presentation to boss

How to Successfully Present to a Higher-up at Work (Without Freaking Out)

A business idea pops into your head. It’s a good one—solid enough for you to summarize and run up the chain of command. A few weeks go by, and you nearly forgot about it—that is, until your manager informs you that you’re on the agenda to present your idea — to the CEO .

Minutes later, you’re having a mini-meltdown, imagining the worst-case scenario in which you humiliate yourself in front of the company head during the one face-time opportunity you’ve had since you got the job.

Presenting to a C-suite executive or senior manager, especially when you’re entry-level or somewhere in the middle, requires a different set of skills compared to run-of-the-mill speaking presentations. Because the roles of these high-level staff are quite different than the mid-level managers you may be used to working with, their objectives, communication styles, and decision-making methods are going to be distinct as well.

But whether you’re pitching an idea for a new product, process, or other special initiative, you’ve got this. All you need is some solid preparation and a few adjustments to your usual delivery style.

I turned to two C-suite executives for guidance on how to pull off this next-level career move like a rockstar. Here are their top seven lessons:

1. Know What You’re Asking For

What’s your goal? Is it to get the executive’s support? Will you need her advice, expertise, resources, or influence to make your idea a reality? Whatever the case, Anne Cooney, President of Process Industries and Drives at Siemens, advises being specific about how the leader can support your success. Cooney explains, “If you’re just providing [her] with information or an update,” says Cooney, make that clear.

But if you have a bigger ask, don’t shy away from explaining what’s involved. Whatever your goal is, be direct on whether you need her to take action or simply give her approval.

2. Make it Relevant

Before you begin preparing slides, recommends Cooney, take time to understand the executive’s role, interests, and level. For example, it may be relevant to understand that while your CEO can greenlight your project, the COO approves new equipment investments, the CFO advises on whether the purchase should take place this quarter, and then the VP signs the purchase order, which indicates there’re often a lot of wheels that need to be in motion for something to happen.

Research each executive’s role and responsibilities before preparing your pitch. Says Cooney, “Make sure the information you share has an impact on the leader’s scope of responsibility.”

3. Inform But Don’t Overwhelm

So what is the best method for being informative without overwhelming a high-level exec? I asked Ann Finkner, Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer with Farm Credit Services of America, this very question. “Executives have varying needs for information,” she told me. “You may have one executive who wants more detail,” while maybe another “prefers a different way of receiving updates.”

Find out what you can expect by speaking with people who know the person well. Ask the assistant and direct reports about the boss’ preferred presentation format, methods of communication, and decision-making style . Does he prefer a detailed plan or executive summary? Will he ask questions throughout or wait until the end? Craft your approach with knowledge you glean about the leader’s management style before you go in.

4. Cut Your Time in Half

“Time is so precious to all of us,” says Finkner, emphasizing the importance of communicating your idea concisely. Executives, who are accustomed to people vying for their attention, tend to lead highly scheduled lives. Your meeting, though your most important priority, is undoubtedly just one of many things going on in the higher-up’s day.

Which brings to me to my next point: If he or she is running late, roll with it—there’s probably a good reason. Even if the meeting starts on time, it’s highly likely that you’ll get cut short, so be prepared to deal with an abbreviated agenda. Your goal should be to pitch the idea and leave time for discussion and questions.

5. Be Mindful of the Idea’s Impact

Being aware of how your idea might affect the company at large is essential. It’s also an often-forgotten element of a thorough presentation. As part of your preparation, consider what will change as a result of what you’re proposing. If it’s going to require significant changes in how your organization does business, be sure to address this head on. Will a colleague feel snubbed if it’s your innovative plan that’s accepted and not hers? Will forming a new team require recruiting employees from an existing one? Will a certain department be slapped with a ton more responsibilities?

Explains Finkner, “Don’t leave ‘human casualties’ behind that the executive then has to address on your behalf.” Include your plan for incorporating team members and dividing the workload. Demonstrate that you’ve done your homework.

6. Include Recommendations and Options

When it comes to the crux of what you’re saying—asking an exec to give your idea his blessing or help your team implement it, you should be ready with recommendations on how he can help you get it done. Present options, suggests Cooney. Articulate what will happen if your proposal gets approved, and be prepared to compromise.

“If you give a recommendation or you have a specific conclusion that you'd like to reach, be passionate about it but also be open to modifications or clarification,” Cooney encourages. Always be willing to negotiate.

7. Don’t Be Intimidated

Whatever you do, don’t let your nerves get in the way of this opportunity. The level and tenure of a senior person shouldn’t make you feel like an imposter . “Differentiate between the title and the person,” says Cooney, adding that company founders and leaders “are not better people.” The job they’re doing is different, but, Cooney reiterates, that doesn’t make them “better people. Don’t let anybody convince you otherwise.”

Finkner’s parting advice closely follows Cooney’s: “Have faith in yourself. Take care of yourself and foster genuine relationships while you keep learning.” It’s normal to feel some trepidation about giving a high-stakes presentation to an influential audience—heck, or any presentation to any audience—but know that just being brave enough to do it is an accomplishment . Even a failed pitch is a win when you look at it this way, so go for it!

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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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A Guide To Presenting Ideas To Your Boss

Manavi Agarwal

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Imagine you’re in a cosy café, seated across from your boss, who’s sipping their favourite brew. The hum of chatter surrounds you, punctuated by the occasional clinking of cups. You take a deep breath, adjusting your seat, and with a confident smile, you begin to talk about your revolutionary idea. As you dive into your proposal, you notice something remarkable — your boss is not just listening; they’re leaning in, nodding, and even occasionally breaking into a smile. Success! Pitching an idea or proposal to your boss doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience. In fact, it can be a lot like having a friendly conversation over coffee. This blog is your guide to mastering the art of a successful pitch, where we’ll explore how to make your ideas not only heard but embraced. 

Why Pitching Matters

Before we jump into the ‘how,’ let’s first understand the ‘why.’ Pitching isn’t just about presenting your ideas; it’s about making a compelling case for your vision. Here’s why it matters:

• Professional Growth: Successfully pitching your ideas can open doors to promotions, new responsibilities, and career advancement.
• Impact: Your ideas could bring about positive changes within the company, improve processes, or boost productivity . Pitching is your chance to be a catalyst for change.
• Recognition: It’s an opportunity to showcase your expertise and demonstrate that you’re an asset to the organisation.

Preparation: The Foundation of a Great Pitch

The key to a successful pitch is solid preparation. Think of it as the foundation upon which your pitch will stand strong.

• Understand Your Audience: Before you even draft your pitch, take time to understand your boss’s preferences, communication style, and priorities. What matters to them? What are their pain points? Imagine you’re preparing a pitch for a new marketing campaign to your boss, Sarah. You know that Sarah values data-driven decisions and is focused on increasing customer engagement. Your preparation involves researching Sarah’s past decisions, understanding her passion for analytics, and aligning your pitch with these preferences.
• Craft a Compelling Narrative: Your pitch should tell a story. Start with a hook to grab your boss’s attention, delve into the details, and finish with a powerful conclusion. For example, you start with a compelling statistic: “Our market research shows a 30% increase in customer demand for eco-friendly products.” You then weave a narrative about how your proposed project will not only meet this demand but also position the company as a sustainability leader. You conclude by highlighting the potential revenue increase. 
• Research: Ensure your proposal is well-researched and backed by data. This will add credibility to your pitch.  When pitching a budget proposal, you’ve thoroughly researched industry benchmarks and cost-saving measures. You present a well-documented breakdown of expenses and how they compare to industry standards. This data-backed approach boosts your pitch’s credibility.
• Anticipate Questions: Think about potential questions or objections your boss might have and prepare concise, well-thought-out answers. For instance, as you present your idea for a new product line, you anticipate your boss asking about potential competition. You’ve done your homework and can confidently respond with a concise overview of market analysis, highlighting the gaps your product fills and its unique selling points. This proactive approach addresses potential objections before they even arise.

The Art Of Presentation

Now that you’re prepped and ready, let’s look at the nitty-gritty of presenting your proposal or idea:

• Start Strong: Begin with a compelling opening. You want your boss to sit up and take notice from the get-go. Maybe start with a relevant anecdote or a surprising statistic.
• Clarity is Key: Avoid jargon and complex language. Be clear and concise in your communication. Remember, your boss might not be familiar with the technicalities of your idea.
• Visual Aids: If applicable, use visuals like charts, graphs, or slides to help illustrate your points. Visual aids can make complex ideas easier to digest.
• Engage Your Audience: Encourage questions and discussion throughout your pitch. This keeps your boss engaged and allows for real-time clarification.

Handling Questions And Objections

It’s natural for your boss to have questions or reservations. Here’s how to handle them gracefully:

• Stay Calm: If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t panic. It’s okay to say, “I’ll get back to you on that” and follow through later.
• Address Concerns: When facing objections, acknowledge them and offer solutions. Show that you’ve thought through potential challenges.
• Stay Positive: Maintain a positive attitude throughout the discussion. Positivity can be infectious and may help sway your boss’s opinion in your favour.

Practice Makes Perfect

Don’t underestimate the power of practice. Rehearsing your pitch multiple times helps you not only become more familiar with your content but also refine your delivery. Practice in front of a mirror to work on your body language and facial expressions. Recording yourself allows you to critically assess your presentation style. Rehearsing with a trusted friend or colleague can provide valuable feedback and insights that you might have missed on your own. The more you practise, the smoother and more confident your pitch will become.

Timing Matters

The timing of your pitch can significantly impact its success. Avoid catching your boss during their busiest or most stressful moments. Instead, schedule a meeting in advance to ensure they have the time and mental space to focus on your proposal. By choosing the right moment, you increase the likelihood of a receptive audience, which is crucial for a successful pitch.

Follow-Up Is Key

Your pitch doesn’t end with the presentation itself. Afterward, it’s essential to follow up with your boss. This step serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it allows you to gauge their level of interest and engagement with your idea. Secondly, it provides an opportunity for your boss to share their thoughts, questions, and concerns. If your boss needs time to think it over or discuss it with others, respect their decision and establish a timeframe for a follow-up. Effective follow-up demonstrates your commitment to the proposal and your boss’s feedback.

Learn From Rejections

Rejection is a part of the pitching process that everyone encounters at some point. Rather than becoming disheartened, view rejection as a learning opportunity. It’s a chance to gain insights into why your idea wasn’t accepted and how you can improve it for the next pitch. Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback from your boss or colleagues involved in the decision-making process. Their constructive criticism can be invaluable in refining your approach and increasing your chances of success in future pitches.

Celebrate Your Wins

When your pitch is met with approval, and your idea is embraced by your boss and colleagues, it’s essential to take a moment to celebrate your achievement. Recognise the hard work, effort, and preparation that went into crafting and delivering your pitch. Celebrating your wins not only boosts your morale but also reinforces your passion and commitment to bringing positive change to your organisation. It’s a well-deserved pat on the back for a job well done.

A Few Friendly Reminders

Before we wrap up, here are a few friendly reminders to keep in mind:

• Stay Authentic: Be yourself during the pitch. Authenticity builds trust.
• Practise Active Listening: Pay attention to your boss’s feedback and questions. It shows respect and helps you tailor your responses.
• Stay Humble: Confidence is essential, but arrogance can be off-putting. Strike a balance by being confident yet humble.
• Continuous Improvement: Even if your pitch succeeds, there’s always room for improvement. Keep refining your pitching skills over time.

Mentoria’s Guidance For Professional Success

Now, as you embark on your journey to become a pitch-perfect professional, consider the support and guidance that Mentoria offers. Our experienced mentors can provide personalised coaching and insights to help you master the art of persuasion. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a budding entrepreneur, Mentoria can assist you in developing the skills needed to excel in the corporate world.

With Mentoria , you’ll gain access to a wealth of knowledge and experience, allowing you to fine-tune your pitch and achieve greater success in your career. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to Mentoria for that extra boost in your professional journey. After all, a little guidance can go a long way in helping you reach new heights in your career.

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8 Tips for Making a Presentation That Dazzles the Boss With Your Creativity It's not unusual to have stage jitters. When the audience is your boss, it's unusual not to.

By John Boitnott Edited by Dan Bova Jun 21, 2016

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

As if the pressure to develop and deliver a presentation that excites your audience weren't enough, trying to impress your boss with that presentation is a whole other set of concerns. In most cases, if you plan with your organization's goals in mind, you shouldn't have a problem delivering a presentation that your boss will respond positively to.

However, if you really want to impress your boss and your team, and keep them from yawning, give these eight tactics a try.

1. Use metaphors.

Including metaphors in your presentation can be useful since metaphors paint a picture in the minds of audience members. The idea can tap into previous experience to introduce new ideas.

For example, an Internet entrepreneur used a pair of scissors, knife, bottle opener, and nail filer as examples of various tools that companies use when selling products online. He then pulled out a Swiss Army Knife to illustrate that his idea would consolidate all of these tools.

When finding the right metaphor for your presentation, Nancy Duarte suggests in the Harvard Business Review that you dig "into your own prior knowledge for connections that make the idea brighter in your mind. The brighter that idea shines for you, the more likely it is to resonate with your audience."

2. Be humorous.

Just because this might be a serious presentation with consequences for your career and the business doesn't mean that you have to be stiff. By adding a little bit of humor to your presentation you're not only breaking-up the monotony, you're demonstrating your own charisma and helping make your point more persuasive.

More importantly, adding a little humor to your presentation can make it more impactful. According to Michelle Gielan, cofounder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research, "laughter stimulates the release of the feel-good chemical dopamine which activates the learning centers in the brain."

Related: Use Humor to Get Your Marketing Message Noticed

3. Play music.

This may appear to be a little counterproductive. After all, won't music be a distraction? Not according to Ronald A. Berk's study Research on PowerPoint: From Basic Features to Multimedia .

Berk found that playing music during a presentation "can increase attention levels, improve retention and memory, extend focused learning time, and expand thinking skills." Keep in mind, however, that in most cases playing music throughout the presentation is probably too much. Consider using music during your introduction or during key parts of your presentation.

4. Use activities.

Sometimes a simple activity is enough to drive your point home. It could be something as simple as having your boss or team write down their goals and then having brainstorming session on how to accomplish those goals. You could also hand out quizzes and ask your audience to guess what your next slide is going to be. You can even split the group up by having 20 percent of them move to one side of the room to demonstrate what your goal of 20 percent growth will look like, instead of using a slide with a graph.

Related: The Do's and Don'ts of Giving a Killer Presentation

5. Prove your point.

Stats are a powerful way to prove your point. But, presenting too much data can be overwhelming - no matter how well it is presented. Instead, use other ways to prove your point. One way to do this is by showing your boss how your competitors are succeeding, which could be why your new ideas might be so important to implement. Or, if you have a physical product, provide a demonstration of how superior a product it is - like pouring water over your new waterproof phone case during the presentation.

6. Pose questions.

Skip the monologue and get your boss and entire team involved by asking them relevant questions such as their insights and experiences. This not only gets your boss involved, it gives them the opportunity to talk about themselves and discover for themselves the real value in your presentation.

If you anticipate more complex questions, consider bringing in an expert to assist you in answering these questions. If you were pushing for a new corporate website you could bring in a web designer to answer any of the technical questions that your boss may ask. The web designer might even bring in a few ideas or visuals.

7. Go beyond PowerPoint.

PowerPoint presentations and slides can be spiced up through simple steps like being consistent and limiting font sizes and colors that also reflect the theme or design of your organization. But, there are also a number of helpful tools that can make your presentation stand out more than just the standard slideshow or Powerpoint.

Powtoon could be used to create an animated video to accompany your presentation, Ease.ly generates infographics, and Prezi gives you the opportunity to adapt your presentation in real-time depending on your audience's response.

By using tools like videos, you can increase everything from comprehension, understanding, memory, and even deep learning of your audience.

Related: Avoid the PowerPoint Trap by Having Less Wordy Slides

8. Make your presentation public.

Chances are that your boss isn't going to make an executive decision immediately after you've given your presentation. That's why you should provide them with materials they can review following the presentation like brochures or marketing kits.

But, wouldn't it be more effective to place your presentation on a site like Slideshare.net so that your slides are available to your boss and team whenever they want to review them? This practice will not only save you time from printing out materials, it also prevents the possibility of your boss misplacing the handouts.

Even more importantly, having your presentation public (when appropriate) shows your clients and customers that you're an industry thought leader and it also allows them to share their insights. Companies like Apple have done this and it's become an important part of their brand and marketing message.

With a little thought and effort you can make your presentation more creative and what you've always hoped it would be. As a bonus, you will have more fun getting your presentation ready.

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Pitch your ideas to your boss using these 7 proven strategies for success.

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If you've got a good idea - something that can help your company, or your career , or maybe both at the same time - you've got to convince your boss to get on board. You know you need to pitch your idea in a way that's simple, clear and compelling - but what's the best way to do that? Let's face it: one idea, together with a great pitch, can redefine your career . How do you craft a pitch that doesn't sound like a sales job, or a data dump - even if you work in sales, or data? These seven proven pitch strategies will help you to clarify your message and help your boss to give your ideas the green light.

The conversation that can re-define your career: pitching your ideas to your boss.

• First, Answer These Two Questions: There are two questions on your boss's mind right now. She may not tell you what they are (but I will). When presented with any new idea, here's what shows up right away: How much does it cost? And: how much does it make? An effective pitch has to be clear on those two questions. Got your numbers? OK, hang on to those answers - you won't open with them, but you'll need them later.
• Then Start with a KISS: that stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid (of course). I'm not suggesting you kiss your boss, no matter how much you think that might open up the conversation (or start one in HR, maybe). I'm saying that the simplest message is the strongest. Don't over-plan ! If you walk in and say, "I think we need a new 50,000 square foot warehouse in Hoboken!" your attention to detail will only be an invitation to an argument. Why 50,000 feet - why not 35, or 60? That's what your boss is wondering. Then you get peppered with questions about which location in New Jersey is really best. It's better to KISS, with respect : "I want to talk with you about some ideas for the new warehouse location, and I think New Jersey might be perfect for us. Can I share what I've been researching?" Mwah! that simple question opens up the dialogue. Walking in with all the answers is a quick path to disagreement - especially if you are convinced you are the subject matter expert (SME). Don't invite your boss to a wrestling match regarding the merits of Hoboken - there's a stronger approach you can take.
• Ask, Don't Tell: Asking for advice and guidance helps get your boss involved and enrolled in your ideas. Jack Stack, in his international best-seller A Stake in the Outcome , says that "people will support what they help to create." Owning your expertise, and your ideas, means you can extend that ownership to your boss. Let her know that her ideas matter, and that she's actively involved in the decision. Even if you know the exact street in that industrial area in Hoboken, it's best to ask for input. That's not manipulative - that's good business! Don't you want her input - or just a rubber-stamp of approval? Because, no matter how much research you've done, remember that none of us is as smart as all of us. Approval is necessary, but insight is priceless. Don't leave the meeting without it. You're talking to your boss because you want her contribution - so make sure you get it.
• Context Conquers Content: The great comedian, George Carlin, used to step on stage and say, "Here are the sports scores: 7, 21, 9, 16. And a partial score from the Notre Dame game: 11." Without a frame of reference, the numbers don't mean much. Are you dumping data without the right frame of reference? It's easy to get lost in the content of your pitch . But actually, it's context that really counts. Without it, your story doesn't make sense.
• The Presentation That Matters Most : in every presentation I give, and I will give about 65 keynotes this year , there are always two speeches: the one that I give. And the one that the audience hears. Which one do you think matters most? Make sure that you know what your boss is hearing in your presentation, not just what details are on slide #47. Because the best presentation is always a conversation. The sophisticated presenter knows that a powerful pitch is really a dialogue - make sure you find out what message is being received, so you can course-correct mid stream if needed.
• Invitation Over Instruction: are you trying to teach your boss what you know - or invite her to a shared discussion to identify the best path forward? In my work with clients on shows like Shark Tank and Dragon's Den , we talk about the dangers of instructing the Sharks and trying to prove you're the smartest person in the room. Ever see someone tell Mr. Wonderful anything about wine? Yikes - Kevin O'Leary comes back with guns-a-blazin', making sure his sommelier-crushing expertise takes center stage. Invite the expertise into the conversation, don't challenge it. If you're working hard to establish your credibility, it's time to bring some emotional intelligence into the conversation. I'd like to invite you to look in the direction of service, not instruction. What would you say if your expertise were a given, and you didn't have anything to prove? What changes in the conversation now? Perhaps looking in this direction will point you back towards service and outcomes - which is really what your boss is looking for.
• Speak in Leadership Language : I was working with a client in Hungary. He spoke five languages, including perfect English, and I asked him a dumb question. "Eric, why are we speaking English today?" His answer was an easy one: "Because that's the only language you understand." Leadership language is the language of your listener. Take time to really consider what matters most to your boss. What are the phrases that will inspire her, strengthen her career, and make her the hero of your story? I'm not suggesting you work on crafting an elaborate fiction around the merits of Hoboken. Focus first on what the C-Suite cares about . By speaking your boss's language, your initiative unfolds in a way that's easy, accessible and clear.

Bringing your ideas to your boss can be a little scary, but your pitch doesn't have to be. Because it's not really a "pitch" : you're not going to speechify anyone into submission. You're inviting your boss to an event that you host every day: a simple conversation . A conversation that speaks her language, in a way that starts simple so you can dive into the details, one step at a time. By asking for feedback along the way, you gain the guidance you need for your journey. Take time to consider the conversation that will serve your ideas, and your company, best. If you've thought through your ideas , you know how much they cost, and how much they will make. Now it's time to make good on your pitch - and gain the insight you need from your boss. Time to level up, and gain the support your ideas deserve!

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Present Like a Boss: 5 Essential Tips

by Rob Biesenbach | Presentation/Speech Tips

Want to be viewed as a leader? Then get up on stage and present like a boss.

A presentation tests your mettle in any number of ways, from your ability to inspire others to how you work under pressure to whether you can translate information into action. It can bring out your best — and worst — instincts, serving as a microcosm of the “real world” and how you’ll perform in it.

Here are five ways giving a presentation will put your leadership skills to the test and help you truly present like a boss.

1. A Presentation Tests Your Strategic Sense

A presentation isn’t a demonstration of how much you know. We all know lots of stuff. A presentation reveals whether you can:

• Prioritize the most important content and filter out the non-essential information;
• Translate sometimes abstract ideas (like a vision or mission) into concrete terms your audience can relate to and act upon; and
• View and capture it all in a meaningful “big picture” framework that people will understand.

Show me a presenter who has trouble thinking and communicating strategically and I’ll show you one who probably can’t lead effectively.

2. It’s a Measure of Your People Skills

In the dating scene they say if you want to judge someone’s character, observe how they treat the wait staff.

A similar dynamic is at work when leaders give presentations. At a conference, for instance, you’ll have a small army of people supporting you. Do you treat them well? Do you respect their time? Do you thank them for their help?

This goes for the AV people, of course — the ones working behind the scenes advancing your slides, hooking up your microphone, lighting the stage. But it also extends to any staff helping you develop the content.

Do you give clear direction and timely feedback? Or do you put it off until the last minute, throwing them into a frenzy with endless (often inconsequential) changes to your slides and content?

Remember, all these people are there to make you look good — it’s in your interest to motivate them, not demoralize them.

3. A Presentation Reveals How You Respond to Pressure

Say you’re giving an important presentation and the projector breaks down. Or a fire alarm goes off. Or your time gets cut in half when the schedule backs up.

How do you react? Do you freak out ? Cast blame? Act like a deer in the headlights?

Or do you take it in stride? Act graciously? Improvise?

All these situations have happened to me. And while I may be stressed on the inside, I work to project calm confidence on the outside.

Being the cool head at the center of the storm is an essential leadership trait.

4. It Tests Your Ability to Inspire and Motivate

It’s pretty simple: leaders require followers. Are you able to rally the troops, get them on your side, inspire them to act?

A great speech can help you do that. The key is to:

• Understand your audience and fine tune your content to their needs;
• Show empathy and make an emotional connection;
• Listen and respond thoughtfully to their questions;
• Invest your ideas with a passion that’s contagious;
• Use stories to teach and inspire.

It’s all about getting out of your head and making the experience about them , not you.

5. A Presentation Builds Your Confidence and Authority

Giving a speech offers an important feedback loop — for better or worse.

When it goes well, the audience’s response can help you validate your ideas and build your confidence.

And when it doesn’t … well, that’s helpful too, even when it’s tough to take.

Putting yourself in the spotlight on a regular basis gets you outside the echo chamber. It forces you to take a stand, defend your beliefs and, hopefully, rise to the occasion. Which will help you project greater authority.

Ready to Present Like a Boss?

Too often I see leaders fail to take their presentations seriously, treating them as an after-thought, or assuming they can just “wing it.” And it shows.

But the ability to communicate is central to any leader’s effectiveness. And there’s no better proving ground than getting up in front of a crowd. So put yourself out there — like a boss — and exercise those muscles that will serve you well as a leader.

[Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash ]

[A version of this post originally appeared in PRSA’s  Strategies & Tactics ]

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How to Impress Your Boss With Your Presentation

Last Updated: May 20, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Chloe Carmichael, PhD . Chloe Carmichael, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who runs a private practice in New York City. With over 12 years of psychological consulting experience, Dr. Chloe specializes in relationship issues, stress management, self-esteem, and career coaching. She has also instructed undergraduate courses at Long Island University and has served as adjunct faculty at the City University of New York. Dr. Chloe completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York, and her clinical training at Lenox Hill Hospital and Kings County Hospital. She is accredited by the American Psychological Association and is the author of “Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety” and “Dr. Chloe's 10 Commandments of Dating.” There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 36,836 times.

Giving a presentation in front of your boss can be a very nerve-wracking experience. Sometimes a raise or promotion might even depend on how well your presentation goes. Using music or sound in your PowerPoint presentation is a good way of livening up your talk. However, this may not be enough or as easy as it sounds. For a truly impressive presentation, you’ll need to take it a step further and consider things like how to dress, how to speak, and how your audience will interpret the content of your presentation. With a little work and planning, you can impress your boss with your presentation.

Creating an Effective Presentation

• This can affect many aspects of your presentation – from the kind of music you choose to the type of clothes you wear.
• A more formal presentation in front of your boss or other executives from your company would require formal business attire (suit for men, business suit or nice dress for women) and more formal sounding music accompaniment (like elevator music), while a presentation in front of students might warrant more casual attire (slacks and button-up shirt for men, slacks and a nice top for women) and even allow for more contemporary/fun music along with your presentation.

• Consider the venue. As it relates to the tips above, a formal setting (like a conference room or auditorium) will require a formal presentation whereas a presentation given more casually in your boss’s office might require fewer formalities. [3] X Research source

• Have your presentation flow in a logical and informative way. Have your notes lined up with you visuals – using clear cues for yourself so you don’t get mixed up.

• Put all of the data into a spreadsheet and make copies for everyone at the meeting. Or create a PowerPoint slide show to go along with your presentation.
• An effective PowerPoint presentation includes high quality visual images instead of cheesy clip-art, works to limit the amount of text that appears on each slide, and presents data in a logical sequence that is easy to follow along with. [6] X Research source

Delivering a Great Presentation

• For men, wear slacks, a suit jacket, and a tie. For women, wear a nice dress or a business suit.
• And remember that you are representing your company, by extension, when you are presenting – so you want to dress accordingly.

• This means that you should use confident body language like not crossing your arms, making eye contact, and standing up straight.
• You can try practicing at home ahead of time and asking a friend to tell you if they think you are speaking with confidence.
• If you make a mistake, just keep going. You can correct yourself, but don’t draw more attention to your mistake by dwelling on it or by being obviously embarrassed. Everyone makes mistakes, but the way you recover from yours will be what your boss remembers the most.

• Speak with a steady pace. Talking quickly can be perceived as a sign of nervousness, so slow your words down during your presentation. If you speak too quickly, you may stumble over your words more frequently as well, so make a conscious effort to slow it down.
• It may also be harder for your audience to grasp and digest the ideas you’re discussing if you say everything too quickly.

• Try to think ahead to what questions people might have about the topic – maybe what questions you had when you first started working on the project – and explain it to your audience from that perspective.
• Try saying things like, “This may seem like an overwhelming amount of information, but I’ll walk you through it.” Or, “Let me take you through the process step-by-step.”

Impressing Your Boss With Your Dedication

• If someone asks a question you don’t know the answer to, give a positive response about how you are going to look into that further – something like, “What a great suggestion. I haven’t fully developed that aspect of the project yet, but I will absolutely consider this as I move forward.”

• This kind of follow through after the presentation will impress your boss with your dedication to the work and doing a good job for the company.

• Take the feedback to heart and implement any helpful changes that you might receive as constructive criticism.

Chloe Carmichael, PhD

Look at criticism as a learning opportunity instead of a negative comment. If your boss gives you constructive criticism, that's a good sign! It means they want you to be better at your job. Reframing what you perceive as negative feedback as a chance to learn will allow you to develop personally and professionally.

• Try saying something like, “I would really love to continue growing and developing my role within the company. If you are open to it, I would like to take on some additional responsibilities around the office.”

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/how-to-keep-your-audience-focused-on-your-presentation/
• ↑ http://www.skillsyouneed.com/present/presentation-method.html
• ↑ http://www.duarte.com/know-the-presentation-venue/
• ↑ https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-dazzle-your-boss-and-everyone-else-in-an-important-meeting
• ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/two-genius-ways-impress-your-boss-tracey-harrington-mccoy
• ↑ http://www.garrreynolds.com/preso-tips/design/
• ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/06/20/10-smart-tips-to-impress-the-boss-your-first-day
• ↑ http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-a-presentation-that-will-impress-your-boss-2015-7

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How To Present an Idea to Your Boss (With Template)

Depending on how you present your new idea to your boss, you could be facing two very different reactions. If you want to nail that “yes,” you need to treat your pitch seriously—and outline solutions and a clear execution plan. Otherwise, your great idea may not see the light of day. Worse, it might end up on someone else’s to-do list.

With this in mind, we asked nine entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) to share which steps you should take before walking through that door.

When you pitch a project, clearly lay out in advance how management should judge its success quickly. What’s the first milestone that will indicate the project is a success? Set a specific goal—10 new customers in the first three months, perhaps. Plan step-wise goals instead of one huge long-term one. That means management just has to invest in the first stage of the project.

How to Pitch Your Big Ideas to the Boss | Leadership Speaker | Ross Shafer

How to present an idea to your supervisor

When you are getting ready to present an idea to your supervisor, it may be helpful to follow these steps:

1. Gather information

Before you present your idea, gather as much information as you can about your idea. Common ideas that individuals approach their supervisors with include the workload at the company, production issues or improvements, company culture and more. Narrow down your discussion topic so your boss knows what to expect from the conversation.

Consider typing all of the relevant information you find you can compile your findings accurately and securely. Once you have information to support your idea, you can type out the potential talking points associated with each fact or item you included.

2. Propose revisions or changes

Next, you can formulate a solution to the problems you have listed or ideas you have for impactful changes. Your supervisor may appreciate that you not only took the time to identify key areas for improvement, but that you also made an effort to brainstorm viable solutions or changes.

3. Anticipate questions and practice your answers

In order to maximize your presentation, you may want to prepare answers to difficult questions ahead of time. A good way to do this is to picture yourself in a management position listening to your pitch. Think about what questions you might ask. A supervisor may want to better understand the financial implications of any proposed solutions or ideas, as well as what implementing your idea means for you, your coworkers and the company as a whole. Alternatively, they may want to know how your idea works with the companys values and what part you play in it.

You can consider additional questions regarding:

Your supervisor may greatly appreciate the extra effort youve put into answering their questions beforehand. It shows that youre dedicated to the problem and to finding a solution.

4. Talk with others in the company

Talking with coworkers can help you gain perspective on the problem you have identified or ideas that you are having. Some coworkers may feel the same as you do and can potentially help you figure out the details of your presentation to be more inclusive of their perspectives. This can help your idea feel more viable, and you can tell your supervisor that other employees feel the same.

5. Be mindful

Being mindful of your content and the time youre devoting to your presentation as a professional courtesy. Try to keep your presentation concise so that both you and your supervisor can fulfill your other job responsibilities.

Its also a good idea to be mindful of how your idea might impact other people, including your supervisor. Talking to other coworkers about your presentation is a good way to see if your idea is inclusive and sensitive to everyones needs.

6. Be confident in yourself

Many supervisors appreciate confidence because it demonstrates that you are comfortable approaching them and expressing your ideas. When you are confident, you may give a more compelling presentation because of your enthusiasm and preparedness. Consider rehearsing your presentation before you meet with your supervisor to increase your confidence. You can also ask your coworkers to help you practice your presentation and provide more ideas to discuss.

Why is it important to use a template to present an idea to your boss?

Ideas and projects benefit greatly from deliberate organization, especially when presenting them to your boss. When things are organized and presented well, theyre easier to understand and seem more professional. A template can help you arrange ideas into a presentable format.

Template for presenting an idea to your supervisor

Ideas are often easier to present and understand when theyre structured in a professional way. Heres a template to use for your next idea:

[ Introduction: State what you are going to discuss, why you are going to discuss it and the types of information you will present ]

[ Part one: Identify the problem or idea in-depth. You might include how the idea or problem first came to your attention and introduce on your proposed solution ]

[ Part two: Elaborate on your proposed solution and include charts, graphs or supporting documents. If you have spoken to your team members and gained useful information from them, you can include that here ]

[ Part three: Present the information you researched regarding cost, workflow changes or other items potentially of interest to your supervisor ]

[ Closing: Thank your supervisor for their time and attention and allow them to ask questions ]

Example for presenting an idea to your supervisor

Here is an example idea presentation using the template above:

Dear Mr. Garreth,

Im happy to have this opportunity to present my idea to you. Ive been looking closely at our production process over the last three months, and I think this idea might allow for both greater savings on production costs and increased productivity on the production line. I have conducted research and spoken with my colleagues to receive their input on the situation and my proposed solution, and I believe the team members would receive this idea well if implemented.

The problem we are having is that we use two separate machines for packaging and boxing our products, which means we pay for maintenance, supplies and electrical costs for two different machines. I have analyzed these operating costs for the previous month, which amounts to $859.23 total for the two machines.

Ive spoken to several team members who agree that the two machine system is slow and prone to issues. Over the course of the last three months, one or both of our packaging machines have experienced downtime for repairs, amounting to 34 total hours lost. Ive created a graph detailing the maintenance and downtime costs associated with both machines.

My solution is to acquire the Hyperion 5200 all-in-one packaging machine to reduce long-term production costs. Right now, the machine is on sale through our supplier for $15,000, as opposed to its regular price of $18,000. This machine combines both the packaging and boxing process into one, which would significantly reduce operating costs.

Ive estimated that the cost of using two separate machines, which I noted as $859.23 per month for operations, to be around $11,810.76 per year if we include an estimated $1,500 in maintenance costs. This is about 80% of the cost of the Hyperion 5200.

In addition to long-term savings on operations and maintenance, using just one machine can allow us to move two employees to another part of the production line where they can help with other tasks. This is because the Hyperion only requires two people to operate as opposed to the four people required for both of our current machines. This reallocation of staff may allow us to speed the pace of production overall.

Thank you for considering my idea, and Im happy to answer any questions you have.

How do you present an idea to your boss?

• Gather information. Before you present your idea, gather as much information as you can about your idea. …
• Propose revisions or changes. …
• Anticipate questions and practice your answers. …
• Talk with others in the company. …
• Be mindful. …
• Be confident in yourself.

How do you present a new idea to a team?

• Frame your suggestion to match the goals of your boss. …
• Pay extra attention to your boss’s problems. …
• Build the reputation for being a great performer. …
• Take advantage of the FOMO. …
• Look for inspiration. …
• Build a coalition. …
• Use data to tell a story.

How can I propose a new idea?

• Detail Its Importance. If employees don’t understand the reason you want to implement a new idea, it can be hard for them to wrap their heads around it. …
• Explain How Each Person Fits In. …
• Encourage People to Ask Questions. …
• Request Feedback. …
• Find a Candidate With Passion.

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• How To Take and Deliver Meeting Minutes

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How to give a good presentation that captivates any audience

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What are the main difficulties when giving presentations?

How to create an effective presentation, after that, how do i give a memorable presentation, how to connect with the audience when presenting.

If you’ve ever heard someone give a powerful presentation, you probably remember how it made you feel. Much like a composer, a good speaker knows precisely when each note should strike to captivate their audience’s attention and leave them with a lasting impression.

No one becomes a great public speaker or presenter without practice. And almost everyone can recall a time one of their presentations went badly — that’s a painful part of the learning process.

Whether you’re working within a small creative team or a large organization, public speaking and presentation skills are vital to communicating your ideas. Knowing how to present your vision can help you pitch concepts to clients, present ideas to your team, and develop the confidence to participate in team meetings.

If you have an upcoming presentation on the horizon and feel nervous, that’s normal. Around 15-30% of the general population experience a fear of public speaking . And, unfortunately, social anxiety is on the rise, with a 12% increase in adults over the last 20 years . 

Learning how to give a good presentation can dismantle your fears and break down these barriers, ensuring you’re ready to confidently share your point of view. 

It’s the week before your presentation, and you’re already feeling nervous . Maybe there’ll be an important mentor in the room you need to impress, or you’re looking for an opportunity to show your boss your value. Regardless of your countless past presentations, you still feel nervous. 

Sharing your vision and ideas with any sized group is intimidating. You’re likely worrying about how you’ll perform as a presenter and whether the audience will be interested in what you offer. But nerves aren’t inherently negative — you can actually use this feeling to fuel your preparation.

It’s helpful to identify where your worries are coming from and address your fears. Here are some common concerns when preparing for an upcoming presentation:

Fear of public speaking: When you share your ideas in front of a group, you’re placing yourself in a vulnerable position to be critiqued on your knowledge and communication skills . Maybe you feel confident in your content, but when you think about standing in front of an audience, you feel anxious and your mind goes blank.

It’s also not uncommon to have physical symptoms when presenting . Some people experience nausea and dizziness as the brain releases adrenaline to cope with the potentially stressful situation . Remember to take deep breaths to recenter yourself and be patient, even if you make a mistake.

Losing the audience’s attention: As a presenter, your main focus is to keep your audience engaged. They should feel like they’re learning valuable information or following a story that will improve them in life or business.

Highlight the most exciting pieces of knowledge and ensure you emphasize those points in your presentation. If you feel passionate about your content, it’s more likely that your audience will experience this excitement for themselves and become invested in what you have to say.

Not knowing what content to place on presentation slides: Overloading presentation slides is a fast way to lose your audience’s attention. Your slides should contain only the main talking points and limited text to ensure your audience focuses on what you have to say rather than becoming distracted by the content on your slides.

Discomfort incorporating nonverbal communication: It’s natural to feel stiff and frozen when you’re nervous. But maintaining effective body language helps your audience stay focused on you as you speak and encourages you to relax.

If you struggle to incorporate body language into your presentations, try starting small by making hand gestures toward your slides. If you’re working with a large audience, use different parts of the stage to ensure everyone feels included. 

Each presenter has their own personal brand and style. Some may use humor to break the ice, while others might appeal to the audience’s emotional side through inspiring storytelling. 

Watching online presentations, such as TED talks, is an excellent way to expose yourself to various presentation styles and develop your own. While observing others, you can note how they carry themselves on stage and learn new ways to keep your audience engaged.

Once you’ve addressed what’s causing your fears, it’s time to prepare for a great presentation. Use your past experience as inspiration and aim to outshine your former self by learning from your mistakes and employing new techniques. Here are five presentation tips to help you create a strong presentation and wow your audience:

1. Keep it simple

Simple means something different to everyone.

Before creating your presentation, take note of your intended audience and their knowledge level of your subject. You’ll want your content to be easy for your intended audience to follow.

Say you’re giving a presentation on improving your company’s operational structure. Entry-level workers will likely need a more straightforward overview of the content than C-suite leaders, who have significantly more experience. 

Ask yourself what you want your audience to take away from your presentation and emphasize those important points. Doing this ensures they remember the most vital information rather than less important supporting ideas. Try organizing these concepts into bullet points so viewers can quickly identify critical takeaways.

2. Create a compelling structure

Put yourself in your audience member’s shoes and determine the most compelling way to organize your information. Your presentation should be articulate , cohesive, and logical, and you must be sure to include all necessary supporting evidence to strengthen your main points.

If you give away all of your answers too quickly, your audience could lose interest. And if there isn’t enough supporting information, they could hit a roadblock of confusion. Try developing a compelling story that leads your audience through your thought processes so they can experience the ups and downs alongside you. 

By structuring your presentation to lead up to a final conclusion, you’re more likely to keep listeners’ attention. Once you’ve reached that conclusion, you can offer a Q&A period to put any of their questions or concerns to rest. 

3. Use visual aids

Appealing to various learning styles is a great way to keep everyone on the same page and ensure they absorb your content. Visual aids are necessary for visual learners and make it easier for people to picture your ideas.

Aim to incorporate a mixture of photos, videos, and props to engage your audience and convey your key points. For instance, if you’re giving a presentation on anthropology subject matter, you could show your audience an artifact to help them understand how exciting a discovery must have been. 

If your presentation is long, including a video for your audience to watch is an excellent way to give yourself a break and create new jumping-off points for your speech.

4. Be aware of design techniques and trends

Thanks to cutting-edge technology and tools, you have numerous platforms at your disposal to create a good presentation. But keep in mind that although color, images, and graphics liven things up, they can cause distraction when misused.

  Here are a few standard pointers for incorporating visuals on your slides: 

• Don’t place blocks of small text on a single slide
• Use a minimalistic background instead of a busy one
• Ensure text stands out against the background color
• Only use high-resolution photos
• Maintain a consistent font style and size throughout the presentation
• Don’t overuse transitions and effects

5. Try the 10-20-30 rule

Guy Kawasaki, a prominent venture capitalist and one of the original marketing specialists for Apple, said that the best slideshow presentations are less than 10 slides , last at most 20 minutes, and use a font size of 30. Following this strategy can help you condense your information, eliminate unnecessary ideas, and maintain your audience’s focus more efficiently.

Once you’re confident in creating a memorable presentation, it’s time to learn how to give one. Here are some valuable tips for keeping your audience invested during your talk: 

Tip #1: Tell stories

Sharing an anecdote from your life can improve your credibility and increase your relatability. And when an audience relates to you, they’re more likely to feel connected to who you are as a person and encouraged to give you their full attention, as they would want others to do the same.

Gill Hicks utilized this strategy well when she shared her powerful story, “ I survived a terrorist attack. Here’s what I learned .” In her harrowing tale, Hicks highlights the importance of compassion, unconditional love , and helping those in need.

If you feel uncomfortable sharing personal stories, that’s okay. You can use examples from famous individuals or create a fictional account to demonstrate your ideas.

Tip #2: Make eye contact with the audience

Maintaining eye contact is less intimidating than it sounds. In fact, you don’t have to look your audience members directly in their eyes — you can focus on their foreheads or noses if that’s easier.

Try making eye contact with as many people as possible for 3–5 seconds each. This timing ensures you don’t look away too quickly, making the audience member feel unimportant, or linger too long, making them feel uncomfortable.

If you’re presenting to a large group, direct your focus to each part of the room to ensure no section of the audience feels ignored. 

Tip #3: Work on your stage presence

Although your tone and words are the most impactful part of your presentation, recall that body language keeps your audience engaged. Use these tips to master a professional stage presence:

• Speak with open arms and avoid crossing them
• Keep a reasonable pace and try not to stand still
• Use hand gestures to highlight important information

Tip #4: Start strong

Like watching a movie trailer, the first seconds of your talk are critical for capturing your audience’s attention. How you start your speech sets the tone for the rest of your presentation and tells your audience whether or not they should pay attention. Here are some ways to start your presentation to leave a lasting impression:

• Use a quote from a well-known and likable influential person 
• Ask a rhetorical question to create intrigue
• Start with an anecdote to add context to your talk 
• Spark your audience’s curiosity by involving them in an interactive problem-solving puzzle or riddle

Tip #5: Show your passion

Don’t be afraid of being too enthusiastic. Everyone appreciates a speaker who’s genuinely excited about their field of expertise. 

In “ Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance ,” Angela Lee Duckworth discusses the importance of passion in research and delivery. She delivers her presentation excitedly to show the audience how excitement piques interest. 

Tip #6: Plan your delivery

How you decide to deliver your speech will shape your presentation. Will you be preparing a PowerPoint presentation and using a teleprompter? Or are you working within the constraints of the digital world and presenting over Zoom?

The best presentations are conducted by speakers who know their stuff and memorize their content. However, if you find this challenging, try creating notes to use as a safety net in case you lose track.

If you’re presenting online, you can keep notes beside your computer for each slide, highlighting your key points. This ensures you include all the necessary information and follow a logical order.

Tip #7: Practice

Practice doesn’t make perfect — it makes progress. There’s no way of preparing for unforeseen circumstances, but thorough practice means you’ve done everything you can to succeed.

Rehearse your speech in front of a mirror or to a trusted friend or family member. Take any feedback and use it as an opportunity to fine-tune your speech. But remember: who you practice your presentation in front of may differ from your intended audience. Consider their opinions through the lens of them occupying this different position.

Tip #8: Read the room

Whether you’re a keynote speaker at an event or presenting to a small group of clients, knowing how to read the room is vital for keeping your audience happy. Stay flexible and be willing to move on from topics quickly if your listeners are uninterested or displeased with a particular part of your speech.

Tip #9: Breathe

Try taking deep breaths before your presentation to calm your nerves. If you feel rushed, you’re more likely to feel nervous and stumble on your words.

The most important thing to consider when presenting is your audience’s feelings. When you approach your next presentation calmly, you’ll put your audience at ease and encourage them to feel comfortable in your presence.

Tip #10: Provide a call-to-action

When you end your presentation, your audience should feel compelled to take a specific action, whether that’s changing their habits or contacting you for your services.

If you’re presenting to clients, create a handout with key points and contact information so they can get in touch. You should provide your LinkedIn information, email address, and phone number so they have a variety of ways to reach you. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all template for an effective presentation, as your unique audience and subject matter play a role in shaping your speech. As a general rule, though, you should aim to connect with your audience through passion and excitement. Use strong eye contact and body language. Capture their interest through storytelling and their trust through relatability.

Learning how to give a good presentation can feel overwhelming — but remember, practice makes progress. Rehearse your presentation for someone you trust, collect their feedback , and revise. Practicing your presentation skills is helpful for any job, and every challenge is a chance to grow.

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Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

How to write a speech that your audience remembers

6 presentation skills and how to improve them, 3 stand-out professional bio examples to inspire your own, tell a story they can't ignore these 10 tips will teach you how, how to make a presentation interactive and exciting, your guide to what storytelling is and how to be a good storyteller, reading the room gives you an edge — no matter who you're talking to, 18 effective strategies to improve your communication skills, writing an elevator pitch about yourself: a how-to plus tips, how to disagree at work without being obnoxious, the importance of good speech: 5 tips to be more articulate, the 11 tips that will improve your public speaking skills, 30 presentation feedback examples, fear of public speaking overcome it with these 7 tips, how to not be nervous for a presentation — 13 tips that work (really), 8 clever hooks for presentations (with tips), stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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The 3 keys to making a presentation that will impress your boss

Presenting to one of your higher-ups may be a nerve racking experience, but it can be a crucial time to stand out as an employee.

A great way to learn how to impress your bosses is to familiarize yourself with the traits other leaders look for in their employees.

Darlene Price, president of Well Said, Inc. , and  author of " Well Said! ," has interviewed more than 200 senior leaders in Fortune 100 companies. She asked them, "What qualities do you value most in speakers who present to you?"

There were three common responses:

1. Be clear.

"Create a structured message with lucid logic that is easy to follow and understand," Price says. A well-structured and ordered speech "shows the decision maker that you are prepared and organized," she says.

It starts with having an effective framework, meaning clear opening, body, and closing sections. Additionally, it's better to use quantifiable language, such as "25% growth," as opposed to generalizations like "significant increase," Price says.

2. Be concise.

"Don't make executives wait for the punch-line, which tests their patience," Price says. "Deliver the gist right away." 

Including a preview in your opening is important, but it shouldn't drag on. Introduce your purpose and key points, and then jump into your main idea, Price says. "Provide supporting material ideally using no more than three key points," Price says. And finally, close out your discussion with a brief recap and a suggestion of future action.

The goal is to provide an exciting proposition without offering too much information. Deliver the need-to-know facts rather than the nice-to-know details, Price says.

3. Be credible.

Credibility is key in any field, but lacking it will be detrimental to your presentation. There are three main areas where speakers can improve their credibility, Price says:

• Know your audience: Prove that you've done your homework and tailor your message around the specific audience.
• Look and sound the part: Use confident body language, dress professionally, and speak with a steady pace.
• Embrace the Q&A: Expect questions and objections, and approach them calmly and confidently. Be honest if you don't know the answer.

Each of the three traits to high impact communication, if done correctly, work well together. "You will inspire trust in the minds of your key stakeholders and deliver a confident, convincing message that gets results," Price says.

Watch: How 'The Price Is Right' is made

• Main content

Presentation Training Institute

A division of bold new directions training, how to give a presentation that will impress your boss.

Giving a presentation to anyone can be nerve-wracking, but the stakes are even greater when you have to present to a higher-up. After all, a lot can be riding on this presentation such as a raise, a promotion, or simply status in the workplace. While it may be the most nerve-wracking experience, it’s also a crucial time to stand out as an employee. Here are a few tips for beating the anxiety and delivering a presentation that is sure to impress your boss. 

Clarify Your Goals

What is the purpose of your presentation? What kind of results does your boss expect to see? If you don’t know the answers to these basic questions, you need to find out. There is nothing as deflating as working tirelessly on a presentation that brings no value to anyone. Not only will you be wasting your own time, but you will be wasting your boss’s time as well. Therefore, find out and determine your main goals right away, as this will aid you in the planning process. 

Know Your Topic

This doesn’t mean skimming things over, but rather you have to really know your topic. If you are presenting to your boss, it’s safe to assume they will be pretty well versed on the topic themselves. Therefore, you need to be one step ahead by researching and learning as much as you can. Avoid presenting too much data, but present enough that your boss knows you are well-informed. Be prepared to back up any claims with evidence and quantifiable metrics. If you are proposing new ideas, be ready to have research and accurate data to back up these ideas. 

Go Beyond the PowerPoint

There’s certainly a time and place for PowerPoint and there’s nothing wrong with using one in your presentation. That said, don’t let this be your only channel of communication. Consider using other techniques and visual aids such as videos, props, polls, demonstrations, stories, and questions to engage your audience and make your presentation more interesting. As for your PowerPoint, try sprucing it up a bit with photographs, images, videos, charts, and graphics that reflect the theme of your presentation. These tips and tricks can make your PowerPoint stand out more than just a standard slideshow. 

Engage Your Audience

As with any presentation, you need to find ways to bring it to life for your audience…especially your boss! Tell an interesting story, include a demonstration, infuse some humor into your talk, or interact with your audience through questions or polls. Your presentation is more likely to make a lasting impression if you find ways to engage with your audience rather than just speaking to them. 

Keep it Concise

Your boss has a busy schedule so be respectful of their time by keeping your presentation concise. Don’t bore them with text-heavy slides, lengthy explanations, and graph after graph of information. Instead, know your goals and stick to your main points. Keep the content clear and straightforward and stay on track. 

Exude a Professional Presence

Now is your chance to stand out and get noticed. Command the room with an executive presence that sets you apart from the rest. Try to remain calm, comfortable, and relaxed, and present with poise and confidence. Dress professionally, maintain good eye contact, be mindful of your posture, and don’t forget to smile. 

7 tips to present your work like a boss

Springboard

So you can drop the mic in the end.

It’s that time again. You’ve worked hard, collaborated, and iterated your work based on feedback. Now it’s time to show it off to a larger audience.

The thing is, though, that no matter how great the work is, a poor presentation can send all the hours you’ve spent right down the drain. To help with that, here are some tips on how to present your work, culled from my own experience.

1. Don't apologize.

How would you feel if someone was trying to sell you something, but before they even started, they apologized for some defect in the product?

Would you buy it?

In my experience, most people who do this do because they want to lower the bar. Maybe they didn’t have as much prep time, or aren’t as satisfied with their product as they thought they would be. Either way, the impression that comes across is they either half-arsed the presentation and they’re about to waste everyone’s time, or they’re being falsely modest, which can get pretty annoying.

If you actually had only a little time to put something together, there’s even less of a reason to apologize. Whatever you have by the time of your presentation is what you should have — and if you feel like you need more time, just ask for it.

You can avoid the need to apologize by preparing for the presentation. That includes not only knowing what you’re going to say, but also making sure you have all technical things required for your presentation to run smoothly.

That can include everything from installing drivers that allow you to connect your computer to the screen or projector, having an adaptor if you are going need one, having a backup PDF in case Keynote decides to bail on you, or even knowing where to find the screen-sharing button. After years seeing and doing presentations, the same routine happens on a regular basis. It’s perfectly understandable in the first time, but when it’s your 10th time, it starts to look bad.

In short, if you’ve done your job right, there’s nothing to apologize for. And, if you half-arsed the work, well… apologizing isn’t going to help.

2. Set the rules in the beginning.

One tactic I appreciate from others, and also try to do before starting any presentation, is setting ground rules.

If I don’t want to be interrupted during the presentation, I’ll ask for everybody to save their questions and comments to the end. If I want there to be a discussion during the presentation, I’ll also mentioned that in the beginning, so people can feel free to interject. This helps you take control of how your presentation goes.

Don’t assume, though, that people will just follow the rules. Be prepared to repeat what you’ve asked in the beginning if someone interrupts with a question, even if it’s something that you could address straight away. Sometimes, if you give them an inch, they’re going to take a mile, and with it the control of your presentation.

Asking for no interruptions won’t just help you avoid a derail — it’ll also help you keep track of your presentation duration. Plus, it puts people in “listening mode,” which is really useful, especially because some people feel like they have to say something to appear engaged.

3. Show & Tell, don’t write.

For me, there aren’t many things that bother me as much as seeing a presentation slide with a big block of text.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind reading, but that’s just not what a presentation is for.

A presentation should be the place where you’re telling someone about something, using some visuals to help you paint a better picture. If you’re planning to read straight from the presentation, just send it to the people who might be interested, so they can read at their leisure. There’s no point in sitting in a room watching you read.

Now, if you just want to have some notes to make sure you don’t forget anything, make use of “presenter notes.” This is something that only you should see, but even then, try to avoid reading straight from your computer so you can keep eye contact with your attendees.

4. Keep it clean.

The focus of the presentation should be on the content that is being presented, not what’s around it. For that reason, avoid using or creating graphic heavy templates with a lot of visual distractions. Why? It’s just not worth your time — focus your efforts on the content, creating sharp imagery, proofreading for typos, and most importantly, forming a cohesive storyline.

Try to stay away from decorative elements and flashy transition effects, unless they have a purpose for your story, and when picking a font be mindful of your audience, the content, and the tone you want to transmit.

The key, in my opinion, is restraint. Your presentation’s layout is just a vessel — it should be all about the work.

Why will this help on your presentation? Keeping it as clean as possible will help you avoid comments on it, for one. I would also strongly advise against using your working file in Sketch, Illustrator, or whatever tool you’re using. It might be handy, because everything is there, but those tools were not made for presentations. You’ll be zooming in and out, dragging left and right while you’re trying to show and explain something, and, as you can probably imagine, it becomes really hard to follow. Clean is best.

5. Be playful.

If appropriate, add a little humor here and there throughout your presentation. The goal is to help your break the ice and disarm people.

When you’re presenting something new, you may encounter some resistance. A little humor might help you tear down some walls and keep people engaged.

However, be aware of your audience and the tone that is appropriate for each case. If you use a meme for an audience that doesn’t get them, the slide will just look out of place and do the opposite of what was intended.

One tactic I employ, which is usually pretty safe, is starting off with some humor on the very first slide. Usually I just use something that is somehow connected with the topic, but that contains some kind of comedic character in it, and use it as a cover image.

Plus, if your presentation is long, adding humor as a way to create a few breaks for your audience is also a good way to keep people engaged, or to grab attention from someone who got distracted.

6. Make it memorable.

You’re going to spend something like an hour in a meeting room with your audience. How would you like them to leave the meeting? Do you want people to remember what you’ve shown? Then, present it in a way that sticks with them for a while.

The best way to achieve this is to tell a compelling story that connects every piece of the work from top to bottom. Just think about it — what’s the thing that keeps people watching movies and TV shows for hours and even pay for them? It’s all about story.

You can even follow one of the 7 traditional storyline structure as a way to guide you, but at the end of the day, it’s your story and you know the best way to tell it.

The objective with this is not only to keep an engaged audience during the presentation, but also have them remember it later on. And, if people like your story, it will be easier to understand the intent behind your work.

Something to avoid is to rambling on geeky things that only designers will care about, like typefaces, golden ratios and stuff like that… unless your audience is a bunch of guys like me, that is!

7. Start strong, end even stronger.

Even when your story is engaging, people have a limited memory, and they tend to lose a bit of focus in the middle of the presentation. They’re naturally more inclined to remember the beginning and the end.

So, make sure that you don’t waste those moments. You can, for instance, start with a bold statement that promises something that comes back in the end of the presentation. I think of it as the beginning as the set-up and the end as the delivery.

If you do it right, connecting those two moments will unlock the rest of the story, and your presentation will stick in people’s minds for a while.

One other thing I like to do in the beginning is to mention what the presentation is going to be about and what’s its purpose. This way, people know what’s the goal of the presentation from the very beginning, and that hopefully helps get everybody on board of the same train.

Bonus: Feedback is precious.

After we’re done presenting, sometimes we just take it as “mission accomplished” and forget the whole reason why we were presenting in the first place: feedback. This is a mistake.

Pay close attention to all the comments that are given to you, and take notes if you don’t have a good memory. Also, try to forget people’s specialities for a minute — sometimes a non-designer might have a really good suggestion that will improve your design.

One final piece of advice: You’re not on trial, so don’t feel like you have to defend yourself from all the comments, or even that you have to address them right away. Take the feedback and address it at your convenience if it fits your project’s goal.

Now, it’s time to fire-up your Keynote or Powerpoint and get started on that presentation. Good luck! :-)

If you have any questions or any tips that you’d like to share, feel free to drop a comment below. Thanks for reading! ♡

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Written by José Torre

Designer. Working at Shopify by day, being Halfool by night.

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10 Free Presentation Templates for Executives

In a world driven by cut-throat competition and increasing globalization, businesses can gain traction and success at the global level through partnerships, joint ventures, and alliances. And in all these collaborations, executives play an important role in representing their company’s strengths and potential. So, they must have good communication and presentation skills. These skills are crucial to keeping internal employees and stakeholders aligned and motivated to achieve organizational goals. A well-designed template can elevate your presentation prowess and amplify your impact.

To help business executives make their presentations mesmerizing and convincing, we have compiled a list of professionally designed, 100% customizable, multipurpose templates in this article. You can use them for presentations for various occasions, like team, client, board, and investor meetings. So, get these templates now and unlock visual excellence in your next slideshows!

1. Solar Power Project Proposal Presentation

Get this template to showcase the scope, purpose, and timeline of your solar power project to clients, investors, and stakeholders in a visually interesting manner. Featuring a vibrant color scheme and visuals of solar panels, this deck can be incorporated into your presentations to showcase a brief introduction of your company and team and the project’s technical details and environmental impact. In addition, you can present competitor analysis and financial projects to demonstrate the growth potential of your project. Demonstrate how your project will contribute to environmental sustainability, reducing carbon emissions and electricity bills.

2. Business Plan

This template is useful for executives of both startups and established companies to visualize the company’s goals and a roadmap and timeframe for achieving them. You can leverage this deck in presentations for investor pitches, team meetings, and annual general meetings. Use this beautiful set of slides to depict your plan to expand the company’s international footprint, roll out a new product in a specific market, address the pain points of a particular customer group through your product/service, etc. The well-chosen color theme in slides instantly captures the audience’s attention and helps them process the presented information faster. 

3. Roadmap  

This versatile and multipurpose template will add context and visual appeal to presentations on goal setting and achievement, project management, strategic planning, and more. The slides feature visuals of zigzag roads/arrows and milestone icons and can be used to visualize various project tasks and their respective deadline, the product launch plan, milestones in risk management, etc. You can also showcase key activities and milestones of the change management process, the plan to develop and implement new technology, and more.

4. Team Overview

Introduce your management/leadership and project team members to clients in a captivating and memorable manner using this professionally designed and animated template. The slides comprise avatars of males and females, icons of social media platforms, and editable text placeholders. Leverage these illustrations to showcase your team members’ designation, skills, educational qualifications, professional experience, and social media presence and establish trust among the audience that a competent workforce backs you.

5. Executive Summary Slides  

End your search on this data-driven template if you are looking for a visual aid to present your company’s overview, including mission, vision, values, and other major highlights to board members, clients, investors, shareholders, and other stakeholders. The charts, graphs, and relevant icons in the deck make visualization of data related to market share, financial performance, cost, sales growth rate, total revenue, and customer satisfaction much simpler yet engaging. Moreover, you can showcase the target audience, quarterly tasks, key factors to consider, etc.

6. Problem And Solution Slides  

Download this aesthetically designed template to highlight the pain points and challenges of a specific industry, market, or customer group and how your product/service addresses them. You can present solutions to problems related to business automation, vendor sourcing, product launch, team cohesiveness, project management, working capital management, and more. The deck comes with high-definition visuals to boost the impact of your message and help the audience retain it for longer.

7. Introduce Yourself

With a power-packed self-introduction, you can make a favorable impression and a huge difference. Using it, you can showcase a brief overview of yourself, including your interests, education, professional skills, work experience, achievements, and more. The minimalistic designs will give visual consistency to your content, making it outstanding and memorable. This template can be used by executives in presentations for client meetings, workshops, webinars, seminars, public speaking events, etc.

8. Employee Spotlight

Introduce new employees to their team members in a unique way using this feature-rich template. Featuring visuals of spotlights and male and female employees, icons of social platforms, and editable text placeholders, the slides can be used by senior executives to highlight crucial information about the top performers of different teams. You can also use this set to showcase the skills and expertise of your team members to clients.  

9. Teamwork

This spellbinding template is ideal for making presentations on team-building, collaboration, team dynamics, and team spirit more insightful. Use it to deliver great presentations on the Tuckman model of team building, ways to strengthen team bonding, factors that impact group dynamics, the importance of teamwork in achieving success, and more. The stunning visuals will complement your content, taking your presentations to the next level.

10.  Announcement Slides

Inform your employees about upcoming special events, policy changes, company news, or new initiatives using these vibrant announcement slides. The visuals of hands holding loudspeakers, complemented with relevant icons and customizable text placeholders, give an authentic touch to your content, making your communication smoother and more meaningful. You can also use this template to inform clients and customers about new product launches, limited-time deals or offers, customer training workshops, etc.

Check out these presentation templates and download all those that perfectly match the theme and message of your upcoming presentation! With these sets of slides, you need not worry about the design; invest your time in improving the content and delivery of your message.

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