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14 Must-Know Presentation Tips for a Killer Presentation [in 2023]

Guru - November 8, 2022 - Leave your thoughts. 18 min read

We're all familiar with the old adage: "A good presentation is like a great conversation."

What makes a presentation great?

Is it a compelling story? Or a good connection with your audience? Or is it about an eloquent delivery by the presenter?

The truth is, there is no “one-size-fits-all solution” for creating great presentations. Every presentation is different, and every audience is different.

When you’re tasked with delivering a presentation, you want to ensure it goes off without a hitch. We all know how important it is for the audience to remember and understand the content.

So if you’re wondering how to make a killer presentation that will stand out and stay in people’s minds for a long time, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we have addressed the most frequently asked questions about presentations.

We have also compiled a list of great presentation tips to improve your deck designs, presentation best practices, and effective ways to communicate the subject to your audience.

Here’s what the article covers,

What makes a good presentation?

• 14 Must-Know Presentation Tips to give a killer presentation

What are the difficulties in making a presentation?

Spellbound your audience with these presentation tips.

When we think about presentations, we often think about the content itself. We imagine a long list of facts or figures, a well-rehearsed script, and a PowerPoint slide deck.

But what makes a good presentation? What makes it memorable, engaging, and valuable?

These are questions that any presenter should be asking themselves.

Here are the four characteristics of a good presentation:

• A good presentation makes you want to take action.
• It helps your audience engage and be interested in what you have to say. It educates and entertains at the same time.
• It puts forth information in a way that makes it easy for them to understand and process without overwhelming them.
• If you're one of those people who's always thinking, "What can I add to my own presentation?”

Well, we've compiled some best presentation tips for you that will help make your next presentation memorable—and, more importantly, help you do what you came here to do: share information with the world.

So read on to find out.

14 Must Know Presentation Tips for a killer presentation [in 2023]

Ever felt like you're struggling to make a presentation on time? Worried about how good your presentation will turn out? We have all been there.

This is why we have put together a list of great presentation tips that can make your next presentation a breeze, and we hope it helps!

Here are some tips to help you create a great presentation:

• Do proper homework on the subject
• Have a strong opening
• Follow a presentation structure
• Have a Hook!
• Tell an engaging story
• Use visual elements
• Keep it short
• Add a touch of humor
• Have a parking lot for questions
• Learn to empathize with the audience
• Keep it interactive with Call-to-action
• Incorporate Data when required
• Use Hashtags in your presentation
• Try out unique presentation templates

Tip 1 - Do proper homework on the subject

Whenever a topic is assigned to you for a presentation, it goes without saying that you understand the topic correctly.

You must do proper homework and research on the subject to ensure you know what you're talking about.

Reading articles and books, or even watching videos or podcasts, will help you understand the topic and how the presentation should be structured.

Also, if you need more background information on the topic, don't be afraid to ask for help from other people—you might find that they know more than you think!

Take notes while learning about the topic. This will help you remember key points.

Then, read your notes before you present and practice saying them aloud (this will help with timing and pronunciation).

Use a timer; this helps keep track of how long you take to say things while also keeping yourself from getting too nervous.

Do some fundamental research on your audience and their expectations about your presentation.

For instance, If they're business executives, they might be looking for intellectual information and numbers. Or, If they're a general audience, they may want more details about how your product works or how it can benefit them.

You'll be surprised how much more effective your presentation will be when you know,

Everything about the topic How crucial it is for the audience, and What the audience expects from the presentation

So only present a topic after doing loads of essential research!

Tip 2 - Have a strong opening

An excellent way to ensure that your presentation is successful is by having a solid opening. Plan the intro slides ahead so that you can set the right tone for the pitch.

Have a strong opening statement that tells your audience who they are listening to, why they're here, what they will hear from you, and anything else you want them to know!

Doing so will help keep your audience engaged and interested in what you have to say.

Be prepared for questions from your audience before you start speaking. It is not necessary that the audience must wait till the end to ask questions.

Being prepared will help you answer them well and present yourself as an expert in the field.

Tip 3 - Follow a presentation structure

The first thing you should do is decide on a structure for your presentation. This will help you ensure that you cover all essential topics and leave no gaps in what you say.

The most successful presentations start with a strong introduction, followed by a clear and concise main body, and ending with a proper sign-off.

The body presents the study's research, findings, and conclusions in an organized and engaging way.

The final section/sign-off should close with any additional information or recommendations. Not just that, it must also give the audience space to ask questions related to the presentation.

Each section can have about two or three minutes of content. This would help structure the presentation concisely and make sure to include all important information.

Use transitions between slides that move from one topic to another, rather than just jumping from one slide to another in one continuous flow.

This makes your content more manageable for your audience to follow and gives them more time to digest what they're seeing before moving on to the next thing!

Hence, remember this effective presentation tip - follow a proper structure!

Tip 4 - Have a Hook!

When you're delivering a presentation, keeping your audience's attention is essential.

But how do you make learning a little more fun? What are the best presenting tips and tricks?

Well, one way is by making sure that your presentation has a hook.

A hook can be anything from an element of surprise (like an announcement that will keep them anticipated till the end) to something unexpected (a discount!).

This will help to keep your audience engaged because they won't feel like they're reading through a textbook or manual - they'll feel like they're getting involved in your story.

Ideally, hooks are placed at the start of the presentation. It's the part that acts as a surprise for the audience, keeping them engaged and excited, and would help retain the audience's attention.

However, remember that the fewer distractions in your presentation, the easier it will be for them to see how amazing it is!

Tip 5 - Tell an engaging story

When you're creating a presentation, it’s a thumb rule to make sure your slide decks are memorable and engaging throughout.

One of the best ways to do this is by telling a story—whether that's a story about your business, your life, or anything else related to the subject.

Telling a story is the key to creating an excellent presentation.

Your audience will be more interested if they can relate to what's on your slides. So tell them a story that connects with their lives and work experiences - it may be a funny anecdote or a relatable work prank!

Let's say you're talking about how to create a product. You can start by showing an image or a video of the product. You can develop the flow by telling the product story and how it has grown through the years.

That way, your audience gets to see both sides of the coin: what this product does and how it was made.

The more details you include in your presentation, the better it will be for viewers—not only because they'll get more information but because they'll also have more context for what they see on screen.

Hence, remember to carve your presentation with a well-practiced, engaging story.

Tip 6 - Use visual elements

People love visual aids—they help them remember things better than words alone!

When you're presenting a product or service, you have to look at it from all angles—from the customer's point of view, the provider's point of view, and your own.

It's essential to keep in mind that your presentation must build a connection with the audience. You must consider the audience’s needs and how you can meet them. The best way to bring that connection is not just through words but to incorporate visual proofs in your slide decks.

But the visual elements used must be relevant to the topic at hand.

For example, if your company is doing something great for the community, show pictures of people smiling in joy from being around you!

If you're talking about how much money you've made over the years as an entrepreneur, add pictures of dollar signs!

Finally, make sure that everything in your presentation flows together nicely.

For example, if visual element parts don't match, then consider breaking them up into two separate slides or changing how things are laid out so it doesn't feel so jarring when someone views it.

Use quality screenshots and images that are relevant to the topic at hand. This is especially important when you're speaking in front of an audience who may need to become more familiar with your product or service.

If possible, use photos or videos of people who might be familiar with your topic—people who will help convey your message more effectively than just text alone.

You don't have to go all out on the graphics, but if you can, try to use high-quality images that are easy to understand.

With online presentation makers like Animaker Deck, you get access to the stock images library; you can pick and add high-quality images for your slide decks with a simple click now!

Also, the best part is you can upload screenshots and brand images directly into the app and use them in the presentation.

Tip 7 - Keep it short

Ever wonder why some presentations are so dull? It's because they're dragging!

A good presentation should be at most 20 minutes at maximum and be structured so that even a first-time viewer can easily understand the information conveyed.

Ensure your audience knows what to expect from you and your content. Refrain from crossing the line of being boring or boringly informative. Your audience should never feel like they're being lectured.

One key business presentation tip is to convey the message to the audience most memorably and engagingly possible.

It is really in the hands of the presenter to steer the audience’s attention throughout the presentation without giving too many dull moments.

The shorter, the better. Keep your slides concise, and avoid falling into the trap of talking about things that have nothing to do with your actual point.

Tip 8 - Add a touch of humor

If you're trying to create an awesome presentation, you can do a few things to ensure it's easy on the eyes and makes people want to engage.

One of the best methods for communicating the message in a light-hearted manner and making your presentation stand out is through humor.

Try to avoid text-heavy slides! You can use witty remarks, analogies, drawings, personal anecdotes, or even memes that suit current trends.

When you tell about something that has happened to you, people may be able to associate with it even more if the story is humorous.

This way, you can easily withhold the audience’s attention through the presentation.

Tip 9 - Have a parking lot for questions

When you're creating a presentation, it's important to keep the audience engaged and excited about what's coming up next. Therefore, it is very necessary to make the presentation a two-way street.

A good way to do this is by asking questions during your presentation and allowing them to answer. This helps keep the audience interested in what they're learning and makes them feel like they're part of the conversation.

The audience should be engaged throughout the presentation and allowed to ask questions to the presenter.

However, it is also vital to ensure that the flow of the presentation is not disrupted by the bombardment of questions in the middle of the presentation.

To tackle this, the presenter can introduce a “parking lot” in their presentation.

So when the audience asks a question about a particular section in the presentation, the presenter can choose to park similar questions together and answer them all together at the end of the presentation.

This way, the presentation’s flow is not affected, and even the audience will get their questions answered.

This is an important skill to be imbibed by every presenter to ensure the audience feels comfortable and gains a good experience from the presentation.

Tip 10 - Learn to empathize with the audience

One of the most important things to remember when creating a presentation is that you are trying to connect with your audience.

Learn to empathize with the audience. You'll want to understand what they're seeing, feeling, and thinking so that you can communicate your message in a way that resonates with them.

By understanding their needs, you can create a more meaningful presentation that will resonate with them. Try to put yourself in their shoes and imagine how they think about this topic.

Are they excited? Are they bored? What are they hoping for? What do they want to see from you?

Know your audience's needs!

It would help if you talked to people with similar backgrounds as your audience and how they would like to be educated on the topic.

Before you start creating content for your presentation, think about who you're speaking to and what they need from you.

When you do this, you will not only speak more clearly, but you'll also be able to connect with them emotionally, making your message stick.

Tip 11 - Keep it interactive with Call-to-action

Have you ever been in a presentation where the speaker makes it look like a one-way conversation? It's not an intentional act of rudeness—the speaker is just trying to get their point across.

But for the audience, it might be very disappointing!

The solution? Keep your presentation interactive with call-to-action buttons that let your audience help move things along.

When something important is being discussed, ask them to take action by clicking on one of the buttons that appear on the screen.

Include a call-to-action that tells your audience what they should do next (like sign up for my newsletter!) or take action on what you've just told them (like buy my product!).

So include call-to-action buttons wherever necessary, so viewers feel like they're partaking in something meaningful rather than just watching someone talk for hours on end!

But one thing, don’t go overboard on those CTAs either. Too many CTAs can be bugging.

Tip 12 - Incorporate Data when required

Creating a presentation is a complicated task, but it's also incredibly important that you need to be able to convey information clearly and effectively.

That's where data comes in!

Data can help you make your point by giving context and supporting the main points of your argument.

Incorporate data when required to present information to the audience quickly. This will make your audience understand what you're talking about more efficiently and allow them to consume the information in a way that makes sense to them.

Use real-life examples and statistics whenever possible because people love those!

With an online presentation maker like Animaker Deck, you get access to the property section, where you can search and add charts, graphs, icons, and other properties directly into your slide decks with just a few clicks.

For example, if you're presenting an overview of how your company's business model works, include graphs or charts that show how the different parts of the model work together so that people who aren't familiar with it can follow along easily.

Or, if you're talking about something more complex, like an industry trend, use graphs or charts to illustrate key points about it, such as growth rates for specific industries over time or changes in consumer demand based on demographics.

You can also use numbers and percentages in charts when comparing different items or events.

Tip 13 - Use Hashtags in your presentation

It’s the era of social media. People are likely tweeting, emailing, or running their entire little business on their phones and sharing every life update on the internet while still doing other chores.

When used correctly, hashtags can: Persuade attendees to share your event on social media, give participants a way to continue the conversation online, and permit you to review tagged comments to evaluate consumer feedback.

You can create a hashtag for your event and use it in the presentation. Promote social media interactions with the hashtag. This will allow you to connect with other users interested in what you have to say!

You can help inspire viewers to share news, ideas, and updates about your presentation by linking this custom hashtag you created. It combines social interaction, event promotion, and word-of-mouth marketing into one.

So if you use social media in your presentation, make sure you promote the hashtag you'll use. This will ensure that people who follow your brand or business see and interact with the hashtag!

Tip 14 - Try out unique presentation templates

We know how hard it is to come up with a good pitch and how hard it is to be creative when you have no time to waste on making something from scratch.

Thanks to online presentation makers like Animaker Deck, creating a presentation online is now easier than ever.

You can access exciting presentation templates with the help of Animaker's online presentation software, hundreds of customizable layouts and branding options, free stock images, properties, transition effects, and animations.

They'll let you get straight to the point and help you win every pitch because they're so easy to use and exceptionally engaging that they'll blow your audience away!

In other words, Animaker Deck handholds you in bringing all your fascinating presentation ideas to life with its one-of-a-kind features and built-in templates, ready for you to use on the go!

Making a presentation can be a daunting task.

The difficulty lies in brainstorming the subject matter, preparing the presentation, and successfully presenting it to the audience. Overall, it is a lengthy and time-consuming process.

A good presentation must be organized and have a logical flow.

Many difficulties are encountered when preparing a presentation. This includes lack of preparation, lack of information about the subject, or worse, lack of interest in learning the subject from an academic perspective, let alone presenting it.

1st , you have to know what you're talking about. You must do your research and be able to explain the topic clearly and concisely.

2nd , you have to make a good impression quickly. You need to get your point across in a way that makes people want to listen—so they don't drift off and tune out!

3rd , your presentation must be not only exciting but also useful. If people don't learn something from your presentation, then it wasn't worth making in the first place!

Sure, you've been doing it for years—but that doesn't mean you're an expert at it. On the contrary, it's a skill that takes practice and dedication to master, and it can be frustrating when things don't go quite as planned.

So if you want to make better presentations every time, implement the above compelling presentation tips and overcome all the difficulties!

That’s all, folks!

We hope you found the above slide Presentation tips very useful, and you will never have to worry about making a presentation anymore!

Now that you know how to make an excellent presentation, it's time to start imbibing these presentation tips in your next presentation and spellbound your audience immediately!

Create a free account with Animaker Deck today to start dominating all of your presentations right away!

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14 Practical Tips to Improve Your Presentation Skills

• The Speaker Lab
• May 11, 2024

Table of Contents

Ever felt complete dread and fear at the thought of stepping up to deliver a presentation? If so, you’re not alone. The fear of public speaking is more common than you might think, but with the right presentation skills , it’s a hurdle that can be overcome.

In this article, we’ll help you master basic confidence-building techniques and conquer advanced communication strategies for engaging presentations. We’ll explore how body language and eye contact can make or break your connection with your audience; delve into preparation techniques like dealing with filler words and nervous habits; discuss tailoring content for different audiences; and much more.

Whether you’re prepping for job interviews or gearing up for big presentations, being prepared is key. With adequate practice and the proper attitude, you can crush your speech or presentation!

Mastering the Basics of Presentation Skills

Presentation skills are not just about speaking in front of a crowd. It’s also about effective communication, audience engagement, and clarity. Mastering these skills can be transformative for everyone, from students to corporate trainers.

Building Confidence in Presentations

Becoming confident when presenting is no small feat. But fear not. Even those who feel jittery at the mere thought of public speaking can become masters with practice and patience. Just remember: stage fright is common and overcoming it is part of the process towards becoming an effective presenter.

Taking deep breaths before you start helps calm nerves while visualizing success aids in building confidence. Also, know that nobody minds if you take a moment to gather your thoughts during your presentation—everybody minds more if they cannot understand what you’re saying because you’re rushing.

The Role of Practice in Enhancing Presentation Skills

In line with old wisdom, practice indeed makes perfect, especially when improving presentation skills. Consistent rehearsals allow us to fine-tune our delivery methods like maintaining eye contact or controlling body language effectively.

You’ll learn better control over filler words through repeated drills. Plus, the extra practice can help you troubleshoot any technical glitches beforehand, saving you the sudden panic during your actual presentations.

Remember that great presenters were once beginners too. Continuous effort will get you there sooner rather than later.

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Body Language and Eye Contact in Presentations

The effectiveness of your presentation can hinge on more than just the words you say. Just as important is your body language .

Impact of Posture on Presentations

Your posture speaks volumes before you utter a word. Standing tall exudes confidence while slouching could signal nervousness or lack of preparation.

If there’s one lesson to take away from our YouTube channel , it’s this: good presenters know their message but great ones feel it through every fiber (or muscle) of their being. The audience can sense that energy when they see open body language rather than crossed arms.

Maintaining Eye Contact During Your Presentation

Eyes are often called windows to the soul for a reason. They’re communication powerhouses. Making eye contact helps build trust with your audience members and keeps them engaged throughout your speech.

Avoid staring at note cards or visual aids too much as this might give an impression that you’re unprepared or uncertain about your chosen topic. Instead, aim to maintain eye contact between 50% of the time during presentations. This commonly accepted “50/70 rule” will help you exhibit adequate confidence to your audience.

If stage fright has gotten a hold on you, take deep breaths before you start speaking in order to stay calm. Make sure that fear doesn’t disrupt your ability to maintain eye-contact during presentations.

If body language and eye contact still feel like a lot to manage during your big presentation, remember our golden rule: nobody minds small mistakes. It’s how you handle questions or mishaps that truly makes a difference—so stay positive and enthusiastic.

Preparation Techniques for Successful Presentations

Presentation skills are like a craft that requires meticulous preparation and practice. Aspects like visual aids and time management contribute to the overall effectiveness of your delivery.

The first step towards delivering an impactful presentation is research and organization. The content should be well-researched, structured logically, and presented in simple language. This will make sure you deliver clear messages without any room for misinterpretation.

Dealing with Filler Words and Nervous Habits

Nervous habits such as excessive use of filler words can distract from your message. Luckily, there are plenty of strategies that can address these issues. For instance, try taking deep breaths before speaking or using note cards until fluency is achieved. In addition, practice regularly to work on eliminating these verbal stumbling blocks.

Avoiding Distractions During Presentations

In a digital age where distractions abound, maintaining focus during presentations has become an even more crucial part of the preparation process. This video by motivational speaker Brain Tracy provides insights on how one could achieve this level of focus required for effective presentations.

Maintaining Confidence Throughout Your Presentation

Confidence comes from thorough understanding of the chosen topic combined with regular practice sessions before the big day arrives. Make use of note cards or cue cards as needed but avoid reading from them verbatim.

Taking control over stage fright starts by arriving early at the venue so that you familiarize yourself with the surroundings, which generally calms nerves down considerably. So next time you feel nervous before a big presentation, remember—thorough preparation can make all the difference.

Engaging Your Audience During Presentations

Connecting with your audience during presentations is an art, and mastering it can take your presentation skills to the next level. Making the message conveyed reach an emotional level is essential, not just conveying facts.

Understanding Your Target Audience

The first step towards engaging your audience is understanding them. Tailor the content of your presentation to their needs and interests. Speak in their language—whether that be professional jargon or everyday slang—to establish rapport and ensure comprehension.

An effective presenter understands who they’re speaking to, what those individuals care about, and how best to communicate complex ideas understandably.

Making Complex Information Understandable

Dense data or complicated concepts can lose even the most interested listener if presented ineffectively. Breaking your key points down into manageable chunks helps maintain attention while promoting retention. Analogies are especially useful for this purpose as they make unfamiliar topics more relatable.

Audience Participation & Questions: A Two-Way Street

Incorporating opportunities for audience participation encourages engagement at another level. It allows listeners to become active participants rather than passive receivers of knowledge.

Consider techniques like live polls or interactive Q&A sessions where you invite questions from attendees mid-presentation instead of saving all queries until the end.

This gives you a chance not only engage but also address any misunderstandings right on spot.

• Treat each question asked as an opportunity—it’s evidence someone has been paying attention. Even challenging questions should be welcomed as they demonstrate an engaged, thoughtful audience.
• Encourage participation. It can be as simple as a show of hands or the use of interactive technologies for live polling during your presentation. This keeps your audience active and invested in the content.

Remember, your presentation isn’t just about putting on a show—it’s about meaningful interaction.

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Presentation Skills in Specific Contexts

Whether you’re nailing your next job interview, presenting an exciting marketing campaign, or delivering insightful educational content, the context matters. Let’s take a look.

The Art of Job Interviews

A successful job interview often hinges on effective communication and confidence. Here, the target audience is usually small but holds significant influence over your future prospects. Body language plays a crucial role; maintain eye contact to show sincerity and interest while open body language communicates approachability.

Bullet points summarizing key experiences are also helpful for quick recall under pressure. This allows you to present your chosen topic with clarity and positive enthusiasm without relying heavily on note or cue cards.

Pitching in Public Relations & Marketing

In public relations (PR) and marketing contexts, presentations need to capture attention quickly yet hold it long enough to deliver key messages effectively. Visual aids are valuable tools here—they help emphasize points while keeping the audience engaged.

Your aim should be highlighting presentation benefits that resonate with potential clients or partners, making them feel as though ignoring such opportunities would mean missing out big time.

Educational Presentations

An educational setting demands its own unique set of presentation skills where deep understanding trumps flashy visuals. You must make complex information understandable without oversimplifying essential details—the use of analogies can be beneficial here.

Keeping the audience’s attention is critical. Encourage questions and participation to foster a more interactive environment, enhancing learning outcomes for all audience members.

Tips for Becoming a Great Presenter

No single method is suitable for everyone when it comes to speaking in public. However, incorporating continuous improvement and practice into your routine can make you an exceptional presenter.

Tailor Your Presentation to Your Audience

Becoming an excellent speaker isn’t just about delivering information; it’s also about making a connection with the audience. So make sure that you’re taking setting, audience, and topic into consideration when crafting your presentation. What works for one audience may not work for another, so be sure to adapt your presentation styles according to the occasion in order to be truly effective.

The Power of Practice

The art of mastering public speaking skills requires practice —and lots of it . To become a great presenter, focus on improving communication skills through practice and feedback from peers or mentors. Try to seek feedback on every speech delivered and incorporate those pointers in your future presentations. Over time, this cycle of delivery-feedback-improvement significantly enhances your ability to connect with audiences and convey ideas effectively.

If you’re looking for examples of good speakers, our speech breakdowns on YouTube provide excellent examples of experienced presenters who masterfully utilize speaking techniques. Analyzing their strategies could give you great ideas for enhancing your own style.

Finding Your Style

A crucial part of captivating any audience lies in how you deliver the message rather than the message itself. Developing a unique presentation style lets you stand out as an engaging speaker who commands attention throughout their talk. Through — you guessed it — practice, you can develop a personal presentation style that resonates with listeners while showcasing your expertise on the chosen topic.

Your body language plays a pivotal role here: open gestures communicate confidence and enthusiasm towards your subject matter, two qualities essential for keeping audiences hooked. Similarly, using vocal variety adds dynamism to speeches by emphasizing points when needed or creating suspense during storytelling parts of your talk.

Cultivating Passion & Enthusiasm

Showcasing genuine passion for the subject helps keep listeners engaged throughout even lengthy presentations. Sharing stories related to the topic or expressing excitement about sharing knowledge tends to draw people in more than mere data recitation ever could.

Recognize that everybody is distinctive; don’t expect identical results from every speaker. The path to becoming a great presenter involves recognizing your strengths and working tirelessly on areas that need improvement.

FAQs on Presentation Skills

What are good presentation skills.

Good presentation skills include a clear message, confident delivery, engaging body language, audience understanding, and interaction. They also involve effective preparation and practice.

What are the 5 steps of presentation skills?

The five steps of presenting include: planning your content, preparing visual aids if needed, practicing the delivery aloud, performing it with confidence, and finally post-presentation reflection for improvements.

What are the 5 P’s of presentation skills?

The five P’s stand for Preparation (researching your topic), Practice (rehearsing your talk), Performance (delivering with confidence), Posture (standing tall), and Projection (using a strong voice).

What are your presentation skills?

Your personal set of abilities to deliver information effectively is what we call your presentation skill. It can encompass public speaking ability, clarity in speech or writing as well as visual communication talent.

Mastering presentation skills isn’t an overnight process, but practice and perseverance will put you well on your way to becoming an effective speaker.

You’ve learned that confidence plays a crucial role in effective presentations, so take deep breaths, make eye contact, and keep your body language open. As always, preparation is key. Tackle filler words head-on and get comfortable with visual aids for impactful storytelling.

Remember the importance of audience engagement — it’s all about understanding their needs and tailoring your content accordingly. This way, complex information turns into digestible insights.

Above all else: practice! After all, nothing beats experience when it comes to improving public speaking abilities.

• Last Updated: May 9, 2024

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Make Every Word Count: How to Nail Your Next Presentation

I once rapped Biz Markie's "Just a Friend" in front of a 300-plus person audience.

The occasion: I was in charge of the personal training department on our college campus, and I needed a way to introduce our program during an all-staff meeting. I was searching for a fresh, funny way to kick things off—and after jotting down a few shaky rhymes, I figured out that writing my own rap was going to be tough.

I was still polishing my lyrics late the night before, and I could only fit in one run-through before stepping on stage.

Some say public speaking is like standing on stage in your underwear. I felt like I was naked, plus my hair was on fire.

After five years, I have yet to perform another public rap. But I have improved my public speaking skills by emulating engaging speakers. Whether it's a pitch at work or a TEDx talk, these strategies will take your presentation game to the next level.

1. Brainstorm Your Topic

The most difficult part of giving a talk is pinpointing an idea or a message. Here's how you can cruise through the brainstorming stage.

Don't Wait Until You're an Expert

My biggest fear about getting on stage has nothing to do with me. It has to do with the audience. What if someone in the audience is an expert on the particular topic I choose, and I make a mistake?

They’ve done this particular something a lot

They want to talk about it

Holman admits that getting beginners on stage can be beneficial, even for experts. "I’ve also listened to beginners talk about subject matter that I knew very well," he says, "but it was still interesting to me because it made me rethink with fresh eyes something that I had thought I had known all about."

Here are questions to get you started:

What are one or two uncommon things that you do on a daily basis, which everyone else should also consider doing?

During the past one or two years, which skills have you improved at the most?

What is one skill you have taught someone during the past year that could also be beneficial to someone else?

Keep it Small

If you're giving a talk on inspiring musicians, your initial inclination is to cover everyone from the past 200 years. That's a mistake.

"You can’t summarize an entire career in a single talk. If you try to cram in everything you know, you won’t have time to include key details, and your talk will disappear into abstract language that may make sense if your listeners are familiar with the subject matter but will be completely opaque if they’re new to it."

Instead, focus on a very specific subject matter. Rather than giving a presentation on writing (vague) consider limiting your scope to tips for mastering first drafts (specific).

2. Build Your Slide Deck

Even if you consider yourself an expert in your chosen topic, you can't deliver eloquent prose off-the-cuff. You need to iron out the kinks in your message first. Here are some tips for turning your ideas into slides.

Type Out Your Talk

It's tempting to hop right into PowerPoint and start building your deck. Without a proper outline in place, you'll end up frustrated and disorganized. I've found it helpful to start with three questions:

Who is my audience?

If they walk away remembering only one thing, what do I want it to be?

What are 3-5 points that help to convey that idea?

"For each top-level category I like to have (at least) three sentences: one for the introduction, one for the meat, and one for the transition to the next top-level category. You'll use these sentences as waypoints (and can even read verbatim while practicing...)."

Whichever method you choose, the key is to get your ideas down on paper.

Pretend Your Presentation is a Trip

For example, say you’re pitching the higher-ups on why they should create a new branch of the company. The first marker on your "trip" is actually the destination - what you want the audience to agree with you on?

Next, plot your audience's current location—what do they think right now? Are there certain opposing arguments you know you’ll have to overcome? What hurdles are between you and your destination?

Finally, you can create a road-map to get from one point to the other. With the whole map in front of you, it’s easier to organize points in a way that creates a compelling argument.

"When I worked as a consultant, I was perennially guilty of "the great unveil" in presentations—that tendency to want to save key findings for the last moment and then reveal them, expecting a satisfying moment of awe… The last-minute nature of the unveiling meant that our clients (or internal teammates to whom we were presenting) did not have time to fully understand the information and were not prepared to participate in discussion."

Coleman recommends a "punchline first" strategy that lists the key conclusions at the very beginning; you can even let your audience see your deck in advance. If they where you’re headed, they’ll think more critically about your supporting arguments.

Create Your Slides

It may be ‘an honor and a privilege’ to have been invited to speak, but that is not what people came to hear. Plunge into what you want to say.

Put your name and Twitter handle on the last slide, not the first.

"If slides are hard to read, complicated, or hard to understand, they’ll be distracting," she says. "We’re visual creatures so the visual channel trumps auditory. If you have complicated information on slides, they’ll stop listening."

Keep your slides short and sweet.

3. Increase the Font size, and Then Increase it Again. It's impossible to imagine just how small your text will appear when seated at the back of an auditorium.

Remove words if necessary, but make sure the font size is big .

4. Check for Contrast. Don't use a light blue font on a blue background. If you have a black and white photograph, think twice before using white text. The colors you choose should make your presentation easy to read.

5. Explain What Your Data Means. Inevitably, large charts and graphs will sneak into your slides. But don't leave people hanging: make sure each graph has a headline that explains the key takeaway, and that you spell out your findings for the audience.

6. Focus on Stories. There's one way to guarantee you won't miss a beat during your talk: Make your points with stories. If you're sharing a personal experience to explain a point, you can't forget; you were there . Stories also increase audience retention as well as authors Dan and Chip Heath illustrate in Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die : "When students are asked to recall the speeches, 63 percent remember the stories," they wrote. "Only 5 percent remember any individual statistic."

Stories increase both understanding and retention. You might not remember every point to this post, but you'll remember my rapping story in the intro.

3. Practice Your Speech

If there's one thing every presenter can agree on, it's that practice makes a huge different in the quality of your talk and your confidence on stage.

Get in Front of a Group

First, practice in front of your peers. The good and bad news: this group will be easy on the feedback. It's a good starting point to get your feet wet, but to improve, you have to get in front of a real audience.

"In general, the more experience a person has as a presenter, the better the criticism he or she can offer," he says.

Practice Timing

On your way out after a speech, do you remember ever thinking it was good—but a little too short?

Writing That Works by Kenneth Roman and Joel Raphaelson

There's a good chance you were given a time limit for your talk. Time yourself to make sure you're hitting that mark. When in doubt, go shorter.

Also, confirm with the organizers of the event whether or not there will be a Q&A section, and whether or not that's part of your time allotment.

It's Not (Just) About Your Words

Don't practice sitting down if you'll be standing up. Don't hold your laptop if your hands will be free on the big day. Practice all aspects of your performance, not just your words.

...But Don’t Practice Too Much

"…the danger in rehearsal is that it is possible to seem too rehearsed when you present. That is, we may seem too perfect, too inflexible, too unnatural, and though technically perfect, we may lose the ever important natural connection with the audience. And I say if there is no connection, there is no communication."

Practice enough that you feel confident to get on stage, but not so much that you could recite the whole thing verbatim.

The big day is here, and you're about to put all of your hard work to the test. Here's how to success on stage.

Don’t Worry About Being Nervous

"In general, people worry too much about nervousness. Nerves are not a disaster. The audience expects you to be nervous," he says. "It’s a natural body response that can actually improve your performance: It gives you energy to perform and keeps your mind sharp. Just keep breathing, and you’ll be fine.

"People imitate what they see," she says. "If you’re smiling, they tend to smile. If you’re energetic, they’ll be energetic. When you are passionate about your topic, your audience will be passionate."

You're on stage sharing something you love with awesome people. Act like it.

Don’t Move (Too Much)

You don't need to stand like a stick with your feet glued to one spot, but you're not on stage to talk a half-marathon.

Record Your Talk

You can’t always rely on your venue to record your talk. Make sure you set up a game plan ahead of time to get yourself on tape.

Your audio is captured via your laptop's internal microphone, and Quicktime grabs your slides.

Speak S-l-o-w-l-y

Make eye contact.

"Find five or six friendly-looking people in different parts of the audience and look them in the eye as you speak," he says. "Think of them as friends you haven’t seen in a year, whom you’re bringing up to date on your work."

5. Perfect Your Speaking Skills

You made it! You’re off stage and relieved. Allow yourself to relax just a bit, but there’s still a few ways to improve for the next presentation.

Ask for Negative Feedback

Don’t have friends in the audience? Don’t worry: That’s even better. Friends might hold back their critiques. Strangers don’t have the same personal attachment. Pick out two or three people that you know were in the room and grab them for a few minutes after the talk. To make it a win-win situation, ask if there are any challenges related to your topic you can help them personally overcome.

Watch and Learn

Maybe you felt like you nailed your talk. Since you recorded the whole thing (right?), now is your chance to double-check.

Although it might be difficult, watch the entire talk over again starting at the very beginning. Here are some things to watch out for:

Were any points unclear? Were there questions afterwards that you should’ve answered in your talk?

What were your strongest points where your body language was confident and the audience was engrossed? What were your weaker points?

How was your body language? Did you move a lot on stage?

How many filler words like "um" and "uh" did you use?

When rapping "Just a Friend," I was lucky to have some background music and everyone clapping along to help drown out my terrible lyrics and poor singing.

I've improved since then (plus, I gave up rapping), but public speaking is still intimidating. It always will be. However, the tips above have allowed me to give a presentation without having a nervous breakdown.

I’d love to hear from you. What are your favorite public speaking tips? Let me know in the comments.

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Jeremey DuVall

Jeremey DuVall is a freelance writer focused on health, science and productivity and a Happiness Engineer at Automattic. When he's not behind the keyboard, he's usually getting lost in the mountains or in a good book.

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• PRESENTATION SKILLS

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How can you make a good presentation even more effective?

This page draws on published advice from expert presenters around the world, which will help to take your presentations from merely ‘good’ to ‘great’.

By bringing together advice from a wide range of people, the aim is to cover a whole range of areas.

Whether you are an experienced presenter, or just starting out, there should be ideas here to help you to improve.

1. Show your Passion and Connect with your Audience

It’s hard to be relaxed and be yourself when you’re nervous.

But time and again, the great presenters say that the most important thing is to connect with your audience, and the best way to do that is to let your passion for the subject shine through.

Be honest with the audience about what is important to you and why it matters.

Be enthusiastic and honest, and the audience will respond.

2. Focus on your Audience’s Needs

Your presentation needs to be built around what your audience is going to get out of the presentation.

As you prepare the presentation, you always need to bear in mind what the audience needs and wants to know, not what you can tell them.

While you’re giving the presentation, you also need to remain focused on your audience’s response, and react to that.

You need to make it easy for your audience to understand and respond.

3. Keep it Simple: Concentrate on your Core Message

When planning your presentation, you should always keep in mind the question:

What is the key message (or three key points) for my audience to take away?

You should be able to communicate that key message very briefly.

Some experts recommend a 30-second ‘elevator summary’, others that you can write it on the back of a business card, or say it in no more than 15 words.

Whichever rule you choose, the important thing is to keep your core message focused and brief.

And if what you are planning to say doesn’t contribute to that core message, don’t say it.

4. Smile and Make Eye Contact with your Audience

This sounds very easy, but a surprisingly large number of presenters fail to do it.

If you smile and make eye contact, you are building rapport , which helps the audience to connect with you and your subject. It also helps you to feel less nervous, because you are talking to individuals, not to a great mass of unknown people.

To help you with this, make sure that you don’t turn down all the lights so that only the slide screen is visible. Your audience needs to see you as well as your slides.

5. Start Strongly

The beginning of your presentation is crucial. You need to grab your audience’s attention and hold it.

They will give you a few minutes’ grace in which to entertain them, before they start to switch off if you’re dull. So don’t waste that on explaining who you are. Start by entertaining them.

Try a story (see tip 7 below), or an attention-grabbing (but useful) image on a slide.

6. Remember the 10-20-30 Rule for Slideshows

This is a tip from Guy Kawasaki of Apple. He suggests that slideshows should:

• Contain no more than 10 slides;
• Last no more than 20 minutes; and
• Use a font size of no less than 30 point.

This last is particularly important as it stops you trying to put too much information on any one slide. This whole approach avoids the dreaded ‘Death by PowerPoint’.

As a general rule, slides should be the sideshow to you, the presenter. A good set of slides should be no use without the presenter, and they should definitely contain less, rather than more, information, expressed simply.

If you need to provide more information, create a bespoke handout and give it out after your presentation.

7. Tell Stories

Human beings are programmed to respond to stories.

Stories help us to pay attention, and also to remember things. If you can use stories in your presentation, your audience is more likely to engage and to remember your points afterwards. It is a good idea to start with a story, but there is a wider point too: you need your presentation to act like a story.

Think about what story you are trying to tell your audience, and create your presentation to tell it.

Finding The Story Behind Your Presentation

To effectively tell a story, focus on using at least one of the two most basic storytelling mechanics in your presentation:

Focusing On Characters – People have stories; things, data, and objects do not. So ask yourself “who” is directly involved in your topic that you can use as the focal point of your story.

For example, instead of talking about cars (your company’s products), you could focus on specific characters like:

• The drivers the car is intended for – people looking for speed and adventure
• The engineers who went out of their way to design the most cost-effective car imaginable

A Changing Dynamic – A story needs something to change along the way. So ask yourself “What is not as it should be?” and answer with what you are going to do about it (or what you did about it).

For example…

• Did hazardous road conditions inspire you to build a rugged, all-terrain jeep that any family could afford?
• Did a complicated and confusing food labelling system lead you to establish a colour-coded nutritional index so that anybody could easily understand it?

To see 15 more actionable storytelling tips, see Nuts & Bolts Speed Training’s post on Storytelling Tips .

8. Use your Voice Effectively

The spoken word is actually a pretty inefficient means of communication, because it uses only one of your audience’s five senses. That’s why presenters tend to use visual aids, too. But you can help to make the spoken word better by using your voice effectively.

Varying the speed at which you talk, and emphasising changes in pitch and tone all help to make your voice more interesting and hold your audience’s attention.

For more about this, see our page on Effective Speaking .

9. Use your Body Too

It has been estimated that more than three quarters of communication is non-verbal.

That means that as well as your tone of voice, your body language is crucial to getting your message across. Make sure that you are giving the right messages: body language to avoid includes crossed arms, hands held behind your back or in your pockets, and pacing the stage.

Make your gestures open and confident, and move naturally around the stage, and among the audience too, if possible.

10. Relax, Breathe and Enjoy

If you find presenting difficult, it can be hard to be calm and relaxed about doing it.

One option is to start by concentrating on your breathing. Slow it down, and make sure that you’re breathing fully. Make sure that you continue to pause for breath occasionally during your presentation too.

For more ideas, see our page on Coping with Presentation Nerves .

If you can bring yourself to relax, you will almost certainly present better. If you can actually start to enjoy yourself, your audience will respond to that, and engage better. Your presentations will improve exponentially, and so will your confidence. It’s well worth a try.

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13 Tips on How To Nail a Presentation To the Board of Directors

Published: January 13, 2021

In college, I always made it a point to listen intently to presentations. I knew how stressful and nerve-racking it was to present in a room of peers and authority figures.

I would nod feverishly to let presenters know I was invested in their presentation. And they knew it too. They often zeroed in on me as I became their focus point and silent motivator. The fixation felt awkward at times, but that felt like one of my small contributions to society. That, and an endless supply of cat videos.

Back then, the stakes were relatively low. But when you’re tasked with putting together a presentation to a board of directors, the pressure’s on.

But with a few tricks in your arsenal, you won’t need a sympathetic audience member to gauge how well you’re doing.

Let’s walk through some tips to prepare for your presentation and review some things to avoid.

How To Make a Presentation To the Board

• Know your audience.
• Plan ahead.
• Structure your presentation.
• Keep it concise.
• Set up early.
• Incorporate visuals into your presentation.
• Focus on results.
• Send materials beforehand.
• Build confidence with your power outfit.
• Rehearse your script.
• Don't fall into the PowerPoint Trap.
• Read the room.
• Include time for questions.

1. Know your audience.

Knowing your listeners is as important as the content of your presentation. When you understand their priorities, you can put together a presentation that speaks directly to them.

If you don't know the board well, do some research and get answers to these questions:

What does the board care about?

This will help you see from what lens they look at things. For instance, a board keen on community impact may not be drawn to a presentation focused on return on investment (ROI).

There are a few ways to find this out. You can start by looking into each board member’s professional background. If most members have a finance background, for instance, you’ll want to make sure you cover any financials as it relates to your presentation. This could be cost, expected ROI, or operating margins.

You can also get some insight into what the board cares about by looking back at your interactions with its members. Think about the conversations you’ve had: What comes up most often? Is it company culture, profit, philanthropy, innovation, or something else?

What are their main concerns?

A board of directors is responsible for making decisions that will ensure the growth and sustainability of a company. So naturally, they will be looking out for anything that may impede that process.

Common concerns a board may have are:

• Costs: How much time and money will it require?
• Timeline: How long will this project take and is that timeline feasible?
• Risks: How risky is your proposal and what is the risk-to-return ratio?

You may find that each board member has a different focus, which means your presentation should be well-rounded to tackle these issues.

Once you know this answer, you can subtly handle each concern throughout your presentation. Getting those answers will help you create a presentation that not only interests your audience but also aligns with their goals. This, in turn, will bring you much closer to accomplishing the plans laid out in your presentation.

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2. Plan ahead.

The next step in delivering a great presentation is making a plan. This means figuring out the focus of your presentation, what you’ll cover, and what you’ll leave out.

A presentation should follow the structure of any good movie, with a beginning, middle, and an end. Here’s an example outline for a presentation where the head of the marketing team is proposing course offerings as a new lead generation channel.

The middle is the meat and potatoes of your presentation. You'll likely spend time providing data, contextualizing it, and explaining your approach.

Your ending should bring together your key points and leave your audience with actionable steps. Because what good is providing the information if you have no plan for what to do moving forward?

3. Structure your presentation based on the board’s process.

Not every board of directors operates in the same way. Sure, there are standard guidelines for every meeting. However, the approach may vary for presentations.

Some may operate more like a town hall, pausing periodically to discuss the points as they come up. In this case, leave room after each section of your presentation to discuss what was covered.

Others may follow the more standard approach: presentation followed by a discussion. Studies show that humans remember best the beginning and end of what they read, hear, and see. What’s in the middle tends to get lost. With that in mind, consider sharing your most pertinent information toward the beginning and end of your presentation.

4. Keep it concise.

One thing board members aren’t known for is open availability. That said, you want to make the most of your time with them. How do you do that? Stick to the scope of the presentation.

While it’s great to incorporate storytelling, avoid getting sidetracked and wasting time. Be clear and keep it simple.

If you’re showing data, only share one highlight per data graph. There are several reasons for this:

• Data itself doesn’t tell a story. You, as the presenter, do. As such, you have to explain what it means and why it matters. Let’s say lead generation at your company has plateaued in the past year across all channels. That’s all the data says. But during your research, you realize it’s due to a shift in how your audience is consuming information. Your role is to present the data and explain the "why" behind the plateau along with a solution.
• You want to prevent information overload. Share the piece of data that best supports your points and has the most impact. For instance, if a new lead generation channel is the focus of your presentation, diving into the specifics of another channel may not be worth your time.

If you leave it to your audience to make sense of the data, they might reach a conclusion that doesn’t align with your message.

5. Set up early.

There’s nothing more awkward than silence during a technical difficulty.

Everyone’s looking at you while you’re figuring out why technology has forsaken you. The more time the issue takes to resolve, the more panicked you get. We’ve all been there.

To avoid this, set up early and do a run-through before your scheduled presentation time. It’ll give you time to get familiar with the space and any technology you’ll need to run during your presentation.

6. Incorporate visuals into your presentation.

When choosing between words and media, pick the latter.

Visuals help us make sense of information at a much quicker pace than words do. We’re also better at remembering what we see versus what we hear by 55% – it’s called pictorial superiority .

It’s also beneficial to keep your visuals simple. If you have too much going on, your audience will be confused. But if it’s too bare, it will take too many visuals to paint the picture. So, pull your most significant data and use data visualization tools to design intuitive graphics.

7. Focus on results.

A board of directors typically focuses on big-picture decisions that will have a long-term impact on the company.

In this vein, every piece of your presentation should get you closer to answering these questions:

• " Why does this matter? "
• " What is the long-term impact? "
• " How does this bring the company closer to its goals? "
• " Any potential roadblocks? How will you address them? "

Incorporating these answers into your presentation will set you up for a smoother Q&A session.

8. Send materials beforehand.

Depending on what you’ll be covering in your presentation, it may be helpful to send the board materials to review in advance. This should only be supplemental information that would be too time-consuming or distracting to cover in a presentation, like reports and demos. This way, the focus during the presentation will be on the "why" and not the "how."

The one material you don’t want to send is your presentation, as you want to be the one to contextualize it. Otherwise, the board might form an opinion based on limited information.

A week before the meeting is a good rule of thumb, leaving room for you to respond to initial comments or feedback.

Think of this process as an advantage. You get insight into what the board members may bring up during the meeting and more context to prep. Secondly, it ensures everyone is on the same page ahead of the meeting. That way, you can dive straight into key points during your presentation without covering minute details.

9. Build confidence with your power outfit.

Building confidence is one of the less concrete tips on the list to implement. But the good news is, there are research-backed techniques you can use to achieve it. One of them is right within your reach: clothing.

Many of us can relate to the feeling of trying on clothes in a fitting room and feeling like a million bucks. It tends to put us in a better mood and shift our perspective.

Well, turns out there’s a reason for this. In 2012, two researchers coined the term " enclothed cognition " to refer to the impact clothes can have on the psyche. They found that the clothes we wear can shift our perspective.

In that spirit, put on your best blazer or suit the day of your presentation. That outfit may be just the boost you need.

10. Rehearse your script.

During a presentation with a board of directors, you want to avoid the Michael Scott approach at all costs.

Instead, go the exact opposite route: practice. Practice is the cure to presentation jitters and the formula for seamless delivery. The more familiar you become with your content, the better the presentation will be.

If it’s been a while since your last presentation, start by practicing in the mirror. You’ll immediately notice any mannerisms that may be distracting to your audience. Recording yourself also works great.

Then, practice in front of an audience. And, unfortunately, your dog won’t cut it for this one. Practice with family or friends who can give you feedback on how to improve.

And remember: You’re the only one who knows your speech and presentation. So, if you mess up or forget to mention something, you’re likely the only one who noticed.

11. Don’t fall into the PowerPoint trap.

You’ll likely use a tool like PowerPoint to guide you during your presentation. Yet, it’s important that you don’t overly depend on it.

For instance, packing your slides with heavy text or bullet points is a surefire way to lose your audience. In fact, 40% of respondents in a 2018 study by Prezi said it caused disengagement and made it harder to retain information.

So, stick to one key point on each slide. It’s easier for your audience to remember and prevents information overload.

12. Read the room.

Even if you follow every tip listed above, you might hit a point in your presentation where there’s a disconnect between you and your audience. You might notice confused looks or a shift in body language. If that happens, that’s your cue to pivot.

If your audience seems confused, dive in a little bit deeper on your point. If you sense disagreement, tackle those concerns head-on.

Let’s say you’re proposing a new initiative for the company, and you sense some pushback on the timeline.

You can address it by saying something along the lines of, " You may have some concern regarding the timeline and whether it’s feasible given our current projects. While the timeline may seem tight, we have factored in X, Y, and Z, and, given our past initiatives, we believe this timeline will account for A, B, and C ."

A response like this can mitigate the situation while still keeping you on track.

13. Include time for questions.

As a foodie, dinner for me isn’t complete without a good piece of chocolate. Whether it’s a KitKat or a chocolate cake, having chocolate after dinner feels like the perfect ending. Q&A sessions are kind of like that. It’s the audience’s chance to ask questions and discuss the presentation.

Be ready for questions regarding the data and solutions you presented. The length of the Q&A session will vary depending on the length of your presentation, the size of the board, and other factors.

Additionally, it’s your opportunity to address any looming concerns and re-emphasize your key points. Not sure what to do if you don’t have an answer to something? Here are a few responses:

• "That’s a great question. I don’t have an answer for you at the moment, but I will follow up over email by end of day."
• "I don’t have much experience in that X [topic/department/]. However, I will reach out to X and get back to you within a week."
• "We haven’t explored that yet, but what I can tell you is …"
• "That’s a great point we hadn’t considered before. My team and I will reconvene and strategize on the best way to approach this."

When the stakes are so high, a presentation to the board can seem daunting. By incorporating these tips into your strategy, you can remove the stress and focus instead on your delivery.

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9 Tips to Nail Your Next Design Presentation

Presenting our designs to clients and stakeholders is a crucial part of being a designer. The better we present, the better we can persuade stakeholders and get buy-in for our ideas. That’s why, at Modus, we recently ran a design campfire focused on design presentations. We each took turns telling stories about good and bad presentations we had witnessed. From these stories, we wrote a list of best practices for presenting designs. These best practices have helped us get buy-in from stakeholders, build great case studies, and gather actionable feedback to improve our designs.

1. Start with a Thoughtful Design Process

You have probably heard the saying garbage in, garbage out. This definitely applies to your presentations. No matter how much you prepare for a presentation or how pretty your slides are, you risk losing your audience if you don’t follow a thoughtful design process.

• Before you present your designs, immerse yourself in the problem you’re trying to solve. Study all data you can find or collect about the users’ needs, relevant design trends, the state of the market, and anything else you can use to support your design decisions. This way, explaining the  why  behind your design decisions will be second nature. 
• Support your design decisions with data — qualitative or quantitative. If your data comes from a third-party source, make sure to check that the source is reputable and cite your references. 

The more you prepare, the better your presentation will be. However, despite this step’s importance, many designers skip it. 

• Don’t try to wing it. Instead, practice your presentation ahead of time. 
• For routine check-ins with a client, it’s often enough to just jot down a few key speaking points and spend fifteen minutes rehearsing your presentation. 
• For longer, more complex presentations, a proper dry run with a mock audience helps fix timing issues or unclear messaging. Your mock audience can provide feedback on how to improve the presentation. 
• Try to anticipate your audience’s response. Where might they object or have questions? How will you respond? You can’t consider every possible response, but this exercise will help you practice thinking on your feet. 
• If you’re collaborating with a teammate during the presentation, clearly define your roles. For example, who will present which slides or user flows? Who will share their screen? 

3. Know Your Audience

Part of preparation is knowing your audience. Tailoring your messaging to your audience’s attitudes and needs will help you be more persuasive. 

• Find out who will be attending the presentation ahead of time. What are their roles? What will they be looking to get out of the presentation? For example, if you’re presenting to the c-suite, remember that their time is limited and precious. So stick to your most salient points around business outcomes; only go into your design process in detail if they ask. 
• Avoid technical jargon unless your audience is familiar with it. 
• Understand the audience’s way of thinking, how they work with people and their approach to the project. Message your points on their terms, not on yours. For example, if your audience is primarily business folks, focus on the business benefits of your design approach. How will the design drive revenue or increase retention?

4. Focus Your Slides

Your audience’s attention span is limited. Focusing your slides on the critical points to your story helps them digest the content and stay engaged. 

• Limit the text on your slides to only critical information and speak to the rest. Again, this requires preparation. If you have a lot of content, split it into multiple slides. 
• Get visual. Images and diagrams can portray complex messages better than words. 
• Write your slide headings as key takeaways. 

Situation: You’re designing an e-commerce site. Your slide shows a graph of task success rates for a usability test. The task to checkout as a guest shows a high failure rate.

5. Make a Direct Ask

When presenting, you may need something from your audience. For example, you may need them to make a decision, provide feedback, select one of your design options, or provide funding to continue your project. In any case, be direct about what you need from them. 

• Before you even start discussing your designs or the problem to be solved, clearly state your goal for the meeting. What do you want to leave with? Do you need the audience to choose one of the many options that you have designed? Do you just need general feedback? Or maybe you need the audience to formally approve the designs. Either way, explicitly state your goal at the beginning, so the audience knows what you need from them to move forward. Better yet, state the goal in the meeting invite, so your participants come prepared and in the right frame of mind. 
• Inform the audience where you are in the design process.  Are you 30% done or 90% done ? These numbers are imprecise, but they cue your audience to focus on the big picture or detailed feedback. 
• Be specific about what type of feedback you are looking for before you present any design work. Also, clearly state what feedback you are  not  looking for. For example, if you have already gone through multiple revisions of a style guide, you can state that the styles are “locked” — signaling that you’re not accepting feedback on them. 

6. Start a Conversation, Not a Sales Pitch

Design presentations are not sales pitches. Instead, they are an opportunity to start a conversation with the audience — to get their feedback and learn. While you should still back up your design decisions with data and sound rationale, you should also be open to new learnings that may change your thinking or send the design in a new direction.  

• Build time into your presentation for the audience to react and ask questions and for you to answer these questions. 
• If the client asks a question you can’t answer, it’s okay to say you’re not sure, and you’ll research it and get back to them. 
• Asking your audience questions throughout the presentation can be a great way to keep them engaged. However, don’t ask questions just for the sake of asking questions. Make sure they are relevant and bring value to the discussion. 

7. Explain Your Rationale

As designers, we have to remember that the rationale behind our design decisions lives solely in our heads until we voice it. Your typical audience will not be able to intuit the reasoning behind your design decisions. 

• Before showing a single screen design, recap the user, product, and business goals relevant to your design. Then, as you present your designs, associate your design decisions with these goals. For example, let’s say you’re designing an e-commerce checkout flow. One of your business goals is to increase how much customers spend per purchase. Plus, research shows that users hardly ever add the additional products you recommend because those recommendations are not relevant to the items currently in their cart.

• Don’t just point out UI elements on the screen. Instead, explain the rationale behind your designs. Why did you design it that way? 
• Many design decisions come with pros and cons—state these pros and cons and why you chose the design approach you did. Your audience may be thinking about proposing the alternatives you have already assessed and scrapped. Showing them you have thought through these alternatives builds their confidence in you and heads off unnecessary disagreements. 
• If you’re presenting multiple options, with the goal of your audience selecting one, make sure you will be happy no matter which option they choose. If you find yourself secretly wishing they pick option A, then you probably shouldn’t present options B and C to begin with. Instead, just present Option A and explain why it’s a solid design. 
• Your rationale should be better than, “This is how Google does it.” Although it’s fine to find inspiration in other products, you should explain  why  that product’s approach is good. 
• Proactively discuss the data behind your design decisions. This can be data you collected and analyzed or from other trusted resources like the  Baymard Institute  or  Nielsen Norman Group . If you don’t have data, turn to established best practices, such as Jakob Neilsen’s  10 usability heuristics . However, be careful with best practices. Just because a lot of apps do something a certain way doesn’t make it a best practice. 

8. Tell a Story, Build a Vision

One of our biggest jobs as designers is to get buy-in from stakeholders on the user experience vision we have created. No matter how good your design is, if you can’t convince the business to fund building it, it won’t get built. Storytelling is one of the most natural ways humans communicate and persuade — we’ve been telling stories for thousands of years. So telling a story about why your design will solve users’ problems and deliver business value is your foolproof tool for persuading stakeholders. 

• Start by establishing the main business and user needs that the designs address. Then, explain how you uncovered those needs and how you know they are real. 
• Explain the process that got you to your solution. For example, you might show that you tried several different options before arriving at the final version. 
• When you present your solution to the problem, don’t just walk through the design elements on the screen. Instead, tell a story from the user’s perspective. How would they use this design to solve a problem? In what context would they use it? How do we expect them to feel about the experience? This approach helps your audience empathize with the users and understand how and why your solution will help them. 
• Present with enthusiasm. This is hard to do if you’re nervous. Being prepared will likely help you feel less nervous, bringing us back to one of our best practices above. For example, let’s say you’re designing a digital marketplace that allows people to sell homegrown foods.

9. Get the Logistics Right

Sometimes, missing small details can be just as harmful as missing big details. 

• If you’re presenting remotely and sharing your screen, turn on do not disturb mode, so your audience doesn’t see any personal or sensitive messages. Check your browser tabs to make sure you don’t have anything open that shouldn’t be. 
• Present in a quiet place. This may not always be possible, but try your best. If you expect some background noise, it’s courteous to let your audience know ahead of time. 
• If you need the audience to make a decision during the meeting, make sure decision-makers can attend the meeting, or else reschedule. 
• Share an agenda as part of the presentation. Better yet, share it in the calendar invite before the presentation. 
• For presentations longer than an hour, schedule short breaks at regular intervals. This will help keep your audience engaged. 

Following these best practices has made us more successful in communicating with our clients and ultimately building successful products. We covered a lot of ground in the article, so remember these key takeaways:

• The foundation of a good design presentation is a good design process.
• Practice makes perfect
• Tailor your presentation to your audience’s needs
• Keep your slides focused — limit words and emphasize the key takeaways.
• If you need something from the audience, ask for it directly. 
• Be open to the audience’s feedback on your designs and expect them to change. 
• Use data and best practices to explain your design decisions.
• Tell a story about your design process and how users will find value in your product. 
• Lastly, don’t miss out on small details.

Remember that presenting is a skill that takes time to develop. If you’re new to presenting, it might be too much to try to nail all of these things your first time. If so, no worries — I recommend starting with small steps, like getting your story right and preparing. These two things alone will lead to a much more successful presentation. 

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8 Tips to Nail Your Design Presentation

Presenting your design to a client is often a chance to make a key first impression. It can set the tone for how the project will be received. A spot-on design presentation can help you set the stage for success.

There’s a lot that can go into a design presentation – the work itself, slides or a presentation, how you talk about and define the work, and even your skills as a presenter.

Here, we’ve got plenty of tips (and even a few tricks) to help you nail every design presentation every time.

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1. Consider Design Choices During the Design Process

A successful design presentation starts long before you are ready to show off the project. Start thinking about design choices and how they relate to the original design brief and conversations about the project from the beginning.

Jot notes about choices as you work. Why you selected a certain color or font. What makes this interaction enticing. How users will engage with the design.

These nuggets of information and reminders will make talking about and explaining the design easier later on. Remember, you may make some of these choices months before presenting. Keeping track of them in the moment will help you recall them later.

The information and level of detail you go into with these choices will vary greatly depending on the audience. If you are talking to a design-minded group, you may talk about design decisions differently than if you are talking to the client’s executive leadership team. Knowing your audience is key (and sometimes requires multiple versions of the same design presentation.)

2. Provide a Little Background and Context

As you start to put together a design presentation, start with some background and context. Provide a quick primer on who you are and your credentials as well as recapping the goals of the project.

The presentation will probably only include one slide that encapsulates who you are and your credentials. This isn’t intended to be a resume (you’ve already been hired), but a quick reintroduction with the client.

Then include one to three slides that capture the goals and intention of the project. (Some designers like to use goals and scope.) Again, you are reminding the client of what you were commissioned to do with the design here. This part of the presentation lays out the design problem that you will show a solution for.

3. Create Realistic Mockups

Nothing makes a design more real, and more tangible, than a realistic mockup.

From branding packages to t-shirt designs to websites (mobile and desktop), a mockup can help clients envision the project in the way it is intended.

One of the best options is to use a three-dimensional, realistic mockup that makes the project look real. This might be showing a website on a phone in someone’s hand or a branding package on different objects, such as the example above.

The good news is that you don’t have to create an extra design to showcase projects. There are plenty of mockups and scenes available that allow you to pop your design into the shell and go. Some of our favorites are available from Envato Elements .

When it comes to the presentation itself, you can use the mockup in a slide deck or on cutouts or posters that you place in the room for a design presentation.

4. Brand the Presentation and Slides

This should seems like a no-brainer: Brand your presentation and slides to create a consistent design theme.

Step up your presentation by using a scheme that marries your visual brand (if you have one) and the project itself. If the presentation looks and feels like the client, it is easier for them to envision themselves as part of the content therein.

Most design presentations include a slide deck and some other visual representations of the work. For collateral or posters, you may get a small printed run of the designs so that the client can see what the final product will look like. This can be especially important for printed items or packaging that touch is an important element of the design.

5. Presentation Design Should be Simple, Put Focus on Project

The actual design of the presentation or slides should be simple without too much razzle-dazzle. You don’t want clients to focus on the design or tricks in the presentation, you want them to hone in on the project itself.

Stick to simple slides without a lot of information on each slide. In most cases, avoid animated transitions or sound or visuals other than the design itself.

Remember, the design presentation isn’t about how cool of a PowerPoint you can create, it is about highlighting the key features and elements of the design project at hand, and getting feedback (or approval) to keep the project moving forward.

6. Show 3 Design Choices

Pair down the project to no more than three design choices before the presentation. And for some projects, or depending on where you are in the process, you may only show one design for final approval.

For initial presentations, three options is often the magic number:

• One design that is “safe” and exactly what the client ordered (this is a very comfortable design for the client)
• One design that shows the potential of the project with elements you envision the client might want or need but didn’t necessarily ask for (this may or may not be within the client’s comfort zone)
• One flashy design that goes all out with modern style and effects (maybe outside the client’s comfort zone)

As you present the designs, show each one independently. It’s easier to evaluate the merits of a visual when it isn’t competing with something else. You can even use this to help prompt the audience into selecting an option, based on their reactions to each slide (or design) individually.

7. Present First, Then Invite Questions

Create a logical flow to the presentation. You should plan to present the design or design options first and then entertain questions or listen to feedback.

Attention spans can be short, and this is even more true with online or digital meetings. Plan for a meeting that is 45 minutes or less.

• 5 minutes: Introduction and hellos
• 5 minutes: Background and context
• 20 minutes: Explanation and showcase of design choices and merits of each
• 15 minutes: Q&A and feedback

8. Create a Memorable Presentation

A good presentation sticks with the audience after it ends. You want to present in a way that’s cohesive and memorable.

Tell a story about the design, process, and design choices. Make the visuals you create resonate with the client and audience.

Present with confidence. Speak clearly, make eye contact, and answer questions with authority. Also, listen with purpose and intent. Be honest if you don’t know the answer to something and try to establish a connection with the room.

Speak in a way that works for your audience. Knowing the basic backgrounds of the people in the room will help you know how to talk about the design in a way that works for them. Some audiences might want details about color or visual choices, while others will be rooted in UX, and others might want to know how design can impact the bottom line. Do your homework so that you can tailor the presentation in a way that is positively memorable for your audience.

A design presentation can push a project from your computer to the world. It can help a client choose what design they want to use (or how to revise it) or push a mockup to final production.

Your presentation creates the tone of the project. Instill confidence in clients by speaking about and presenting design options clearly, succinctly, and with a flair that makes a worthwhile impression.

Ace the Presentation

80+ Impromptu Speech Topics & 7 Ways to Nail One

What is an impromptu speech.

An impromptu speech is one delivered without prior notification and preparation. For certain persons who may not be easily open to giving public speeches, an impromptu speech may be a total scare in general. However, there are ways to make sure that impromptu speeches are not as scary as it may come off, all it just needs is a little confidence and you are good to go.

How to give a killer impromptu speech?

An impromptu speech can be casual, professional or formal. In whatever form it takes, one thing is sure; impromptu speeches come into play without prior information to the speaker. As it is usually said, what counts is not how you address an issue when you are prepared but how you manage a situation in your least prepared moment.

Imagine you are in a meeting at work and your boss suddenly asks for your opinion, or about the process and challenges that you are facing on your project and the support you need to overcome them. This has happened to me, and imagine that it did happen to you also, and if you are not prepared both in terms of having actually prepared for that meeting (knowing you’d have to speak), and in terms of how to handle such situations (speak in front of others), then it’s really hard to not play the fool.

Rest assured, because after you read the tips that will be shared below, you will be more prepared to handle such situations and in some cases, you might just be able to deliver a memorable speech and inspire someone without much ‘preparation.’

Related Article: 10 Types of Speech – Learn to Choose the right type of speech for achieving the desired Result

6 Great Tips to Help You Nail Your Next Impromptu Speech Presentation

Here are some of the amazing tips you need to ace your impromptu speech presentation. I will be sharing some impromptu speech examples, because I believe it will be easier for you to visualize what an impromptu speech might look like.

1. Seek the truth (Avoid Lying)

When you say your truth, you can never run out of what to say, since it also happened to you, or is something you have analyzed. This way, you can easily begin to make the same analysis on the stage without having to blab on it.

Take, for instance, if a co-worker is leaving your company, and you are called to give a goodbye speech, you can easily recount the memorable experiences you have had with such a colleague. if the colleague is one who isn’t close to you, you can also talk abut how you persevered by simply watching him/her hardworking nature.

You can never go wrong speaking the truth ( don’t go overboard shining the light on the negatives, rather than the positive, saying the truth is wise. you can never go wrong)

2. Share an Experience / Speak from Experience

With experience, you don’t need research, studying or memorization. You already have ample knowledge of the subject and hence, you have no need for research or assistance. This way, the speech becomes easier to share as it is already all in your head. Take for instance, when you are called to talk about examinations. Surely, this is something you have had to undergo in the past, so, you most definitely have a story to tell.

ive out the best way to write and exams based on your past experience. It is also good to mix your speech with certain comic reliefs of what happened in your time while preparing for your own examinations.

3. Always practice for a few Scenarios

You never know when it’s your turn. Always have at least three topics in your head that will be killer topics in any given situations. Prepare, rehearse in your own time. Have certain ideas laid out, the manner you wish to present an impromptu speech if given the opportunity.

Though the above setting may not be applicable in an official scenario, there are still certain vital points worthy of note when called upon to give an impromptu speech. For instance, in the example given before, if called up for a project meeting, you could very well go prepared to answer any questions related to project progress, risks, challenges, and support required (mention what you remember).

4. Pen it down 

Especially when you’re someone who isn’t so good at giving speeches off the top of your head, this will help marvelously.

Let’s say you were told 10 min before that you are supposed to give an impromptu speech, your next course of action should be to immediately you take advantage of the heads up – write out the important points of the speech you’re about to give.

If the speech is about effieciency at work to improve output, then , write out the key points on the “How to” of the topic allocated to you.

5. Memorize

Memorize the key points so as not to look like a complete dummy reading off a book. This point comes as a consequence of the point number 4, knowing those points that you outlined within the short time after the heads up will help you elaborate on them without having to constantly look at the note.

6. Take charge of your impromptu speech

Never forget to tell your audience the speech was impromptu. With this, you have a clean slate with your audience. You are the master of your time and so, you can choose how you maneuver your audience.

Start your speech in a charming way, tell a story (that relates to the occasion), in the while keep thinking of your ending structure. For instance, on that project meeting you could start by telling the story of how your team was busy dealing with contractors, and some challenges that they faced (while you think of the best support you’d like to have, and who should give such support).

Own your time and you will own your impromptu speech, regardless of whether you got a heads up or not.

7. Make a Strong Conclusion

Conclude with why the subject is very vital to the progress of the company or organization. Be witty and smart about your speech. Correlate the whole topic with the story or illustration you shared.

Going back to our project meeting example, you could, for example, you could end your impromptu speech by saying:

“Despite all the challenges that I shared just now, we manage to pull through and get much of the work done, about 80%, and also aligned with the contractor to avoid such issues in the future. We need, however, to get your support to discuss about the implications of this delay with the customer CXO, before they complain so that we avoid looking like neglectful in front of them.

Thank you for the opportunity and please let us meet on a separate forum to discuss the details of how we should proceed to make up for the lost time and bring the project back on track.”

With this ending, you gave your audience a closure for the story you told them initially, as well as managed to bring in the urgency of the support you asked for and implications of not getting it right away. Since that meeting might include several other topics, projects, it would be best to schedule another time to discuss in detail with the stakeholders on how to proceed, and that gives you more time to prepare for the next time and ace your presentation.

S ituations when you may be called upon to give an impromptu speech 

• Filling in for a speaker
• When facing a panel
• When at a job interview
• Biding farewell to a departing employee
• Called upon to give a professional opinion on a subject matter

Relevant Formula for Acing an Impromptu Speech

The fac formula.

• A for Anecdote
• C for Correlation

Give a thruthful opinion on a subject matter. It may be based on your personal belief or opinion, or also based on experience. which ever form it takes, make sure such feeling is honest and truthful to the best of your knowledge. Basically, you have to espouse originality and honesty in showing your feelings for a place or subject.

 Nothing intrigues as much as a story. share a story that relates to the subject. Make it something interesting yet relevant to the point of discourse.

– CORRELATION

link you the anecdote with the topic proper. After sharing the story, you can then talk about how the subject is then important to you.

Lets use a physical scenario to enable us fully understand the FAC FORMULA.

AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE WORKINGS OF THE FAC FORMULA

I’m called upon to give an impromptu speech as the best man of a friends wedding. The first step following the FAC formula is to share my truth about the groom or the bride or whoever I am to represent.

I, however, have to make sure I am shedding light  on the positive and not the negative. I may talk about how  beautiful the wedding is and how well planned the procession in general has been. On the anecdote, I will proceed on sharing my encounter with the groom, probably how I first met him. On correlation, I will add that based on the anecdote I just shared, the bride is surely the soul mate of the groom as she completes and compliments his flaws, etc.

This is a basic example as to how the FAC formula work. It’s short, easy to understand and also very relatable. The FAC FORMULA is also applicable in both formal and informal settings.

80+ Impromptu Speech Topics and Examples

Impromptu speech topics on improving work performance.

• Understanding the importance of team work. 
• Why organizations need to allow smoke breaks in the office. 
• Where there is good leadership, there is significant success. 
• The creative limitations having office uniforms plays in the minds of employees. 
• Setting short term and long term goals. 
• The better the technology, the better the product. 
• An organization with positive branding, is an organization with significant success. 
• Importance of setting sales goals. 
• The mentality of “nothing is impossible”. 
• How strategic planning is the key to success. 
• The importance of setting realistic goals in the office. 
• How effective decision making determines a company’s success. 
• The secret to staying motivated. 
• Do not lose focus! 
• How comparison can be a positive tool for motivation. 
• The importance of having work ethics. 
• Waving off distractions. 
• Dealing with the lack of motivation. 
• Always dream BIG! 
• An organization with no discipline will fail. 
• How to manage disappointments in the office. 
• Understanding discipline. 

IMPROMPTU  SPEECH IDEAS ON WEALTH AND FINANCE 

• Is poverty a state of mind set? 
• How capitalism has changed the world today. 
• The importance of financial education. 
• How to set realistic financial goals. 
• Money or time 
• Actions are better than words in all financial markets. 
• How to avoid financial fraud. 
• Best banks to for mortgages. 
• How to understand your financial personality. 
• How to scout good and profitable investments. 
• Is saving important? 
• Why the rich do not save money in the bank. 
• Understanding the rat race. 
• Who is the middle class. 
• Why you shouldn’t not quite your day job.
• Are you really self employed or unemployed? 
• Writing a bullet proof business plan. 
• The need to have smart people in any business. 
• Understanding the importance of budgeting. 
• Are you rich or poor? 
• The misconception of loans. 
• How to not lose money on bad businesses. 
• The importance of networking in any business. 

IMPROMPTU SPEECH TOPICS FOR THE OFFICE 

• intelligence is not enough. 
• Why goals are good for you and the importance of making them realistic.
• How not to be average. 
• Who is the best seller? 
• How to become an alpha employee. 
• What your appearance says about you. 
• How to impress your new boss. 
• The importance of company retreats. 
• The importance of being on time. 
• Discipline and success are intertwined. 
• Good performers are always promoted! 
• Are you going to be the best or the worst? 
• The importance of clothing allowance. 
• Understanding good work etiquette. 
• Why good manner is crucial. 
• Team building events, always produces team success. 
• Knowing when not to procrastinate. 
• The importance of Monday in determining the rest of the week. 
• How to become irreplaceable in the office. 
• How to not get fired. 
• Does my boss hate me? 
• The need for team leaders.
• How to be part of the office circles. 

IMPROMPTU SPEECH TOPICS ON GOOD COMMUNICATION 

• Understanding the need to have proper people skills. 
• How to use effective persuasion tips.
• The importance of smiling at all times. 
• How to talk to your boss. 
• How to communicate in the work environment. 
• Confidence and communication. 
• Freedom of speech versus hate speech. 
• How lying can affect your relationships. 
• The art of removing emotions from official communication. 
• Understanding when to keep quiet. 
• The concept of misinterpretation in communication. 
• Opinions are relative. 
• Do not say what you do not mean. 
• Effective communication is the backbone of every relationship. 
• Are you a talkative  person? 
• How to have heart to heart conversations. 
• When to let a conversation die out. 
• Not everywhere statement requires a reply. 
• How not to force conversations. 
• Handling awkward moments when communicating. 
• How to avoid dead air while communicating.

Thank you so much for reading this far, please check out my other post including 10 types of speech , and the following series with tips on how to deliver each one of them, with examples and topics. I am sure you will find them insightful (motivational speech, persuasive speech, informative speech, and the list goes on).

This is one of our posts on the types of speech series, should you be interested in learning about other types of speeches, please click on of the links below when you are done reading this article.

Part I. 8 Persuasive Speech Techniques & Topics

Part II . 9 Tips for Writing and Amazing Informative Speech and 120+ Topic Ideas

Part III. 5 Quick Tips on how to Give an Effective Motivational Speech

Part IV. 15 Demonstration Speech Ideas and Techniques

Part V. How to Give an Effective Special Occasion Speech?

Part VI. 6 Key Tips for a Memorable Entertaining Speech + Topics and Ideas

Part VII. Explanatory Speech: 7 Key Tips to Help You Deliver an Effective Speech

Part VIII. 5-Step Strategy for an Effective Debate and Speech Delivery

Part IX. 7 Oratory Secrets: How to Deliver Effective Oratorical Speeches

Part X. Public Speaking Contests: 7 Ways to Nail at Forensic Speech Competitions

Part XI. 80+ Impromptu Speech Topics & 7 Ways to Nail One

Part XII. 13 Ways to Effectively Deliver Pitching Presentations

Part XIII. Farewell Speech – An 8-step guide to help you deliver a Memorable one

Part XIV. Eulogy Guide: How to Give a Heartfelt Funeral Speech (with 4 Eulogy examples)

REFERENCES & FURTHER READING

https://magneticspeaking.com/how-to-give-an-impressive-impromptu-speech / https://www.thoughtco.com/impromptu-speech-1857493 https://www.thoughtco.com/impromptu-speech-topics-1857489 https://speakandconquer.com/impromptu-speech-tips / https://careynieuwhof.com/how-to-give-an-impromptu-speech-when-you-have-zero-prep-time / https://virtualspeech.com/blog/how-to-give-an-impromptu-speech

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Top tips to nail your next presentation

Early career physicians can follow several tips and tricks for delivering engaging, impactful presentations.

P resenting in front of an audience can be nerve-racking in and of itself. For early career physicians, there's added pressure, since giving presentations can create opportunities for professional advancement and develop your reputation among peers.

"At this stage of your career, nobody looks at your medical transcript, or how you did in the introduction to the patient course, or your rheumatology rotation in your intern year. It's the here and now. And when you do this well, people look at you differently," said Scott C. Litin, MD, MACP, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn. "It's a career maker when you do this well. But when you do this poorly, it can freeze your career."

If that sounds like a lot of pressure, don't worry. Experts offered several tips and tricks for delivering engaging, impactful presentations and stressed that, like most skills, success comes with practice.

Tackle your fear

Presentations, whether at a local academic institution or a national meeting, can not only shape your career but also help build skills and confidence, explained Farzana Hoque, MD, MRCP, FACP, associate professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (London). Dr. Hoque said she found presenting early in her career rewarding, as it gave her a sense of motivation knowing "that I am contributing to the medical field, I'm disseminating medical knowledge."

This mindset can help early career physicians who may doubt if their work is interesting or good enough to be accepted at the national level. And the only way to find out is to submit it and see, said Sam Lubner, MD, FACP, a hematologist and oncologist at UW Health and an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison.

If your work gets rejected, it gives you a thick skin. If it's accepted, even as a poster and not from the podium, it's a learning opportunity, he said.

"Just a poster is a great place to start from, and then at least you get your foot in the door, and you get a chance to understand what it takes to get your primary or original research presented in a regional or national meeting," Dr. Lubner said.

Beyond quality concerns, one main reason so many dread presenting is because it requires public speaking.

But surveys show that while the speaker may feel anxious giving a talk, the audience usually doesn't pick up on it, Dr. Litin said. Practicing in front of friends, colleagues, or a camera can help assuage this anxiety.

For some, it may even be beneficial to adopt a stage persona, said Vineet Arora, MD, MACP, dean for medical education at UChicago Medicine. This helps presenters avoid reading their script verbatim and introduces a human element to the talk.

"Some of that stage persona is spontaneity, feeling comfortable in the moment so you can be spontaneous, feeling that you've rehearsed your talk enough so that you can be prepared for whatever strikes you as surprising," said Dr. Arora.

Physically rehearsing your talk is important, but mentally rehearsing a presentation, or getting in the right mindset, is also crucial.

"You have to be in a place where you allow your stage persona to come out, and if you're not mentally ready for your stage persona to come out, you're not going to project what you need to project," she added. "If you are in your comfortable zone, you are good to go."

Another way to get comfortable with public speaking is to enroll in an improvisation class, Dr. Arora suggested. If you put yourself in a position of discomfort speaking with others in spaces where it's OK to be uncomfortable, "you can do anything," she said.

Those who significantly struggle with public speaking can seek help from a coach or doctor, too.

Be prepared

Visiting the space where you'll give your presentation in advance will help you become familiar with the setting and equipment and make you more comfortable about handling any mishaps should they occur, said Dr. Hoque. Similarly, writing and practicing the presentation well beforehand will boost your confidence on the day of, she added.

Experts advise conducting self-evaluations after rehearsing, reflecting on what went well and what needs to be improved and recognizing any knowledge gaps you might have.

Self-reflecting also allows you to identify any potential questions that may arise from the presentation and highlight those that warrant additional research down the line.

"Competence will help to build the confidence," said Dr. Hoque.

Another tip is to visualize success during the rehearsal process. Before giving the talk, visualize yourself finishing on time, or the audience appreciating the presentation and giving you good feedback, Dr. Hoque explained.

When you do present, "whatever feedback you get, take it and really use it to make your next presentation better, and the one after that a little bit better," said Dr. Lubner.

Dr. Lubner also recommended looking for mentors at your own institution. "It's not a bad thing to ask people to review your stuff ahead of time so you put your best foot forward, especially early in your career. Because I think your mentors and the people who you work with closely and the people you learn alongside really want to help you succeed," he added.

Keep the audience top of mind

A presentation is a performance, and a good performance engages the audience, the experts stressed.

One way to grab their attention is with a hook. That can be a story, a clinical case, or even using the word "imagine" to set a scene. "Those are the kinds of things that will get the audience involved," said Dr. Litin, who has given talks on presenting at ACP Internal Medicine Meetings and has published several articles on the topic.

When people are engaged, they're more likely to learn, listen, and remember, added Dr. Arora. Asking the audience for a show of hands to take a poll or prompting them to think about the last time they saw a patient with a certain condition can also increase engagement.

Using nonverbal cues such as maintaining eye contact, practicing good posture, and pacing words and incorporating pauses is important as well, said Dr. Hoque.

Presenters should remember who makes up their audience, then tailor their talk accordingly. Whether that's different specialists, students, or the lay public, "if you don't know your audience, you risk either going over their head or not speaking at the right level," said Dr. Arora.

And because we all have short attention spans, it's important to not overwhelm the audience with excessive slides and text, and instead focus on key points.

"One of the misconceptions [about presenting] is 'The more factual information I dump into the brains of my audience, the more impressive I'll be.' If you tell them everything on a topic, they'll remember nothing," said Dr. Litin.

One rule of thumb is to limit each line on a slide to a single point, use less than six words per line, and use less than six lines per slide, according to Dr. Litin. Slides could also just show pictures, said Dr. Arora.

When the presentation is wrapping up, be sure to make this clear to the audience by stating "in conclusion" or "in summary" followed by three main points you hope they take away from the talk, Dr. Litin said.

Get ready for the Q&A

No one wants to be caught off guard by a question, and although you can't predict what questions an audience member might ask, you can prepare for some possibilities.

Throughout the presentation, "you might even say, 'This is a very interesting area. I don't have time to talk about this, but maybe we can talk about this in the Q&A,'" explained Dr. Arora. "You can roadmap your talk on where you want to call out things that you could question."

Another tip is to send some questions to the moderator beforehand, so they can ask you questions you've prepared while the audience is formulating their thoughts.

"Even having a slide after your acknowledgments and everything else that provides supplementary data to say, 'Hey, I was anticipating this question. Here's the data. Here's Appendix A of what I figured you guys might ask,'" typically goes over well with the audience, Dr. Lubner said. "It feels as if [the presenter] already anticipated that first question and has hard data to present based on that."

Remember to keep your answers short and to the point, Dr. Litin added. "Your answer shouldn't be an entirely new presentation."

If you don't know the answer to a question, it's fine to say so, and to ask audience members if they have any insights on it, he said. This tactic helps get the focus off the speaker and creates a dialogue within the audience.

Ultimately, understand "that a presentation is not solely a destination," said Dr. Lubner. "It is simply a way to document what you've done, and if it's really interesting, there's always a 'what comes next.' If you're faced with a question that you don't have the answers to, you can certainly take that as part of your 'what comes next.'"

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How to Present to an Audience That Knows More Than You

• Deborah Grayson Riegel

Lean into being a facilitator — not an expert.

What happens when you have to give a presentation to an audience that might have some professionals who have more expertise on the topic than you do? While it can be intimidating, it can also be an opportunity to leverage their deep and diverse expertise in service of the group’s learning. And it’s an opportunity to exercise some intellectual humility, which includes having respect for other viewpoints, not being intellectually overconfident, separating your ego from your intellect, and being willing to revise your own viewpoint — especially in the face of new information. This article offers several tips for how you might approach a roomful of experts, including how to invite them into the discussion without allowing them to completely take over, as well as how to pivot on the proposed topic when necessary.

I was five years into my executive coaching practice when I was invited to lead a workshop on “Coaching Skills for Human Resource Leaders” at a global conference. As the room filled up with participants, I identified a few colleagues who had already been coaching professionally for more than a decade. I felt self-doubt start to kick in: Why were they even here? What did they come to learn? Why do they want to hear from me?

• Deborah Grayson Riegel is a professional speaker and facilitator, as well as a communication and presentation skills coach. She teaches leadership communication at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and has taught for Wharton Business School, Columbia Business School’s Women in Leadership Program, and Peking University’s International MBA Program. She is the author of Overcoming Overthinking: 36 Ways to Tame Anxiety for Work, School, and Life and the best-selling Go To Help: 31 Strategies to Offer, Ask for, and Accept Help .

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How to nail that presentation

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Presentations - types and structures

This is a standalone lesson but it can also be used as part of the set titled:

• Delivering presentations

LESSON OVERVIEW

In this lesson about business presentations in English, students discuss presentation structures in depth, watch a video with tips on giving presentations , and learn useful words and phrases related to the topic.

The lesson is the first of the three-part series of lessons about delivering presentations.  You will find the second part of the series here and the third part of the series here .

VOCABULARY & VIDEO

The lesson starts with a matching exercise in which students learn some common collocations (e.g. step up your game, nooks and crannies ). After that, students use the collocations to complete six statements referring to business presentations (e.g. joking during a presentation, using visual aids). Then, students discuss if they agree with the statements or not. Before watching the video about virtual presentations, students decide whether the tips listed in the task should be on the ‘do’ or ‘don’t’ list . They watch the video and check their answers. During the second viewing, students have to answer a few comprehension questions about the video. This task is followed by a short discussion during which students share their opinions on what they learned from the video. 

TYPES & STRUCTURES OF BUSINESS PRESENTATIONS

This part of the lesson starts with a vocabulary exercise . Students read a short text explaining what an elevator pitch is, and find words (e.g. affable, detract from ) which match the given meanings. Then, they briefly discuss the idea of an elevator pitch and other types of business presentations. After that, students match descriptions to four types of presentations (e.g. annual stakeholder report, team briefing ). In the last part of the lesson, students do a speaking activity in which they talk about structures of different kinds of presentations (e.g. pitching an app to investors, giving a demo for the MVP ). They also brainstorm possible challenges each of them presents, and discuss what tips they would give to a person delivering the presentation. 

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Healthy Habits: Nail Hygiene

• Dirt and germs can live under your fingernails and contribute to the spread of some infections.
• One of the best ways to prevent nail infections is by keeping nails short and clean.

Appropriate hand hygiene includes diligently cleaning and trimming fingernails, which may have dirt and germs underneath them and can contribute to the spread of some infections, such as pinworms. Fingernails should be kept short, and the undersides should be cleaned frequently with soap and water. Because of their length, more dirt and bacteria can gather under long nails than short nails. This can contribute to the spread of germs.

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Infections of the fingernails or toenails often appear as swelling of the skin around the nails, pain around the nails, or thickening of the nail. In some cases, these infections may be serious and need to be treated by a physician.

To help prevent the spread of germs and nail infections:

• Keep nails short and trim them often.
• Scrub the underside of nails with soap and water (or a nail brush) every time you wash your hands .
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• In commercial settings such as nail salons , sterilize nail grooming tools before use.
• Avoid biting or chewing nails.
• Avoid cutting cuticles, as they act as barriers to prevent infection.
• Never rip or bite a hangnail. Instead, clip it with a clean, sanitized nail trimmer.

Water, Sanitation, and Environmentally Related Hygiene (WASH)

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We tested dozens — these picks get two thumbs up.

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Updated May 14, 2024: This article on the best press-on nails was updated with new editor-tested product picks and expert insights. We are currently testing additional press-on nails from brands like Dashing Diva for consideration in this expert-approved guide.

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“One of the benefits of press-on nails is cost — a set from the salon costs a minimum of $40, and press-on nails can be as inexpensive as $9,” says celebrity nail artist and Nails of LA founder Brittney Boyce . Press-on nails also have the benefit of giving your nails a uniform look; if you’ve chipped a nail, you can easily conceal inconsistencies in length with good faux tips. And contrary to what you may think, press-on nails don’t damage your nails, as long as you remove them properly without prying them of f, according to Boyce.

Press-on nail kits have had a makeover in the past five years: Uncomfortable claws are out, realistic-looking, durable faux nails are in. The DIY beauty hack is one of the most popular TikTok beauty products with over 170 million views and searches, where users share press-on nail tutorials and reviews on top brands like Glamnetic, Chillhouse, and Olive & June. Beyond the home salon, beauty insiders are embracing press-on nails from the red carpet to the runway, too — Allison Williams stunned with graphic adhesive tips at the 2024 Met Gala, while nail artist Julie Kandalec designed over 1,000 custom press-ons for models at the Christian Cowan’s spring 2024 runway.

“I’m pro press-on,” says Kandalec, who cites Olivia & June Acrylic Instant Mani Press-On Nails as a great long-wear option. She explains that kits with adhesive tabs will wear for just a few days, whereas those that apply with nail glue can last you over a week. For the latter, she says, “the tips are just made out of plastic, so you just soak them off like you would an acrylic and they come off in 15 minutes — no damage. It’s a great way for someone to grow out their natural nails underneath.” Kandalec adds that gel tips like Kiss Salon X-Tend Press-On Nails that are cured at home are the most enduring option, though “removal is going to take a little bit longer” — but more on that later.

Scroll through our options, and you’ll see that the latest press-on nails are available in varying lengths, shapes, and styles (both solid-colored and complete with nail art designs). The new league of press-on nail kits includes various sized tips to suit any nail size, and easy-to-use adhesives that make application quick and simple.

Sign up for  WWD Shop’s newsletter  to get the scoop on the best in beauty and style with in-depth reviews of exciting new releases and buyer’s guides to find the products you need to try ASAP.

Top Press-On Nails of 2024

• Editor’s Choice : Glamnetic Press-On Nails
• Editor’s Choice : Kiss Impress Nails Short Solid Color Press-On Nails
• Editor’s Choice : Kiss Salon X-Tend Press-On Nails

Olivia & June Acrylic Instant Mani Press-On Nails

Btartbox french tip press on nails, opi xpress/on press-on nails, static nails metallic reusable pop-on manicure, chillhouse chill tips nail art press-on nails.

• ManiMe Gel Nail Strips

Nails of LA Press-On Extensions

Testing verdict: top 3 press-on nails of 2024.

To curate the best-of-the-best press-on nails on the market, WWD Shop editors lent our nail beds to extensive testing across dozens of press-on nail brands. We enlisted two celebrity nail artists for expert recommendations on long-wear brands and seamless application, as well as conducted extensive research across top beauty retailers and most-loved options on TikTok to determine the most universally satisfactory options on the market. During our press-on nail testing, we assessed various nail lengths, shapes, designs, and adhesive applications.

Since our initial round of testing in January 2023, our test team conducted a second round of testing to revisit our original recommendations and examine new discoveries on our radar, whether recommended by our expert sources, TikTok FYPs, or rave reviews. Press-on nail options that no longer held their own against new additions were removed from this guide, however we found that many of our original recommendations remain stellar options for their finish and long-lasting wear.

The best press-on nails are not created equally. While some adhere with nail glue, others lock in place via sticky tabs or LED nail lamps. Plus, the range of shapes and designs are ultra-personal, so rather than choosing one all-around recommendation, we’ve selected three that represent different application techniques and manicure preferences.

• Glamnetic Press-On Nails : Aptly named, Glamnetic press-on nails are your best bet for a long-wearing, full-glam manicure in minutes. This almond-shaped kit flatters the hand with an elongating style that still allows you to to type on the keyboard (see, no typos here!), while the brand also offers everyday shapes like short round tips, along with a bounty of nail art designs and salon-worthy finishes, from shiny chrome to metallic swirls. Durable and seamless, we love to glue these on and go.
• Kiss Impress Nails Short Solid Color Press-On Nails : If you’re not looking to fuss with glue, the Impress Press-On Nails from Kiss are super quick to apply and come in glossy solid-color options that look like a fresh gel manicure. This set is comfortably short (ever so slightly longer than a filed-down natural nail) and by far the easiest to remove on our list.
• Kiss Salon X-Tend Press-On Nails : These innovative X-Tend Press-On Nails make for an ideal at-home mani to apply before a vacation or a span of time when you don’t want to worry about be re-gluing your claws, because they double-down on extended durability with a gel lamp cure step. It comes come recommended by Kandalec — who was wearing this very set upon speaking to WWD — for their super long-lasting wear, due to their thicker tips that won’t split or chip like plastic options.

Glamnetic Press-On Nails

Glamnetic is the go-to if you’re longing for length — even the shortest styles will give you a good free edge. The immigrant-owned brand launched with faux lashes in 2019, and has since become an established player in the press-on nail space. Although Glamnetic offers solid colored press-on nail kits, they’re known for their funky nail art: You can shop checkered and french sets, iridescent manicures à la Hailey Bieber, or go with a kit that combines different designs in a similar color palette for a bespoke effect. Editor’s testing and review notes: “While testing long press-on nails, I noticed one common issue: They’re far more likely to break than shorter options. That’s not the case with Glamnetic. They’re the only lengthy press-ons I could wear for more than a week without dealing with chipping. The nails are thinner and lighter than other press-ons, but they stayed secure until I removed them.” Wear time:  5/5 rating  | Ease of application : 5/5 rating  | Results: 5/5 rating Price upon publish date of this article:  $15

Kiss Salon X-Tend Press-On Nails

Kiss Salon X-Tend Press-On Nails stand as an innovation new addition to any at-home salon. Rather than applying with sticky tabs or just glue, these tips cure to your nail beds like any gel mani. They start with a small dot of gel adhesive to secure the nail in place, then lock onto your natural nails in mere minutes with the help of an LED nail lamp . For those who have a particularly flat nail bed, Kandalec explains that the tips in this nail kit are “thicker and stronger than a plastic options, so you’re going to have more longevity.” Editor testing and review notes: “Wow — the extra lamp-curing step is completely worth it. These tips lasted me over two weeks. I’m an avid glue-on-and-go girl, but these blow typical press-ons out of the water with super strong durability that avoids pesky pop-offs while you’re out and about. I found the thicker glue is far easier to work with than other runnier formulas, which makes up for the added few minutes of curing under the lamp.” Wear time:  5/5 rating  | Ease of application : 4.8/5 rating  | Results: 5/5 rating Price upon publish date of this article: $10.99

Kiss Impress Nails Short Solid Color Press-On Nails

These Kiss Impress press-on nails outperform their competition at the drugstore. The sticker-style adhesive means you don’t have to fuss with nail glue, so they’re a great option for press-on beginners. All of the colors available are classics — think along the lines of ballet pink, navy, and cream. The shape and size is easy to file down from a square to a round or almond shape. Pro-tip: For a super long-wearing manicure, double-down with a small drop of nail glue under the the adhesive sticker. Trust us, those claws won’t be popping off any time soon. Editor’s testing and review notes: “I apply these Kiss Impress nails multiple times throughout the year; they’re my favorite when I need fresh nails, fast. The adhesive can get stuck on spare pieces of hair when they start to lift, but usually they last me about five to seven days. The tips feel like thick gel polish, and best of all, they leave no residue after you remove them.” Wear time:  4.6/5 rating  | Ease of application : 5/5 rating  | Results: 4.7/5 rating Price upon publish date of this article:  $6.97

Olive & June pioneered a foolproof system for at-home manicures, complete with a custom silicone brush handle attachment that gives you more control when you’re painting your nails with your non-dominant hand. So we weren’t surprised when Olive & June’s press-on nails debuted with a kit that makes applying press-on nails easy; the set has a massive range of nail sizes that makes it easy to find your exact fit. Keep tabs on their seasonal limited-edition designs, which always sell out. These nails have more of a curve to them than others on our list, so those with flatter nail beds will want to press down on each nail before applying for a longer-lasting result. Editor’s testing and review notes: “I consider myself a well-seasoned pro at applying press-on nails, so when I was in a pinch, I took a risk and popped on The Instant Mani in an Uber ride on the way to dinner. Despite the chaotic city traffic and overcrowded back seat of the car, I managed to locate the perfect nail size for each of my nails with ease. The glue instantly gripped — without any nail filing or cuticle prep — and the nail tips seemed to have a unique, tight curve that held super secure on the natural nail apex. The mani lasted me for two whole weeks, which is impressive compared to other popular brands I’ve tried, and earned me so many compliments. Everyone assumed they were fresh from the salon!” Wear time:  5/5 rating  | Ease of application : 5/5 rating  | Resuls: 4.8/5 rating Price upon publish date of this article:  $9.99

If you’re an avid scroller on #NailTok, you’ve seen buzz around Btartbox press-ons. They’ve got 14.5 million views and searches on TikTok for their easy application and natural appearance that looks straight from the salon. That’s because they’re handmade from gel — not printed plastic — which results in a super shiny and durable finish. They’re also flexible, so they’ll properly mold to your natural nail apex and create a seamless cuticle line. We love this glossy French mani set for day to day occasions, but the brand offers a treasure trove worth of dramatic shapes and designs for when you’re craving something a little more glam. Editor testing and review notes : “Off the bat, these press-ons feel far more sturdy than traditional plastic tips. The different sizes don’t come numbered, however I found it easy to find the right fit for each nail — and keep them glued down thanks to the flexible nature of the gel tip. These tips lasted me a little over two weeks, and earned me countless compliments.” Wear time:  5/5 rating  | Ease of application : 4.8/5 rating  | Results: 5/5 rating Price upon publish date of this article: $14.97

Opi is a renowned nail polish brand — even if you’re not a manicure person, you’ve seen their colors on the fingertips of legends like Beyoncé and Kerry Washington. The Opi xpress/On Press-On Nails are a genius addition to the line, allowing you to achieve a pretty manicure at home with iconic OPI colors, like Funny Bunny, Bubble Bath, and Lincoln Park After Dark. The faux nails feel like gel polish rather than plastic, which is a rare find. Editor’s testing and review notes: “Finding a good fit for my pointer, middle, and ring fingers is always difficult, as a faux nail that’s slightly too big or too small throws off the look and wear time of my manicure. OPI’s press-on kits have loads of mid-sized tips to ensure a perfect match for those tricky-to-fit fingertips.” Wear time:  4.7/5 rating  | Ease of application : 4.9/5 rating  | Results: 5/5 rating Price upon publish date of this article:  $12.99

If you’ve ever searched for press-on nails, odds are you’ve come across Static Nails . They’re one of the few brands that makes reusable press-ons you can actually wear more than once, thanks to the ultra-durable tips. You can browse over 200 styles in varying lengths and shapes, from extra-short square to medium coffin and long almond. We love these fun silver French tips that’ll earn you so many compliments. Editor’s testing and review notes: “I always keep a set of Static Nails on standby — the high-shine tips look flawless and realistic. The brand also has a great, non-damaging nail glue you brush on just like polish, and I use it with any glue-on faux nails I apply.” Wear time:  4.7/5 rating  | Ease of application : 4.8/5 rating  | Results: 5/5 rating Price upon publish date of this article:  $20

If you’re eager to mix up your nails with cool designs (but hate how long it takes at the salon) order up some Chillhouse Chill Tips . The edgy brand has spa locations in New York and Paris, but you can get one of their signature nail art manicures at home with their press-on nails. Chillhouse launches new tips seasonally, so you can always look forward to new colorways and designs. Editor’s testing and review notes: “Chillhouse Chill Tips are my favorite to pop on for the weekend, or when I’m heading on vacation. The funky designs uplift my mood every time I glance at my fingertips. The tips are medium length, but you can easily file them down if you prefer a shorter manicure.” Wear time:  4.6/5 rating  | Ease of application : 4.7/5 rating  | Results: 4.9/5 rating Price upon publish date of this article:  $16

Manime Gel Nail Strips

Unlike traditional press-on nails, ManiMe’s polish comes in adhesive gel strip stickers, not full-on faux tips. Apply them straight onto your nails for a splash of color without a change in the length or look of your natural nail. The result rivals what you’d walk out of the salon with after a gel manicure. And if you have narrow or wide nail beds, you can order a custom-made set that fits like a glove: Manime has technology that runs a 3D scan of your nails via images you take on your smartphone. Editor’s testing and review notes: “When my nails are healthy and even in length, I love to smooth on Manime’s nail strips. They cover my nail beds just like traditional polish, but without the dry time. I get compliments on my manicure every time I use them — little do my friends know that I did it myself.” Wear time:  5/5 rating  | Ease of application : 4.8/5 rating  | Results: 4.9/5 rating Price upon publish date of this article:  $9.59

Boyce designed these Nails of LA Press-On Extensions using years of expertise as a celebrity nail artist to ensure the durable tips feel comfortable on your fingertips. The tips work with adhesive stickers or nail glue (you’ll get both in your kit), so you can choose the adhesive that you’re most comfortable using. All of the tips feature minimalistic nail art designs that range from geometric to abstract, and each one adds a little je ne sais quoi to your look. Editor’s testing and review notes: “The Nails of LA press-ons are a serious win because of the adhesive options — I love that I can apply the pretty designs with glue stickers or traditional nail glue. The length is excellent for daily wear; I can easily put in contacts without poking my eye.” Wear time:  4.7/5 rating  | Ease of application : 4.9/5 rating  | Results: 5/5 rating Price upon publish date of this article:  $16

How To Apply Press On Nails

When applying a fresh set of press-on nails, Kandalec explains that proper sizing can pose an initial challenge. She explains that the curve of many press-on nails, also known as the apex, is often too curved for flat nail beds, so it’s important to select a larger tip that’ll align with the natural shape of the nail, rather than one that’s too small and may pop off despite tacky adhesive. “The key is if you don’t have to press it down, that’s when you know have the right fit. Size up and then file down the sidewalls of the press-ons to get the best fit.”

“Prep is everything, no matter what kind of manicure you’re doing,” stresses Boyce. “If you don’t buff and cleanse the nail properly, the polish or glue won’t be able to bond properly.”

Here’s how to apply press-on’s for a long-lasting result:

• Cleanse your hands by removing any existing polish from your fingertips, then washing your hands thoroughly.
• File and shape your natural nails, then lightly buff them to remove any visible shine.
• Fit your faux nails by finding the press-on nail that’s the closest match to your natural nail. “If you’re between sizes, choose the bigger option, then lightly file down the sides of the faux nail so they fit your nail bed without touching your skin,” says Boyce.
• Wipe down the natural nail with rubbing alcohol, and wait for it to fully evaporate. This key step ensures that the adhesive will set properly for a longer-lasting manicure. Without it, the natural oils on your nail will interfere with the glue’s ability to bond.
• Apply the press-on nails: If using adhesive stickers, remove the sticker backing and firmly press the faux nail onto your natural nail for 10 to 15 seconds. If using glue, dot a drop onto the base of your natural nail and the base of the faux nail. Carefully place the faux nail onto your fingertip, holding it in place for 30 seconds. Use a cuticle stick to remove any excess glue from the side walls of your nail.
• Repeat steps four and five on each nail.
• C leanse your hands once more after 30 minutes of application to remove any excess glue that has wandered to the perimeter of your nail beds.

How To Remove Press On Nails

Resist the urge to peel or pull them off — this tugs off layers of your natural nail, causing damage. You can remove your press-on nails two different ways: One option is to soak your nails in a bowl of warm water with a spoonful of coconut oil for about 20 minutes. You can also buff the faux nails and soak them in acetone for about five minutes, which is Boyce’s preferred method. After soaking your nails with coconut oil and water or acetone, Boyce says to gently rock them back and forth until the press-on nails have loosened; then they’ll gently fall off without damaging your natural nails.

How To Make Press-On Nails Last

Wondering how long press-on nails last? With proper application, your press-on manicure can last for up to two weeks. These practices will help keep them in tip-top shape.

• Avoid water for 30 minutes after application: “If you get water on the nail glue before it dries, any excess glue on your cuticle or the side walls of your nail will dry down white instead of clear,” Boyce explains. To preserve your manicure after it’s set, wear rubber gloves when you’re doing dishes.
• Grab a scalp massager : These handheld silicone brushes lather up shampoo without applying pressure to your fingertips. They also prevent your nails from snagging on your hair when you rake conditioner through it — this lessens the likelihood of your nails coming loose or falling off after wash day.
• Apply cuticle oil : Emollient nail products are essential for any manicure, according to Boyce. “Without oils and creams, the natural nail becomes brittle and dry, preventing a long-lasting manicure,” she explains. Focus on the sides and base of your nails when you massage it on.

How We Tested and Selected the Best Press-On Nail Kits

Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections.

Meet the Expert

Brittney Boyce is the definition of a multi-hyphenate as a celebrity nail artist to Hollywood’s biggest stars, founder of cutting-edge nail brand, Nails of LA, content creator, and more. Boyce began her career as a nail extension specialist in high-end nail salons across LA. Rapidly establishing a reputation, Boyce became highly sought-after for editorial, fashion and beauty campaigns. Now, Boyce works with top celebrities including Megan Fox, Machine Gun Kelly, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Travis Barker, and Olivia Rodrigo. Her nail looks are viral sensations including the $30,000 diamond manicure on Machine Gun Kelly for the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, benefiting local Cleveland charities. Beyond her skills as a manicurist, Boyce has lent her talent to beauty brands to support marketing, product development, content and more. In 2020, Brittney launched NailsofLA – the ultramodern adhesive nail designs brand.

Julie Kandalec is a celebrity nail artist and educator. To Julie, nail care is far beyond just polish. Always the artist, she is also trained in painting, drawing, color, and dance. Known for her gentle touch, calm demeanor, and precise attention to detail, Julie’s specialties vary from a clean, natural nail to elaborate, custom-designed nails. Julie’s work can now be seen in major publications, beauty campaigns, and regularly on the fingertips of Kim Kardashian, Jessica Chastain, Emily Blunt, Rose Byrne, and many more.

Meet the Authors

Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for WWD and Footwear News. She’s spent over five years researching, reporting on, and writing about the beauty industry for publications like Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She became a press-on nail nut during the pandemic, testing dozens of sets from different brands. To compile the best press-on nail kits, she factored in durability, ease of application, wear time, and whether or not the sets damage your natural nails.

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What can prevent suicide? A place to call home, a person to reach out to

If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text  or chat with  the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit  988lifeline.org  for 24/7 access to free and confidential services.

NEW YORK – Samantha Alexander calls Manhattan's Fountain House her “earthly salvation.”

Months ago, while living in a midtown homeless shelter, she attempted to take her own life. Despite being assigned male at birth, she'd known since she was young that she was female. She'd experienced chronic depression since childhood, and had tried various medications to treat it, she said.

After her attempt, she agreed to go with a friend to the Fountain House, a mental health nonprofit around the corner from the shelter. The organization helped her find treatment and a studio apartment downtown. She now spends nearly every day there mingling with friends, and discussing makeup and fashion. She also volunteers, doing office work and cleaning up.

Her sense of self is palpable, Alexander told USA TODAY. She was wearing a blue blazer, blue toenail polish and jewel-studded blue fingernails. “It’s the community,” she said. “It’s everything, baby.”

Alexander has experienced the type of interventions experts say are transformational. The program has drawn the attention of federal and local public health officials, who visited the Fountain House this week to understand strategies for addressing the rising U.S. suicide rate.

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The U.S. recorded more than 49,000 suicides in 2021 and 2022, a historic high . Provisional data from 2023 appears to show the number of deaths by suicide, the majority being gun fatalities, has not declined.

The Biden administration has set an ambitious goal to break the cycle. The U.S. will aim to reduce the suicide rate by 20% by 2025 , as part of a National Strategy for Suicide Prevention to address gaps and identify at-risk populations. The plan focuses on local, community-based suicide prevention programs that can assist in early interventions and offer direct interactions with people with lived experience to discuss risks and solutions. Another key goal is to reduce access to lethal means, such as firearms.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who joined the tour of Fountain House, said mental health and reducing deaths to suicide and overdose are a focus for public health officials . Mental health has broad political consensus, and data is needed to ensure the most effective methods are being promoted, she previously told USA TODAY. Cohen has been traveling across the country visiting places making an impact in mental health treatment. She visited a San Diego health center, a Nashville home-based mental health training program, and this week came to the clubhouse in New York City. 

“We know in a moment of suicide, people feel isolated,” Cohen said in an interview Tuesday at Fountain House. “They feel like they don't have someone to reach out to. If you have the opportunity to be in a community, I think that helps.”

In the sun-filled brick townhouse just blocks from Times Square, officials witnessed people with severe mental illness helping to support and guide one another. The program offers gardening and study rooms for peer tutoring. A wall displays pennants of colleges that Fountain House participants have attended.

In its broader prevention plans, the CDC aims to ramp up resources such as the national 988 hotline in communities that don't have clubhouses like Fountain House, Cohen said. The call system has faced challenges due to a lack of funding, limited awareness and scarce resources for people in crisis, as USA TODAY reported .

Fountain House clubhouses in Manhattan and the South Bronx, see about 2,000 people. Participation is voluntary but it requires an application and a diagnosis of severe mental illness. The program is free. The model has been replicated in hundreds of places nationwide.

Ken Zimmerman, CEO of Fountain House, pointing to the cost-saving benefits of the program, noting the nonprofit reduced Medicaid expenses by 21% by reducing emergency hospitalizations, according to a 2017 New York University analysis . About 40% of participants are unhoused when they enter the program and nearly all find stable housing, Zimmerman said.

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“It's the antidote because it is intentionally focused on creating a place where everybody belongs and is needed,” he said. The goal is to welcome vulnerable people and "empower them to live their best lives.”

New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan, a former head of Fountain House, has created a sweeping mental health plan for the city to address serious mental illness, suicides and overdoses. The plan includes expanding clubhouses like Fountain House, and focusing on stabilization and prevention for people with severe mental illness, to avoid the cycle of crises and repeated hospitalizations and arrests.

Fountain House proves that community might have a bigger role to play in someone's therapy, he said.

Alexander volunteers to do secretarial work at Fountain House. She donated half her wardrobe to be used for the organization's fashion show later this month. She's known at the clubhouse for her makeup and fashion sense.

"Fountain House is my home away from home," she said. "I feel safe here. I feel not judged here."

After the officials left, Alexander cleaned with a vacuum as others chatted and studied quietly at computers.

Alexander's best friend in the program is Catherine Campbell, who has been coming to the clubhouse for 12 years. 

Campbell, 38, is studying applied mathematics at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, an opportunity that came about following a computer programming internship she learned of at Fountain House. Studying helps with her schizophrenia.

On Tuesday afternoon, Campbell planned to hand out peppermints at the clubhouse. When she hands out candies, she typically says, “Praise God.” But first, she asks people if they'll be bothered by a religious blessing. The goal, she said, is simply to make sure people feel loved.