Presentation Skills

Quick guide to quick statements

Leaders need to pay close attention to their management income statement, or “natural P&L,” the cornerstone for managing any organization. Every organization is unique, so every statement needs to vary slightly, but what all good management reports have in common are characteristics that make them useful.

Fend off tough questions from media

Before you give a live media interview, prepare to answer questions on your terms. Rehearse what you’ll say if you’re challenged to defend yourself or your organization.

They are watching you

As a leader, you can expect everything you say and do to be under constant evaluation. From the first few moments of his appearance as head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis I expressed humility through his demeanor as well as his words.

Don't lecture: Inject some drama

Before you address a roomful of employees, identify the main point you want to make, then figure out a memorable way to convey it. Consider how Jack Welch, GE’s former CEO, injected some drama speaking to his top managers. 

Calling the shots with some chutzpah

Typically, a CEO who seeks to impress an important client will defer to the client’s wishes. But Linda Kaplan Thaler isn’t a typical CEO. As chief executive of a big New York advertising agency, she recalls a 2001 meeting with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp.

In presentations, tell the story behind the numbers

A few hours after you hear a presentation, ask yourself, “What do I remember?” If you recall anything, it will probably be a story. No matter how well a speaker serves up data, few listeners will remember it. But succinct stories lodge themselves in listeners’ brains.

5 deadly sins of presenting financials

An experienced CFO shares his knowledge on the basics of organizing and presenting data. Here are a few of what he calls the “deadly sins” of sharing financials.

Persuasion starts with a succinct goal

Identify your goal before you try to persuade others. What action do you want them to take as a result of your remarks? To stay on track and keep things simple, reduce your goal to 12 words or fewer.

Pick the right time to insert pauses in presentations

Nervous public speakers tend to rush. They mumble, mutter and stammer their way through their speeches, yearning to finish and get off the stage. Yet there’s a simple technique that calms anxious presenters: the well-timed pause. Use these guidelines to decide when to apply one.

You have 30 seconds to impress me

When addressing senior executives, every minute counts. Make your point succinctly—without tangents or long stories—and end decisively. Consider these structural frameworks when organizing your material:


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