How to Make a Presentation Not Boring: 5 Steps That Actually Work
I glanced at my calendar and remembered, “Oh yeah, that presentation is due today, I need to build it.” Opening three different presentations, I started clicking on slides and copying them into a new file. “I can talk about this slide, this one, and I’d better include this one.”
I think in words, not images. Because of this, I struggle to create visually appealing slides. I wanted to lighten the slides but kept thinking, “If it’s not on the slide, I’m going to forget to say it.” After a few hours of tinkering, I’d send off the presentation I cobbled together and checked the item off my to-do list.
The slides may have been done, but I was nowhere near ready to give an engaging presentation. I hadn’t thought about what I’d say or what I wanted the audience to experience. There was no clarity on what points I wanted to make for each slide—or the overall presentation. The combination of neglecting any consideration for the audience and busy slides with too many details was a recipe for a boring, rambling presentation. Versions of this play out in offices every week.
I’ve been working with senior executives to prepare presentations for conferences, client presentations, and annual meetings. They each follow this similar pattern. They don’t want to be boring, but building a new presentation with fresh ideas feels too consuming. It’s easier to default to what already exists. But what is easier for us doesn’t make for a better result for the audience.
Here's the good news: it’s possible to take a different approach to presentations that won’t bore your audience or take more time. It just requires a different mindset and these five habits.
Begin With the Audience.
Stories and presentations start with audiences. Define the experience you want them to have before creating a single slide. Write a sentence for each prompt below to gain focus on why you are giving the presentation and what you want people to experience:
What do I want the audience to think or feel about this content?
What do I want the audience to know or do as a result of this content?
What is their mindset today about the topic?
What might be an obstacle in getting them to feel, think, know, or do differently?
Next, list the points you want the audience to take away about your topic to storyboard your presentation. Lay out Post-its with one idea on each to see the flow, even if you have existing slides. This helps ensure the overall presentation flow makes sense to the audience.
Slides are Visual Aids for the Audience, Not You.
Adopt the mindset that slides are a visual aid for the audience, not your notes. Slides don’t drive a presentation; you do. The contents shouldn’t include every example or point you’ll make. Recognize that when you display a slide, people stop listening to process it. The more complicated or detailed, the less they listen. Your goal: make the slide easy to understand so attention comes back to what you are saying within five seconds.
Create a separate set of notes for yourself as the presenter. These won’t be displayed and can include all the details, examples, and references you want to mention. Include detailed views in an appendix or create a leave-behind.
Create a Clear Takeaway for Each Slide
Whether creating a new slide or leveraging an existing one, define a clear takeaway that answers, “What do I want the audience to take from this slide?” Defining the takeaway not only helps make your message succinct, shortens your prep time, and clarifies what’s essential to include.
Split multiple big ideas into individual slides.
Determine the three to five key points you will make when presenting the slide. More will cause the audience to drift.
Make any headers the takeaway of the slide. This lands the idea with the audience and gets their attention back to you.
Delete any slides you find yourself saying, “I’m not going to talk to this.” You don’t want to read to people, but if you aren’t referencing it, cut it. Fold the point into a different slide.
Simplify Slides and Then Simplify Them Again
Our instinct is to include too much that doesn’t help the audience. Start with the bare minimum and only add elements when needed.
Avoid cramming slides of content. It doesn’t make you more credible; it creates confusion. The simpler the slides the better. Credibility comes from what you share, not the slide.
Chunk information in threes. When we see a slide of bullets our brain sighs and anticipates work. Chunking information into three pieces reduces the cognitive load, especially when you display them horizontally vs. a bulleted list.
Avoid full sentences or paragraphs. Full sentences are for reports, not presentations. The more people have to read, the less they listen.
Embrace metaphors. I was working with a senior executive on a talk for the sales team who was making a point about what it feels like to experience desperate salespeople. We added, “It’s like they give off a scent like a bad cologne…. like Drakkar.” People immediately got her point, and the room erupted with laughter. Use metaphors from everyday life to connect people to ideas, scale, impact, and complexity.
Incorporate animations to guide your discussion to help the audience follow along with what you’re saying.
Tell Stories
Audiences appreciate hearing stories where others have faced similar situations. It helps them recognize common challenges and gain ideas and confidence to address them. Share stories, anecdotes, and examples that highlight these moments.
Where do your clients struggle?
What questions do you receive most often?
When do clients get stuck?
What is a common mistake clients make?
What can clients expect to face in the future?
Stories rarely need slides. When I share a slide for a story, it’s a single image that reinforces the overall idea. Audiences can see it, process it, and quickly return to the story.
When you take the time to build a presentation around your audience and simplify your slides, you’re setting the stage for meaningful connection and engagement. These five steps aren’t about creating more work, they’re about shifting your focus from delivering information to creating an experience. With clear, thoughtful content, visual simplicity, and relevant stories, you’ll leave a memorable, lasting impact. So next time, resist the urge to reuse slides. Approach your presentation with a fresh mindset. Your audience will thank you for it.
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