The document outlines key strategies for giving effective presentations, emphasizing the importance of preparation, storytelling, and audience connection. It suggests five steps: tell compelling stories, focus on the audience rather than oneself, build a connection, avoid negative behaviors, and provide a concise takeaway. Overall, being well-prepared can transform challenging presentation experiences into successful ones.

1. Me

9. How to Give a
Compelling Presenta4on
Melanie Seibert
Sr. Content Strategist @ WillowTree

10. Giving presenta4ons is a
valuable skill.

11. Giving presenta4ons can
be painful

12. Giving presenta4ons can
be painful
when you’re unprepared.

13. Being prepared lets you
turn painful experiences
into triumphant ones.

14. – Your scout troop leader
“Be prepared.”

15. So how do we prepare for
a presenta4on?

16. So how do we prepare for
a presenta4on?
5 steps

17. 1. Tell stories

18. What is a story?

19. What is a story?

20. A story tradi4onally has 3 parts:
What is a story?

21. A story tradi4onally has 3 parts:
• Act 1: Beginning or introduc4on
What is a story?

22. A story tradi4onally has 3 parts:
• Act 1: Beginning or introduc4on
• Act 2: Middle
What is a story?

23. A story tradi4onally has 3 parts:
• Act 1: Beginning or introduc4on
• Act 2: Middle
• Act 3: Ending
What is a story?

24. “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
What is a story?What is a story?
— Commonly a4ributed to Ernest Hemingway

25. “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
What is a story?What is a story?
Beginning
— Commonly a4ributed to Ernest Hemingway

26. “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
What is a story?What is a story?
Beginning Middle
— Commonly a4ributed to Ernest Hemingway

27. “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
What is a story?What is a story?
Beginning Middle Ending
— Commonly a4ributed to Ernest Hemingway

28. Why stories?

29. Stories are powerful.

30. Stories connect us.

31. Stories are memorable.

32. 2. You’re not the hero

33. Watch it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v76f6KPSJ2w

34. Stories reach your
audience powerfully when
they are about them.

35. Stories reach your
audience powerfully when
they are about them.
Not you

36. 3. Build a connec4on &
invite them in

37. Watch it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVz-fO7kxcQ

38. 4. Don’t be a jerk

39. Don’t be a jerk

40. The Internet responded…
Don’t be a jerk

41. Don’t be a jerk

42. Don’t be a jerk

43. Don’t be a jerk

44. Don’t be a jerk

45. How not to be a jerk?
Don’t be a jerk

46. How not to be a jerk?
• Ask friends to review your presenta4on
Don’t be a jerk

47. How not to be a jerk?
• Ask friends to review your presenta4on
• Approach “hot topics” with cau4on
Don’t be a jerk

48. 5. Give them a takeaway
In 10 words or less.

49. Like this one:
Give them a takeaway

50. Like this one:
Give them a takeaway
Being prepared lets you
turn painful experiences
into triumphant ones.

52. Thanks!
You can get in touch on
Twi[er: @melanie_seibert.

53. Thanks to
Ben Bloodworth
Jeff Seibert