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Blog Beginner Guides How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

Written by: Krystle Wong Jul 20, 2023

How to make a good presentation

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

project vs presentation

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

project vs presentation

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

project vs presentation

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Peloton Pitch Deck - Conclusion

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

project vs presentation

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

Venngage Real Time Collaboration

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

project vs presentation

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

project vs presentation

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

project vs presentation

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

project vs presentation

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

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Project Presentations: How to Prepare and Deliver a Project Presentation

ProjectManager

Can anything make a project manager’s heart sink faster than being told that they need to give a project presentation to the board of directors? The pressure. The responsibility. Sure, you’re happy that the directors of the company trust you enough that they want your input in the project, but having to present in front of these powerful players is making your stress levels spike.

If you haven’t come across these presentation requests from senior managers yet, you will! These scenarios are common on projects, especially projects that introduce a new product or involve organizational change. But don’t feel overwhelmed. Giving project presentations may feel scary, but you can plan and prepare for them just like any other meeting.

What Is a Project Presentation?

A project presentation is an opportunity for you to explain your project processes and deliverables to key stakeholders. These can be informal, like a quick update via reports with a few individuals, or formal. Formal project presentations often require proper meeting times, thought-out slide decks, goal review and more. We’ll spend most of our time discussing how to prepare and deliver a formal project presentation.

A formal project presentation requires good data. Project management software can provide you with the dashboards and reports you need to supplement your points and progress updates. ProjectManager has real-time dashboards that you can share with stakeholders, and eight different in-depth project reports that you can make with just a few clicks. Get started for free today!

Project presentation on a dashboard

Why Is a Project Presentation So Important?

A project presentation is your opportunity to convey the importance of the work you and your team have been doing. If you’re unable to articulate your progress and achievements, key stakeholders won’t understand why money, time and resources are being spent on your project.

When you think of it like that, it’s no wonder why people spend so much time preparing for their project presentations. Read on to see how you can knock your next presentation out of the park.

How to Prepare for a Project Presentation

Preparing for a project presentation can be more important than you actual delivery. That’s because good preparation can set you up for success on the big day. Let’s go through some preparation techniques you can do for your project presentation.

1. Create a Calendar Invite for Your Project Presentation

You can’t just expect people to turn up – they need to know that there is an important event that requires their attendance, so get it in their diaries. People plan their meetings and calendar appointments sometimes quite far in advance, giving ample warning. Schedule the presentation as soon as you can, and check with the individuals (or their assistants) if you don’t get a reply about their availability.

If you have been invited to someone else’s meeting to talk about your project, make sure it is in your planner and book some time to plan for it in advance. If you don’t, you risk running out of time to prepare your material.

2. Select a Format for Your Presentation

How are you going to get your message across? If you’ve scheduled a project meeting it’s likely that you are expecting to do a formal presentation. That’s fine, but how? Will you use slides or flip charts or mirror your iPad on a monitor? Do you expect the audience to participate in any part of the presentation? Can you speak without notes or would it be better to have some pointers with you on the day?

You should also consider where you will be giving the presentation. For example, a format that is suitable for a small room and a limited audience, such as a loosely-structured project update with a couple of slides, is not going to be appropriate for a room full of stakeholders, laid out like a lecture theatre with you at a lectern at the front.

3. Practice Your Project Management Presentation

Giving presentations is a skill. Practice, practice, practice. Before your big project presentation, volunteer to do some smaller ones, like staff briefings or shorter updates at team meetings. You want to feel comfortable both standing up in front of the room and with the material. Run through your presentation at home or in an empty meeting room so that you remember where the slide transitions are. Practice using the projector and a clicker to move the slides forward. Write out your flip charts several times so that it becomes second nature.

Practice and training will make your delivery much more polished and professional and give your audience a far better experience.

4. Write Big So Your Presentation Is Legible

Whether you are using slides or flip charts, write big or use big fonts. It is often difficult to see what is on the screen, even in a small room – and that means your message is not getting across. And it’s an excuse for audience members to check their phones instead of listening to you.

A good tip is to print out your slides and put them on the floor. If you can still read them clearly from a standing position, then the text is big enough. If you can’t read the words or you have to bend down to read them, make the font size larger!

5. Have a Backup Plan for Your Presentation

Projectors break, meeting rooms don’t have conference phones in, pens run out just at the critical moment. Plan for everything to go wrong. Your presentation audience is made up of busy people and they don’t want to sit there watching you fiddle with the technology. Get it all working before they arrive, and if it doesn’t work when you get going, make sure that you have a contingency plan (like a printout of your slides) so that you can carry on anyway.

How to Give a Project Presentation

When the fateful day arrives, there are some important things to keep in mind when giving your project presentation. Follow these best practices and you’ll portray your project and your team in the best possible light.

1. Speak Clearly and Don’t Rely on Jargon

Presentations depend on clarity and good communication . If you bog down your presentation with jargon and convulated reasoning, you’re going to lose your audience. Make sure that you use language that your audience will understand, so they can follow along with all of the key points you need to make.

Remember, not everyone in that meeting is going to understand all the intricasies of your project, in fact, none of them likely will. So speak slowly, clearly and ensure that you communicate.

2. Stick to What Matters and Use Data

When giving your project presentation, don’t lose sight of the original goals and requirements of the project. Your stakeholders agreed on certain goals at the beginning, how are you trending towards reaching those goals? Sometimes it’s easy to focus on setbacks or difficulties, or things that you may find fascinating. However, it’s best to recenter on critical business objectives.

It’s important to use data to supplement your project presentation as you address key goals and initiatives. But don’t use too much data! People will get lost in the numbers and stop listening to what you have to say. It’s a delicate balance.

3. Tell a Story

You have probably sat through a fair few presentations in your time, and I expect you’ve tried to stop yourself from nodding off in some of them. Project status updates can be boring. If the subject matter isn’t dull, often the speaker is. Don’t let that be you.

One way to keep the attention of the audience is to structure your presentation in the most interesting fashion. Consider what they will find interesting (and it won’t be the same as what you find interesting). Telling the story of your project is a good idea. Think about a start, a middle and an end to your presentation. Perhaps follow the lifecycle from the perspective of a customer.

Focus on the benefits and not the project management process. If you don’t know if your presentation material makes sense, run it past a friend or family member who doesn’t know anything about your project. If they don’t fall asleep, it’s OK!

4. Ask for Feedback on Your Presentation

When your presentation is over, ask for feedback. You could do this directly at the end of the session before people leave the room, or a couple of days later. It’s good to get some feedback as it helps you work on what to improve for next time.

Ask people to give you their impressions both of your presentation skills and also of the presentation content. You could find that the content was really good but you lacked confidence delivering it, or conversely that you were an engaging presenter but the material was not relevant to them. All this is useful stuff to know and it will help you improve your presentation skills for next time.

Project Management Presentations Take Time to Master

Giving presentations isn’t an everyday occurrence on projects but it is likely that you will have to give one or two during the project lifecycle – more if your project involves a lot of workshops or user sessions.

Don’t panic – presentation skills are something that you can learn and you will get better with practice! Once you have cracked it, you’ll feel confident delivering presentations and you’ll find that it gets easier to prepare for them in the future.

The scheduling features of our software can be used to book your presentations on the team calendar, which can be easily seen on the project dashboard. With it you have the ability to share agendas and slides after the presentation with the online document library. Then you can carry on the discussion after the meeting by using the great chat tool. Try the software from ProjectManager free for 30 days and see how helpful it really is.

Click here to browse ProjectManager's free templates

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

Presentation Skills 101: A Guide to Presentation Success

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

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

cover for presentation skills guide

Table of Contents

The Importance of Presentation Skills

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Archetypes of presentations

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

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

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

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

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

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

presentation skills an elevator pitch slide

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

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

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

skills required for persuasive presentations

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

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

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

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

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

using a course syllabus presentation to boost your instructional presentation skills

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

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

presentation skills example of a training presentation

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

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

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

skill requirements for instructional presentations

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

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

a SCRUM process being shown in an informative slide

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

an example of a thesis dissertation template

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

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

skill requirements for informational presentations

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

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

using a quote slide to boost inspirational presentation skills

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

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

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

skills required for inspirational presentations

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

Punctuality

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

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

Body Language

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tech Skills

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

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

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

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

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

Public Speaking Anxiety

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

Lack of Confidence

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

Content Organization

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

Audience Engagement

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

Technical Issues

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

Time Management

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

Handling Questions and Challenges

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

Visual Aids and Technology

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

Language and Articulation

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

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

Overcoming Impersonal Delivery

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

Cultural and Diversity Awareness

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

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

Tip #1: Build a narrative

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tip #3: Practice meditation daily

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

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

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

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

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

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

project vs presentation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How are you providing presentation skills training for your learners?

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

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How to Structure your Presentation, with Examples

August 3, 2018 - Dom Barnard

For many people the thought of delivering a presentation is a daunting task and brings about a  great deal of nerves . However, if you take some time to understand how effective presentations are structured and then apply this structure to your own presentation, you’ll appear much more confident and relaxed.

Here is our complete guide for structuring your presentation, with examples at the end of the article to demonstrate these points.

Why is structuring a presentation so important?

If you’ve ever sat through a great presentation, you’ll have left feeling either inspired or informed on a given topic. This isn’t because the speaker was the most knowledgeable or motivating person in the world. Instead, it’s because they know how to structure presentations – they have crafted their message in a logical and simple way that has allowed the audience can keep up with them and take away key messages.

Research has supported this, with studies showing that audiences retain structured information  40% more accurately  than unstructured information.

In fact, not only is structuring a presentation important for the benefit of the audience’s understanding, it’s also important for you as the speaker. A good structure helps you remain calm, stay on topic, and avoid any awkward silences.

What will affect your presentation structure?

Generally speaking, there is a natural flow that any decent presentation will follow which we will go into shortly. However, you should be aware that all presentation structures will be different in their own unique way and this will be due to a number of factors, including:

  • Whether you need to deliver any demonstrations
  • How  knowledgeable the audience  already is on the given subject
  • How much interaction you want from the audience
  • Any time constraints there are for your talk
  • What setting you are in
  • Your ability to use any kinds of visual assistance

Before choosing the presentation’s structure answer these questions first:

  • What is your presentation’s aim?
  • Who are the audience?
  • What are the main points your audience should remember afterwards?

When reading the points below, think critically about what things may cause your presentation structure to be slightly different. You can add in certain elements and add more focus to certain moments if that works better for your speech.

Good presentation structure is important for a presentation

What is the typical presentation structure?

This is the usual flow of a presentation, which covers all the vital sections and is a good starting point for yours. It allows your audience to easily follow along and sets out a solid structure you can add your content to.

1. Greet the audience and introduce yourself

Before you start delivering your talk, introduce yourself to the audience and clarify who you are and your relevant expertise. This does not need to be long or incredibly detailed, but will help build an immediate relationship between you and the audience. It gives you the chance to briefly clarify your expertise and why you are worth listening to. This will help establish your ethos so the audience will trust you more and think you’re credible.

Read our tips on  How to Start a Presentation Effectively

2. Introduction

In the introduction you need to explain the subject and purpose of your presentation whilst gaining the audience’s interest and confidence. It’s sometimes helpful to think of your introduction as funnel-shaped to help filter down your topic:

  • Introduce your general topic
  • Explain your topic area
  • State the issues/challenges in this area you will be exploring
  • State your presentation’s purpose – this is the basis of your presentation so ensure that you provide a statement explaining how the topic will be treated, for example, “I will argue that…” or maybe you will “compare”, “analyse”, “evaluate”, “describe” etc.
  • Provide a statement of what you’re hoping the outcome of the presentation will be, for example, “I’m hoping this will be provide you with…”
  • Show a preview of the organisation of your presentation

In this section also explain:

  • The length of the talk.
  • Signal whether you want audience interaction – some presenters prefer the audience to ask questions throughout whereas others allocate a specific section for this.
  • If it applies, inform the audience whether to take notes or whether you will be providing handouts.

The way you structure your introduction can depend on the amount of time you have been given to present: a  sales pitch  may consist of a quick presentation so you may begin with your conclusion and then provide the evidence. Conversely, a speaker presenting their idea for change in the world would be better suited to start with the evidence and then conclude what this means for the audience.

Keep in mind that the main aim of the introduction is to grab the audience’s attention and connect with them.

3. The main body of your talk

The main body of your talk needs to meet the promises you made in the introduction. Depending on the nature of your presentation, clearly segment the different topics you will be discussing, and then work your way through them one at a time – it’s important for everything to be organised logically for the audience to fully understand. There are many different ways to organise your main points, such as, by priority, theme, chronologically etc.

  • Main points should be addressed one by one with supporting evidence and examples.
  • Before moving on to the next point you should provide a mini-summary.
  • Links should be clearly stated between ideas and you must make it clear when you’re moving onto the next point.
  • Allow time for people to take relevant notes and stick to the topics you have prepared beforehand rather than straying too far off topic.

When planning your presentation write a list of main points you want to make and ask yourself “What I am telling the audience? What should they understand from this?” refining your answers this way will help you produce clear messages.

4. Conclusion

In presentations the conclusion is frequently underdeveloped and lacks purpose which is a shame as it’s the best place to reinforce your messages. Typically, your presentation has a specific goal – that could be to convert a number of the audience members into customers, lead to a certain number of enquiries to make people knowledgeable on specific key points, or to motivate them towards a shared goal.

Regardless of what that goal is, be sure to summarise your main points and their implications. This clarifies the overall purpose of your talk and reinforces your reason for being there.

Follow these steps:

  • Signal that it’s nearly the end of your presentation, for example, “As we wrap up/as we wind down the talk…”
  • Restate the topic and purpose of your presentation – “In this speech I wanted to compare…”
  • Summarise the main points, including their implications and conclusions
  • Indicate what is next/a call to action/a thought-provoking takeaway
  • Move on to the last section

5. Thank the audience and invite questions

Conclude your talk by thanking the audience for their time and invite them to  ask any questions  they may have. As mentioned earlier, personal circumstances will affect the structure of your presentation.

Many presenters prefer to make the Q&A session the key part of their talk and try to speed through the main body of the presentation. This is totally fine, but it is still best to focus on delivering some sort of initial presentation to set the tone and topics for discussion in the Q&A.

Questions being asked after a presentation

Other common presentation structures

The above was a description of a basic presentation, here are some more specific presentation layouts:

Demonstration

Use the demonstration structure when you have something useful to show. This is usually used when you want to show how a product works. Steve Jobs frequently used this technique in his presentations.

  • Explain why the product is valuable.
  • Describe why the product is necessary.
  • Explain what problems it can solve for the audience.
  • Demonstrate the product  to support what you’ve been saying.
  • Make suggestions of other things it can do to make the audience curious.

Problem-solution

This structure is particularly useful in persuading the audience.

  • Briefly frame the issue.
  • Go into the issue in detail showing why it ‘s such a problem. Use logos and pathos for this – the logical and emotional appeals.
  • Provide the solution and explain why this would also help the audience.
  • Call to action – something you want the audience to do which is straightforward and pertinent to the solution.

Storytelling

As well as incorporating  stories in your presentation , you can organise your whole presentation as a story. There are lots of different type of story structures you can use – a popular choice is the monomyth – the hero’s journey. In a monomyth, a hero goes on a difficult journey or takes on a challenge – they move from the familiar into the unknown. After facing obstacles and ultimately succeeding the hero returns home, transformed and with newfound wisdom.

Storytelling for Business Success  webinar , where well-know storyteller Javier Bernad shares strategies for crafting compelling narratives.

Another popular choice for using a story to structure your presentation is in media ras (in the middle of thing). In this type of story you launch right into the action by providing a snippet/teaser of what’s happening and then you start explaining the events that led to that event. This is engaging because you’re starting your story at the most exciting part which will make the audience curious – they’ll want to know how you got there.

  • Great storytelling: Examples from Alibaba Founder, Jack Ma

Remaining method

The remaining method structure is good for situations where you’re presenting your perspective on a controversial topic which has split people’s opinions.

  • Go into the issue in detail showing why it’s such a problem – use logos and pathos.
  • Rebut your opponents’ solutions  – explain why their solutions could be useful because the audience will see this as fair and will therefore think you’re trustworthy, and then explain why you think these solutions are not valid.
  • After you’ve presented all the alternatives provide your solution, the remaining solution. This is very persuasive because it looks like the winning idea, especially with the audience believing that you’re fair and trustworthy.

Transitions

When delivering presentations it’s important for your words and ideas to flow so your audience can understand how everything links together and why it’s all relevant. This can be done  using speech transitions  which are words and phrases that allow you to smoothly move from one point to another so that your speech flows and your presentation is unified.

Transitions can be one word, a phrase or a full sentence – there are many different forms, here are some examples:

Moving from the introduction to the first point

Signify to the audience that you will now begin discussing the first main point:

  • Now that you’re aware of the overview, let’s begin with…
  • First, let’s begin with…
  • I will first cover…
  • My first point covers…
  • To get started, let’s look at…

Shifting between similar points

Move from one point to a similar one:

  • In the same way…
  • Likewise…
  • Equally…
  • This is similar to…
  • Similarly…

Internal summaries

Internal summarising consists of summarising before moving on to the next point. You must inform the audience:

  • What part of the presentation you covered – “In the first part of this speech we’ve covered…”
  • What the key points were – “Precisely how…”
  • How this links in with the overall presentation – “So that’s the context…”
  • What you’re moving on to – “Now I’d like to move on to the second part of presentation which looks at…”

Physical movement

You can move your body and your standing location when you transition to another point. The audience find it easier to follow your presentation and movement will increase their interest.

A common technique for incorporating movement into your presentation is to:

  • Start your introduction by standing in the centre of the stage.
  • For your first point you stand on the left side of the stage.
  • You discuss your second point from the centre again.
  • You stand on the right side of the stage for your third point.
  • The conclusion occurs in the centre.

Key slides for your presentation

Slides are a useful tool for most presentations: they can greatly assist in the delivery of your message and help the audience follow along with what you are saying. Key slides include:

  • An intro slide outlining your ideas
  • A  summary slide  with core points to remember
  • High quality image slides to supplement what you are saying

There are some presenters who choose not to use slides at all, though this is more of a rarity. Slides can be a powerful tool if used properly, but the problem is that many fail to do just that. Here are some golden rules to follow when using slides in a presentation:

  • Don’t over fill them  – your slides are there to assist your speech, rather than be the focal point. They should have as little information as possible, to avoid distracting people from your talk.
  • A picture says a thousand words  – instead of filling a slide with text, instead, focus on one or two images or diagrams to help support and explain the point you are discussing at that time.
  • Make them readable  – depending on the size of your audience, some may not be able to see small text or images, so make everything large enough to fill the space.
  • Don’t rush through slides  – give the audience enough time to digest each slide.

Guy Kawasaki, an entrepreneur and author, suggests that slideshows should follow a  10-20-30 rule :

  • There should be a maximum of 10 slides – people rarely remember more than one concept afterwards so there’s no point overwhelming them with unnecessary information.
  • The presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes as this will leave time for questions and discussion.
  • The font size should be a minimum of 30pt because the audience reads faster than you talk so less information on the slides means that there is less chance of the audience being distracted.

Here are some additional resources for slide design:

  • 7 design tips for effective, beautiful PowerPoint presentations
  • 11 design tips for beautiful presentations
  • 10 tips on how to make slides that communicate your idea

Group Presentations

Group presentations are structured in the same way as presentations with one speaker but usually require more rehearsal and practices.  Clean transitioning between speakers  is very important in producing a presentation that flows well. One way of doing this consists of:

  • Briefly recap on what you covered in your section: “So that was a brief introduction on what health anxiety is and how it can affect somebody”
  • Introduce the next speaker in the team and explain what they will discuss: “Now Elnaz will talk about the prevalence of health anxiety.”
  • Then end by looking at the next speaker, gesturing towards them and saying their name: “Elnaz”.
  • The next speaker should acknowledge this with a quick: “Thank you Joe.”

From this example you can see how the different sections of the presentations link which makes it easier for the audience to follow and remain engaged.

Example of great presentation structure and delivery

Having examples of great presentations will help inspire your own structures, here are a few such examples, each unique and inspiring in their own way.

How Google Works – by Eric Schmidt

This presentation by ex-Google CEO  Eric Schmidt  demonstrates some of the most important lessons he and his team have learnt with regards to working with some of the most talented individuals they hired. The simplistic yet cohesive style of all of the slides is something to be appreciated. They are relatively straightforward, yet add power and clarity to the narrative of the presentation.

Start with why – by Simon Sinek

Since being released in 2009, this presentation has been viewed almost four million times all around the world. The message itself is very powerful, however, it’s not an idea that hasn’t been heard before. What makes this presentation so powerful is the simple message he is getting across, and the straightforward and understandable manner in which he delivers it. Also note that he doesn’t use any slides, just a whiteboard where he creates a simple diagram of his opinion.

The Wisdom of a Third Grade Dropout – by Rick Rigsby

Here’s an example of a presentation given by a relatively unknown individual looking to inspire the next generation of graduates. Rick’s presentation is unique in many ways compared to the two above. Notably, he uses no visual prompts and includes a great deal of humour.

However, what is similar is the structure he uses. He first introduces his message that the wisest man he knew was a third-grade dropout. He then proceeds to deliver his main body of argument, and in the end, concludes with his message. This powerful speech keeps the viewer engaged throughout, through a mixture of heart-warming sentiment, powerful life advice and engaging humour.

As you can see from the examples above, and as it has been expressed throughout, a great presentation structure means analysing the core message of your presentation. Decide on a key message you want to impart the audience with, and then craft an engaging way of delivering it.

By preparing a solid structure, and  practising your talk  beforehand, you can walk into the presentation with confidence and deliver a meaningful message to an interested audience.

It’s important for a presentation to be well-structured so it can have the most impact on your audience. An unstructured presentation can be difficult to follow and even frustrating to listen to. The heart of your speech are your main points supported by evidence and your transitions should assist the movement between points and clarify how everything is linked.

Research suggests that the audience remember the first and last things you say so your introduction and conclusion are vital for reinforcing your points. Essentially, ensure you spend the time structuring your presentation and addressing all of the sections.

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6 presentation skills and how to improve them

smiling-woman-introducing-her-presentation-to-her-team-at-work-presentation-skills

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What are presentation skills?

The importance of presentation skills, 6 presentation skills examples, how to improve presentation skills.

Tips for dealing with presentation anxiety

Learn how to captivate an audience with ease

Capturing an audience’s attention takes practice. 

Over time, great presenters learn how to organize their speeches and captivate an audience from start to finish. They spark curiosity, know how to read a room , and understand what their audience needs to walk away feeling like they learned something valuable.

Regardless of your profession, you most likely use presentation skills on a monthly or even weekly basis. Maybe you lead brainstorming sessions or host client calls. 

Developing effective presentation skills makes it easier to contribute ideas with confidence and show others you’re someone to trust. Although speaking in front of a crowd sometimes brings nerves and anxiety , it also sparks new opportunities.

Presentation skills are the qualities and abilities you need to communicate ideas effectively and deliver a compelling speech. They influence how you structure a presentation and how an audience receives it. Understanding body language , creating impactful visual aids, and projecting your voice all fall under this umbrella.

A great presentation depends on more than what you say. It’s about how you say it. Storytelling , stage presence, and voice projection all shape how well you express your ideas and connect with the audience. These skills do take practice, but they’re worth developing — especially if public speaking makes you nervous. 

Engaging a crowd isn’t easy. You may feel anxious to step in front of an audience and have all eyes and ears on you.

But feeling that anxiety doesn’t mean your ideas aren’t worth sharing. Whether you’re giving an inspiring speech or delivering a monthly recap at work, your audience is there to listen to you. Harness that nervous energy and turn it into progress.

Strong presentation skills make it easier to convey your thoughts to audiences of all sizes. They can help you tell a compelling story, convince people of a pitch , or teach a group something entirely new to them. And when it comes to the workplace, the strength of your presentation skills could play a part in getting a promotion or contributing to a new initiative.

To fully understand the impact these skills have on creating a successful presentation, it’s helpful to look at each one individually. Here are six valuable skills you can develop:

1. Active listening

Active listening is an excellent communication skill for any professional to hone. When you have strong active listening skills, you can listen to others effectively and observe their nonverbal cues . This helps you assess whether or not your audience members are engaged in and understand what you’re sharing. 

Great public speakers use active listening to assess the audience’s reactions and adjust their speech if they find it lacks impact. Signs like slouching, negative facial expressions, and roaming eye contact are all signs to watch out for when giving a presentation.

2. Body language

If you’re researching presentation skills, chances are you’ve already watched a few notable speeches like TED Talks or industry seminars. And one thing you probably noticed is that speakers can capture attention with their body language. 

A mixture of eye contact, hand gestures , and purposeful pacing makes a presentation more interesting and engaging. If you stand in one spot and don’t move your body, the audience might zone out.

two-women-talking-happily-on-radio-presentation-skills

3. Stage presence

A great stage presence looks different for everyone. A comedian might aim for more movement and excitement, and a conference speaker might focus their energy on the content of their speech. Although neither is better than the other, both understand their strengths and their audience’s needs. 

Developing a stage presence involves finding your own unique communication style . Lean into your strengths, whether that’s adding an injection of humor or asking questions to make it interactive . To give a great presentation, you might even incorporate relevant props or presentation slides.

4. Storytelling

According to Forbes, audiences typically pay attention for about 10 minutes before tuning out . But you can lengthen their attention span by offering a presentation that interests them for longer. Include a narrative they’ll want to listen to, and tell a story as you go along. 

Shaping your content to follow a clear narrative can spark your audience’s curiosity and entice them to pay careful attention. You can use anecdotes from your personal or professional life that take your audience along through relevant moments. If you’re pitching a product, you can start with a problem and lead your audience through the stages of how your product provides a solution.

5. Voice projection

Although this skill may be obvious, you need your audience to hear what you’re saying. This can be challenging if you’re naturally soft-spoken and struggle to project your voice.

Remember to straighten your posture and take deep breaths before speaking, which will help you speak louder and fill the room. If you’re talking into a microphone or participating in a virtual meeting, you can use your regular conversational voice, but you still want to sound confident and self-assured with a strong tone.

If you’re unsure whether everyone can hear you, you can always ask the audience at the beginning of your speech and wait for confirmation. That way, they won’t have to potentially interrupt you later.

Ensuring everyone can hear you also includes your speed and annunciation. It’s easy to speak quickly when nervous, but try to slow down and pronounce every word. Mumbling can make your presentation difficult to understand and pay attention to.

microphone-presentation-skills

6. Verbal communication 

Although verbal communication involves your projection and tone, it also covers the language and pacing you use to get your point across. This includes where you choose to place pauses in your speech or the tone you use to emphasize important ideas.

If you’re giving a presentation on collaboration in the workplace , you might start your speech by saying, “There’s something every workplace needs to succeed: teamwork.” By placing emphasis on the word “ teamwork ,” you give your audience a hint on what ideas will follow.

To further connect with your audience through diction, pay careful attention to who you’re speaking to. The way you talk to your colleagues might be different from how you speak to a group of superiors, even if you’re discussing the same subject. You might use more humor and a conversational tone for the former and more serious, formal diction for the latter.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to presenting. Maybe you’re confident in your use of body language, but your voice projection needs work. Maybe you’re a great storyteller in small group settings, but need to work on your stage presence in front of larger crowds. 

The first step to improving presentation skills is pinpointing your gaps and determining which qualities to build upon first. Here are four tips for enhancing your presentation skills:

1. Build self-confidence

Confident people know how to speak with authority and share their ideas. Although feeling good about your presentation skills is easier said than done, building confidence is key to helping your audience believe in what you’re saying. Try practicing positive self-talk and continuously researching your topic's ins and outs.

If you don’t feel confident on the inside, fake it until you make it. Stand up straight, project your voice, and try your best to appear engaged and excited. Chances are, the audience doesn’t know you’re unsure of your skills — and they don’t need to.

Another tip is to lean into your slideshow, if you’re using one. Create something colorful and interesting so the audience’s eyes fall there instead of on you. And when you feel proud of your slideshow, you’ll be more eager to share it with others, bringing more energy to your presentation.

2. Watch other presentations

Developing the soft skills necessary for a good presentation can be challenging without seeing them in action. Watch as many as possible to become more familiar with public speaking skills and what makes a great presentation. You could attend events with keynote speakers or view past speeches on similar topics online.

Take a close look at how those presenters use verbal communication and body language to engage their audiences. Grab a notebook and jot down what you enjoyed and your main takeaways. Try to recall the techniques they used to emphasize their main points, whether they used pauses effectively, had interesting visual aids, or told a fascinating story.

woman-looking-at-video-from-tablet-while-cooking-dinner-presentation-skills

3. Get in front of a crowd

You don’t need a large auditorium to practice public speaking. There are dozens of other ways to feel confident and develop good presentation skills.

If you’re a natural comedian, consider joining a small stand-up comedy club. If you’re an avid writer, participate in a public poetry reading. Even music and acting can help you feel more comfortable in front of a crowd.

If you’d rather keep it professional, you can still work on your presentation skills in the office. Challenge yourself to participate at least once in every team meeting, or plan and present a project to become more comfortable vocalizing your ideas. You could also speak to your manager about opportunities that flex your public speaking abilities.

4. Overcome fear

Many people experience feelings of fear before presenting in front of an audience, whether those feelings appear as a few butterflies or more severe anxiety. Try grounding yourself to shift your focus to the present moment. If you’re stuck dwelling on previous experiences that didn’t go well, use those mistakes as learning experiences and focus on what you can improve to do better in the future.

Tips for dealing with presentation anxiety 

It’s normal to feel nervous when sharing your ideas. In fact, according to a report from the Journal of Graduate Medical Education, public speaking anxiety is prevalent in 15–30% of the general population .

Even though having a fear of public speaking is common, it doesn’t make it easier. You might feel overwhelmed, become stiff, and forget what you were going to say. But although the moment might scare you, there are ways to overcome the fear and put mind over matter.

Use these tactics to reduce your stress when you have to make a presentation:

1. Practice breathing techniques

If you experience anxiety often, you’re probably familiar with breathing techniques for stress relief . Incorporating these exercises into your daily routine can help you stop worrying and regulate anxious feelings. 

Before a big presentation, take a moment alone to practice breathing techniques, ground yourself, and reduce tension. It’s also a good idea to take breaths throughout the presentation to speak slower and calm yourself down .

2. Get organized

The more organized you are, the more prepared you’ll feel. Carefully outline all of the critical information you want to use in your presentation, including your main talking points and visual aids, so you don’t forget anything. Use bullet points and visuals on each slide to remind you of what you want to talk about, and create handheld notes to help you stay on track.

3. Embrace moments of silence

It’s okay to lose your train of thought. It happens to even the most experienced public speakers once in a while. If your mind goes blank, don’t panic. Take a moment to breathe, gather your thoughts, and refer to your notes to see where you left off. You can drink some water or make a quick joke to ease the silence or regain your footing. And it’s okay to say, “Give me a moment while I find my notes.” Chances are, people understand the position you’re in.

men-giving-conference-sitting-on-a-chair-with-microphone-presentation-skills

4. Practice makes progress

Before presenting, rehearse in front of friends and family members you trust. This gives you the chance to work out any weak spots in your speech and become comfortable communicating out loud. If you want to go the extra mile, ask your makeshift audience to ask a surprise question. This tests your on-the-spot thinking and will prove that you can keep cool when things come up.

Whether you’re new to public speaking or are a seasoned presenter, you’re bound to make a few slip-ups. It happens to everyone. The most important thing is that you try your best, brush things off, and work on improving your skills to do better in your next presentation.

Although your job may require a different level of public speaking than your favorite TED Talk , developing presentation skills is handy in any profession. You can use presentation skills in a wide range of tasks in the workplace, whether you’re sharing your ideas with colleagues, expressing concerns to higher-ups, or pitching strategies to potential clients.

Remember to use active listening to read the room and engage your audience with an interesting narrative. Don’t forget to step outside your comfort zone once in a while and put your skills to practice in front of a crowd. After facing your fears, you’ll feel confident enough to put presentation skills on your resume.

If you’re trying to build your skills and become a better employee overall, try a communications coach with BetterUp. 

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Elizabeth Perry, ACC

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

The significance of written communication in the workplace

The 11 tips that will improve your public speaking skills, the importance of good speech: 5 tips to be more articulate, learn types of gestures and their meanings to improve your communication, why it's good to have a bff at work and how to find one, what’s my earning potential determining the right salary, what is a career path definition, examples, and steps for paving yours, why we need to reframe potential into readiness, member story: developing communication skills and owning the spotlight, similar articles, how to write a speech that your audience remembers, 8 tip to improve your public speaking skills, impression management: developing your self-presentation skills, 30 presentation feedback examples, your guide to what storytelling is and how to be a good storyteller, how to give a good presentation that captivates any audience, 8 clever hooks for presentations (with tips), how to make a presentation interactive and exciting, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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20 Great Examples of PowerPoint Presentation Design [+ Templates]

Carly Williams

Published: January 17, 2024

When it comes to PowerPoint presentation design, there's no shortage of avenues you can take.

PowerPoint presentation examples graphic with computer monitor, person holding a megaphone, and a plant to signify growth.

While all that choice — colors, formats, visuals, fonts — can feel liberating, it‘s important that you’re careful in your selection as not all design combinations add up to success.

→ Free Download: 10 PowerPoint Presentation Templates [Access Now]

In this blog post, I’m sharing some of my favorite PowerPoint tips and templates to help you nail your next presentation.

Table of Contents

What makes a good PowerPoint presentation?

Powerpoint design ideas, best powerpoint presentation slides, good examples of powerpoint presentation design.

In my opinion, a great PowerPoint presentation gets the point across succinctly while using a design that doesn't detract from it.

Here are some of the elements I like to keep in mind when I’m building my own.

1. Minimal Animations and Transitions

Believe it or not, animations and transitions can take away from your PowerPoint presentation. Why? Well, they distract from the content you worked so hard on.

A good PowerPoint presentation keeps the focus on your argument by keeping animations and transitions to a minimum. I suggest using them tastefully and sparingly to emphasize a point or bring attention to a certain part of an image.

2. Cohesive Color Palette

I like to refresh my memory on color theory when creating a new PowerPoint presentation.

A cohesive color palette uses complementary and analogous colors to draw the audience’s attention and help emphasize certain aspects at the right time.

project vs presentation

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It‘s impossible for me to tell you the specific design ideas you should go after in your next PowerPoint, because, well, I don’t know what the goal of your presentation is.

Luckily, new versions of PowerPoint actually suggest ideas for you based on the content you're presenting. This can help you keep up with the latest trends in presentation design .

PowerPoint is filled with interesting boilerplate designs you can start with. To find these suggestions, open PowerPoint and click the “Design” tab in your top navigation bar. Then, on the far right side, you'll see the following choices:

project vs presentation

This simplistic presentation example employs several different colors and font weights, but instead of coming off as disconnected, the varied colors work with one another to create contrast and call out specific concepts.

What I like: The big, bold numbers help set the reader's expectations, as they clearly signify how far along the viewer is in the list of tips.

10. “Pixar's 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling,” Gavin McMahon

This presentation by Gavin McMahon features color in all the right places. While each of the background images boasts a bright, spotlight-like design, all the characters are intentionally blacked out.

What I like: This helps keep the focus on the tips, while still incorporating visuals. Not to mention, it's still easy for me to identify each character without the details. (I found you on slide eight, Nemo.)

11. “Facebook Engagement and Activity Report,” We Are Social

Here's another great example of data visualization in the wild.

What I like: Rather than displaying numbers and statistics straight up, this presentation calls upon interesting, colorful graphs, and charts to present the information in a way that just makes sense.

12. “The GaryVee Content Model,” Gary Vaynerchuk

This wouldn‘t be a true Gary Vaynerchuk presentation if it wasn’t a little loud, am I right?

What I like: Aside from the fact that I love the eye-catching, bright yellow background, Vaynerchuk does a great job of incorporating screenshots on each slide to create a visual tutorial that coincides with the tips. He also does a great job including a visual table of contents that shows your progress as you go .

13. “20 Tweetable Quotes to Inspire Marketing & Design Creative Genius,” IMPACT Branding & Design

We‘ve all seen our fair share of quote-chronicling presentations but that isn’t to say they were all done well. Often the background images are poor quality, the text is too small, or there isn't enough contrast.

Well, this professional presentation from IMPACT Branding & Design suffers from none of said challenges.

What I like: The colorful filters over each background image create just enough contrast for the quotes to stand out.

14. “The Great State of Design,” Stacy Kvernmo

This presentation offers up a lot of information in a way that doesn't feel overwhelming.

What I like: The contrasting colors create visual interest and “pop,” and the comic images (slides 6 through 12) are used to make the information seem less buttoned-up and overwhelming.

15. “Clickbait: A Guide To Writing Un-Ignorable Headlines,” Ethos3

Not going to lie, it was the title that convinced me to click through to this presentation but the awesome design kept me there once I arrived.

What I like: This simple design adheres to a consistent color pattern and leverages bullet points and varied fonts to break up the text nicely.

16. “Digital Transformation in 50 Soundbites,” Julie Dodd

This design highlights a great alternative to the “text-over-image” display we've grown used to seeing.

What I like: By leveraging a split-screen approach to each presentation slide, Julie Dodd was able to serve up a clean, legible quote without sacrificing the power of a strong visual.

17. “Fix Your Really Bad PowerPoint,” Slide Comet

When you‘re creating a PowerPoint about how everyone’s PowerPoints stink, yours had better be terrific. The one above, based on the ebook by Seth Godin, keeps it simple without boring its audience.

What I like: Its clever combinations of fonts, together with consistent color across each slide, ensure you're neither overwhelmed nor unengaged.

18. “How Google Works,” Eric Schmidt

Simple, clever doodles tell the story of Google in a fun and creative way. This presentation reads almost like a storybook, making it easy to move from one slide to the next.

What I like: This uncluttered approach provides viewers with an easy-to-understand explanation of a complicated topic.

19. “What Really Differentiates the Best Content Marketers From The Rest,” Ross Simmonds

Let‘s be honest: These graphics are hard not to love. I especially appreciate the author’s cartoonified self-portrait that closes out the presentation. Well played, Ross Simmonds.

What I like: Rather than employing the same old stock photos, this unique design serves as a refreshing way to present information that's both valuable and fun.

20. “Be A Great Product Leader,” Adam Nash

This presentation by Adam Nash immediately draws attention by putting the company's logo first — a great move if your company is well known.

What I like: He uses popular images, such as ones of Megatron and Pinocchio, to drive his points home. In the same way, you can take advantage of popular images and media to keep your audience engaged.

PowerPoint Presentation Examples for the Best Slide Presentation

Mastering a PowerPoint presentation begins with the design itself.

Get inspired by my ideas above to create a presentation that engages your audience, builds upon your point, and helps you generate leads for your brand.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in March 2013 and has been updated for comprehensiveness. This article was written by a human, but our team uses AI in our editorial process. Check out our full disclosure to learn more about how we use AI.

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Pitch Deck vs. Presentation — Which One Do You Need?

Understand the differences between a pitch deck and a presentation and choose the right tool for your business. Make impactful pitches with confidence.

project vs presentation

Hey there, curious folks! Today, we’re delving into an interesting topic all about how we talk and share stuff in the business world. Imagine you’re at a super cool showdown, and on one side, we’ve got the snazzy pitch deck . It’s like a super fancy way to introduce your business, meant to impress important folks like investors and partners. This is the special ticket that lets you join the world of getting money and working together.

Now, over in the other corner, we’ve got the handy presentation. It’s like a magical tool for telling people about ideas, giving updates, or telling stories. Whether it’s meetings or big events, it’s the thing you use to tell info in an exciting way. So, stick with us as we uncover the secrets of these communication champs and show you when and why to use them. Get ready to shine in how you talk about your business and know the details on the pitch deck vs. presentation !

What is a Pitch Deck?

A pitch deck is a visual presentation that provides a clear and concise overview of a business idea or project. It’s a set of slides that entrepreneurs, startups, or individuals use to showcase their concept, explain its value, outline the potential market opportunity, and demonstrate how the idea can grow and succeed. Pitch decks often attract investors, partners, or clients by presenting a compelling and engaging story about the business or project. They serve as a powerful communication tool to convey the key points and benefits of the idea in a visually appealing and organized manner.

You require a pitch deck when you’re ready to present your business idea to potential investors, partners, or clients. This tool is essential for securing funding, forming partnerships, winning clients, participating in startup competitions, networking events, and even communicating within your organization. A pitch deck serves as a concise, visually appealing way to showcase your idea’s value, potential, and benefits, making it indispensable for effectively conveying your concept to interested parties.

What is Presentation?

A presentation is a formal and organized way of sharing information, ideas, or concepts with an audience. It involves using various visual aids, such as slides, images, and sometimes spoken words, to effectively convey a message and engage the listeners. Presentations can occur in various settings, including classrooms, boardrooms, conferences, and public events.

You will need a presentation when you want to communicate your thoughts, information, or proposals in a structured and engaging manner to an audience. This could be during educational sessions, business meetings, sales pitches, project updates, workshops, or when delivering speeches. Presentations help you explain complex ideas, influence decisions, share progress, and connect with your audience, making them an essential tool for effective communication in many professional and educational scenarios.

What are the Main Differences Between a Presentation and a Pitch Deck?

Let’s bring out the spotlight and examine the differences between these two superstars.

  • Pitch Deck: It is a dazzling jewel designed to attract the attention of potential investors or partners. It’s laser-focused on showcasing your business’s potential to win financial support and collaborative alliances.
  • Presentation: It is your chameleon communicator. It can take on different roles, whether it’s sharing vital info, swaying opinions, teaching new concepts, or simply giving your audience an enjoyable time.
  • Pitch Deck: Bring out the pitch deck when you’re in a formal setting, pitching your groundbreaking idea to investors who might just fund your dreams. It’s like your eloquent advocate in the world of business deals.
  • Presentation: Whether you’re in a team huddle, a packed seminar, or a cozy workshop, presentations are your reliable companions. They thrive in various settings, delivering information, sparking discussions, or adding flair to an event.
  • Pitch Deck: Short and snappy, like a teaser that leaves your audience craving more. It’s about capturing attention, hitting key points, and keeping things concise.
  • Presentation: Length isn’t set in stone here. Presentations can be a quick chat or a deep dive, depending on what you’re sharing and the time you have. Flexibility is the name of the game.

Audience Focus:

  • Pitch Deck: This one’s like Cupid’s arrow, aimed straight at the hearts of investors or potential partners. It’s all about convincing them that your business is worth their time, money, and trust.
  • Presentation: Your audience is the star here. A good presentation adjusts its tone, language, and content to match what your audience knows, cares about, and wants to hear.

Creation Process:

  • Pitch Deck: Crafting a pitch deck is like preparing a show-stopping performance. You carefully curate content and visuals that paint a compelling picture of your business’s potential and evoke excitement and interest from your potential backers.
  • Presentation: Creating a presentation involves a balanced mix of art and science. You gather your key points, pair them with visuals that reinforce your message, and practice your delivery to keep your audience engaged from start to finish. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between content and showmanship.

Pitch Deck vs. Presentation — At What Stage Do You Need Them?

Both pitch decks and presentations are tools used to communicate ideas and information effectively, but they serve different purposes and are typically used at different stages.

Pitch Deck: ‍

A pitch deck is specifically designed to present and promote a business idea, startup, or project to potential investors, partners, or clients. It’s a focused and visually appealing presentation that highlights the key elements of the idea’s value proposition, market opportunity, and growth potential. You need a pitch deck when you’re seeking financial support, partnerships, or clients for your business venture. It’s crucial during the early stages when you’re trying to generate interest and secure resources to bring your idea to fruition.

Presentation:

On the other hand, a presentation is a broader term that encompasses sharing information, concepts, or proposals in various settings. Presentations can be used at different stages of a project, business, or educational endeavor. They are needed whenever you want to convey a message, provide updates, educate an audience, or influence decisions. Presentations can occur during team meetings, conferences, educational lectures, workshops, project reviews, and more. They serve as a way to inform, engage, and persuade audiences in a wide range of contexts.

In summary, a pitch deck is a specialized type of presentation that is particularly relevant when you’re looking to attract support for a business idea, while presentations in general, are used whenever you need to communicate information or ideas effectively across different scenarios and stages.

How Can PitchBob Help To Create a Pitch Deck and Presentation?

Now, imagine a friendly assistant that makes your life easier — that’s where PitchBob enters the scene. While PitchBob specializes in crafting impressive pitch decks, it offers a helping hand that curates captivating content, designs compelling visuals, and arranges your business story in a way that keeps your audience hooked.

As for presentations, you’ll need to flex your creative muscles a bit, but fear not! PitchBob’s dynamic features and templates can still be a valuable resource as you build your informative and engaging presentations.

And there you have it, the tale of two communication powerhouses: pitch deck vs. presentation . Remember, each has its unique role and purpose, playing off each other to make your business communications a symphony of success. Whether aiming to win investors’ hearts or enlighten minds, you have the tools you need to shine. So, go ahead and create captivating pitch decks and engaging presentations — the stage is yours!

Founder 2

Disruptive Partners OÜ Harju maakond, Tallinn, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tornimäe tn 3 / 5 / 7, 10145

PitchBob, Inc 2261 Market Street #10281 San Francisco, CA 94114

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How can I add a reference to PresentationCore in Visual Studio 2019?

How can I add a reference to PresentationCore to an existing .NET 5 class library?

enter image description here

Set TargetFramework and UseWPF :

Clemens's user avatar

  • Excellent! Thank you! ... Researching your answer I also found the following hint: learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/core/project-sdk/… –  AxD Commented Jan 22, 2021 at 14:10
  • Note that since .NET 5 you don't need to set Microsoft.NET.Sdk.WindowsDesktop (as it was necessary for older .NET Core versions). Microsoft.NET.Sdk is sufficient. –  Clemens Commented Jan 22, 2021 at 14:19
  • 2 The "-windows" prefix is absolutely necessary. Setting UseWPF to true without specifying the target framework OS is not enough (net5.0 or 6.0, which is the default value, will not do). –  Thern Commented Aug 27, 2023 at 16:14
  • @Thern You mean the -windows suffix in the <TargetFramework> ? That's of course necessary, as shown in the answer, because WPF only runs on Windows. Not sure what you are trying say. –  Clemens Commented Aug 27, 2023 at 16:27
  • 1 Yes, I just wanted to emphasize this, as I stumbled upon this solution, added <UseWPF>true<UseWPF>, and it still didn't work. Only afterwards I saw that my target framework value was net6.0, not net6.0-windows. That's why I put some emphasis on this because someone else might overlook this as I did. –  Thern Commented Aug 27, 2023 at 17:43

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project vs presentation

60 Effective PowerPoint Presentation Tips & Tricks (Giant List)

Here's a PowerPoint presentation tips and tricks guide that takes you through how to make a good PowerPoint presentation.

PowerPoint Presentation Tips

The best PowerPoint presentations shouldn’t be remembered. Instead, they should fall into the background to support you and the message you’re trying to get across.

Unlike good PowerPoint presentations , bad PowerPoint presentations are a distraction. You may remember them, but not in a good way.

You’ve seen them before. They might have millions of lines of text. Or a disjointed flow to the slides. Even worse, some slides feature ugly photos and poor design that detract from the message you’re trying to get across. That can even hurt your credibility as a professional or speaker.

Office Workers Doing Presentation

This article will take you from finding your initial topic to learning how to make a great PowerPoint presentation. Our guide covers everything in between so that you learn how to present a PowerPoint like a pro.

These Microsoft PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines are organized into sections. So cut straight to the advice you need and come back when you’re ready for the next steps.

Guide to Making Great Presentations (Free eBook Download)

Making Great Business Presentations eBook promo

Also, download our Free eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It’s the deepest resource for learning effective presentation skills for a PPT.

This eBook covers the complete presentation process. It takes the PowerPoint tips and tricks you learn in this article further. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully. It’s another great source for presentation design tips.

Master PowerPoint (Free Course): 15 Essential Tips

This article is full of helpful tips so you can build a powerful presentation. You can also find more PowerPoint tips in this video lesson:

To learn even more about how to make a PowerPoint look good, review the huge list of tips below.

What Makes a PowerPoint Presentation Effective?

Knowing how to use PowerPoint and work within it quickly is helpful. But more important is making a good presentation that hits all your goals. A great PowerPoint presentation is:

  • Prepared to Win . Research, plan, and prepare your presentation professionally. It helps you deliver an effective message to your target audience.
  • Designed Correctly . Your visual points should stand out without overwhelming your audience. A good PowerPoint visual shouldn’t complicate your message.
  • Practiced to Perfection . Rehearse your timing and delivery so that your points land as practiced with a live audience.
  • Delivered With Poise . Present with a relaxed inner calm and confident outward projection. Give your audience warmth, excitement, and energy.
  • Free From Mistakes . Avoid typos, cheesy clip art, and mistakes like reading directly from your slides.

Consider this your all-inclusive guide to how to make a good presentation. We’ll look at preparing your presentation and explore how to design it in PowerPoint. Plus, we’ll cover how to practice and nail your delivery successfully come presentation time.

We’ll also address what not to do in these tips for PowerPoint presentations—so you can sidestep any big mistakes. Now let’s dig into these tips for effective PowerPoint presentations.

Killer Presentation Preparation Tips to Get Started Right

Before even opening PowerPoint, start by addressing these things. These Microsoft PowerPoint tips and tricks will ensure that you’re prepared for your presentation:

1. Know Your Stuff

Your presentation isn’t about your slides alone. It’s about the message you want to get across. Before filling in stats, facts and figures, think about the narrative that’ll be discussed, why, and in what order.

2. Write It Out

Start in a Word or Google doc, and storyboard or script the entire presentation. This will give you an idea of how the information presented will flow and how viewers will see it in sequence. Learn the complete writing process .

3. Highlight What’s Most Important

A presentation covers the most crucial pieces only. Whatever you’ve been working on that led to this—a paper, a work project, a new product design—doesn’t need to be shared in its entirety. Pick key points and put the rest in an “Appendix” to refer to during the Q&A session at the end.

4. Know Your Audience

How you talk to a room full of medical professionals should be different from the way you address a room full of young entrepreneurs. Everything, in fact, is different: your topic selection, the language you use, the examples you give to illustrate points. The little bits of humor you include should be tailored specifically with your target audience in mind.

Understand your audience’s needs to create a successful PowerPoint presentation. Customize your content to meet their specific requirements.

5. Rehearse! (Yes, Already)

It’s never too early to get used to the rhythm of your presentation and take note of points you want to emphasize. While saying it out loud, you’ll start to develop a “feel” for the material. You’ll notice that some things work well, while others don’t and might need to be worked around.

6. Rewrite After You Rehearse

As you’re rehearsing your presentation, you’re bound to stumble over sections that don’t quite flow naturally. Instead of reworking your delivery, it might be time to consider the content and rewrite the areas that served as stumbling blocks.

“Editing is hard. ‘It’s good enough,’ is a phrase wannabes use. Leaders take editing seriously.” – Anthony Trendl

The most important part of creating a great presentation is the writing stage. The second most important stage is rewriting.

7. Share With a Friend

If the stakes are high for your presentation, it’s never too early to get feedback from those that you trust. Here’s an article that helps you collaborate as a team on a PowerPoint presentation. Get PowerPoint design tips from those that you trust when you collaborate.

Simple Tips to Design Your PowerPoint Presentation Better

Second only to you (the information you bring and how you present it) is your PowerPoint slides. If not designed well, a PowerPoint can be disengaging or distracting (regardless of the content quality). Here are some presentation design tips to make sure this doesn’t happen to you:

8. Keep Your Slides Simple

This is one of the most important PowerPoint presentation tips to follow when designing your slides. Keep in mind that less is more (effective.) A cluttered slide is distracting. It causes confusion for an audience: Which part of the slide should I focus on? Should I read the slide or pay attention to the presenter?

A simple, visually appealing slide will engage your audience, keeping them on track with your main points. Here’s an example of a simple slide that serves its purpose perfectly:

Nook - Minimal Powerpoint Template

Minimalist slide templates like Nook can help you resist the urge to clutter your slides.

9. Limit Words on Your Slides

Piggybacking on the last point, less is more effective. If possible, avoid bullets altogether. Otherwise cut them to just a few simple words. The audience should be listening, not reading.

10. Use High-Quality Photos and Graphics

One of the most important tips for quality PowerPoint presentations is to use high-quality photos and graphics.

Earlier in this tutorial, you saw Envato Elements, an all-you-can-download service with PPT tips inside of templates. Those pre-built designs are a beginner’s best friend. They’re even better when paired with Elements’ unlimited library of stock photos .

People are more likely to take you seriously if your presentation is visually appealing. Users view attractive design as more usable. Similarly, they’ll view a more attractive PowerPoint as more effective.

11. Use Accurate and Relevant Charts and Graphs

Charts and graphs can also be distracting if they’re not used right. Make sure your information design is simple and clean so that the audience doesn’t spend the entire time trying to decipher what your X axis says. Learn more about PPT data presentation .

12. Use High-Quality, Fresh Templates

Have you seen the old PowerPoint template that looks like worn paper and uses ink splashes? Yeah, so has your audience. Templates can be distracting if they’re too basic or if the design feels dated. You need one with great design options.

Costs are always a concern. But when you use Envato Elements, you’ve got everything you need to create a great PowerPoint presentation . That’s thanks to the incredible all-you-can-download subscription package.

The best PowerPoint tips and tricks can hardly compare to the value of using a template while building your presentation.

On Envato Elements, there are thousands of PowerPoint design templates that are ready to use. Instead of designing a presentation from scratch, start with a template! Just add your specifics to the placeholders.

Galaxi Powerpoint Template

Templates like Galaxi are impressively designed and waiting for your slide specifics.

The best PowerPoint design tips save you time. And there’s no tip more powerful than this one: use a pre-built template . It helps you master how to present a PowerPoint without spending all your time in the app.

13. Choose Appropriate Fonts

Fonts are an important part of engaging your audience. Fonts and typography choices have a subconscious effect on viewers. They can characterize your company’s presentation and brand either positively or negatively. Make sure that you’re choosing fonts that are professional and modern.

14. Choose Color Well

Like font choice, colors cause specific subconscious reactions from viewers. Choosing an outdated color combination for your presentation will render it ineffective.

Below is an example of the Popsicle PowerPoint template , which has a modern presentation color choice:

Popsicle - Colorful Powerpoint Template

The Popsicle PowerPoint template highlights how harmonized color palettes can create beautiful slides.

15. Clean + Simple Formatting Makes All the Difference!

We’ve got a full tutorial on how to make a good presentation slide . Give it a read through and review the accompanying video. Just remember, less is more. The focus is you and your message , not your slides.

16. Make Sure All Objects Are Aligned

A simple way to create a well-designed presentation is to make sure all items on a slide are intentionally aligned. To do this, hold down Shift and select all the objects you want to include. Then choose Arrange in the options bar and apply Alignment Type .

17. Limit Punctuation

This isn’t the place for exclamation points. Emphasize your points (while speaking). Don’t enlist punctuation to do this for you. (Leave these at home!!!)

18. Avoid Over-Formatting Your Points

This PowerPoint presentation tip is simple. There’s no need to have every word of every bullet point capitalized, or to have all your bullet points in title case. If possible, drop bullets altogether. Again, the simpler, the better!

Limit your text formatting, including reducing the use of bullets, underline, and other effects. Compare the before example on the left to the revised version on the right.

over-formatted vs simple text

19. Combine Information With Graphics in PowerPoint

One of the most powerful presentation skills for PPT is using infographics. With the right type of visuals, slides come to life and reduce the text in favor of graphics.

Infographics help combine information with graphics. It’s easier to explain complex ideas when you use visual formats that are intuitive.

Practice Presentation Tips: Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse!

Delivery is probably more important than the actual content. Here’s how to become more aware of your own unique ticks, and how to present like a polished pro:

20. I’ll Say It Again, Rehearse!

Just do it. Again and again. Experiment with pauses, gestures, and body language. Practice around one hour for every minute of your speech.

21. Practice With a Timer

Consistency is key to an effective PowerPoint presentation. The timing should be similar (ideally the same) each time you rehearse. This one will especially pay off when it’s time to present in front of your audience.

22. Slow It Down

Many of the best speakers today intentionally speak slowly. You’ll have the chance to emphasize, appear more thoughtful, and make your information easier to digest.

23. Pause More Often

Like the prior tip, pausing more often allows your main points to be emphasized and gives time for information to sink in. You need to let key points breathe a little before rushing into the next section.

24. Record Yourself

Use your phone’s voice recorder. Assess and critique yourself. Consider:

  • Are your pauses too short or too long?
  • Are you speaking slowly enough? Too slow?
  • When you’re nervous, does your voice get high like the mice in Cinderella?

record yourself presenting

It’s always weird to hear your own voice recorded; don’t stress it. Use this as a time to adjust.

25. Choose Three Focal Points in the Room

If you stare at the same spot (or even creepier, the same person) the entire time, your presentation will be ineffective (and awkward.) People will be distracted by you, wondering what you’re staring at.

Try this: pick three points in the room (typically: left, center, right). Take time to direct your delivery toward each physical focal point in the room. Also, focus on the center when making your primary points.

26. Vary Your Sentence Length

This makes you sound more interesting, and it’s easier for your audience to follow. Think short and punchy. Or go long and complex for dramatic effect.

27. Modulate!

Don’t speak in monotone for your whole presentation. Be conscious of raising and lowering your voice tone. Otherwise, people will tune you out, and you’ll come across like the teacher in Charlie Brown.

28. Practice in Front of a Mirror

What you look like is as important as how you sound. Pretend you’re having a normal conversation, and allow your hands to move with your speech to emphasize your points. Just don’t get carried away! (I’m thinking Brene Brown or President Obama , not your Aunt Jamie after a few gin and tonics.)

29. Use “Present Mode” When Rehearsing

When you finally are ready to hit the Present button in PowerPoint, make sure you use the Present Mode option. This allows you (and only you) to view extra notes about each slide—just in case you forget something!

30. Practice With New Audiences

If possible, try doing a few real live test runs as a webinar or even at a local Toastmasters organization to get some feedback from a live audience.

31. Engage the Audience by Asking Questions

There’s no reason that a presentation should be one-sided. Why not invert the format and ask your audience a question?

To learn how to create a slide that kicks off a Q&A, use this article . These PowerPoint design tips help you create an engaging and exciting discussion.

Helpful Tips to Step Up and Deliver Come Presentation Time

When the actual day arrives, there are only a few last PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines to keep in mind:

32. Take a Deep Breath

Deep breathing is proven to relieve stress. It’s simple, and it’ll help you remain calm and in the moment, even up to the last minute before starting.

33. Lighten Up Your Mood

Tell yourself a joke or watch a funny video clip. Do this before the presentation, of course. Research concludes that happy people are more productive. More productive is more focused and able to perform better.

34. Remind Yourself to Take It Slow

When we’re stressed or nervous (or both), we tend to speak faster. Consciously, take yet another deep breath and remind yourself to take it slow!

35. Read the Room

Every presentation room has a temperature. It’s your job as a speaker to gauge it and tailor your presentation to it.

Here’s a great example. Layoffs are coming at a company, and you’re asked to speak to an audience. Even if the audience isn’t personally affected by the actions, you’ve got to consider the morale of the workforce.

read the room

Skilled speakers have a knack for reading the energy of the room and adjusting their presentation on the fly.

The last thing that group will want to hear is how strong the economy is and why the company is the best place to work. That doesn’t mean that you’ve got to align to their uncertainty, but don’t go too far against the grain while presenting.

Robert Kennedy III is a master of bringing energy and aligning a speech to the audience. Here’s his advice for adjusting:

“It can be hard to wake up a “dead” crowd but go for it. Most of all, don’t take their energy personally. Focus on serving them with every bit of your fiber then leave empty.”

36. Fake It ‘Til You Make It!

Go forward with confidence. If you act confident, you’ll start to feel more confident. Move slowly with grace, speak clearly, smile, wear something nice. You’ll appear confident to all attendees (no matter how you feel internally).

PowerPoint Presentation Tips and Tricks to Help Avoid Mistakes (What Not to Do)

Most importantly, focus on what you can do to make your presentation better. There are a few important things not to do that we’ve got to address. Here are a handful of PowerPoint presentation tips and tricks to help you avoid missteps.

37. Stop With the Sound Effects

Sound effects are distracting and outdated. In most cases, avoid them. Add audio or music to your presentation to inject interest or highlight an important point, but it’s something to take extra care with. If you insert audio, then make sure your use really connects with your audience and has a fresh approach. Otherwise, it’s best to leave it out.

38. Don’t Use Flashy Slide Transitions

Again, this is distracting and outdated. Use transitions and subtle animations in your PowerPoint presentation. But you need to take care and do it right .

39. Beware of Clip Art

This PowerPoint presentation tip shouldn’t even have to be said. But please, please don’t use clip art. Use professional graphics instead.

40. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Afraid

The fear of public speaking is a real one. Many beginners think that if they’re feeling nervous that a presentation won’t go well or succeed. That might lead them to cancel the presentation.

Here’s a tip from expert Sandra Zimmer, who leads The Self-Expression Center on conquering your fears before you take the stage:

“Get out of your head and into your body. I do this through a grounding exercise that really works to calm nerves and bring you present in the moment.”

If you think that public speaking fears aren’t normal, you might never give your award-winning presentation. So don’t be afraid to be afraid, and acknowledge it’s part of the process!

41. Don’t Read Directly During Your PowerPoint Presentation

If you spend your entire presentation looking at the screen or your note cards, you’re sure to lose your audience’s attention. They’ll disengage from what you’re saying, and your presentation will fall flat.

Reading from your paper or screen also makes it look like you’re not prepared. Many people do it, but no one should. As a general rule, only present something you know well and have, at least mostly, memorized the main points of.

42. Don’t Miss Out on PowerPoint Customizations

Many new PowerPoint users often make significant mistakes when using Envato Elements designs.

The best way to see how to make a good presentation PPT is to start with designs from others. That means using a template, but that doesn’t mean you can’t customize them!

Haluiva : Pitch Deck Keynote Template

Don’t forget that PowerPoint templates are infinitely customizable. Think of them as guides with built-in presentation design tips.

To see more presentation tips that show you what not to do, make sure to check out our guide .

Work in PowerPoint More Effectively (Tips & Tricks to Level Up Your PPT Skills)

These PowerPoint tips will help you get the most out of the application to level up your next presentation. Let’s dive in.

43. Use the Visual Guides

When you’re designing your next PowerPoint presentation, it helps to create a sense of visual rhythm. Slides that have objects aligned and centered are more likely to resonate with an audience.

44. Use a Few Animations (Tastefully)

Animations in effective PowerPoint presentations are a slippery slope. We’ve all sat through presentations where there were so many objects in motion that it was easy to lose focus on the key ideas in the presentation.

But that’s why animations get an unfairly bad reputation. Use animations to create motion and hold an audience’s attention. Use them sparingly and on key elements on your slide, and you’ll capture that attention properly.

45. Stage Key Content With Animations

You just learned that animations should avoid being distracting. But there’s an important principle to using animations properly. It’s called staging content.

Staging content means that the content appears step by step. There’s nothing worse than overwhelming an audience with all your content at once. But when you stage content, bring it on step by step.

Take it from presentation pro Suzannah Baum :

“If you’re sharing a slide with lots of different points on it, using the animation to reveal those points one at a time is a way to keep the presenter’s content flowing smoothly.”

For more animation presentation tips and tricks, follow our guide .

46. Add a Video to Your PowerPoint

When you’re sharing a big idea in your presentation, it helps to share your perspective from a few different angles. Adding a video to supplement your content can do just that. Luckily, it’s easy to add and embed a YouTube video in your next PowerPoint presentation.

47. Add Charts & Graphs

Charts and graphs can help you tell stories with data. It’s easy for an audience to zone out when you throw a big data table or set of statistics at them.

instead, convert those to charts and graphs. Try out our tutorial to learn how to edit those graphs.

48. Build Your Own Infographics With SmartArt

Earlier in this tutorial, we gave you one of my favorite PowerPoint design tips: use infographic templates.

Here’s another. One of my favorite PowerPoint features is SmartArt, which allows you to build infographics right inside the app.

You don’t have to use another graphic design app like Photoshop or Illustrator to add visuals. Instead, try out SmartArt to help you build graphics that are easy to update.

49. Use Presenter View

Remember that when you use the PowerPoint, you’ re the presentation. The slides are just there to reinforce what you’ve got to say and support your speaking points.

That’s why I always recommend using Presenter view. More often than not, you’re going to have several displays. Presenter view shows your content on your screen, while your presentation is displayed on another screen.

50. Track Your PowerPoint Changes

One of my favorite PowerPoint design tips is to collaborate. Those who know you best will suggest compelling changes that are sure to help you succeed.

As you start collaborating on your presentation, it helps to keep track of proposed and included PowerPoint changes. Use this article to track changes made by others.

10 More Advanced PowerPoint Tips & Tricks

Really need to wow an audience with a good PowerPoint presentation? Give these tips a try to make an unforgettable impression:

51. Engage With an Interactive Quiz

A good PowerPoint presentation gets your audience involved. One of the best PowerPoint tricks is to do that with a quiz. By engaging audiences, a quiz makes your slides memorable.

MIDTEST - Education Quiz Powerpoint Presentation

By adding trivia, you’ll see how to present a PowerPoint in a way that people will love. Channel your inner game-show host today. MIDTEST is a  good PowerPoint presentation  with quiz slides.

52. Illustrate With Custom Image Masks

One of the top PowerPoint tips is to illustrate your slides. But you can go beyond simple, rectangular images on each slide.

BURTE - Powerpoint Template

The Burte template is full of  PowerPoint tricks , including custom image masks. Image masks shape photos into unique works of art. And thanks to premium templates, you can style photos just like this. Masks overlay your photos onto geometric shapes, instantly elevating your style.

53. Print Handouts With Extra Notes

Wonder how to give a good presentation PPT that audiences will remember? Give them a piece of it to take home.

PowerPoint makes it easy to print handouts with room for notes on the page. This way, audiences can keep copies of your slides, along with their own notes. This is the perfect way to ensure everyone engages with and retains your content.

54. Make Bulk Edits With Master Slides

When you think about how to present a PowerPoint, consider your branding. That means keeping your logo front and center in the eyes of an audience. But if you’re working with a lengthy slide deck, this could seem daunting.

That’s where master slides come in. They’re common in premium layouts, and they’re a leading example of presentation skills for PPT. Master slides let you make bulk edits fast.

55. Shrink File Sizes for Sharing

Many of the top presentation tips involve making your slides more accessible. Often, that involves sharing them with audiences online.

You’ll often find that email clients and cloud services limit the size of files that you share. This can be a problem with large PPT slide decks. But there are a few quick steps you can take to reduce PPT file size. Cut graphics, scale down photos, and more.

56. Map Processes With Flowcharts

As you consider how to do a good PowerPoint presentation, think of ease of understanding. After all, you’re trying to explain something to your audience.

Infographics Multipurpose Powerpoint

The  Flowcharts in Infographics  template seamlessly illustrates ideas and processes. A flowchart maps out a process in a visual way. Instead of resorting to endless narration, try a quick illustration like this. It saves you time and effort, and your audience is sure to thank you.

57. Use Brand-Specific Colors

Using presentation skills for PPT helps form an association between your message and branding. There’s no better way to do that than with your brand colors.

PowerPoint makes it easy to change color themes, adding your brand colors and logo to each slide. This is one of the top PowerPoint tricks for marketing presentations.

58. Build Social Media Posts in PPT

A good PowerPoint presentation doesn’t have to be shared through a projector. Use the app and templates to build amazing illustrations to use anywhere.

Soffee - Social Media CoffeeShop Presentations

A template like Soffee helps you learn how to present a PowerPoint easily with a pre-built design.

Try using PowerPoint to create social media posts. It helps you engage with your audience, with no need to design custom layouts from scratch.

59. Be Industry-Specific

One of the top presentation tips in 2024 is to be industry-specific. That means avoiding generic layouts and choosing something more customized.

This offers two key advantages. First, you save time by having layouts built for you. Second, you gain design inspiration for your specific topic. Themed templates are truly the best of both worlds.

Medical and Health Powerpoint Template

The Medical and Health template is a good PowerPoint presentation with a set theme.

60. Design for Online (Virtual) Sharing

Last but not least in our list of PowerPoint tips comes virtual presenting. More and more often, slides will be shared with online audiences around the globe.

Why not design your slides for that very purpose? And then learn how to share flawlessly with a global team? It’s one of the top presentation tips for 2024. Embrace it today.

More Great PowerPoint Tutorial Resources

We’ve built a resource for Microsoft PowerPoint that you’re sure to want to try. It includes countless PowerPoint tips and tricks. It’s called How to Use PowerPoint (Ultimate Tutorial Guide) and has all the PowerPoint design tips you need.

Discover More Top PowerPoint Template Designs From Envato Elements for 2024

You’ve just seen our favorite powerful PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines to help you improve your speaking. We’ve also mentioned Envato Elements, an incredible all-you-can-download source for top PowerPoint designs .

Here are five of the best PowerPoint templates that you can use to create your best presentation yet:

1. Galaxi PowerPoint Template

Blast off to success with the help of this PowerPoint template! Think of the pre-built slide designs as pro PowerPoint design tips. They’re built by professional graphic designers. All the popular and modern slide styles that are perfect for your next presentation. Use Galaxi’s five styles and 30 designs to create a great presentation.

2. Masmax PowerPoint Template

Masmax Powerpoint Template

We selected templates for this article that match the PowerPoint tips and tricks provided. Masmax fits the bill perfectly across its 234 unique slide designs. These slide designs are sure to align with the latest in design expectations.

3. STYLE Multipurpose PowerPoint Template V50

STYLE - Multipurpose PowerPoint Template V50

Style is subjective, but we can all agree that this template is stunning! The light and airy slide designs are built with fashion-focused designs in mind. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not perfect for most presentations. When learning to present a PowerPoint, remember that templates can be customized to suit your purpose.

4. Peachme Creative PowerPoint Template

Peachme Creative Powerpoint Template

Peachme has image-focused slides with splashy designs. The slides are colorful and perfect for a modern presentation. Don’t worry about remembering all the PowerPoint design tips because they’re included in the pre-built slides. Use Peachme’s designs for your presentation today.

5. Buizi Office Building Rent PowerPoint Template

Buizi - Office Building Rent Powerpoint Template

Buizi markets itself as a real estate focused template. It’s ideal for that purpose because of the minimal, image-focused slide designs. But that also makes it a perfect choice for presentations in many fields.

We’ve just scratched the surface of PowerPoint design tips with these five options. Here are many more, bundled inside of the best roundups on Envato Tuts+:

How to Build a Good PowerPoint Presentation Quickly (In 2024)

You’ve already seen effective presentation skills PPT techniques. But you may be wondering exactly how to do a good PowerPoint presentation. It only takes a few clicks. Let’s learn how in just five steps.

For this mini-tutorial, we’ll use the Enjoy PowerPoint Template from Envato Elements. You’ll see that it’s a beautiful template that helps you learn how to present a PowerPoint by giving you every object and layout you need.

project vs presentation

Let’s get started:

1. Choose Your Slides

As you can see, a template like Enjoy has dozens of unique slides inside. The key to how to give a good presentation PPT is to choose only the slides that you need.

select slides

One of the best PowerPoint tricks is to start by selecting slides you wish to use from your template.

In PowerPoint, scroll through the sidebar on the left to view different slide layouts. Right-click and choose Delete to remove unwanted designs. Plus, you can click and drag slide thumbnails to reorder them in the deck.

2. Add Text

Consider how to do a good PowerPoint presentation without investing a ton of time. That’s where premium templates come in.

add text

One of our top presentation tips when working with a PPT is to lean on the pre-built text boxes for your content.

To add custom text, simply click and select the contents of any text box on your slide. Then, type in your own words. Repeat as needed throughout your slide deck.

3. Customize Fonts

With text selected, it’s easy to customize fonts on each slide. Find the Font section on PowerPoint’s Home tab. From there, you’ve got a variety of dropdown options.

customize fonts

Another of our top tips for presentation tricks is to use a custom font setting in your template.

Click to change the font, font size, and more. You can also use the buttons on the left to add bolds, italics, and more.

Need more custom font styles? As an Envato Elements subscriber, you’ve got instant access to thousands of custom fonts . Use them in your presentation with ease.

4. Insert Images

Slides like this one contain an image placeholder. That’s another advantage found only with premium templates. These make adding images a breeze.

insert images

Add images to your PPTX template for more visually interesting slides.

To get started, find an image file stored on your computer. Then, drag and drop it over the placeholder. PowerPoint will import it, sized and scaled for a perfect fit.

5. Change Colors

One of the top effective presentation skills is changing shape colors. This helps you control the look and feel of each slide.

change colors

With a shape selected, find the Shape Format tab on PowerPoint’s ribbon. Then, click on the Shape Fill dropdown. You’ll see a color chooser menu appear. Click on any thumbnail to apply it to the shape or browse through the Gradient and Texture options.

Start Putting These PowerPoint Presentation Tips & Tricks Into Use Today!

Learning to write, design, and present a PowerPoint presentation is an invaluable skill, no matter where you use it. If you’re a good communicator of important messages, you’ll never go hungry.

Luckily, improving PowerPoint presentations isn’t as hard as it seems. Follow these tips for PowerPoint presentations to design and deliver with greater confidence.

Remember: Less is more (effective) . Use PowerPoint presentation templates for better design and more effective visual impact. And you can customize a PPT template quickly , with the right workflow.

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3 Group Presentation Pitfalls — and How to Avoid Them

  • Allison Shapira

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Strategies for a polished, unified final product.

Putting together an effective group presentation takes teamwork and coordination so it doesn’t look like a patchwork quilt. And yet, many of us never budget the time to fully prepare. The author outlines some of the common mistakes people make in group presentations and offers best practices to keep you on track. 

Many of us have experienced poor group presentations. If you’re giving one, it’s the last-minute scramble the night before to decide who is presenting which part of the presentation. If you’re observing one, it’s the chaos of hearing multiple people talking over one another or, even worse, simply reading their slides word-for-word and ignoring their audience. 

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  • Allison Shapira teaches “The Arts of Communication” at the Harvard Kennedy School and is the Founder/CEO of Global Public Speaking, a training firm that helps emerging and established leaders to speak clearly, concisely, and confidently. She is the author of the new book, Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others (HarperCollins Leadership).

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Google Slides vs PowerPoint: Full Comparison Guide for 2024

Google Slides vs PowerPoint: Full Comparison Guide for 2024

Written by: Brian Nuckols

project vs presentation

Last Updated: 07/04/2024

The biggest difference between PowerPoint and Google Slides is that PowerPoint is an offline, downloadable tool created by Microsoft Windows while Google Slides is an online-only tool offered as part of the Google Workspace.

But the big question here is which of the two presentation software is better for your presentations?

In this guide, we’re going to compare the two popular presentation tools to help you choose the best for creating and editing presentations—as well as introduce a new option into the mix.

Choose the feature that you’re most interested in from the navigation below and find out which option is best for your presentation needs.

Let’s get into it.

Jump to the Section You Want

What is google slides, what is microsoft powerpoint.

  • Comparison Point #1: Features
  • Comparison Point #2: Templates
  • Comparison Point #3: Cost
  • Comparison Point #5: Online vs. Offline Performance
  • Comparison Point #6: Teamwork & Collaboration
  • Comparison Point #7: Storage & Backup
  • Comparison Point #8: Embedding

Google Slides vs. PowerPoint FAQs

Google Slides is a free presentation software included in the Google Drive service suite. Perhaps you’ve heard about some of the strengths of Google Slides as a presentation tool, but if you’re not quite sure how to use it, read on.

project vs presentation

There are a few aspects of Google Slides that make it a unique presentation software.

First, Google built Google Slides to work in your browser as opposed to directly on your device. This browser-based functionality means you don't necessarily need to download anything to create presentation slides .

This cloud-based approach makes sharing and connecting easy. Because it's a browser-based service, you can easily share and collaborate with any collaborator with an internet connection and a Google account.

Another critical differentiating principle with Google Slides is simplicity. Google is famous for its iconic and straightforward homepage.

They bring simplicity into the Google Slides experience and attempt to make it as simple as possible to utilize their product.

If you're curious about how Visme stacks up against Google Slides,? we've addressed that in this post: Visme vs. Google Slides: What’s the Difference?

Microsoft PowerPoint is a tool for creating professional presentations that was first released in 1990 .

The downloadable desktop app for Microsoft PowerPoint works seamlessly on both Mac OS and PC with Windows and comes with the popular Microsoft toolbar.

project vs presentation

PowerPoint is used everywhere from corporate boardrooms to startups, to non-profit board meetings and college classrooms.

PowerPoint is only one component of Microsoft Office, which also includes popular apps like Word and Excel.

Now that we’ve explored some of the basics of Google Slides and PowerPoint, let’s compare the distinct features of each tool.

First, it’s worth noting what both pieces of software allow you to accomplish. Both Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint will enable you to do the following:

  • Add text, images, videos and links to any slide
  • Pick a custom font
  • Use a premade theme
  • Include charts and or graphs
  • Use basic transitions
  • Print to PDF

Additionally, both Slides and PowerPoint allow you to collaborate with team members to greater or lesser degrees.

Google Slides Feature #1: Automatic Saving

Google Slides comes with an excellent automatic saving feature for any changes you make. You don't have to worry about losing your progress because of some kind of malfunction.

Google Slides Feature #2: Version History

Another exciting feature Slides offers building off their automatic saving function is detailed version history. You can quickly restore your presentation back and forth between a previous version if you make changes you no longer want.

project vs presentation

Google Slides Feature #3: PowerPoint Compatibility

The third unique feature of Google Slides is easy PowerPoint compatibility.

Slides make it easy to create a presentation using their software and then export it as a PowerPoint file. It’s essentially the Google equivalent of PowerPoint. You can also import a PowerPoint file and make changes to it using Slides.

PowerPoint Feature #1: PowerPoint Designer

PowerPoint Designer is a unique feature that uses a suggestion engine to provide you automatic design suggestions for your slides.

project vs presentation

When you add a visual like an image to your slide, PowerPoint will show you several slide options to select. These layouts are based on principles from professionally designed slides.

PowerPoint Feature #2: Broadcast Live

Broadcast Live is another unique feature of Microsoft PowerPoint that allows you to share your slideshow in real time to anyone with an internet connection.

Broadcast live enables you to share a browser-based link where anyone can view your live presentation.

PowerPoint Feature #3:  Presenter View

Presenter View is another useful feature of PowerPoint. Using it, you can project your presentation to a second screen.

Sending your presentation to a second screen is a useful feature because it allows you to keep your speaker notes in front of you while your audience can pay attention to the slides.

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project vs presentation

Google Slides and PowerPoint both have numerous templates you can customize and use in their presentation software.

In the next section, we’ll take a look at these templates. A template is a pre-designed slideshow built to help you with a specific type of presentation.

Both Google Slides and PowerPoint have templates for things like classroom lessons, business plans and sales presentations. There are a number of free templates, but they also have unique approaches to templates that we’ll discuss.

Let’s look at how the templates compare between the two presentation software.

Google Slides Templates

When you’re getting started with Google Slides, you’ll see a gallery of basic templates that you can customize according to your needs.

project vs presentation

Additionally, Google Slide templates are open source and anyone can make an editable presentation using them.

The use of Google Slides templates makes it easy to design beautiful presentations. These templates also make Google Slides a formidable presentation app that competes with Apple products like Keynote and Microsoft products like PowerPoint.

If you need help translating templates into presentation designs, Google offers tutorials and even shares how you can use Slides to stream on Chromecast .

PowerPoint Templates

When it comes to templates, PowerPoint has the edge with volume. You can find thousands of visual elements and custom templates for PowerPoint in their gallery and across the web.

project vs presentation

PowerPoint templates have a wide range of design options. This diversity makes PowerPoint the right choice for someone looking for variety with their presentations.

Additionally, PowerPoint has interesting custom graphs and stylized charts that can be challenging to recreate on Google Slides.

You could create a unique and robust presentation by just filling in the template with your visuals and copy. However, PowerPoint also gives you the option to more fully customize your presentation if you want to take a more hands on approach.

However, many of the templates inside the PowerPoint software have been the same for years. There are quite a few legacy templates that, while commonly used, are an excellent way to create presentations.

Aside from their presentation templates, PowerPoint utilizes a variety of theme layout options that you can use if you want to customize a presentation without using a template.

Additionally, PowerPoint templates are available in many places online.

Envato is an excellent repository for PowerPoint themes. There are thousands of ready-to-use templates with unique styles for different use cases.

Because so many designers go out of their way to create PowerPoint templates, Microsoft does not emphasize creating templates inside of PowerPoint.

Next, we'll move on to the cost of each presentation software. Let’s take a look at a Google Slides vs. PowerPoint comparison when it comes to cost.

Google Slides Cost

Google Drive and Google Slides are completely free services. You won't ever need to pay to download and use these programs. All of the features we've discussed so far are 100% free.

The free cost is one of the most important value propositions for Google Slides. You can use all of the features on any device that’s compatible with the Google Slides app. All you need is a Google Account to use Google Slides.

The only cost ever associated with Google services is if your business is setting up a Google Workplace (i.e., using Google for your email services).

PowerPoint Cost

PowerPoint is most typically purchased as part of the Microsoft Office suite, now called Microsoft 365. The monthly fee starts at $6.99/per month and increases depending on users and team needs.

Buying the software by itself costs $159.99 and comes with no storage.

Keep in mind that both PowerPoint Designer and Broadcast live are features that come included in the Microsoft Office suite.

Create a stunning presentation in less time

  • Hundreds of premade slides available
  • Add animation and interactivity to your slides
  • Choose from various presentation options

project vs presentation

Online vs. Offline Performance

An important consideration when comparing your presentation software choices is how they compare with online and offline performance.

There are some distinctions when it comes to presenting online and offline with Google Slides and PowerPoint.

This section will look at their distinctions and how each presentation software approaches online and offline options for their users.

In both cases, if the presentation is rich in interactive media and large photos, a slow connection will slow down the performance of your PC if viewed online. In general, offline access is available on a limited basis.

Google Slides Performance

Google Slides is a predominantly cloud-based app built for seamless online performance. Slides offer a user experience in the browser that makes online use and collaboration simple, especially on desktop.

Google Slides has invested in its offline functionality via the Google Slides Offline program when it comes to offline performance.

project vs presentation

Google Slides Offline is available via a Chrome browser extension or by using the Chrome operating system. It's possible to use Google Offline for iPad, iPhone, Android and any desktop operating system.

There’s even a Google Drive plug-in for Microsoft Office that allows you to work on PowerPoint offline and upload the finished result to Google Drive for collaboration or online sharing.

PowerPoint Performance

Microsoft has its own set of online accessibility options such via the Office 365 subscription. Additionally, you can use the PowerPoint Online web app.

project vs presentation

When it comes to offline performance, PowerPoint provides robust offline apps for experience for desktop users. However, the offline experience is not as healthy for smartphones and tablets.

The PowerPoint mobile apps for Android, iOS and even the Microsoft Surface tablet fall short compared to Google Drive. The PowerPoint mobile apps are not as powerful as the desktop version.

Teamwork & Collaboration

Collaboration is a critical consideration when selecting the best presentation software for you and your company. The ability to work on presentations as a team is vital across business and education sectors.

This section will explore how Microsoft PowerPoint vs. Google Slides performs in terms of teamwork and collaboration.

Google Slides

Google Slides makes seamless collaboration possible between you and anyone on your team.

Multiple users can make comments and edit the presentation simultaneously using Google Slides. Any user can instantly see any changes that are made to the presentation.

project vs presentation

It's also easy to restore previous versions of your presentation if you need to return to a preferred version.

Team members need a Google Account to collaborate on a Google Slides presentation.

The original author of the presentation can share the project with an unlimited number of users. Any collaborator just needs to be granted editing rights via their Gmail account.

Any edits on Google Slides occur in real time. Additionally, collaborators can also leave comments so everyone can stay on track with each other.

Collaboration on PowerPoint is possible but needs a bit of preparation.

For a PowerPoint presentation to be editable as a team, it first needs to be uploaded to OneDrive or SharePoint Online for Microsoft 365.

From there, someone needs to add collaborators via email. Users can see when team members log into the presentation to make changes and see their projects.

project vs presentation

If someone makes changes while a user isn’t logged on, they get a notification that changes have been made while they were away.

PowerPoint comes integrated with OneDrive, with sharing options ranging from email, direct link and social media to SharePoint and Live broadcast of PowerPoint slides via Office Presentation Service. You can also collaborate with others using the various online editions of PowerPoint.

Needless to say, PowerPoint has a robust Slideshow mode for presenting presentations which can be further aided using third-party add-ons like live annotations.

Storage & Backup

Creating a presentation is a lot of work. One of the worst feelings is when you lose a presentation after hours or days of work due to an error.

To solve this issue, both Google Slides and PowerPoint have backup features that you can take advantage of on your desktop or mobile devices.

Every Google Drive account offers up to 15 GB of storage for free. Paid Google Workspace accounts will get up to 30 GB of storage before having to pay for more.

When it comes to backup options, Google Slides saves all data on their cloud. This means you don't need to hit save every few minutes to ensure you don’t lose your work.

Google Slides also provides a helpful history review where you can explore previous versions of your presentation. This means you can restore earlier versions of your work if you don't like some of the recent edits you made.

Because PowerPoint is a primarily desktop-based presentation tool, all your presentations are stored directly on your computer.

However, you can also take advantage of the Microsoft OneDrive to store your PowerPoint files. Microsoft OneDrive is a cloud storage solution similar to Google Drive.

However, it requires a Microsoft 365 subscription that comes with a 5GB cloud storage plan for users. Additionally, you can use Office 365 backup from NAKIVO  to automatically backup all your data.

Something to be aware of is that PowerPoint doesn’t offer automatic saving features unless you have an updated version of PowerPoint and you are an Office 365 subscriber.

Embedding media features like video and audio are critical to keep in mind when selecting a presentation software. Additionally, understanding how to embed the presentation itself on a web page is important if you need to share your presentation later.

Let’s take a look at how Google Slides and PowerPoint compare on this vital feature.

Google Slides enables you to embed your videos from a YouTube or Google Drive account. However, it is not possible to store standalone audio files in your presentation.

project vs presentation

One major plus of working with Slides is how easy it is to work with videos. You don't have to worry about installing any additional software to use video in Slides.

When it comes to uploading static pictures in Google Slides, you can upload your photos from a URL, a camera, your Google Drive or any desktop computer.

In PowerPoint, media content is easy to embed into your presentation. You can freely embed both video and audio files in PowerPoint.

When you add your video or audio content to a One Drive account, embedding content on PowerPoint is particularly easy.

project vs presentation

When it comes to adding static pictures into your PowerPoint presentation, you can include many types of graphics and animations.

In fact, for advanced users, you can even draw your own animations. You can also insert a YouTube video by using the online video embed option.

These are some of the possibilities for visual content in PowerPoint presentations.

Should You Use Google Slides or PowerPoint?

Both Google Slides and PowerPoint have their own strengths and weaknesses. The software you choose depends entirely on your unique needs.

For example, Google Slides offers real time collaboration abilities that make it an ideal solution for teams working on a presentation together.

Likewise, using Microsoft PowerPoint may be a better fit for someone who wants to work offline and who wants customization options without the need for internet accessibility.

When it comes to choosing between Google Slides and PowerPoint, it mostly comes down to how you want to design your presentation. Each tool has capabilities and strengths that the other lacks.

For example, Google Slides makes it much easier to work across IOS, Android and desktop devices. However, Microsoft PowerPoint has a robust desktop solution that gives you the ability to do things like embed audio files and draw your animations.

What is Google’s version of PowerPoint?

The Google equivalent of PowerPoint is called Google Slides. The functionality between the two is extremely similar, with the main different being that PowerPoint is a downloadable software while Google Slides is built completely online.

What is the difference between Google Slides and PowerPoint?

Google Slides is run by Google and is only accessible with an Internet connection. PowerPoint was created by Microsoft and is a downloadable software that can be used completely offline.

Is Google Slides a PowerPoint?

In simplest terms, no, Google Slides is not a PowerPoint. However, although “PowerPoint” is a tool, it has often become a placeholder word for “presentation” or “slideshow,” even if the presentation has not been created in PowerPoint.

Is Google Slides like PowerPoint?

Google Slides has a similar functionality to PowerPoint. However, it offers less features and cannot be used without an internet connection.

How do you convert PowerPoint to Google Slides?

If you’ve created a PowerPoint and need to convert it into a Google Slides presentation, simply upload your PowerPoint file to your Google Drive and open it. It will immediately open in Google Slides. You can also simply create a new Google Slides presentation by typing slides.new in your browser bar, heading to File in the top navigation bar and clicking Open to import your PowerPoint.

Conversely, if you’ve created a presentation in Google Slides and need to download it in PowerPoint format, you can easily do so in just a couple of steps. Click File in the top navigation bar, then go down to the Download menu. Click the option to download as Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) .

How do you save Google Slides as PDF?

You can download your presentation as a PDF in the same menu you use to convert your Google Slides presentation to PowerPoint. However, instead of clicking Microsoft PowerPoint, you’re going to click the option to download as PDF Document (.pdf) .

Looking for the Best Presentation Software?

If you read this far, you might already know if Google Slides or PowerPoint is the best software for you. If not, don't worry — we have another option!

If you are looking for the best of both worlds, Visme is an incredibly effective presentation tool. From unique and fun slideshows to sharp business slides, you can create the most effective presentation for your needs with our professionally designed templates .

Watch the video below for a quick intro to making presentations in Visme.

project vs presentation

Additionally, you can create interactive slide decks with GIFs, maps, charts, popups, external links, voice-overs, YouTube videos and audio.

If you need to store your presentation in the cloud using Google Drive, Dropbox or other cloud-based systems, Visme gives you the ability to upload presentations easily.

When it comes to collaboration , Visme helps you work with your whole team to create beautifully designed presentations, infographics, reports, ebooks and social media graphics in file formats like JPG, PNG, GIF and MP4.

Sign up for a free Visme account today and try out the tools your presentation needs to be outstanding and unforgettable.

Create beautiful presentations faster with Visme.

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About the Author

Brian Nuckols is a writer working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He enjoys communicating visionary ideas in clear, action oriented language. When he’s not working on content for a transformative company you can find him analyzing dreams, creating music, and writing poetry.

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Project vs Process: Definitions, Differences, & Examples

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“Project” and “process” are two distinct concepts often used in the context of work, management, and various industries. Organizations often use both projects and processes to manage their work effectively. Projects may involve creating or improving processes, and processes may be used to carry out the work involved in projects.

This article explains the differences between a process and project with examples of both scenarios. Additionally, we have provided useful templates to help you streamline your projects and processes.

What is a Project

A project is a temporary and unique endeavor with a specific goal or objective, carried out to create a product, service, or result. It is characterized by a defined beginning and end, a set of resources, and a scope that determines what needs to be accomplished. Often, projects are started to solve a problem, take advantage of an opportunity, or meet a challenge.

Typically a project goes through 5 stages in its life cycle.

  • Project initiation : Define project goals, develop a business case, define the project on a broad level, and identify project stakeholders.
  • Project planning : Define project scope, create a project plan, set a budget baseline, and define roles and responsibilities.
  • Project execution : Allocate and manage project resources, develop the product or process, and address issues as they rise.
  • Project monitoring : Track effort and cost, monitor project progress, ensure adherence to the project plan and eliminate bottlenecks.
  • Project closure : Handover deliverables, review project deliverables, get project results approved, and document lessons learned.

Project Management Lifecycle

Example of a Project

Some prime examples of projects include the development of software or product, a new marketing campaign, the construction of a building, or a relief program after a natural disaster.

Following are useful project management templates that will help you get a head start on your project.

Project Plan Template

The project plan is a comprehensive document that outlines how the project is executed, monitored, and controlled. It highlights vital project information such as deadlines, assignments, and key milestones and is usually represented in the form of a Gantt chart.

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Project Charter

The project charter is a short document that explains what a project entails. It describes what the project goals are, who is involved and their responsibilities, and the stakeholders, and defines the authority of the project manager.

Project Communications Plan

A project communication plan is a guideline of what, when, and how key project information will be shared at key intervals with invested stakeholders.

Project Timeline

A project timeline outlines key phases and tasks from initiation to closure, and helps to facilitate planning, tracking, and managing project progress.

What is a Process

Any organization, regardless of its size, has business processes. A process is a series of interrelated and repeatable activities or steps that are designed to achieve a particular outcome or produce a specific product or service. Processes are fundamental to how organizations operate and carry out their work efficiently. They involve a sequence of actions that transform inputs into outputs, with the goal of achieving consistency, quality, and efficiency.

Typical phases of a process include:

  • Initiation : Define the purpose and objectives of the process, identify stakeholders, and set initial scope.
  • Planning : Create a detailed plan, allocate resources, and establish monitoring metrics.
  • Execution : Implement the planned activities, transforming inputs into desired outputs.
  • Monitoring and controlling : Regularly track progress, compare actual vs. planned performance, and implement controls.
  • Evaluation : Assess effectiveness and efficiency, gather stakeholder feedback, and identify areas for improvement.
  • Optimization : Make adjustments based on evaluation, seek continuous improvement, and implement changes.
  • Closure : Conclude the process when objectives are met, archive documentation, and communicate completion to stakeholders.

Examples of Processes

Following are some examples of process maps, which are used to visualize processes within an organization.

Employee offboarding process

The following swimlane flowchart depicts the process of offboarding employees. It highlights the steps involved and the responsible parties for carrying them out.

Customer support process

This process map outlines how to handle customer requests. Each swim lane represents the individuals and teams involved in the process and their actions.

Employee recruitment process

The following flowchart visualizes the steps in the process of onboarding new employees starting from identifying hiring needs.

Project vs Process

Listed below are differences between process management vs project management for easier analysis.

NatureA temporary and unique endeavor with a specific goal.Ongoing and repeatable series of activities designed for routine operations.
UniquenessEach project is typically unique, with specific goals, outcomes, and characteristics.Processes are designed to be repeatable, producing similar results each time.
DurationHas a defined beginning and end.Continuous and ongoing; no specific end point.
GoalsInitiated to achieve specific objectives or create a unique deliverable.Aimed at achieving operational efficiency, consistency, and quality in routine operations.
ResourcesRequires the allocation of resources, including human, time, and often financial investments.Utilizes resources routinely in the day-to-day functioning of an organization.
PlanningInvolves detailed planning, organization, and coordination of resources to meet project goals within specified constraints.Emphasizes efficiency and improvement, with planning focused on optimizing routine activities.
Risk and UncertaintyInherent uncertainties and risks are managed throughout the project life cycle.Emphasis on control mechanisms to ensure consistency and quality, with a focus on minimizing variability.

Benefits of Projects vs Processes

Projects bring innovation and change, while processes focus on maintaining operational efficiency and consistency, with both contributing to the overall success of an organization.

Benefits of Projects

Innovation and change : Projects are catalysts for innovation and change, allowing organizations to introduce new ideas, products, or services.

Goal achievement : Projects provide a structured approach to achieving specific objectives within a defined timeline.

Resource allocation : Resources are allocated for a temporary period, allowing efficient use and focused efforts.

Flexibility : Projects offer flexibility to adapt to changing requirements and circumstances.

Learning opportunities : Each project presents learning opportunities, contributing to organizational knowledge and expertise.

Risk management : Projects emphasize identifying and managing risks to ensure successful outcomes.

Benefits of Processes

Operational efficiency : Processes ensure consistent and efficient day-to-day operations within an organization.

Resource optimization : Resources are utilized continuously, contributing to ongoing productivity and efficiency.

Consistency : Processes lead to consistent and standardized outputs, reducing variability in operations.

Quality control : Emphasis on control mechanisms ensures that processes adhere to quality standards.

Continuous improvement : Processes encourage a culture of continuous improvement, refining operations over time.

Documentation : Standard operating procedures and guidelines provide a reference for consistent execution.

Creately for Projects vs Process Management

Creately is an intelligent visual platform that enables visual collaboration, knowledge management, project execution and business process management. With real-time collaboration and advanced data integration capabilities, it also helps connect cross-functional teams across your entire organization.

Creately’s easy visual workflows and powerful data integrations helps deliver a single reference point for everything during a project lifecycle. You can easily organize and manage tasks, resources, assets, and workflows in an easy, visual platform with advanced built-in visual project management tools .

On the other hand, its whiteboard-like ease of use and advanced process modeling and data capture capabilities help streamline modeling, analyzing, and optimizing business processes collaboratively with stakeholders and clients.

In conclusion, knowing the difference between project vs process is important for running organizations well. Projects are like engines for new ideas and goals, bringing change and innovation. Processes, on the other hand, keep things running smoothly every day, making sure everything is consistent and of high quality. Finding the right mix of projects for growth and efficient processes for daily tasks is crucial for a successful organization. Balancing both aspects helps organizations adapt to change while maintaining stability in their day-to-day operations.

Join over thousands of organizations that use Creately to brainstorm, plan, analyze, and execute their projects successfully.

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A Practical Guide to Resource Scheduling in Project Management

Amanda Athuraliya is the communication specialist/content writer at Creately, online diagramming and collaboration tool. She is an avid reader, a budding writer and a passionate researcher who loves to write about all kinds of topics.

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What Is The Difference Between Proposal And Presentation?

Manuela Brown

16. February 2023

project vs presentation

Proposals and presentations are both important tools for communicating information and ideas in the field of planning and activities. However, there are distinct differences between proposals and presentations, and understanding these differences is crucial for effective communication and achieving desired outcomes. A proposal is a written document that outlines a plan of action and is intended to persuade a decision-maker to support a particular course of action, while a presentation is a verbal or visual communication that aims to inform and persuade an audience.

Proposals are often used in business and government settings to secure funding, resources, or support for a specific project, program, or initiative. They are typically formal documents that provide a detailed overview of the problem or need, the proposed solution, and the benefits and costs associated with the solution. Proposals are usually written in a persuasive tone and are designed to convince the reader that the proposed solution is the best course of action.

Presentations, on the other hand, are used to communicate information and ideas to a wider audience, often with the goal of informing or persuading the audience. Presentations can be delivered in a variety of formats, including in-person, via video conferencing, or through multimedia platforms such as slideshows or videos. They are typically less formal than proposals and are designed to engage the audience through the use of visuals, stories, and interactive elements.

In the field of planning and activities, proposals and presentations are often used in conjunction with one another. For example, a proposal may be used to secure funding for a project, and a presentation may be used to present the results of the project to stakeholders. Understanding the differences between proposals and presentations can help individuals and organizations to choose the right tool for their needs and to communicate information and ideas effectively.

Table of Contents

What Is Proposal?

A proposal is a written document that outlines a plan of action and is intended to persuade a decision-maker to support a particular course of action. In the field of planning and activities, proposals are often used to secure funding, resources, or support for a specific project, program, or initiative. They provide a detailed overview of the problem or need, the proposed solution, and the benefits and costs associated with the solution.

Proposals are typically written in a persuasive tone and are designed to convince the reader that the proposed solution is the best course of action. They often include an executive summary, a background section that provides context for the problem or need, a detailed description of the proposed solution, an analysis of the benefits and costs associated with the solution, and a conclusion that summarizes the key points of the proposal.

In addition to providing a written representation of the proposed solution, proposals also serve as a contract between the proposal writer and the decision-maker. The proposal outlines the expectations for the project, program, or initiative and provides a clear understanding of the responsibilities and expectations for both parties. This can help to minimize the risk of misunderstandings and ensure that all stakeholders are working toward the same goals.

Proposals are also a useful tool for tracking progress and evaluating the success of a project, program, or initiative. They provide a clear and concise representation of the plan of action, and they can be used to track progress and make changes as needed. By using a proposal, individuals and organizations can ensure that their efforts are focused in the right direction and that they are making progress toward their goals.

Finally, proposals are also a great tool for improving communication and collaboration. They provide a clear and concise representation of the plan of action, and they can be shared and modified as needed. By using a proposal, individuals and organizations can engage stakeholders, gather feedback, and make changes in real-time, which can help to improve the quality of their planning and activities.

What Is Presentation?

A presentation is a verbal or visual communication that aims to inform and persuade an audience. In the field of planning and activities, presentations are used to communicate information and ideas to a wider audience, often with the goal of informing or persuading the audience. They can be delivered in a variety of formats, including in-person, via video conferencing, or through multimedia platforms such as slideshows or videos.

Presentations are typically less formal than proposals and are designed to engage the audience through the use of visuals, stories, and interactive elements. They are often used to communicate complex ideas in a simple and understandable manner and to build support for a particular course of action. Presentations can also be used to educate stakeholders about the results of a project, program, or initiative and to provide an overview of the progress that has been made.

In addition, presentations are a great tool for improving communication and collaboration. They allow individuals and organizations to share information and ideas in real-time, and they can be adapted and modified as needed to meet the needs of the audience. By using presentations, individuals and organizations can engage stakeholders, gather feedback, and make changes in real-time, which can help to improve the quality of their planning and activities.

Presentations can also be used to build relationships and establish credibility. They provide a platform for individuals and organizations to showcase their expertise, knowledge, and experience, and they can be used to build trust and credibility with stakeholders. By using presentations, individuals and organizations can demonstrate their commitment to their work and their dedication to achieving their goals.

Finally, presentations are also a useful tool for tracking progress and evaluating the success of a project, program, or initiative. They provide a clear and concise representation of the information and ideas that have been communicated, and they can be used to track progress and make changes as needed. By using presentations, individuals and organizations can ensure that their efforts are focused in the right direction and that they are making progress toward their goals.

What Are The Similarities Between Proposal And Presentation?

Proposals and presentations are both important tools for communicating information and ideas in the field of planning and activities, and they have several key elements in common. Both proposals and presentations are used to inform and persuade stakeholders and to build support for a particular course of action.

One key element that proposals and presentations have in common is the use of clear and concise language. Both proposals and presentations should be written or delivered in a manner that is easy to understand and that clearly communicates the key points and ideas. This helps to ensure that the information and ideas are understood by the intended audience and that they are able to make informed decisions.

Another key element that proposals and presentations have in common is the use of visuals. Whether it’s through the use of slides, images, or videos, both proposals and presentations should use visuals to help communicate information and ideas. This helps to engage the audience, clarify complex ideas, and provide a visual representation of the information being presented.

In addition, both proposals and presentations should be well-structured and organized. They should have a clear and logical flow, and they should be easy to follow and understand. This helps to ensure that the information and ideas are communicated effectively and that the audience is able to understand the key points and ideas.

Finally, both proposals and presentations should be tailored to the needs of the audience. Whether it’s a decision-maker, a wider audience, or a specific group of stakeholders, both proposals and presentations should be customized to meet the needs and expectations of the audience. This helps to ensure that the information and ideas are communicated effectively and that the audience is able to make informed decisions.

In summary, proposals and presentations have several key elements in common, including the use of clear and concise language, the use of visuals, a well-structured and organized format, and a focus on the needs of the audience. Understanding these common elements can help individuals and organizations to choose the right tool for their needs and to communicate information and ideas effectively.

What Are The Differences Between Proposal And Presentation?

While proposals and presentations have several elements in common, there are also several key differences between the two. The most significant difference between proposals and presentations is the format in which they are presented. Proposals are written documents that outline a plan of action and are intended to persuade a decision-maker to support a particular course of action, while presentations are verbal or visual communications that aim to inform and persuade an audience.

Another difference between proposals and presentations is the level of detail and formality. Proposals are typically more detailed and formal than presentations and provide a comprehensive overview of the problem or need, the proposed solution, and the benefits and costs associated with the solution. Presentations, on the other hand, are usually less formal and provide a high-level overview of the information and ideas being presented.

The purpose of proposals and presentations also differs. Proposals are typically used in business and government settings to secure funding, resources, or support for a specific project, program, or initiative, while presentations are used to communicate information and ideas to a wider audience, often with the goal of informing or persuading the audience.

The audience for proposals and presentations also differs. Proposals are typically directed toward decision-makers, such as executives, managers, or government officials, while presentations are intended for a wider audience, such as stakeholders, employees, or customers.

Finally, the tone and style of proposals and presentations also differs. Proposals are written in a persuasive tone and are designed to convince the reader that the proposed solution is the best course of action, while presentations are designed to engage the audience and build support for a particular course of action.

In conclusion, proposals and presentations are both important tools for communicating information and ideas in the field of planning and activities, but they have several key differences, including format, level of detail and formality, purpose, audience, and tone and style. Understanding these differences can help individuals and organizations to choose the right tool for their needs and to communicate information and ideas effectively.

Conclusion: Proposal Vs. Presentation

In conclusion, proposals and presentations are both important tools for communicating information and ideas in the field of planning and activities. Proposals are written documents that outline a plan of action and are intended to persuade a decision-maker to support a particular course of action, while presentations are verbal or visual communications that aim to inform and persuade an audience.

Despite having several key elements in common, such as the use of clear and concise language, the use of visuals, and a focus on the needs of the audience, proposals and presentations also have several key differences, including format, level of detail and formality, purpose, audience, and tone and style.

It’s important for individuals and organizations to understand the differences between proposals and presentations in order to choose the right tool for their needs and to communicate information and ideas effectively. Whether you are seeking funding, resources, or support, or you are communicating information and ideas to a wider audience, understanding the differences between proposals and presentations can help you to achieve your goals and to improve the quality of your planning and activities.

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Top 10 Project Overview Templates with Examples and Samples

Top 10 Project Overview Templates with Examples and Samples

Kavesh Malhotra

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Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.

- Alexander Graham Bell

Before beginning work on any project, you need to make a plan to execute it better. Planning is the very first step in starting any project. It allows the process to run smoothly without any obstacles. Moreover, while planning, you can also predict possible outcomes and strategize how to tackle these better beforehand. That is why managers create a project overview to stay organized and ahead.

What is a project overview? Simply put, a project overview summarizes the project or its blueprint. It allows for planning the project by incorporating essential details such as project timeline, team members, roles, project duration, cost, scope, and expected outcomes.

Not only is it beneficial in executing the project, it also acts as a reference until completion. A large amount of information can be summarized and presented to help the members understand it better. Apart from that, a project overview allows managers to keep track of progress. Every project overview has its objectives and reasons. But a good one answers all the questions about the project and provides clear and resourceful information. No matter what your industry is, a project overview is vital to reach your goal.

Now that we understand the importance of a project overview, the question arises: How do we create one? Well, creating a project overview can be cumbersome and take time. But you need not worry as we are here with the right solution. SlideTeam brings you project overview templates using which you can create an overview of your upcoming project in no time. All these templates are content ready and 100% customizable, making it more accessible than ever to create the project overview that meets your requirements.

Check out our list of our top 10 project overview templates.

Template 1: project scope overview powerpoint presentation slides.

Our Project Scope Overview PowerPoint Presentation Slides allow you to plan every detail of your project such as inputs, tools, and technique. It assists in distinguishing what is and what is not part of the project and controls what is allowed or removed when the project is executed.

You can execute all processes when you know exactly what you need to make your project successful. Using this template, you can manage your team and determine the number of employees required to complete the project as well.

Project Scope Overview

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Template 2: Project Brief Summary PowerPoint Presentation Slides

If you are looking for a template that allows you to provide a concise description of your project, then this PPT Layout is for you. Using these 20-Slide template, you can provide complete information about the project to your audience. It allows you to pinpoint key risks and issues and the paths to tackle them. Apart from this, other details, such as the project budget and benefits, can be represented. Get this template and keep track of processes and ensure that the project is completed on time.

Project Brief Summary

Template 3: Digitalization Strategy to Accelerate Project Overview for Digital Transformation

A business's online presence is vital, but brands must execute it strategically. If you want to digitize your business, this amazing template is proven to be beneficial. This template allows your audience to understand the project in detail and helps you implement digital transformation. The slides incorporate project description, location, budget, and objectives to create an excellent project overview. In addition, you can dispense project duration by providing an expected end date and ensuring you complete the project on time by downloading this template.

Project Overview for Digital Transformation

Template 4: Determine Charter for Project Overview Project Management Playbook

Before the project begins, it is vital to ensure that your team members and project associates have a shared understanding of the objectives, resources required, the people needed, and their roles. With Determine Charter for Project Overview Project Management Playbook, you can provide your audience with a map about how the project needs to progress. Using this template, you can provide information on stakeholders involved, project constraints, and various deliverables.

Determine Charter for Project Overview

Template 5: Feasibility Study Templates for Different Projects Construction Project Overview

Starting a commercial project is a good decision, and by using this template, you can make a better decision for your company. Before starting any business, it is vital to understand whether it will work practically. So, feasibility study becomes essential. With our Feasibility Study Template, you can outline the project's viability and know whether or not you should proceed. In addition, using this construction project overview, you can provide information on essential features of required commercial sites.

Construction Project Overview

Template 6: Project Overview IT Change Execution Plan

Executing change is about bringing theoretical planning into practice. This change execution can either make or break your project. It is a risky and costly step. It would help if you planned out the project overview to avoid any mistakes. Using Project Overview IT Change Execution Plan, you can summarize the transition by providing information regarding the purpose, key deliverables, budgets, risks, and issues. It also covers the employees' details and the estimated time to complete the project.

Project Overview

Template 7: Program Charter Showing Project Overview Management Team and Milestones

If you are looking for a template that helps create a precise and effective project overview, then this template is for you. This unique template offers the three-stage processes: Program Charter, Project Charter, and Project Management to Project Overview. It helps provide you with the project overview, from purpose, scope, and key deliverables to resources, tools, and budget. You can represent milestones and demonstrate the status of ongoing projects. Get this template to ensure that your project is on the right track.

Program Charter Showing Project Overview…

Template 8: Current Network Strategic Alignment Project Overview Knowledge Organization

Strategic alignment, together with appropriate organizational skills, is essential for the success of your project or business. However, it can derail if the execution is not planned. This PPT template can help you strategically organize your current network to use the available organizational skills. In addition, this graphical template, with its distinctive visual appeal, allows you to engage your audience and convey your message and incorporates seven planning stages.

Current Network Strategic Alignment Project Overview Knowl…

Template 9: Project Brief Objectives PPT Summary Example Introduction

Team members working on any project need to know about it and its expected outcomes to work more efficiently. Using this template, you can create an engaging and informative project overview and a clearer picture of the outcomes, making every choice simpler and faster. It lets you brief your audience on the project, describe the objectives, and show the status. Download this template and your team will know where to focus.

Project Brief

Template 10: One Page Project Overview Charter Presentation Report Infographic PPT PDF Document

Do you want a crisp and precise project overview? Then you must download our following striking and functional PPT Template to brief your project. Using this template, you can make your team members understand their roles, the scope of the project, and how it will be carried out. This template also represents delegation of authority. You can define the milestones of the project, the performance of employees, and the project status. This template will help you plan and monitor all the steps and processes of the project; download right away.

One Page Project Overview Charter

Plan Your Success 

Planning is essential to starting any project, whether big or small. It creates a clearer picture for you and your employees. Thus, it helps you achieve your expected goals more effectively and smoothly. Choose the template that suits your requirements and download it now to create an outstanding project overview.

FAQs on Project Overview

What is a project overview report.

A project overview report is the summary of the project. It includes the project's purpose, objectives, budget, deliverables, project location, cost, and duration. By planning the project ahead of time, you can assess various risks and issues associated with it and strategize a plan to tackle them. No matter what industry, big or small, it is essential to create a project overview. You can use SlideTeam's templates and build a breakthrough project overview.

What is the project overview example?

A project overview example is SlideTeam's groundbreaking templates with samples that offer a detailed project description. They provide a brief on the project goals and objectives in a striking format and help formulate the outline of necessary resources and tools to achieve your goals.

Why is a project overview important?

Having a project overview is important because:

● It helps represent essential details and elements of the project, providing clarity to your team members. ● It acts as a roadmap and guides the members through project stages. ● It saves time, accelerates the process, and improves the success rate.

What should we write in a project overview?

A project overview is simply a brief of the entire project. Elements that you should incorporate in the project overview are:

● Project Timeline ● Major Deadlines ● Project Budget ● Project Status ● Deliverables ● Team Members and their Roles ● Project location, cost, duration, scope ● Project brief/summary ● Expected outcome ● Status

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What Is Project Resource Management? Definition & Best Practices

Shweta

Published: Jun 19, 2024, 10:00am

What Is Project Resource Management? Definition &#038; Best Practices

Table of Contents

Project resource management defined, what is a resource in project management, types of resources in project management, why project resource management is important, 6 project resource management processes, best practices for allocating resources efficiently, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Project resource management is critical for successful project execution because efficient use of resources can make or break a project. It’s not only about who does what―it’s about maximizing efficiency and effectiveness in the use of people, tools and methods. This article delves deep into the importance of project resource management and the various types of resources it encompasses.

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Project resource management is a systematic process within project management that focuses on utilizing various types of resources necessary for completing a project effectively. It encompasses the identification, allocation and management of resources such as personnel, equipment and budget.

The goal is to ensure that these resources are available in the right quantities and at the right times throughout the project lifecycle. This involves detailed planning to match resource availability with project demands, continuous monitoring to align resource usage with the project plan and making adjustments as needed to address any discrepancies.

In project management, a “resource” is an umbrella term that encompasses everything required to execute and complete a project successfully. Each type of resource plays a critical role and requires careful consideration and management to ensure the project progresses smoothly and meets its objectives.

Fundamentally, this includes three main categories:

  • Human resources (HR): The most vital component, this refers to the people involved in the project. From the project manager to team members, contractors and consultants, HR is the driving force behind a project’s execution. Its skills, expertise, time and effort are what bring a project to life.
  • Physical resources: These are tangible assets used in the project. Physical resources can range from equipment, materials and office space to the technology and software used. For example, in a construction project, physical resources would include machinery, building materials and safety gear. Meanwhile, in a software project resources would include software, servers, cloud storage space and information technology (IT) team members.
  • Financial resources: This is the fuel that powers the project; financial resources pertain to the budget allocated for the project. This includes funds for procurement, operations and emergencies. Effective management of financial resources ensures that the project stays within budget and financial constraints are managed optimally.

Project resource management involves various types of resources, each contributing uniquely to the project’s success. Each resource type requires careful management and coordination to ensure the project stays on track and within budget.

Here’s a list  of the key resource types:

  • HR: The team members, including project managers, engineers, developers and other staff, whose skills and expertise are essential.
  • Material resources: Physical materials like construction materials in a building project or coding software in a tech project.
  • Equipment: This includes machinery, computers, tools and other equipment necessary for project execution.
  • Facilities: The physical or virtual spaces where the project takes place, such as offices, meeting rooms or cloud-based workspaces.
  • Budget: Financial resources allocated for the project, covering everything from salaries to material costs.
  • Information: Data and knowledge crucial for decision-making, including market research, historical data and project documentation.
  • Time: An often-overlooked resource, referring to the time frames and schedules within which the project must be completed.

Project resource management is not only a matter of logistics; it’s a strategic tool that can significantly impact a business’s bottom line. It is necessary for the sustainable success of any project, impacting not only the immediate project outcomes but also the long-term health of the organization.

Here are a few reasons why managing project resources is essential:

  • Optimizes resource use: Proper resource management ensures that resources are used efficiently, reducing waste and maximizing value. This includes avoiding overallocation of resources and ensuring that the right resources are available at the right times.
  • Enhances team productivity: When resources are managed well, team members are not overburdened or underutilized. This balance enhances overall productivity, as team members can focus on their tasks without being stretched too thin or left idle.
  • Improves project outcomes : Resource management impacts the quality of the final deliverable directly. With adequate resources, projects are more likely to be completed on time, within budget and to the desired quality standards.
  • Facilitates better planning and forecasting: Effective resource management allows for more accurate planning and forecasting. Understanding resource availability and constraints helps in making informed decisions and setting realistic timelines.
  • Increases flexibility and agility: In today’s dynamic business environment, the ability to quickly adapt to changes is crucial. Effective resource management provides the flexibility to respond to unexpected challenges or changes in project scope.
  • Enhances customer satisfaction: Successfully managed projects often lead to higher customer satisfaction. When projects are delivered on time and within budget, it builds trust and credibility with clients.

Effective project resource management involves several critical processes. Here are six key ones.

1. Resource Planning

This is the foundational process, where you identify the types and quantities of resources needed for the project. It involves understanding project scope, deliverables and the resources required at each stage.

2. Resource Estimation

Here, you estimate the amount of each type of resource required. This includes HR (hours or headcount), materials, equipment and financial resources. Accurate estimation is crucial for budgeting and scheduling.

3. Resource Allocation

This process involves distributing the available resources efficiently to various project tasks. It’s a balancing act to ensure that no resource is over or underutilized, considering the project timeline and priorities.

4. Resource Development

Resource Development involves the continuous improvement and growth of resources, particularly HR, to enhance their value and contribution to the project. It encompasses training, skill development and knowledge-sharing initiatives designed to build a more competent and versatile team. By investing in resource development, organizations not only increase the effectiveness of their current projects but also prepare their teams for future challenges, fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptability.

5. Resource Scheduling

Scheduling is about timing the use of resources. It aligns resource allocation with the project timeline, ensuring resources are available when needed and that their use aligns with project milestones.

6. Resource Monitoring and Control

This ongoing process involves tracking resource usage, evaluating performance against the project management plan and making adjustments as needed. It ensures resources are being used as intended and identifies any areas where changes might be required.

Here are a few best practices for you to keep in mind when managing resources during project management:

  • Align resources with the most critical and high-value tasks first.
  • Allocate resources based on a clear understanding of each resource’s capacity and capabilities.
  • Leverage software tools for better visibility and management of resource allocation.
  • Monitor resource allocation continuously and make adjustments as project demands change.
  • Promote sharing of resources across different departments or teams to optimize utilization.
  • Always have a backup plan for key resources to mitigate risks associated with overallocation or unavailability.
  • Maintain open communication channels to ensure everyone understands their roles and resource allocations.
  • Use a skill matrix to match the right personnel to the right tasks based on their skills and experience.
  • Invest in training and development to enhance the skills and versatility of your resources.
  • Ensure fair and balanced workload distribution to prevent burnout and improve efficiency.

Project resource management is more than a component of project management; it’s a critical factor that can dictate the success or failure of any project. By planning effectively, estimating, allocating, scheduling, monitoring and developing resources, businesses can enhance project outcomes significantly.

Incorporating these principles into your project management approach can transform the way your projects are executed, leading to more efficient resource usage, improved team performance and ultimately, higher project success rates.

What are the main stages of project resource management?

The main stages include resource planning, resource estimation, resource allocation, resource scheduling and resource monitoring and control. Additionally, resource development is integral for enhancing the capabilities of the project team.

What does a project resource manager do?

A project resource manager is responsible for overseeing the entire lifecycle of resource management in a project. This includes planning, allocating, scheduling and monitoring resources as well as developing the skills and capabilities of the team to meet project objectives efficiently.

How do you identify project resources?

To identify project resources you need to analyze the project’s scope and requirements to determine the types of resources needed. This includes assessing the skills required for HR, the materials and equipment for physical resources and the financial needs for budgeting.

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project vs presentation

CNN announces additional details on June debate, including muted mics and podium position

project vs presentation

WASHINGTON — CNN announced additional details on the June 27 debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, setting the stage for what is expected to be a tumultuous stand off between the two front-runners ahead of the general election.

The 90-minute debate, held in Atlanta will be moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Both campaign have already accepted the invitation to the debate and agreed to the rules set forth in the debate, according to CNN.

There will be two commercial breaks but campaign staff can’t interact with the candidates during that time. The debate won’t feature a live studio audience - as have other general election debates in the past – and candidates’ podium positions will be determined by a coin flip, according to a CNN news release.

And more notably, microphones will be muted throughout the debate except when it is a candidate’s turn to speak, according to CNN.

The candidates will be provided with a pen, pad of paper and a water bottle, but are prohibited from bringing props or prewritten notes.

CNN wrote in its release that the moderators will be allowed to “use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion.”

Will Robert F. Kennedy Jr. join Trump and Biden at the debate?

It is not likely independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will join the upcoming debate. 

To qualify for the CNN debate, a candidate must “appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote thresholds to win the presidency” and receive at least 15% in four qualifying national polls prior to the eligibility deadline, according to a news release.

CNN wrote in its press release that Kennedy has received at least 15% in three qualifying polls and is on the ballot in six states, making him eligible for 89 electoral college votes. 

However, his campaign previously told USA TODAY they are moving to expand his ballot access in other states.

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When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

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Buy Microsoft Visio Pro or Microsoft Project Pro for $25: Last chance

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Get Microsoft Project 2021 Pro or Visio 2021 on sale right now. 

Project management is the bread and butter of the professional world, but actually getting things done can be a challenge. Professional software can optimize many operations to maximize efficiency and productivity when you need it most. 

You might want to consider investing in  Microsoft Visio 2021 Pro or Microsoft Project 2021 Pro , both on sale at Stack Social for $25 right now -- 90% off the usual price of $250 each. 

Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows

For those looking to work with flowcharts, diagrams, and more, Microsoft Visio 's online content ecosystem features over 250,000 shapes to choose from when diagramming, and it can generate org charts from Excel, Microsoft Entra ID, and Exchange. 

On the other hand, Microsoft Project comes with pre-built templates will help guide your project management from the outset of a campaign to ensure it's well organized and includes every area that needs attention. It can sync with Project Online and Project Server for easier collaboration and sharing with team members.

Microsoft Project 2021 Pro for Windows

A caveat: While Stack Social is an authorized Microsoft partner and offers "lifetime" access to Microsoft Project Pro and Visio Pro, it is possible that Microsoft could end the license. But the site has been running these Microsoft deals for years, and I can personally vouch for them -- I purchased an Office license from Stack Social about two years ago, and it's still working on my personal MacBook today. 

Save big when you buy either Microsoft Project 2021 Professional or Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows right now. 

When will this deal expire?

Deals are subject to sell-out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on this deal, but don't fret -- we're constantly finding new chances to score savings and sharing them with you at  ZDNET.com . 

ZDNET Recommends

Get microsoft visual studio pro for $45 with this deal, get a windows 11 pro license for $25: last chance, install microsoft office 2019 for windows or mac for $40.

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House Democrats step up to try to stop Project 2025 plans for a Trump White House

FILE - Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., speaks as the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure works to advance the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 18, 2022. A group of House Democrats is warning about the far-right Project 2025 agenda for a Trump White House. The Stop Project 2025 Task Force is announced by Huffman. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

FILE - Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., speaks as the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure works to advance the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 18, 2022. A group of House Democrats is warning about the far-right Project 2025 agenda for a Trump White House. The Stop Project 2025 Task Force is announced by Huffman. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Warning about the far-right Project 2025 agenda for a Donald Trump White House, a group of House Democrats has launched a task force to start fighting the proposal and stop it from taking hold if the Republican former president returns to power.

Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman of California is unveiling The Stop Project 2025 Task Force on Tuesday, the latest sign that congressional Democrats and outside groups are treating Trump’s campaign seriously in the expected rematch against Democratic President Joe Biden this fall.

“The stakes just couldn’t be higher,” Huffman told The Associated Press.

Huffman said the Project 2025 agenda will hit “like a Blitzkrieg” and lawmakers need to be ready.

“If we’re trying to react to it and understand it in real time, it’s too late,” he said. “We need to see it coming well in advance and prepare ourselves accordingly.”

The Democratic-led task force comes as groups on and off Capitol Hill are increasingly alarmed over Project 2025, a sweeping blueprint from the conservative Heritage Foundation that is preparing to quickly help staff a new GOP administration with plans for dismantling aspects of the federal government and installing loyalists for a second Trump term.

CORRECTS THE AGE OF DUVALL - This combination photo shows first lady Jill Biden in Washington, Nov. 13, 2023, left, and Hadley Duvall in Versailles, Ky., Sept. 20, 2023. Duvall, a 22-year-old woman who became a vocal reproductive rights advocate after she was raped by her stepfather as a child, will campaign with Biden in Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 23, 2024, as part of an election push around the anniversary of the fall of Roe v. Wade. (AP Photo)

Kevin Roberts, the president of The Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action for America, scoffed at the “unserious” effort and said the left is “in a frenzy” as Project 2025 tries to wrest control of the federal bureaucracy.

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“Project 2025 will not be ‘stopped,’” Roberts said in a statement. He said the Democrats fighting Project 2025 are “more than welcome to try. We will not give up and we will win.”

While the Trump campaign has repeatedly said that outside groups do not speak for the former president, Project 2025’s 1,000-page proposal was drafted with input from a long list of former Trump administration officials who are poised to fill the top ranks of a potential new administration.

Core to the Project 2025 plan is ousting thousands of civil servants and replacing them with personnel from a database of applicants, an effort to reverse the setbacks of Trump’s first term, when many of his more extreme ideas were thwarted and blocked by those refusing to break norms or overextend presidential powers.

Huffman’s group is the latest to take on the Project 2025 proposal and plans for a Trump White House.

Last week, one of the nation’s leading civil rights organizations, the American Civil Liberties Union, announced it was preparing potential legal action to stop Trump’s campaign promise to launch mass deportations of immigrants on the first day of his presidency if elected. It’s the first of several memos the ACLU is rolling out, offering a blueprint on how it plans to respond to a second Trump or Biden term.

And others are detailing alleged threats to democracy if Trump’s attacks on the judicial system , plans to pardon those convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and threats of vengeance on political enemies take hold.

Huffman’s group is made up of about a half-dozen House Democratic lawmakers in a loose coalition separate from party leadership. It plans to begin briefing fellow lawmakers about Project 2025, hold a forum on Capitol Hill and inform voters about its ideas.

The group hopes to provide a hub of information for lawmakers, voters and organizations about various policy proposals, including immigration, reproductive rights and others.

As a founder of the Freethought Caucus on Capitol Hill, Huffman said he has particularly been alarmed about a rise of Christian nationalism within GOP ranks and efforts to push more conservative theology into government.

“We were able to beat back some of the worst of this Christian nationalist agenda, this authoritarian agenda, in the first Trump presidency, because they didn’t really know what they were doing,” Huffman said. “The fact that they have been putting all of this forethought and research and planning into a second Trump presidency means we’ll be dealing with a much more formidable foe, if it comes to that this time around.”

Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024 .

project vs presentation

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  5. Initiative Vs Project Ppt Powerpoint Presentation Inspiration Layout

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VIDEO

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Make a "Good" Presentation "Great"

    Flow: Removing Barriers. Let's begin with the opening of your presentation. A good opening or first slide should be able to grab the audience's attention and state the purpose and objectives ...

  2. How to Create a Successful Project Presentation

    2 Lay Out Your Project Plan. Once you've set your goals, the next big step is to outline how you'll achieve them. An excellent place to start is by organizing your project into an actionable plan and steps for execution. You might wonder why this step is important for creating a successful project presentation.

  3. How To Create a Project Presentation: A Guide for Impactful Content

    The Project Risks. All projects present risks, and to control them, they must be identified, assessed, evaluated, and mitigated. Visualize your risk assessment with a risk matrix and include it in the project presentation. Use this slide to explain to stakeholders how you plan to mitigate the identified risks.

  4. How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

    Apply the 10-20-30 rule. Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it! 9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule. Simplicity is key.

  5. What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

    Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired ...

  6. Project Presentations: Prepare and Give a Great Presentation

    When the fateful day arrives, there are some important things to keep in mind when giving your project presentation. Follow these best practices and you'll portray your project and your team in the best possible light. 1. Speak Clearly and Don't Rely on Jargon. Presentations depend on clarity and good communication.

  7. Presentation Skills 101: A Guide to Presentation Success

    Tip #1: Build a narrative. One memorable way to guarantee presentation success is by writing a story of all the points you desire to cover. This statement is based on the logic behind storytelling and its power to connect with people. Don't waste time memorizing slides or reading your presentation to the audience.

  8. 18 Steps to Present Your Project Like a Pro

    Write a summary, ask for questions, and don't forget to thank your audience for attention. 10. Care about the presentation style. You can make your project presentation dry or funny or dry. But ...

  9. Powerful and Effective Presentation Skills

    Effective communications skills are a powerful career activator, and most of us are called upon to communicate in some type of formal presentation mode at some point along the way. For instance, you might be asked to brief management on market research results, walk your team through a new process, lay out the new budget, or explain a new ...

  10. How to Structure your Presentation, with Examples

    This clarifies the overall purpose of your talk and reinforces your reason for being there. Follow these steps: Signal that it's nearly the end of your presentation, for example, "As we wrap up/as we wind down the talk…". Restate the topic and purpose of your presentation - "In this speech I wanted to compare…". 5.

  11. 6 presentation skills and how to improve them

    To give a great presentation, you might even incorporate relevant props or presentation slides. 4. Storytelling. According to Forbes, audiences typically pay attention for about 10 minutes before tuning out. But you can lengthen their attention span by offering a presentation that interests them for longer.

  12. 20 Great Examples of PowerPoint Presentation Design [+ Templates]

    6. "Blitzscaling: Book Trailer," Reid Hoffman. If you're going to go the minimalistic route, I'd take note of this PowerPoint presentation example from Reid Hoffman. This clean design adheres to a simple, consistent color scheme with clean graphics peppered throughout to make the slides more visually interesting.

  13. What Are Effective Presentation Skills (and How to Improve Them)

    Presentation skills are the abilities and qualities necessary for creating and delivering a compelling presentation that effectively communicates information and ideas. They encompass what you say, how you structure it, and the materials you include to support what you say, such as slides, videos, or images. You'll make presentations at various ...

  14. Talking points

    All too often, project presentations fail because the presenter failed to either clearly define the message or logically organize the supporting details. Even more commonly, the presenter failed to create a concise narrative that visually engaged the audience. This article discusses how project managers can develop visually engaging project presentations that clearly and concisely outline the ...

  15. Pitch Deck vs Presentation

    Presentations can be used at different stages of a project, business, or educational endeavor. They are needed whenever you want to convey a message, provide updates, educate an audience, or influence decisions. Presentations can occur during team meetings, conferences, educational lectures, workshops, project reviews, and more.

  16. The 5 Differences Between A Pitch And A Presentation

    A presentation is about information. A pitch is about connection. Slow down, and stop trying to lift the world by yourself. Instead, connect your message to the people you wish to influence most ...

  17. How can I add a reference to PresentationCore in Visual Studio 2019?

    1. Yes, I just wanted to emphasize this, as I stumbled upon this solution, added <UseWPF>true<UseWPF>, and it still didn't work. Only afterwards I saw that my target framework value was net6.0, not net6.0-windows. That's why I put some emphasis on this because someone else might overlook this as I did. - Thern.

  18. 60 Effective PowerPoint Presentation Tips & Tricks (Giant List)

    A presentation covers the most crucial pieces only. Whatever you've been working on that led to this—a paper, a work project, a new product design—doesn't need to be shared in its entirety. Pick key points and put the rest in an "Appendix" to refer to during the Q&A session at the end.

  19. Prezi vs PowerPoint: Which One Should You Use? (In 2022)

    The main difference between Prezi and PowerPoint is that Prezi is a cloud-based tool for creating non-linear presentations while PowerPoint is an offline tool for creating standard presentations. In this comparison guide, you'll learn what tool is best for your presentations in 2022. Choose the element that you're interested in from the ...

  20. 3 Group Presentation Pitfalls

    If you're giving one, it's the last-minute scramble the night before to decide who is presenting which part of the presentation. If you're observing one, it's the chaos of hearing multiple ...

  21. Google Slides vs PowerPoint: Full Comparison Guide for 2024

    Google Slides vs PowerPoint: Full Comparison Guide for 2024. The biggest difference between PowerPoint and Google Slides is that PowerPoint is an offline, downloadable tool created by Microsoft Windows while Google Slides is an online-only tool offered as part of the Google Workspace. But the big question here is which of the two presentation ...

  22. Project vs Process: Definitions, Differences, & Examples

    Project vs Process: Definitions, Differences, & Examples. "Project" and "process" are two distinct concepts often used in the context of work, management, and various industries. Organizations often use both projects and processes to manage their work effectively. Projects may involve creating or improving processes, and processes may ...

  23. What Is The Difference Between Proposal And Presentation?

    Another difference between proposals and presentations is the level of detail and formality. Proposals are typically more detailed and formal than presentations and provide a comprehensive overview of the problem or need, the proposed solution, and the benefits and costs associated with the solution. Presentations, on the other hand, are ...

  24. Top 10 Project Overview Templates with Examples and Samples

    Template 9: Project Brief Objectives PPT Summary Example Introduction. Team members working on any project need to know about it and its expected outcomes to work more efficiently. Using this template, you can create an engaging and informative project overview and a clearer picture of the outcomes, making every choice simpler and faster. ...

  25. What Is Project Resource Management? Definition & Best ...

    Project resource management is a systematic process within project management that focuses on utilizing various types of resources necessary for completing a project effectively. It encompasses ...

  26. Project 2025 led by the Heritage Foundation, explained

    Project 2025's Director is Paul Dans, who served as the U.S. Office of Personnel Management chief of staff in former President Donald Trump's administration.Although it mentions Trump by name, the ...

  27. How to use the new Microsoft Loop features [NEW FEATURES 2024]

    Microsoft Loop has been enriched with a feature set that makes it even more functional and suitable for covering multiple scenarios. Follow my tutorial showing..

  28. CNN announces rules for June 27 Biden-Trump debate

    WASHINGTON — CNN announced additional details on the June 27 debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, setting the stage for what is expected to be a tumultuous stand ...

  29. Buy Microsoft Visio Pro or Microsoft Project Pro for $25: Last chance

    Microsoft's project management solutions include timesheet support, org charts, and more to help you stay organized -- and they're currently on sale for 90% off. This deal ends soon.

  30. House Democrats warn of Project 2025 plans for a Trump White House

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Warning about the far-right Project 2025 agenda for a Donald Trump White House, a group of House Democrats has launched a task force to start fighting the proposal and stop it from taking hold if the Republican former president returns to power.. Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman of California is unveiling The Stop Project 2025 Task Force on Tuesday, the latest sign that ...