how do you write a business review presentation

Business review presentation: The all-in-one guide

Learn how to create and deliver effective business review presentations with this comprehensive guide.

Raja Bothra

Building presentations

Welcome to the all-in-one guide on business review presentations, your go-to resource for mastering this crucial aspect of corporate communication.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about creating impactful business review presentations, including quarterly business review presentation (QBRs).

What is a business review presentation?

A business review presentation is a comprehensive overview of a company's performance during a defined period, often spanning a quarter or a year. Its primary purpose is to keep stakeholders, including shareholders, investors, and board members, well-informed about the company's advancements toward its goals and objectives. This presentation acts as a strategic compass, guiding stakeholders through the company's journey and ensuring transparency in its progress.

Types of business review presentations

Business review presentations come in various forms, each designed to serve a distinct purpose and cater to specific audiences. Understanding these different types is pivotal for tailoring your presentation to meet your audience's unique needs. Here are some common variations:

Quarterly business review (QBR):

The QBR presentation hones in on your company's performance over the previous quarterly report. It delves into key accomplishments, challenges, and strategic goals, making it a vital update for shareholders, investors, and board members.

Annual business review (ABR):

The ABR presentation offers a comprehensive, year-long perspective on your company's performance. It encompasses financial summaries, strategic plans, and provides a broader overview suitable for the same stakeholders as a QBR but may also include employees and other interested parties.

Sales review presentation:

Geared towards sales managers and the sales team, this presentation offers an in-depth analysis of the company's sales performance over a specific timeframe.

Product review presentation:

Product managers and the product team benefit from product review presentations, which provide insights into a company's product performance over a specified period.

Marketing review presentation:

Marketing managers and the marketing team rely on marketing review presentations to gain a comprehensive understanding of the company's marketing performance over a set timeframe.

Project updates presentation :

These presentations deck provide updates on specific projects, detailing progress, challenges, and future plans.

Financial reviews presentation :

Focused on financial data, these presentations ppt cover topics like cash flow statements, balance sheets, and key financial ratios.

Competitor analysis presentation :

A comparative analysis of your company's performance against competitors in the market.

Stakeholder meetings presentation :

Tailored presentations for specific stakeholders, addressing their concerns and interests.

In addition to these specific types, various other presentations can be employed to review different aspects of a company's performance. For instance, presentations might focus on financial performance, customer satisfaction rates, or employee engagement levels.

Regardless of the specific presentation type, the ultimate objective of a business review presentation remains consistent: to deliver a concise, transparent overview of the company's performance and its future plans. The presentation should be finely tuned to the audience, emphasizing key takeaways while being prepared to address any questions or inquiries that may arise.

How to structure an effective business review presentation

Creating a structured and engaging presentation is crucial for capturing your audience's attention and delivering your message effectively. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to structure your business review presentation:

• Opening statement : Begin with a concise and impactful introduction that sets the tone for your presentation.
• Agenda : Provide an overview of what you will cover in your presentation to give your audience a roadmap.
• Review period : Clearly define the period you're reviewing, whether it's a quarter, year, or a specific project timeline.
• Key performance indicators (KPIs) : Highlight the most important metrics that demonstrate your company's performance.
• Challenges and opportunities : Discuss challenges your company faced and opportunities for improvement.
• Strategy and roadmap : Share your company's strategic plan and roadmap for the future.
• Financial summary : Include financial statements and analyses, such as cash flow, balance sheets, and key financial ratios.
• Competitor analysis : Compare your performance to competitors in the market.
• Stakeholder engagement : Address the concerns and interests of your stakeholders.
• Q&A : Allow time for questions and discussions.

Do’s and don'ts on a business review presentation

To create a successful business review presentation, keep these do's and don'ts in mind:

Do's :

• Be clear and concise : Avoid jargon and complex language. Use simple words to convey your message effectively.
• Engage Your audience : Use storytelling techniques to make your presentation relatable and engaging.
• Include visuals : Incorporate charts, graphs, and infographics to illustrate data and key points.

Don'ts :

• Overload with information : Avoid overwhelming your audience with too much data. Focus on the most critical information.
• Use excessive jargon : Keep your language accessible to all stakeholders, including non-experts.
• Neglect design : Poor design can detract from your message. Use Prezent's design features to create visually appealing slides.
• Forget the human element : Connect with your audience on a personal level. Share anecdotes or examples to make your points relatable.

Summarizing key takeaways

In this comprehensive guide, we've explored the world of business review presentations. We've discussed the types, structure, do's and don'ts, and the importance of engaging your audience.

Remember, the key to a successful presentation lies in your ability to communicate effectively. With powerpoint template editable and slides, you can create stunning and informative presentations that captivate your audience and convey your message with clarity.

Mastering the art of business review presentations is essential for effective corporate communication. Use this guide as your roadmap to success, you'll deliver presentations that resonate with your audience and drive your message home.

1. What elements should be included in a business review presentation?

A business review presentation should encompass critical components. Start with key developments and initiatives taken during the past quarter. Include financial summaries, such as cash flow statements, balance sheets, and key financial ratios. Highlight your top customers and debtors, as well as any roadblocks your company has encountered. Share a scorecard to gauge your progress toward goals, and don't forget to address stakeholder concerns and interests. Professionalism is key; use templates for PowerPoint or Google Slides to maintain a consistent and polished look.

2. How can I engage my audience during a business review presentation?

Engaging your audience during a Business Review Presentation is essential for effective communication. Use storytelling techniques to make your content relatable and memorable. Include anecdotes or examples to add a human touch. Encourage brainstorming and open discussions to foster interaction. Additionally, ensure that your slides help convey your message professionally and clearly.

3. Can I customize business review templates to suit my company's needs?

Absolutely! Business review templates, whether in PowerPoint or other formats, are designed to be customizable. You can add your content, adapt the templates to reflect your company's branding and style, and include a summary that aligns with your specific objectives. Templates for PowerPoint and Google Slides provide a convenient starting point for tailoring your presentation to meet your organization's unique requirements.

4. What are some best practices for delivering a business review presentation?

Delivering a successful business review presentation involves following certain best practices. Be clear and concise in your communication, avoiding excessive jargon. Also use templates and PowerPoint presentation slides to maintain a professional and organized appearance. Be prepared to answer questions from attendees and encourage open dialogue. Remember that your presentation should professionally showcase your company's performance and plans for the future.

5. What are some tips for keeping stakeholder engagement high during a business review presentation?

Maintaining stakeholder engagement during your presentation is crucial. Use visual aids like infographics, snapshots and charts to make data more accessible and engaging. Incorporate case studies or success stories to illustrate key points. Encourage attendees to ask questions and provide their input. Keeping your presentation clear and concise, with a focus on relevant information, will also help keep your audience retention.

Create your business review presentation with Prezent

Now that you have a solid understanding of how to create a compelling business review presentation, it's time to put your knowledge into action. With Prezent, you can access a wide range of templates and slides to streamline the creation process. Whether it's a quarterly business review, an annual report, or a project update, Prezent has you covered.

Prezent offers a wide range of templates and slides to make your presentation visually appealing and professional. Don't settle for ordinary presentations; elevate your communication with Prezent and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Start creating your executive business review presentations today and take your corporate communication to the next level.

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Quarterly business review: how to write and how to present it via presentation tools

A quarterly business review (QBR) is a quarterly report created for key executives/stakeholders or your highest-earning customers about the company’s strategy, successful contribution, and gained value. It’s quite a specific presentation that can prevent a company’s churn if done properly.

Custom presentation design ensures winning the general report view with slides that attract. Effective QBR presentation helps you to:

• sell them more;
• increase your DRR (disaster risk reduction);
• accelerate your growth.

In this material, we want to walk you through QBR’s explanation and best practices to turn your QBR from boring to brilliant. Then, you can level up the way you present it to your key stakeholders and most loyal customers.

What is a QBR in Business?

First of all, it is a thing that none actually looks forward to doing. It is not something that evokes excitement if you approach it the wrong way. HOWEVER, if you do QBR the right way, it can completely transform your business.

• The quarterly business report is about establishing a proper playbook for renewing your business revenue and making sure your customers remain successful.
• Having all figures in front of your eyes improves strategy sessions or meetings where you gather together to review the impact of your product or service, e.g., the contribution made, value delivered, etc.
• It becomes easier to scale your business when you know its ups and downs, pros and cons, so you manage them better and help grow, creating the most favorable conditions.

Thus, you get total control over all processes and develop more winning strategies.

Quarterly Business Review Best Practices: 3 Principles to Follow

If you follow these three principles, they will ACCELERATE your business growth and transform your QBR into a more brilliant report:

0. Reframe Your QBR

You can continue calling them if you want, but, e.g., Quarterly strategy sessions sound cooler, right? It is no more boring numbers review but an engaging meeting with new energy, brainstorming, and future goals.

Besides, you can take care of PowerPoint redesign to match transformed QBR with the appropriate quarterly report design. The rebranding perspective will get people excited that the big thing will come.

1. Actions Taken → Business ROI

If you want to get the most out of this meeting, you should create something more than a to-do list. Your QBR slides must shine bright with the value. For example, you looked at last quarter, you took specific actions, and here’s the clear business ROI that you delivered.

We advise creating a couple of informative slides with a list of actions taken vs. business ROI. If you can write it so for the customers, you will always earn more.

2. Introducing the “X” Score

For example, the tout score measures how effectively you use the platform between zero and a hundred. If you’re doing 90, you’re obviously crushing it. So, you should make up the score to measure your/customer’s business gainings.

Then, you need to communicate this score through the set of slides:

• Things you’re doing well.
• Benchmark to compare to competitors.
• Opportunities to grow and increase the score.

As a result, you show executives or clients whether they are below and above to see the real conditions and circumstances better. You offer the corrective measures to take and unlock opportunities to enlarge the business successfully.

3. Have a Roadmap Slide

Frequently, CSMs forgot to add a roadmap slide to the QBR PowerPoint presentation, or they couldn’t quite drive alignment with the product. Meanwhile, you put the cherry on top by saying and showing where you’re going. The point is to demonstrate bigger opportunities coming down in the roadmap.

Having a roadmap slide, you ensure you’ll be the best in the business, and you will innovate the most to show that you’re a long-term partner.

Quarterly Business Review Presentation Tools

To create all necessary slides, you either believe in yourself or order professional design services. If you choose the first option, you should know that the presentation world is wider than PowerPoint.

You can use these presentation tools to create visual slides with different elements like a roadmap or charts:

• Canva (to experiment with design);
• Visme (vast storage of colors, logos, and images);
• Powtoon (bright animation to create videos);
• Haiku Deck (basic and craft simple slides);
• Keynote (interactive charts);
• Emaze (slideshow, 3D presentations);
• SlideCamp (best slide templates);
• SlideDog (switch easily between, e.g., PowerPoint, Canva, and PDF).

These tools are multiple on the web, so you’ll quickly find other ones. Remember that the whole point is not only in the tools’ usage but the presentation content structure.

Do I Even Need a Quarterly Business Report?

Last but not least, let’s shortly reflect on whether you need this report at all. And whether you need to invest so much effort in creating the presentation for your business.

• Do you always analyze previous results, both successful and unsuccessful?
• Do you have growth targets to rely on?
• Do you know how to hit these goals and targets?
• Do you identify business opportunities easily?
• Do you have and follow the agenda efficiently?
• Do you organize successful brainstorming strategies?
• Do you know how many clients you got in the previous quarter?
• Do you gain new partners easily?
• Do you know where you are going?
• Do you have a strategy/action plan for at least one next year (better three)?

If you struggle to answer Yes/No clearly to at least 3 of those questions, we recommend creating QBR to see blind spots clearer.

Most QBRs are boring meetings with many numbers reviewed. However, you add new energy if you follow our pieces of advice. So, you follow three powerful steps: you show what you/they have done really well, explain how cool you/they are (what is the score), and finally express where you/they are going. This approach will make your clients and executives love you for making things more actionable for everyone in the room, excitement about the future, and overall clarity of company vision.

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How To Create an Effective End of Year Business Review

“If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going.” ~Maya Angelou

With the end of 2019 rapidly approaching, business leaders have likely started to plan for the year ahead. But to know where you’re going, it’s important to look at where you’ve been.

It’s a fair assessment that entrepreneurs are naturally more prone to plan for their futures than to evaluate their pasts. Year-end business reviews allow them to jump-start the new year with solutions to prior issues and strategies for continued growth moving forward.

Think of an effective end of year business review as an executive summary for the entire year. What were the key takeaways? The presentation should include high-level information such as an evaluation of goals, achievements, rates of growth, obstacles and setbacks, future goals and financial data. While it might be easier to simply list all of the year-end parameters in a single, lengthy report, that type of presentation is unlikely to impress audiences — regardless of whether they're clients, employees, management or investors.

It goes without saying that the business review will be created for naught if nobody pays attention to it. Instead, it's important to create a visually appealing presentation to not only grab the audience's attention, but to retain it, too. Beautiful.ai’s PowerPoint alternative makes creating business presentations easy so they're always on-brand and professional. Themes can be customized with specific fonts and color palettes, as well as company logos, so each slide automatically mirrors the others.

Of course, even an impressive and cohesive visual presentation can bore audiences if it doesn't include valuable information. Traditional PowerPoint presentations filled to the brim with numbers, statistics and bullet points can put even interested audiences to sleep. So, avoid death by PowerPoint and make your annual business review “beautiful” by including the following key elements.

Download the free, customizable End of Year Business Review Template here.

Company Overview

A high-quality annual business review should feature an overarching summary reflecting the big picture for the company. The business summary might highlight the brand’s founder, co-founders, business leaders and other decision makers, while also summarizing the company’s product offerings, including any digital editions, intellectual property rights and international business ventures. This is also a good place to talk about the company's mission, values, and overall culture. It sets the stage (literally and figuratively) for the information to come later in the presentation.

2019 Business Goals

Before the year’s goals can be evaluated, audiences need to know what they were. The second portion of the year-end business review should summarize the year’s goals. The list of goals can be obtained from the prior year’s annual review (if that's available), but keep in mind they may have been modified or updated throughout the past 12 months. Explain what each goal was, and why it was chosen (its importance), before you dive in to the results.

Beautiful.ai’s presentation software makes creating a list of goals simple. Just add a common header to a carousel slide, and add each goal to its own sub-section.

Accomplishment of Goals

It's important to celebrate a company’s successes. Once you've mapped out what the year's goals were, you can talk about if and how you accomplished them. No annual business review could possibly be complete without featuring the year’s highlight reel. What goals were accomplished, and what were the missed opportunities, in the previous 12 months? What can be learned from the company’s successes?

Likewise, what challenges did the company face, and what can be learned from missed opportunities? To keep audiences engaged , we animated the bulleted lists, so the items automatically appear in succession.

We recommend trying our animated bullet points, or the timeline or diagram templates to tell your story. Simply enter your content and our Smart Slides will do the rest.

Key Performance Indicators and Results

Numbers tell a big part of a company’s story, and they are a vital piece of the annual business review puzzle. After all, how can anyone ascertain a company’s performance without analyzing some type of data? This is where key performance indicators (KPIs) and results come in to play.

Here you will present data on the company’s performance in the form of financial statements, rates of growth and retention, customer satisfaction metrics and any other data that supports the business' story over the past year. KPIs are an easy way to assess performance throughout the year, so you should know exactly where you stand when it comes time for the end of year review.

Creating infographics using Beautiful.ai’s templates makes data visualization simple. Just add your data into our Smart Slides and watch it automatically align into timelines, bar graphs, pie charts and much more. Not only will audiences stay more engaged, but the data will be more digestible.

Opportunities for Next Year

Once your annual business review has covered the company’s performance over the course of 2019, it’s time to start paving a pathway through 2020. A round-up of upcoming company goals is a key element to any actionable year-end review. Objectives from the prior year might remain in place, if they weren't met, or you may shift your goals based on accomplishments, failures, or changing market conditions.

By sharing your new objectives, you're holding your team accountable to work towards them. To that end, once you've defined your goals for the upcoming year, it's time to explain how you and your team plan to achieve them. Put your money where your mouth is, so to speak.

2020 Execution

It’s not enough to simply create a list of goals for the upcoming year. You must also share how those goals will be met. An effective end-of-year business review should include a plan of execution for the upcoming year. What processes will be put in place to meet next year’s goals? What budget will be allocated to implement these plans, what team members or resources are required, and what's the estimated timeline?

Of course, even the best-laid plans do tend to go awry. Part of planning the execution of goals is anticipating what obstacles might be encountered along the way, and planning how to overcome those hurdles should they occur. 

When using Beautiful.ai’s presentation software, there’s no reason a company’s business review should ever become just another cookie-cutter report. The end presentation will always be clean, concise and attractive to audiences regardless of your design skills.

Samantha Pratt Lile

Samantha is an independent journalist, editor, blogger and content manager. Examples of her published work can be found at sites including the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and Buzzfeed.

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Home Blog Business How to Write and Present a Performance Review

How to Write and Present a Performance Review

The performance review, as a crucial part of performance management, is one of the dreaded exercises of both managers and team members. However, it doesn’t have to be an intimidating, negative situation. In fact, a manager performance review tip by Harvard Business Review is to pointedly keep the conversation positive. By focusing on successes and opportunities for growth, managers can turn the employee performance review into a constructive experience that benefits everyone in the end.

What is Performance Management

Before we approach performance review examples, it’s necessary to establish some definitions to make sure we’re on the same page.

According to UC Berkeley’s Guide to Managing Human Resources, “Performance management is an ongoing process of communication between a supervisor and an employee that occurs throughout the year, in support of accomplishing the strategic objectives of the organization.”

Notice that performance management is more than a performance annual review. The performance evaluation is one component found in many performance management frameworks. In fact, UC Berkeley goes on to specify that the process “includes clarifying expectations, setting objectives, identifying goals, providing feedback, and reviewing results.”

By the time managers sit down for the performance review process, they will ideally have already been participating in this ongoing communication method. It will lead to much more valuable results than only engaging in the feedback part of the process.

Types of Performance Management Frameworks

Following are three examples of common performance management frameworks.

The Arm­strong Per­for­mance Man­age­ment Cycle

Michael Armstrong , former Chief Examiner of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, established a performance management framework that many human resources professionals abide by. The Armstrong Performance Management Cycle is a continuous process of improving performance. This is achieved by establishing individual and team goals, working towards the goals, evaluating progress, and developing skills. As seen in the name of this management framework, this process repeats constantly throughout a team or individual’s career at the organization.

Agile Con­tin­u­ous Per­for­mance Management

Another performance management framework example is the agile continuous performance management. What makes the agile performance management system valuable is it’s focus on being continual and holistic. Feedback, which is called “check-ins” under this framework, is given frequently, making it feel more natural for all involved. With ongoing, positive performance management, managers and employees can develop authentic workplace relationships based on the performance improvement and transparency.

International Labor Organization’s Revised Performance Management Framework

The International Labor Organization’s system for managing performance aims to be a flexible process that can be applied to individuals or teams in many different fields and industries. It is also a continuous, comprehensive performance management framework. This cycle is divided into four parts, each focusing on dialogue and constructive feedback. One of the unique features of this management system is the inclusion of feedback from employee to leader.

What is a Performance Review?

The component featured in essentially all performance management frameworks is the giving of feedback. This usually presents itself in the form of a performance review. Other names for the performance review are performance evaluation or performance assessment. As opposed to informal or casual feedback, the performance review is a formal appraisal of an employee and their work during an established time period.

While there are dozens of employee review templates out there, most evaluate overall performance, an employee’s strengths and weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. Many managers and HR professionals use this regularly scheduled evaluation to set goals, as well.

Performance review templates will vary based on who is assessing whom. Common types of performance reviews include the traditional assessment where a manager evaluates an employee’s performance, the self assessment, team assessment, and leader assessment. Different performance management frameworks will involve a combination of these four.

Employee Assessment

This top-down performance review is usually performed by a direct manager or HR manager. This evaluation is useful for establishing the value of an employee with examples of their performance to back it up. Often the employee assessment is conducted together with a self assessment.

Self Assessment

The self assessment component of a performance review is a helpful opportunity for individuals to reflect upon themselves with regards to their strengths and weaknesses. In order to turn the self assessment into a productive introspection, employees should also consider what they think they can do to improve and grow.

When conducted alongside an employee assessment, answers can be compared to see if managers and employees are on the same page. Any discrepancies can be analyzed and addressed, in order to strengthen the working relationship and understanding of the situation.

Team Assessment

A team assessment differs from an individual employee assessment in that it’s an opportunity to make sure team members are aligned and working well together, as well as progressing towards the team goals.

Leader Assessment

As mentioned in the International Labor Organization’s performance management framework, leader assessments can provide valuable feedback as well. During this assessment team members and employees evaluate their own managers, as well as potentially their manager’s superiors. This is often conducted anonymously, to ensure employees can be honest with their feedback without fear of retaliation.

Key Elements of a Performance Review

Depending on the performance management framework, reviews will have different key elements, but there are elements that all methods share, according to Harvard Business Review and Hubspot .

• Evaluate if job requirements are being met
• Compare strengths and weaknesses
• Highlight areas of improvement
• Evaluate if previously defined goals were met
• Recommend actionable goals
• Welcome employee input

How to Write a Performance Review

We recommend managers use a performance review template to help guide them through each step. Evaluation templates help managers know what to say in a performance review. They provide structure to the review, which makes the process consistent. Employee performance templates also make the review process scalable throughout the team or organization.

Prior to Writing the Performance Review

Harvard Business Review recommends reviewers set expectations early, prior to the official feedback. This involves informing the employee that they will be reviewing them soon, asking the employee for their self assessment, and evaluating employee career aspirations.

When Writing the Performance Review

When sitting down to write the performance review, managers should have supporting documentation to help them direct their evaluation. For example, comparing employee performance and characteristics to the organization’s specified values can help guide the evaluation. Additionally, managers can compare employee performance to the actual description of requirements for their role. This helps keep evaluations realistic and on-track. Finally, it’s a good idea to compare current performance to that of previous employee performance reviews. This gives the manager a bigger picture into employee growth, as well as what achievable goals are.

When writing a performance review, managers can also consult with others, including coworkers, other managers, and subordinates of the employee under review. This is called 360-degree feedback and can help give a manager ideas of what to write.

As far as the career aspirations we recommend requesting from the employee prior to the evaluation, this is useful for framing the review. Not every employee has very high aspirations. The evaluation should align both the organization’s expectations of the employee and their own aspirations.

Delivering the Performance Review

HBR also recommends presenting the performance review to the individual about an hour before their meeting to discuss it. This lets the employee move past any potential emotional responses and prepare rational responses. This will lead to a much more constructive discussion and allow for a more positive plan forward.

Whenever possible, hold the performance review presentation face-to-face to avoid misunderstandings. While a performance review PPT or pdf is beneficial for organizing and visualizing the evaluation, presenting them in person will lead to a richer discussion and more realistic action plans.

For high-performing employees, HR experts recommend focusing on the things they are doing well. After discussing examples of achievements and strengths, the manager can ask the employee their feelings about how things are going. This naturally leads into a conversation about opportunities for growth and improvement.

When delivering feedback to marginal employees, they shouldn’t sugar-coat criticisms or provide meaningless compliments. Instead, reviewers should be straightforward and clear with their message. Discuss what isn’t working, what is working, and what actions need to be adopted to improve. When giving advice for improving, managers should be as specific as possible and provide examples.

How to Present a Performance Review

Here are the most important slides to include in a performance review presentation. Following this performance review example structure will help managers lessen the discomfort of presenting a performance review, by following a clear presentation guide.

Slide 1: Cover Slide

Establish who is reviewing, who is being reviewed, and the date of the performance review. Note that this information is also important since the performance review presentation will probably become part of an ongoing performance documentation.

Slide 2: Table of Contents

Part of the discomfort of performance reviews is the concept of the unknown. For an employee, it’s speculating on what their manager is going to say in the performance review. A clear table of contents will hopefully help ground the employee by showing them clearly what they can expect from the presentation, and in what order.

Slide 3: Evaluate if job requirements are being met

In this PPT slide, the reviewer should compare, side-by-side the job requirements and the actual job performance of their subordinate. This requirement versus performance comparison helps the evaluation stay objective. Provide examples of when the requirements are or are not being successfully met, whenever possible.

Slide 4: Strengths

When presenting employee strengths, be as specific as possible. Explain why this strength matters, an example of when this strength was evident, and what impacts this strength has had. In the presentation, add a list of strengths with or without a short description and/or example, in case the performance review is presented without the accompanying meeting.

If the manager previously asked for a self assessment, add a comparison here between the reviewer’s opinion of the employee strengths and their employee’s opinion.

Slide 5: Achievements

List any specific achievements the employee has made during the performance period.

Slide 6: Highlight areas of improvement

This is another way to frame weaknesses. When presenting areas of improvement, consider what the employee needs to improve, why these areas are necessary to address, how the manager can help the employee improve, and what specific steps are needed to improve. Be specific and provide examples whenever possible.

This is another good slide where managers can compare their evaluation of areas of improvement with the answers employees provided in their self assessment. You can combine these slides with other performance improvement plan templates for PowerPoint and Google Slides.

Slide 7: Evaluate if previously defined goals were met

If this isn’t the first performance review a manager has conducted for an individual, then there will be previously defined goals from former evaluations. On this slide, list the previous goals and add a brief evaluation for each. This will help decide what goals should be checked off, maintained, or adjusted for the next evaluation period, which will be presented in the next slide.

Slide 8: Recommend actionable goals

When presenting goals, we recommend using the SMART formula. SMART goals stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. This method of creating goals helps ensure the goal will be achieved as expected.

The goals established in this performance review will most likely be evaluated during the next performance review. As such, the “time-based” aspect of the goal should take this into account.

Slide 9: Welcome employee input

Close the performance review presentation by giving the employee space to talk.

By following this performance review template, reviewers can make sure their evaluation is more than just a meaningless task checked off the list. When done well, the performance review sets the mood for the whole next period, giving both managers and employees a clear guide towards moving forward and achieving their goals more successfully. As far as the tendency for employee evaluations to be uncomfortable situations, follow the advice in this article, practice, and you’ll soon find the valuable potential of a well-presented performance review.

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30 presentation feedback examples

Jump to section

You're doing great

You should think of improving

Tips to improve

3 things to look for when providing presentation feedback

3 tips for giving effective feedback.

We’re all learning as we go. 

And that’s perfectly OK — that’s part of being human. On my own personal growth journey, I know I need to get better at public speaking and presenting. It’s one of those things that doesn’t necessarily come naturally to me. 

And I know there are plenty of people in my shoes. So when it comes to presenting in the workplace, it can be intimidating. But there’s one thing that can help people continue to get better at presentations: feedback . 

The following examples not only relate to presentations. They can also be helpful for public speaking and captivating your audience. 

You’re doing great 

• You really have the natural ability to hand out presentation material in a very organized way! Good job!
• Your presentations are often compelling and visually stunning. You really know how to effectively captivate the audience. Well done!
• You often allow your colleagues to make presentations on your behalf. This is a great learning opportunity for them and they often thrive at the challenge.
• Keeping presentations focused on key agenda items can be tough, but you’re really good at it. You effectively outline exactly what it is that you will be discussing and you make sure you keep to it. Well done!!
• You created downloadable visual presentations and bound them for the client. Excellent way to portray the company! Well done!
• Your content was relevant and your format was visually appealing and easy to follow and understand. Great job! You’re a real designer at heart!
• You always remain consistent with the way you present and often your presentations have the same style and layout. This is great for continuity. Well done!
• You always remain consistent with every presentation, whether it be one on ones, small group chats, with peers, direct reports, and the company bosses. You have no problem presenting in any one of these situations. Well done!
• You are an effective presenter both to employees and to potential clients. When controversial topics come up, you deal with them in a timely manner and you make sure these topics are fully dealt with before moving on. Well done!
• You effectively command attention and you have no problem managing groups during the presentation.

You should think of improving 

• You’re a great presenter in certain situations, but you struggle to present in others. Try to be more consistent when presenting so that you get one single-minded message across. This will also help you broaden your presentation skills by being able to portray one single idea or message.
• You tend to be a little shy when making presentations. You have the self-confidence in one-on-one conversations , so you definitely have the ability to make compelling presentations. Come on! You can do it!
• During presentations, there seems to be quite a lack of focus . I know it can be difficult to stick to the subject matter, however you need to in order for people to understand what the presentation is about and what is trying to be achieved.
• To engage with your audience and make them attentively listen to what you have to say, you need to be able to use your voice in an effective manner to achieve this. Try to focus on certain words that require extra attention and emphasis these words during your presentation.
• Knowing your audience is critical to the success of any presentation. Learn to pick up on their body language and social cues to gauge your style and tone. Listen to what your audience has to say and adjust your presentation accordingly.

• During presentations, it’s expected that there will be tough questions . Try to prepare at least a couple of days before the time so that you can handle these questions in an effective manner.
• To be an effective presenter you need to be able to adjust to varying audiences and circumstances. Try learning about who will be in the room at the time of the presentation and adjust accordingly.
• Remember not to take debate as a personal attack. You tend to lose your cool a little too often, which hinders the discussion and people feel alienated. You can disagree without conflict .
• The only way you are going to get better at public speaking is by practicing, practicing, practicing. Learn your speech by heart, practice in the mirror, practice in front of the mirror. Eventually, you’ll become a natural and you won't be afraid of public speaking any longer.
• Your presentations are beautiful and I have no doubt you have strong presentation software skills. However, your content tends to be a bit weak and often you lack the substance. Without important content, the presentation is empty.

Tips to improve 

• Remember it’s always good to present about the things you are passionate about . When you speak to people about your passions they can sense it. The same goes for presentations. Identify what it is that excites you and somehow bring it into every presentation. it’ll make it easier to present and your audience will feel the energy you portray.
• Sometimes it can be easier to plan with the end result in mind. Try visualizing what it is you are exactly expecting your audience to come away with and develop your presentation around that.
• Simplicity is a beautiful thing. Try to keep your presentations as simple as possible. Make it visually appealing with the least amount of words possible. Try interactive pictures and videos to fully immerse your audience in the presentation.
• It’s a fine balance between winging the presentation and memorizing the presentation. If you wing it too much it may come across as if you didn't prepare. If you memorize it, the presentation may come off a bit robotic. Try to find the sweet spot, if you can.
• When presenting, try to present in a way that is cause for curiosity . Make people interested in what you have to say to really captivate them. Have a look at some TED talks to get some tips on how you can go about doing this.
• Remember presentations should be about quality, not quantity. Presentations that are text-heavy and go on for longer than they should bore your audience and people are less likely to remember them.
• Try to arrive at every staff meeting on time and always be well prepared. This will ensure that meetings will go smoothly in the future.
• Remember to respect other people's time by always arriving on time or five minutes before the presentation.
• Remember to ask the others in the meeting for their point of view if there are individuals during presentations.
• If you notice presentations are deviating off-topic, try to steer it back to the important topic being discussed.

Presentation feedback can be intimidating. It’s likely the presenter has spent a good deal of time and energy on creating the presentation.

As an audience member, you can hone in on a few aspects of the presentation to help frame your feedback. If it's an oral presentation, you should consider also audience attention and visual aids.

It’s important to keep in mind three key aspects of the presentation when giving feedback. 

Communication

• Were the key messages clear? 
• Was the speaker clear and concise in their language?
• Did the presenter clearly communicate the key objectives? 
• Did the presenter give the audience clear takeaways? 
• How well did the presenter’s voice carry in the presentation space? 

Delivery 

• Was the presentation engaging? 
• How well did the presenter capture their audience? 
• Did the presenter engage employees in fun or innovative ways? 
• How interactive was the presentation? 
• How approachable did the presenter appear? 
• Was the presentation accessible to all? 

Body language and presence 

• How did the presenter carry themselves? 
• Did the presenter make eye contact with the audience? 
• How confident did the presenter appear based on nonverbal communication? 
• Were there any nonverbal distractions to the presentation? (i.e. too many hand gestures, facial expressions, etc.)  

There are plenty of benefits of feedback . But giving effective feedback isn’t an easy task. Here are some tips for giving effective feedback. 

1. Prepare what you’d like to say 

I’m willing to bet we’ve all felt like we’ve put our foot in our mouth at one point or another. Knee-jerk, emotional reactions are rarely helpful. In fact, they can do quite the opposite of help. 

Make sure you prepare thoughtfully. Think through what feedback would be most impactful and helpful for the recipient. How will you word certain phrases? What’s most important to communicate? What feedback isn’t helpful to the recipient? 

You can always do practice runs with your coach. Your coach will serve as a guide and consultant. You can practice how you’ll give feedback and get feedback … on your feedback. Sounds like a big loop, but it can be immensely helpful. 

2. Be direct and clear (but lead with empathy) 

Have you ever received feedback from someone where you’re not quite sure what they’re trying to say? Me, too. 

I’ve been in roundabout conversations where I walk away even more confused than I was before. This is where clear, direct, and concise communication comes into play. 

Be clear and direct in your message. But still, lead with empathy and kindness . Feedback doesn’t need to be harsh or cruel. If it’s coming from a place of care, the recipient should feel that care from you. 

3. Create dialogue (and listen carefully) 

Feedback is never a one-way street. Without the opportunity for dialogue, you’re already shutting down and not listening to the other person. Make sure you’re creating space for dialogue and active listening . Invite questions — or, even better, feedback. You should make the person feel safe, secure, and trusted . You should also make sure the person feels heard and valued. 

Your point of view is just that: it's one perspective. Invite team members to share their perspectives, including positive feedback . 

You might also offer the recipient the opportunity for self-evaluation . By doing a self-evaluation, you can reflect on things like communication skills and confidence. They might come to some of the same important points you did — all on their own.

Now, let’s go practice that feedback 

We're all learners in life.

It's OK to not be perfect . In fact, we shouldn't be. We're perfectly imperfect human beings, constantly learning , evolving, and bettering ourselves. 

The same goes for tough things like presentations. You might be working on perfecting your students' presentation. Or you might want to get better at capturing your audience's attention. No matter what, feedback is critical to that learning journey . 

Even a good presentation has the opportunity for improvement . Don't forget the role a coach can play in your feedback journey.

Your coach will be able to provide a unique point of view to help you better communicate key points. Your coach can also help with things like performance reviews , presentation evaluations, and even how to communicate with others.

Elevate your communication skills

Unlock the power of clear and persuasive communication. Our coaches can guide you to build strong relationships and succeed in both personal and professional life.

Madeline Miles

Madeline is a writer, communicator, and storyteller who is passionate about using words to help drive positive change. She holds a bachelor's in English Creative Writing and Communication Studies and lives in Denver, Colorado. In her spare time, she's usually somewhere outside (preferably in the mountains) — and enjoys poetry and fiction.

How to not be nervous for a presentation — 13 tips that work (really!)

6 presentation skills and how to improve them, how to give a good presentation that captivates any audience, josh bersin on the importance of talent management in the modern workplace, 8 clever hooks for presentations (with tips), how to make a presentation interactive and exciting, reading the room gives you an edge — no matter who you're talking to, the self presentation theory and how to present your best self, coaching insider: trusting your team as a new manager, similar articles, 30 communication feedback examples, 30 leadership feedback examples for managers, your guide to what storytelling is and how to be a good storyteller, 30 customer service review examples to develop your team, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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How To Write A Presentation 101 | Step-by-Step Guides with Best Examples | 2024 Reveals

Jane Ng • 05 Apr 2024 • 8 min read

Is it difficult to start of presentation? You’re standing before a room full of eager listeners, ready to share your knowledge and captivate their attention. But where do you begin? How do you structure your ideas and convey them effectively?

Take a deep breath, and fear not! In this article, we’ll provide a road map on how to write a presentation covering everything from crafting a script to creating an engaging introduction.

So, let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

What is a presentation , what should be in a powerful presentation.

• How To Write A Presentation Script
• How to Write A Presentation Introduction 

Key Takeaways

Tips for better presentation.

• How to start a presentation
• How to introduce yourself

Start in seconds.

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Presentations are all about connecting with your audience. 

Presenting is a fantastic way to share information, ideas, or arguments with your audience. Think of it as a structured approach to effectively convey your message. And you’ve got options such as slideshows, speeches, demos, videos, and even multimedia presentations!

The purpose of a presentation can vary depending on the situation and what the presenter wants to achieve. 

• In the business world, presentations are commonly used to pitch proposals, share reports, or make sales pitches. 
• In educational settings, presentations are a go-to for teaching or delivering engaging lectures. 
• For conferences, seminars, and public events—presentations are perfect for dishing out information, inspiring folks, or even persuading the audience.

That sounds brilliant. But, how to write a presentation?

How To Write A Presentation? What should be in a powerful presentation? A great presentation encompasses several key elements to captivate your audience and effectively convey your message. Here’s what you should consider including in a winning presentation:

• Clear and Engaging Introduction: Start your presentation with a bang! Hook your audience’s attention right from the beginning by using a captivating story, a surprising fact, a thought-provoking question, or a powerful quote. Clearly state the purpose of your presentation and establish a connection with your listeners.
• Well-Structured Content: Organize your content logically and coherently. Divide your presentation into sections or main points and provide smooth transitions between them. Each section should flow seamlessly into the next, creating a cohesive narrative. Use clear headings and subheadings to guide your audience through the presentation.
• Compelling Visuals: Incorporate visual aids, such as images, graphs, or videos, to enhance your presentation. Make sure your visuals are visually appealing, relevant, and easy to understand. Use a clean and uncluttered design with legible fonts and appropriate color schemes. 
• Engaging Delivery: Pay attention to your delivery style and body language. You should maintain eye contact with your audience, use gestures to emphasize key points, and vary your tone of voice to keep the presentation dynamic. 
• Clear and Memorable Conclusion: Leave your audience with a lasting impression by providing a strong closing statement, a call to action, or a thought-provoking question. Make sure your conclusion ties back to your introduction and reinforces the core message of your presentation.

How To Write A Presentation Script (With Examples)

To successfully convey your message to your audience, you must carefully craft and organize your presentation script. Here are steps on how to write a presentation script: 

1/ Understand Your Purpose and Audience

• Clarify the purpose of your presentation. Are you informing, persuading, or entertaining?
• Identify your target audience and their knowledge level, interests, and expectations.
• Define what presentation format you want to use

2/ Outline the Structure of Your Presentation

Strong opening.

Start with an engaging opening that grabs the audience’s attention and introduces your topic. Some types of openings you can use are: 

• Start with a Thought-Provoking Question: “Have you ever…?”
• Begin with a Surprising Fact or Statistic: “Did you know that….?”
• Use a Powerful Quote: “As Maya Angelou once said,….”
• Tell a Compelling Story : “Picture this: You’re standing at….”
• Start with a Bold Statement: “In the fast-paced digital age….”

Main Points

Clearly state your main points or key ideas that you will discuss throughout the presentation.

• Clearly State the Purpose and Main Points: Example: “In this presentation, we will delve into three key areas. First,… Next,… Finally,…. we’ll discuss….”
• Provide Background and Context: Example: “Before we dive into the details, let’s understand the basics of…..”
• Present Supporting Information and Examples: Example: “To illustrate…., let’s look at an example. In,…..”
• Address Counterarguments or Potential Concerns: Example: “While…, we must also consider… .”
• Recap Key Points and Transition to the Next Section: Example: “To summarize, we’ve… Now, let’s shift our focus to…”

Remember to organize your content logically and coherently, ensuring smooth transitions between sections.

You can conclude with a strong closing statement summarizing your main points and leaving a lasting impression. Example: “As we conclude our presentation, it’s clear that… By…., we can….”

3/ Craft Clear and Concise Sentences

Once you’ve outlined your presentation, you need to edit your sentences. Use clear and straightforward language to ensure your message is easily understood.

Alternatively, you can break down complex ideas into simpler concepts and provide clear explanations or examples to aid comprehension.

4/ Use Visual Aids and Supporting Materials

Use supporting materials such as statistics, research findings, or real-life examples to back up your points and make them more compelling. 

• Example: “As you can see from this graph,… This demonstrates….”

5/ Include Engagement Techniques

Incorporate interactive elements to engage your audience, such as Q&A sessions , conducting live polls, or encouraging participation. You can also spin more funs into group, by randomly dividing people into different groups to get more diverse feedbacks!

6/ Rehearse and Revise

• Practice delivering your presentation script to familiarize yourself with the content and improve your delivery.
• Revise and edit your script as needed, removing any unnecessary information or repetitions.

7/ Seek Feedback

You can share your script or deliver a practice presentation to a trusted friend, colleague, or mentor to gather feedback on your script and make adjustments accordingly.

More on Script Presentation

How to Write A Presentation Introduction with Examples

How to write presentations that are engaging and visually appealing? Looking for introduction ideas for the presentation? As mentioned earlier, once you have completed your script, it’s crucial to focus on editing and refining the most critical element—the opening of your presentation – the section that determines whether you can captivate and retain your audience’s attention right from the start. 

Here is a guide on how to craft an opening that grabs your audience’s attention from the very first minute: 

1/ Start with a Hook

To begin, you can choose from five different openings mentioned in the script based on your desired purpose and content. Alternatively, you can opt for the approach that resonates with you the most, and instills your confidence. Remember, the key is to choose a starting point that aligns with your objectives and allows you to deliver your message effectively.

2/ Establish Relevance and Context

Then you should establish the topic of your presentation and explain why it is important or relevant to your audience. Connect the topic to their interests, challenges, or aspirations to create a sense of relevance.

3/ State the Purpose

Clearly articulate the purpose or goal of your presentation. Let the audience know what they can expect to gain or achieve by listening to your presentation.

4/ Preview Your Main Points

Give a brief overview of the main points or sections you will cover in your presentation. It helps the audience understand the structure and flow of your presentation and creates anticipation.

5/ Establish Credibility

Share your expertise or credentials related to the topic to build trust with the audience, such as a brief personal story, relevant experience, or mentioning your professional background.

6/ Engage Emotionally

Connect emotional levels with your audience by appealing to their aspirations, fears, desires, or values. They help create a deeper connection and engagement from the very beginning.

Make sure your introduction is concise and to the point. Avoid unnecessary details or lengthy explanations. Aim for clarity and brevity to maintain the audience’s attention.

For example, Topic: Work-life balance

“Good morning, everyone! Can you imagine waking up each day feeling energized and ready to conquer both your personal and professional pursuits? Well, that’s exactly what we’ll explore today – the wonderful world of work-life balance. In a fast-paced society where work seems to consume every waking hour, it’s vital to find that spot where our careers and personal lives harmoniously coexist. Throughout this presentation, we’ll dive into practical strategies that help us achieve that coveted balance, boost productivity, and nurture our overall well-being. 

But before we dive in, let me share a bit about my journey. As a working professional and a passionate advocate for work-life balance, I have spent years researching and implementing strategies that have transformed my own life. I am excited to share my knowledge and experiences with all of you today, with the hope of inspiring positive change and creating a more fulfilling work-life balance for everyone in this room. So, let’s get started!”

🎉 Check out: How to Start a Presentation?

Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or new to the stage, understanding how to write a presentation that conveys your message effectively is a valuable skill. By following the steps in this guide, you can become a captivating presenter and make your mark in every presentation you deliver.

Additionally, AhaSlides can significantly enhance your presentation’s impact. With AhaSlides, you can use live polls , quizzes , and word cloud to turn your presentation into an engaging and interactive experience. Let’s take a moment to explore our vast template library !

Frequently Asked Questions

How to write a presentation step by step .

You can refer to our step-by-step guide on How To Write A Presentation Script: Understand Your Purpose and Audience Outline the Structure of Your Presentation Craft Clear and Concise Sentences Use Visual Aids and Supporting Material Include Engagement Techniques Rehearse and Revise Seek Feedback

How do you start a presentation? 

You can start with an engaging opening that grabs the audience’s attention and introduces your topic. Consider using one of the following approaches: Start with a Thought-Provoking Question: “Have you ever…?” Begin with a Surprising Fact or Statistic: “Did you know that….?” Use a Powerful Quote: “As Maya Angelou once said,….” Tell a Compelling Story : “Picture this: You’re standing at….” Start with a Bold Statement: “In the fast-paced digital age….”

What are the five parts of a presentation?

When it comes to presentation writing, a typical presentation consists of the following five parts: Introduction: Capturing the audience’s attention, introducing yourself, stating the purpose, and providing an overview. Main Body: Presenting main points, evidence, examples, and arguments. Visual Aids: Using visuals to enhance understanding and engage the audience. Conclusion: Summarizing main points, restating key message, and leaving a memorable takeaway or call to action. Q&A or Discussion: Optional part for addressing questions and encouraging audience participation.

A writer who wants to create practical and valuable content for the audience

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What Makes a Great Pitch

• Michael Quinn

It’s all about reading the room.

A good pitch is a balancing act that can be adjusted to the currents in the room. A recent survey of HBR readers found — at least in this community — how important it is to understand not just what you are pitching, but who you are pitching to. The reason? The more senior your audience, the less you should rely on your deck and the more you should expect your pitch to be a conversation, showing your team’s authentic passion for the challenge or problem and their resilience for solving it creatively, together.

Pitching for new business is a make-or-break moment for many teams. You want to win the pitch, and so you develop a detailed slide deck, tout your credentials, capabilities and successes (case studies), and select your strongest presenter – possibly the leader of your team or company — to do all the talking. Right? Wrong.

• MQ Michael Quinn is the founder of Minor Nobles, the NYC-based consultancy offering workshops, webinars, rehearsals and 1:1 training to help teams and leaders update their behavior to win more pitches for new business and investment. He is also a faculty instructor for the Association of National Advertisers and host of the podcast, “Own The Room,” where top executives discuss their own experiences pitching and what they wish people would do more often, or avoid altogether, in pitches to them.

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