Reflect. Structure. Pack a Punch With Your Presentation.
Part 2: Structuring Your Presentation
Organize your ideas effectively
Now that you’ve done the heavy thinking, it’s time to build your presentation. Use the groundwork you’ve laid. A solid presentation follows the same flow as strong writing: intro, body, conclusion. No need to reinvent the wheel.
But remember, there’s a difference between what’s spoken and what’s written. You can’t rely on linking words like “moreover,” “however,” or “therefore.” Instead, use keywords to guide your flow naturally.
In a big room or using a projector? Back your words with visuals.
The introduction
Your intro should take up about 10% of your overall time, and it’s often where most presentations fall flat. Ditch bland openers: “Hello, I’m X, happy to be here… I’ll talk about three items…” and weak endings: “That’s it. Any questions?”
Here’s a solid three-part structure: first up, the hook: Grab attention through stories, anecdotes, and questions. When people feel involved, they feel invested.
The quickest way to grab attention is simple: say “Hello…” and pause. Most people won’t answer right away because they’re unsure whether you expect a response. That’s your cue to repeat it with energy: “Hello!” When the room answers back, you’ve captured their attention in just two words.
Next, hit them with a question that matters. “Who came here today excited to spend two hours on retirement portfolio management? Nobody? Thought so. Who wants to know what kind of lifestyle they’ll actually afford in retirement?” Speak directly to what your audience cares about, and you’ll have them leaning in.
Once you’ve got their focus and curiosity, that’s the moment to briefly introduce yourself and your company.
The last step is laying out the flow of your presentation so the audience knows where you’re taking them. People will follow someone who’s clear about the direction and confident about the journey. Think of it like sharing an itinerary for a trip: no need for every detail, just the key stops along the way.
The argument
This is your presentation’s beating heart. Map your ideas from simple to compelling.
Great arguments are:
- Clear enough for a 10-year-old
- Vivid and visual
- Filled with concrete examples
- Expressed with precise, simple words. Because simple is powerful
Use visuals sparingly: PowerPoint slides, key-worded tables, imagery, etc. But don’t let them dominate the stage; your voice should take the lead.
Each slide should be read in three to five seconds. Stick to lists or images, not paragraphs.
People used to say that an audience’s attention span lasts 20 minutes max. With today’s new tech, you’d be lucky to get a couple of minutes. Switch things up and break the rhythm: ask the audience a question or invite someone to participate. Be original!
Humour helps too, but don’t try to be a comedian. A quirky anecdote or clever quote can breathe life into your presentation. Truth is stranger than fiction, so you definitely have stories you can share to spice things up. You can also pull up a great quote from a relevant book.
Have a promo or service you want to present? Now’s the time. The best time to mention it is right after the main presentation, but before you wrap up.
The conclusion
Like your intro, your conclusion should be brief, impactful, and memorized. This should take up about 10% of your time.
This too follows a three-step structure: First, signal the ending: “I’ve got two minutes left…” or “Before we start the Q&A, let me remind you…” This snaps your audience back into focus and gives you a 30-second window to reinforce your message.
Next, summarize without repeating. Reflect on the journey you and your audience have taken in the presentation.
Lastly, inspire people to think about and act on what they’ve learned. And don’t lose that energy until the very end.
That’s your toolkit for structuring a knockout presentation. Stay tuned for Part 3 to learn how to bring that presentation to life on the big day.
