like to train my team using the GoSkills LMS.

Home Blog Education Presentation Skills 101: A Guide to Presentation Success

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.

Like this article? Please share

Business Presentations, Presentation Approaches, Presentation Skills Filed under Education

Related Articles

Filed under Design • March 27th, 2024

How to Make a Presentation Graph

Detailed step-by-step instructions to master the art of how to make a presentation graph in PowerPoint and Google Slides. Check it out!

Filed under Presentation Ideas • February 29th, 2024

How to Make a Fundraising Presentation (with Thermometer Templates & Slides)

Meet a new framework to design fundraising presentations by harnessing the power of fundraising thermometer templates. Detailed guide with examples.

Filed under Presentation Ideas • February 15th, 2024

How to Create a 5 Minutes Presentation

Master the art of short-format speeches like the 5 minutes presentation with this article. Insights on content structure, audience engagement and more.

Leave a Reply

Welcome Back!

It looks like you already have created an account in GreatLearning with email . Would you like to link your Google account?

1000+ Courses for Free

Forgot password.

If an account with this email id exists, you will receive instructions to reset your password.

Get free access to

1000+ courses with certificates

Live sessions from industry experts

Industry salary insights and benchmarks

Have an account?

By signing up/logging in, you agree to our Terms and condition • Privacy Policy

We've sent an OTP to CHANGE

Setting up your account...

• Free Courses
• Powerpoint free courses

Free Powerpoint Courses

Learn new tools and techniques to create stunning PowerPoint presentations through Great Learning's free PowerPoint courses. Learn basics to advanced concepts and gain recognition for your abilities with free PowerPoint certificates of course completion. These online PowerPoint courses will equip you with all the necessary skills to create high-quality presentations and slides. With comprehensive, hands-on training, you will develop and hone your skills in Powerpoint, from creating spectacular slides and smooth transitions to more advanced features and functions. Improve your PowerPoint presentation skills through these free courses and earn free certificates.

• IT & Software
• ChatGPT and Generative AI
• Intermediate
• 30 mins - 1 hour
• 1 - 3 hours

PowerPoint for Beginners

Microsoft powerpoint tutorial, chatgpt for microsoft powerpoint, google bard for microsoft powerpoint.

Education is one of the easy keys to be industry fit. But picking up the domain that suits you best from the pool of options? That’s a bit confusing. Great Learning offers you a plethora of choices in the fields of your interests. You can walk through the courses, understand what pleases your specifications and choose the best that suits you. Each of these courses will help you be ready by offering you the best of content. You will gain degree and PG certificates from recognized universities on successful completion of the registered course. We wish you happy learning!

Scholarships upto ₹25K

University of Texas - McCombs

PGP in Data Science and Business Analytics

Dedicated Career Support

PES University

M.Tech in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

DEDICATED CAREER SUPPORT

Great Lakes Executive Learning

PGP in Strategic Digital Marketing

Career Support

Success stories

SecOps Engineer

Bandhan Bank

Team Trainer

Altem Technology

Soft Talk India

And thousands more such success stories..

Popular Upskilling Programs

PG Program in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

#1 Ranked AI Program

Scholarships upto ₹50K

PGP in Data Science and Engineering (Bootcamp)

Dedicated Placement Assistance

Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online)

Scholarships upto ₹15K

PG Program in Cloud Computing

360° Cloud Learning

Post Graduate Programme in Cyber Security

CERTIFICATE FROM GREAT LAKES

Artificial Intelligence PG Program for Leaders

No Programming Exp Required

MS in Data Science Programme

Live Sessions

Design Thinking: From Insights to Viability

Live Faculty Interaction

Learn PowerPoint & Get Completion Certificates

PowerPoint - An Essential Software Program

PowerPoint has become an essential skill to have in the modern workplace. It is a powerful tool used in many different industries to create presentations, campaigns, and multimedia experiences that are both visually appealing and interactive. With the evolution of technology, PowerPoint has become an increasingly important tool for professionals.

You can learn this in-demand software program through Great Learning's free PowerPoint courses and gain renowned skills. Here's an overview of why learning to use this popular software program is essential in today's business world.

Professionals of all stripes need to know how to use PowerPoint. Employers are looking for job candidates who can create professional presentations to showcase their ideas and expertise. Students will benefit from understanding the basics of PowerPoint, as they may need to create presentations for class projects and assignments. Entrepreneurs need to know the basics of creating visually appealing presentations to showcase their products and services. In short, anyone working in the corporate world needs to know how to use PowerPoint to communicate their message effectively.

Great presentations can capture an audience and help engage them more effectively in the messages you're trying to convey. PowerPoint is a very effective way to present complex information, turning it into digestible pieces of information that the audience can understand. PowerPoint also allows users to add visuals, animations, and other multimedia elements to make the presentation look more professional and engaging.

PowerPoint is a fast and simple way to create visually appealing presentations. You can use the various features of the program to create your own custom slides or use the various templates available to help streamline the process. You can even upload images, audio, and video clips and add animation and other visuals to make your presentation truly unique.

In addition to creating professional presentations for the workplace, PowerPoint is also used for more creative projects. Musicians, filmmakers, and other professionals are using this powerful program to create multimedia experiences that help tell stories in a visually captivating way.  

PowerPoint is a valuable tool for anyone looking to communicate their message. It's an effective way to create visually appealing and engaging presentations and is key to success in many industries. No matter the field, learning how to use PowerPoint is an important skill in the modern business world.

Benefits of Learning PowerPoint

PowerPoint is an essential business tool for creating and delivering presentations. But the use of this software extends beyond the work environment. Learning PowerPoint can offer personal and professional benefits that can help you achieve success in your professional and personal life. 

1. Improved Visual Representation of Ideas

PowerPoint allows users to create visuals that effectively convey their ideas or thoughts. These visuals can be used to enhance presentations, speeches, and reports. You can use PowerPoint to create a variety of visuals, such as tables, graphics, and visuals to help communicate your message effectively.

2. Streamlined Professional Communication

PowerPoint enables users to communicate more effectively with their work colleagues or supervisors. You can use PowerPoint to create a presentation quickly and efficiently. You can add graphics, images, and videos to your presentation to help illustrate your points. In addition, PowerPoint can also be used to create professional-looking documents.

3. Enhanced Job Performance

Knowing how to use PowerPoint can help make you an asset to your company. You can use this powerful tool to create attractive and engaging presentations to share with your organization's clients and other key stakeholders. With the help of PowerPoint, you can present your ideas cohesively and get your point across more effectively. This can help you stand out from your colleagues and get ahead in your profession.

4. Easier Data Analysis PowerPoint also offers the ability to analyze data quickly. You can use the graphing and charting functions to create visuals that can help you to understand the data better. This visualization of the data can make it easier for you to make sense of it and draw meaningful conclusions.

Learning the basics of PowerPoint is a great way to improve your professional and personal life. Whether you need to create an engaging presentation for a client or analyze data to make an important decision, PowerPoint can help you do it quickly and effectively. Learn this impressive software program from scratch through Great Learning's free PowerPoint courses that cover basic to advanced concepts. Want to upskill in your software skills? Great Learning's Best Software Engineering Courses are the right option for you to get familiar with in-demand industry skills and earn a certificate of course completion that aid in securing better job opportunities.

Explore new and trending free online courses

Getting Started with Bard

Generative AI for beginners

ChatGPT for HR

Artificial Intelligence with Python

Introduction to Cyber Attacks

Microsoft Azure Application

Business Intelligence using Excel

SQL for Data Science

Complete TOEFL Prep Course

Interview Preparation using Bard

Introduction to Claude

Customer Service Essentials

Introduction to Google Ads Campaign

TallyPrime Tutorial

Google Bard for Coders

Basics of Data Visualization for Data Science

Complete IELTS Prep Course

GRE Prep Course

Data science, data analyst, it & software, data manager.

BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATION

• Business Analyst

Account Manager

Frequently Asked Questions

Great Learning offers free PowerPoint courses, which address basic to advanced concepts. Enroll in the course that suits your career goals through the pool of courses and earn free PowerPoint certificates of course completion.  

With the support of online learning platforms, it is now possible to learn concepts on your own. Great Learning Academy is a platform that provides free PowerPoint courses where learners can learn at their own pace.    

These free PowerPoint courses offered by Great Learning Academy contain self-paced videos allowing learners to learn necessary PowerPoint skills at their convenience.  

Yes. You will have lifelong access to these free PowerPoint courses Great Learning Academy offers.  

You can enroll in Great Learning's Full Stack Development Course by IIT Roorkee, which will help you gain advanced software skills in demand in industries. Complete the course to earn a certificate of course completion.

Yes, it is worth learning PowerPoint. It is a highly versatile and valuable tool that can create compelling presentations while allowing you to easily share online and collaborate with others. Learning PowerPoint can also increase your productivity and make it easier to communicate ideas visually.  

PowerPoint is a popular presentation software because it is easy to use and can be quickly adapted to meet the needs of almost any presentation. It also has a wide range of features, including various transitions and animations, which allow for more engaging and visually appealing presentations. Additionally, PowerPoint's ability to embed video and audio clips help to keep audiences engaged. Many people are accustomed to PowerPoint's user interface, making it easier to learn and use.  

You will be awarded free PowerPoint certificates after completion of your enrolled PowerPoint free courses.  

Through these free PowerPoint courses, you will gain essential PowerPoint features and techniques that help make your presentation more engaging.  

These PowerPoint courses are provided by Great Learning Academy for free, allowing any learner to learn PowerPoint and gain crucial skills for free.

Learners, from freshers to working professionals who wish to gain essential PowerPoint skills, can enroll in these free PowerPoint courses and earn certificates of course completion.  

Choose the free PowerPoint courses you are looking for and click on the "Enroll Now" button to start your PowerPoint learning journey.

Great Learning Academy is the farsighted initiative by Great Learning, the leading e-Learning platform, to offer free industry-relevant courses. Free PowerPoint courses contain courses ranging from beginner-level to advanced-level to help learners choose the best fit for them.  

There are several jobs that require you to learn PowerPoint, including:

• Sales Representative
• Graphic Designer
• Project Manager
• Education Coordinator
• Multimedia Designer 
• Content Manager  

Refer & Win >

Premium course worth ₹15,000/-

Oops!! Something went wrong, Please try again.

*Students less than 14 years of age are not eligible

By submitting the form, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy .

Form submitted successfully

We are allocating a suitable domain expert to help you out with your queries. Expect to receive a call in the next 4 hours.

Ideas and insights from Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How are you providing presentation skills training for your learners?

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

Let’s talk

Change isn’t easy, but we can help. Together we’ll create informed and inspired leaders ready to shape the future of your business.

© 2024 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

• Privacy Policy
• Copyright Information
• Terms of Use
• About Harvard Business Publishing
• Higher Education
• Harvard Business Review
• Harvard Business School

We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies and revised Privacy Policy .

Cookie and Privacy Settings

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

PowerPoint for Windows training

Other versions

PowerPoint for Mac Help

PowerPoint 2013 training

Additional help

PowerPoint help

PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts

LinkedIn Learning

PowerPoint templates

Microsoft 365 templates

Accessible Microsoft 365 templates

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.

Online support

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

13 Best + Free Presentation Skills Courses [2024 April] [UPDATED]

Giving presentations is crucial in today’s modern world. To succeed in one’s career, one must know the art of creating and delivering presentations. The best free and paid presentation courses are listed below. Have a look at our list of Best PowerPoint Courses .

13 Best + Free Presentation Skills Courses, Classes & Certifications [2024 April] [UPDATED]

Presentation skills secrets course: delivering the talk of your life (udemy).

The presentation skill secrets program includes topics like storytelling and creating audience maps. Learn about the types of content and how to extract and categorize information. Understand how to create emotional variety and sequence content. Know how to engage your senses during the communication process. Learn about topics like multisensory augmentation and know rehearsing tips . Understand the seven steps of the talk development journey. Know how to create effective PowerPoint presentations. The program includes a 30-Day-Money-Back-Guarantee for students who are not satisfied with the course content.

Highlights-

-Students will receive a certificate after completing the program.

-Understand concepts like the SUCCESS model, signals, and noise.

-PDF worksheets help students practice their communication skills.

-The program is compatible with both a mobile phone and a television screen.

Duration: Self Paced

Rating: 4.4 out of 5

You can Sign up Here

PowerPoint Presentation Course- design PowerPoint slides (Udemy)

The PowerPoint Presentation course will help you create engaging presentations for an audience. Understand how to work with text, slide layout, and transitions. Know the best design practices that you can follow. Understand the features of Microsoft PowerPoint-like editing paths and vector objects . Students must have access to Microsoft PowerPoint (version 2013 or later) before opting for the program. The modules are suitable for beginners.

-Students have lifetime access to the study material in the modules.

-Learners will receive a certificate after completing the course.

-Students can access a list of resources to help them create effective presentations.

The Complete Presentation and Public Speaking/Speech Course (Udemy)

The Presentation course covers understanding your audience and writing content relevant to them. Know how to appeal to your audience’s emotions. Understand how to start a presentation and introduce new speakers. Know how to structure content, overcome writer’s block, and end a presentation. Understand how you can obtain feedback on your presentation . Know how to critique a presentation and present your content by having the appropriate body language . The modules are suitable for beginners. Learners do not need to have any prior knowledge of giving or creating presentations. The program includes a 30-Day-Money-Back-Guarantee.

-Understand how to customize images and add photographs to enhance your presentations.

-Students can preview some video lectures before purchasing the program.

-Know how to relax and be in a proper mental state while delivering presentations.

Confidence on Camera: Make Amazing Videos, Easily. (Udemy)

The Confidence on Camera program will help students learn to overcome their fears. Understand how to structure talking points and exercise your voice. Know how to create videos and have the correct body language. Understand how you can create a good first impression by working on your appearance . Learn tips for setting up lighting and how to decide the best equipment. The program includes a 30-Day-Money-Back-Guarantee. Students need to have access to a video recording device and basic lighting equipment before pursuing the course.

-Students can preview some video courses before opting for the program.

-Learn tips for mental well-being that can help you during uncertain times.

-Understand time management and how you can set realistic goals.

-Resources like guide lists help students understand concepts in the modules better.

Rating: 4.6 out of 5

Related: High Income Skills You Can Learn Online

Complete Presentation Skills Masterclass for Every Occasion (Udemy)

The complete presentation skills course covers topics like body language and incorporating storytelling in presentations. Learn presentation skills from famous personalities like authors, leaders, and celebrities . Understand how you can eliminate your fear of public speaking . Know how presentation skills vary depending upon the event, like a workplace meeting or a wedding. Understand the best ways to motivate your audience . Know how to end and start presentations and choose a presentation topic. The program includes a 30-Day-Money-Back-Guarantee for students who are not satisfied with the course content.

Public Speaking and Presentations Pro: No Beginners Allowed! (Udemy)

The public speaking course includes topics like engaging your audience and becoming confident. Know how to tailor your presentations according to the needs of the target audience. Understand how to use your body language and facial expressions . Know how you can answer the questions of your audience and speak at an appropriate pace. Understand how to be enthusiastic and handle any distractions. Know how to identify your key strengths while presenting. The program includes a 30-Day-Money-Back-Guarantee for students who are not satisfied with the course content. The program is not suitable for beginner-level students.

-Learn the four presentation styles of keynote speakers and how to use them during presentations.

-Know how to incorporate humor in your presentations and use media to your advantage.

Seth Godin on Presenting to Persuade (Udemy)

The presenting to persuade course will help you make presentations using either PowerPoint or Keynote. Learn the ten principles of effective slide design. View sample presentations and understand how to improve your presentations . The program includes a 30-Day-Money-Back-Guarantee for students who are not satisfied with the course content. The modules are appropriate for beginner-level learners. The program is for entrepreneurs, managers, fundraisers, public speakers, and people who need to make Presentations for work.

-Students can preview some video lectures before opting for the program.

Duration: 1 hour of video (Self-Paced)

Free Course Trial – Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation Specialization by University of Colorado (Coursera)

The effective presentations course covers business writing, graphic design, and presentation skills.  Learn the tools you can use to improve your writing and how to give your content a proper structure. Know how to create professional reports and resumes. Understand how to react to criticism and deliver presentations confidently. The program is suitable for beginner-level learners. Access to presentation software like Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides , or Apple Keynote is required before pursuing the program . Learners can opt for financial aid if they are unable to afford the program fee.

Highlights –

-Learners can complete the applied learning project and create a memo and slide deck.

-Assignments and quizzes help students test their knowledge of the concepts in the course.

-The program deadlines are flexible, and learners can change them according to their convenience.

-Discussion forums enable learners to discuss concepts in the program with other learners.

-Students can create study notes within the modules and read the video transcripts.

-The program subtitles are available in languages like Chinese, Italian, Arabic, and French.

Rating: 4.8 out of 5

Related: How to Speak Like a CEO

Free Course Trial – Data Analysis and Presentation Skills: the PwC Approach Specialization (Coursera)

The data analysis and presentation skills course covers topics like data-driven decision making and problem-solving. Understand how to build databases and data models using Microsoft Excel. Understand how to create presentations with supporting data and incorporate effective visuals. The program is for beginner-level students. Learners need to have access to Microsoft Excel 2013 to complete the exercises in the course . Learners who opt for the course will be invited to be a part of PwC’s talent network. Students can opt to receive financial aid if they are unable to afford the program fee.

-Students will receive a certificate if they opt for the paid version of the program.

-The program has flexible deadlines, and learners can reset them according to their convenience.

-Peer discussion groups help students share their knowledge with each other.

-Students can create study notes within the modules.

-Learners will solve mock client problems in the capstone project that will help them test their knowledge.

Rating: 4.7 out of 5

Free Course Trial – Dynamic Public Speaking Specialization by University of Washington (Coursera)

The dynamic public speaking course will help you learn how to be a confident speaker. Understand how you can prepare speeches for various occasions. Know the delivery techniques for voice and how to use movement and gestures. Understand speechwriting techniques and know how to discuss evidence and frame topics. Know how you can motivate your audience and frame arguments . Learn how to explain complex ideas clearly and incorporate storytelling and humor in your speeches. The program is for beginner-level students. Learners can opt to receive financial aid if they are unable to afford the program fee.

-The program deadlines are flexible, and students can reset them according to their convenience.

-Students can complete the applied learning project and record or practice speeches.

-The modules have subtitles in various languages like Arabic, French, Chinese, and Italian.

-Assignments and quizzes help students test their knowledge of the concepts in the program.

-Learn how to speak from notes or manuscripts and design clear presentations.

Inspired Presentation Skills (Dale Carnegie)

The presentation courses cover how to present complex material and communicate clearly . Know how to create presentations that have an impact on the target audience. Learn how you can overcome your fear of public speaking. Understand tips you can follow to compel listeners to take action. Understand how to structure presentations. Do have a look at our take on Best Communication skills Courses .

-Some programs help learners obtain unlimited access to programs for one year.

Duration: Variable

Rating: 4.3 out of 5

Online Presentation Skills Training Seminars (American Management Association)

The online presentation skills course includes topics like speaking in a persuasive manner and being confident . Understand how you can create PowerPoint presentations using data from Excel . Know how to understand your emotional triggers. Understand how you can improve your visual storytelling skills. Understand how you can build a professional brand for yourself.

-Know how to combine verbal and non-verbal techniques to communicate efficiently.

-Understand concepts like leadership, emotional intelligence, and managing emotions under stress.

Related: How to Become a Marketing Thought Leader

Individual and Corporate Training Programs (Effective Presentations)

Learners can opt for hands-on remote workshops, personalized coaching, or 1-hour remote workshops. The sessions are conducted face-to-face with a Nationally Certified instructor . Students will receive constructive and immediate feedback from an expert. Check out our curation of Best Excel Courses .

-Learn how to build meaningful relationships with your target audience.

-Know how you can notice verbal and non-verbal cues.

-Understand how you can overcome your fears in social settings.

-Know how you can persuade others with your thoughts.

Presentation Skills: Speechwriting, Slides and Delivery Specialization by National Research Tomsk State University (Coursera)

Program has been discontinued

The presentation skills program covers topics like storytelling and speechwriting. Understand how to talk about facts and figures confidently. Learn how to ensure that PowerPoint slides are clear and use the correct format. Understand how factors like typology, color schemes, and photographs can impact the quality of a presentation. Learn how to interact with your audience, answer questions, and ensure the correct voice pace . Know how to cope with fear and anxiety before a significant presentation. Students must have a basic understanding of Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote before opting for the program. The course is suitable for beginner-level students.

-Students will receive a certificate after completing the course.

-The program deadlines are flexible, and learners can pursue the course as per their convenient time.

-Discussion forums help students discuss concepts in the course with other learners.

-Quizzes, reading material, and assignments help learners test their knowledge of the concepts in the modules.

-The public speaking project will help students create and deliver a presentation to test their skills.

Presentation skills: Designing Presentation Slides by National Research Tomsk State University (Coursera)

The presentation skills course covers key elements of design, colors, fonts, and templates. Understand typography and photographic illustrations . Know how to use photographs and vector art in your slides. Learn how to create diagrams and charts. Students can opt to receive financial aid if they are unable to afford the program fee.

-Learners will receive a certificate after completing the program.

-The course deadlines are flexible, and students can reset them according to their convenience.

-Learn through quizzes, a list of reading material, and assignments.

-The modules are available in multiple languages like French, Korean, German, and Spanish.

-Discussion forums enable students to discuss topics in the program with others.

Enroll in the above presentation skills courses to grow in your career. We hope you discovered a program that meets your requirements. The course will help you succeed in delivering your message to your target audience.

• 50 Best + Free Excel Courses [2024 April][UPDATED]
• 14 Best + Free Data Structures & Algorithms Course [2024 April]

Team DigitalDefynd

We help you find the best courses, certifications, and tutorials online. Hundreds of experts come together to handpick these recommendations based on decades of collective experience. So far we have served 4 Million+ satisfied learners and counting.

Related Courses

10 Best + Free Personal Development Courses [Wharton | Yale | Michigan] [2024 April]

20+ Best + Free Leadership Courses & Certification [MIT | Harvard | Wharton] [2024 April]

6 Best + Free Speed Reading Courses [2024 April]

7 Best + Free Productivity Courses [2024 April][UPDATED]

9 Best + Free Team Building Courses [2024 April][UPDATED]

13 Best + Free Negotiation Courses & Certification [2024 April][UPDATED]

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

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).

Partner Center