report vs presentation

Presentation vs Report Writing: What’s the Difference?

By: Author Shrot Katewa

I was sitting at my desk today while I stumbled upon a question by one of our patrons. It got me thinking if there was ever a difference between a Presentation and Report Writing? So, I did some research, and here’s what I found out!

The main difference between a Presentation and Report Writing is that a report is usually fairly extensive and gives a detailed account of the information on a particular topic. Whereas, a presentation is mostly a synopsis which highlights the key points that are important for the audience.

Since one of the key objectives of both – a presentation and a report is to give information to its intended audience, people often tend to confuse between the two. So, let’s understand the nuances in further detail.

Key Differences between Presentation and Report Writing

In order to make sure that we don’t end up creating an incorrect document the next we are tasked with an assignment, it is important for us to understand the differences between a presentation and report writing.

As I mentioned earlier, one of the purposes of both a presentation and a report is typically to provide insights or useful information about a certain topic.

However, the purpose of creating a presentation is to share information in a short period of time; usually not more than 15-20 minutes. Thus, it ends up being a synopsis of a topic rather than giving a detailed account on a particular topic.

Report Writing on the other hand goes into the intricacies involved within a particular topic.

For a research oriented report writing, the purpose of the report is often to capture the detailed account for the research conducted including (but not limited to) purpose of the research, methodology adopted for conducting research, observations and findings, discrepancies (if any), and the conclusion.

Writing a report often scientific approach and requires a technical understand of the subject.

2. Depth of Information

Another difference between a report and a presentation is the depth of information that is shared in the two types of documents.

As mentioned in the previous point, a report goes in great depth capturing the thought behind almost every single action taken by the researcher; thereby giving an in-depth understanding on the topic.

A presentation on the other hand picks up key pieces of information and aims to provide very specific details usually in the interest of the available time of the audience.

A typical example of a report would be a corporate annual report which explains the details of actions taken by the organisation and how it performed. This information is shared across multiple paragraphs usually accompanied by a table giving the performance details. Whereas, a presentation of the annual report only summarizes the key points on the performance of the company throughout the year.

3. Information Delivery

Another major difference between a presentation and report writing is the mode of information delivery.

Since a presentation is a piece of summarized information, it requires a person to share additional information while delivering the presentation. A presentation mostly contains visual cues along with a few points on each slide, which is accompanied with a talk given by an individual giving the presentation.

A presentation can be given in-person to a small group of people or even to a few hundred individuals in a large auditorium. Alternatively, a presentation can also be delivered online to several thousands of people across the globe using different softwares.

A report on the other hand doesn’t necessarily require to be presented. Since it contains detailed information, it can be independently read by people at their comfort.

Reading a report can take time as it is often spread across several hundreds of pages.

4. Method of Engaging the Audience

Yet another difference between a presentation and report writing is the manner in which it engages its audience.

A presentation depends upon the skill of the presenter to engage the audience. A person giving a presentation not only needs to make the presentation visually appealing, it also requires the presenter to entertain the audience by means of story-telling and humor (as deemed necessary) while delivering the presentation.

A report on the other hand depends on the capability of an individual to command a language to engage its readers. It needs the person writing a report to have a good grasp of the language in order to describe the information accurately and as briefly as possible while holding the interest of the audience.

In a research study done in order to compare the understanding capability of science students based information consumed in the two formats – Presentation versus Report format , it was observed that students understood the topic better when it was explained through a presentation rather than a report.

Perhaps, one can conclude that presentation is usually more engaging than a detailed report.

5. Skills Needed

Lastly, another difference between a presentation and report writing is the skills needed for each of the two activities.

Creating an effective presentation requires not only design skills, but also mastering the art of giving presentations! While the task of designing a presentation can often be outsourced, the knack of picking the correct topics to be covered in the presentation can’t be outsourced and is dependent on the presenter.

As a presenter, you don’t necessarily need to have great writing skills, but you surely need to know the art of story-telling, and leverage this for giving a presentation.

On the other hand, report writing requires creative (sometimes technical) writing skills. One also needs to be analytical.

How to Choose between a Presentation and a Report? Which is Better?

Choosing between creating a presentation or writing a report can be a difficult task for some. But, not being able to do so correctly can often lead to drastic (sometimes even embarrassing) circumstances.

Here are a few questions that you should ask yourself before starting creating a presentation or writing a report –

• How much time do I have with my audience? If you have only about 20 to 30 minutes with you audience to share the required information, it is perhaps better to give a presentation than to write a report. A report (unless written in less than 10 pages), will usually take more than this much time to be completely understood.
• Does your intended audience prefer to read or to hear/watch? People have their own preferences when it comes to consuming information. Some people like to read, while others prefer hearing or visual comprehension to gain knowledge. Be sure to ask them their preference, and make your decision accordingly.
• What are you good at – Presentation or Report Writing? If the above two questions are not important or if your audience doesn’t have a preference, a good way to start would be to focus on your strengths. Ask yourself – what are you more comfortable with? Is a creating and delivering a presentation? Or, is it writing a report? Make a decision based on your capability. A little introspection can definitely go a long way in helping you choose the right direction.

How to Create an Attractive Presentation?

If you end up deciding to go down the presentation route, then we’ve got you covered.

The main objective of this site is to help you create better presentations!

Thus, be sure to check out a few other posts on this website that provide little ninja tips on how you can make your presentations attractive in a few easy steps!

A good place to start would be by reading this post –

7 EASY tips that ALWAYS make your PPT presentation attractive (even for beginners)

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any specific questions. We would love to help you create better presentations!

Final Thoughts

As we understood in this article, even though delivering a presentation and report writing have a similar objective of sharing interesting information, they both have their differences.

Knowing what mode of information sharing to choose can often be critical. Thus, I hope this post has helped you understand some of the key differences between the two and how to choose whether to create a presentation or write a report.

What is the Difference Between a Presentation and a Report?

Both have their place in corporate communications but it is important to know the difference and where and when to use each

A report is extensive and provides a detailed account of a subject. Facts, features and benefits are hallmarks of a report

A presentation is a story, a journey from one place to another with the intention to inform, educate or excite, highlighting key points to the audience.

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• Presentations
• Presentation Techniques

How to Write, Format, & Give a Great Business Presentation Report 2024

Do you need to make a report presentation but are unsure about how to write a report on presentation slides? Maybe you want to improve your report presentation format that you've used in the past.

Using  a template is an easy way to save time and ensure that your presentation looks professional .

Creating a report in a presentation format can be time-consuming. The design you create may look okay, but sometimes okay is not good enough. You want to really impress those viewing the report. 

Using a premium template will show you how to make a good report presentation and provide the wow factor you're looking for. In this article, I'll show you how to write, plan, format, design and give a report presentation.

Check Out Our New Free Online Presentation Guide

If you're reading this article, you're probably about to create a business report presentation in PowerPoint. We'll help you out by sharing how to make a project report in PPT. You'll also see some of the best PowerPoint templates for presentation reports below. But we've got even more presentation help available.

In our new free presentation guide,  The Complete Guide to Making Great Business Presentations in 2019 , we'll take you through the complete process to get you ready for your next presentation report—from start to finish. Avoid common mistakes and learn how plan and write the best presentations.

Don't miss our new free online presentation guide. It's chock full of powerful business presentation advice on how to make your next report presentation your best yet. Why not take a look at  the Complete Guide to Making Great Business Presentations in 2019  today? 

Now, let's learn about how to write and make a report PowerPoint presentation. 

How to Have a Professional PowerPoint Presentation

You need a professional presentation report, even if you're using PowerPoint. You may be more accustomed to using other tools for reports. But a PowerPoint presentation report is as important as any other report document you might produce. Just as you would with a printed report, make sure your report presentation format is professional and fits with your brand. 

Do you wonder:  what is a report presentation ? Presentation reports often summarize more detailed printed reports. Your listeners may not have time to read a long printed report. Your report presentation gives you a chance to showcase the important points and make sure they aren't missed.

Discover Amazing Presentation Reports on Envato Elements

We'll show you how to write a report on a presentation that stands out. But first, let's look at some professional templates.

Knowing where to start or designing your own report can be tiring and time-consuming. For a professionally designed presentation report, use a premium pre-built template.

To get a premium template all you've got to do is pay a low monthly fee at Envato Elements. When you subscribe you'll get access to download thousands of templates, graphics, photos and more.

Using a premium template will help you make a professional-looking presentation. All premium templates are easily customizable. So, if you don’t like something, change it to suit your needs. If you like the default colors and font sizes, add your information and you’re ready to present.

Amazing Presentation Reports From Envato Elements

Here are some amazing presentation reports templates from Envato Elements. Access them when you pay for the low subscription price:

1. Report - PowerPoint Template

This presentation report template package has over 50 unique slides. It's got a modern design, and everything is completely editable. Included with the presentation template are infographics and icons. Here's a professional design that won't distract your audience.

2. BUSINESS REPORT - PowerPoint V257

This business report has 150 total slides that you can format your presentation with. There are five color schemes to choose. Pick the one that suits your presentation subject or audience the best. This template has a clean and professional design that can be easily edited. The Business Report template comes with picture placeholders so that you can easily add any image you need.

3. Famea: Business Report

This report presentation comes with 100 slides in total, including 50 unique slides. Famea comes with two color scheme options to choose from to customize the presentation to meet your needs. Famea is a great choice for most business needs and audiences.

4. Story PowerPoint Template

Story PowerPoint Template is a multipurpose template. Use it for a business report presentation in PowerPoint. This template has over 70 unique slides and all slides are professionally designed. Easily add an image of your choice by dragging and dropping the image into the image placeholder. This template is fully customizable from the text font to the color scheme.

5. Annual Report - PowerPoint

The Annual Report template has a different report presentation format. The format is more visual. It's got graphs and charts that you can enter your data into. The Annual Report template has 49 unique slides. Easily add an image of your choice by dragging and dropping the image into the picture placeholder.

Find More Presentation Reports on GraphicRiver

If you didn't find what you were looking for on Envato Elements another option for premium templates is GraphicRiver. For GraphicRiver you pay for each individual presentation report template you download. GraphicRiver has many presentation report templates to choose from.

But GraphicRiver has more than templates. GraphicRiver also has fonts, images, and audio files. So, if you need a single image for your presentation, but are unsure of where to get it, turn to GraphicRiver. 

How to Write and Plan a Great Report Presentation

Now that you've seen a wide variety of report presentation formats on professionally designed templates, you're ready to learn how to write and make a report PowerPoint presentation. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Choose the Topic

When writing your presentation, the first step is choosing the topic. Topics can range from a progress report to showing a new idea or product to a client. 

Here are some tutorials that'll help you decide what to write about:

Knowing what you'll create your presentation report on is a great starting point. After you've chosen the topic of your report presentation, create an outline. An outline will help you decide which information to include in your presentation. 

2. How to Design & Format a Report Presentation in PowerPoint

After you write an outline, you'll know what type of presentation you're going to make. The type of presentation you're going to give can help you decide which template to use.

For example, if your presentation has a lot of data, you'll want a presentation template that comes with lots of charts. Once you've found a template that you like you'll need to customize the template:  

For my presentation report samples in these tips, I chose the Report PowerPoint Presentation from Envato Elements. 

Choosing a PowerPoint topic for your presentation report is a great starting point. After you've chosen the topic of your report presentation, create an outline. An outline will help you decide which information to include in your presentation.

3. How to Add an Image

 The next step is a team introduction. A good way to introduce your team is to add an image.

Here's slide number 5 without any changes to the slide. This is a good example of a slide that you'd use to introduce yourself or your team:

To add an image to the slide you need to click on the Insert tab in the toolbar. Once you click on the Insert tab, you'll see the Picture button appear. 

Click on the arrow next to the Picture button. Clicking on this arrow will cause a drop-down menu to appear:

Find the image or images you want, then select them. Next, resize the image to fit the space on the slide.

After you add images, you may need to add more text to your presentation.

4. How to Add Text to Your Presentation

To show you how to add text to the presentation I'll use slide thirteen of the  Report PowerPoint Presentation  template. Here's the slide without any edits: 

This slide is great to emphasize a fact or quote to highlight for your audience.

To add new text, you'll need to add a new text box. To add a new text box, click on the Insert tab in the toolbar. After you click on the Insert tab the Text Box button will appear:

Click on the  Text Box button. Draw a box on the slide where you want the new text box to appear. You'll know if you've created a new text box by the  handles  that appear around the box. 

After you've drawn the box, add new text to your slide.

5. How to Give a Great Presentation Report

To give a great presentation, first edit your presentation. Make sure all the facts and data are correct. Also, check for typos.  

Next, practice giving your presentation to friends or coworkers. They can help you spot mistakes that you may have missed. It's better to discover mistakes before you give the actual presentation. 

Last, practice giving your presentation in the mirror. This helps you to be familiar with the information you're presenting. So, you won't stumble over words or concepts when you're giving your presentation.

Here are some tutorials with more ideas on how to give a great presentation report:

5 Tips for a Better Presentation

Are you looking for even more ways to make your presentation better? Here are five tips to help you out:

1. Choose Your Font & Visuals Wisely

When choosing a font for your presentation, make sure your font can be read from a distance easily. Think about the size of the audience and the size of the room you'll be presenting in. The bigger the audience and the bigger the room the bigger the font you'll need to use. If the audience can't read the font in your presentation it can be distracting. 

This tutorial will give you an idea of some of the best fonts to use:

Also, when choosing what images you want in your presentation, the first step is to choose images that are relevant. If you use an image that doesn't go with your presentation, it could confuse your audience. 

Another step is to make sure your images are of high quality. A blurry image in your presentation can be distracting for the audience.

2. Plan Out What You'll Say

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when giving a report presentation is to be unprepared and poorly organized. This tutorial will help you organize your presentation so that it comes across as professional:

3. Proofread Your Work

When you're done with your presentation, carefully proofread it. Make sure everything in the presentation is spelled correctly. Including wrong words or typos can be distracting to the audience.

4. Don't Overcrowd Your Slides

Don't overcrowd your slides. When you overcrowd your slides, it can be hard for the audience to determine what's important. Adding a wall of text isn't good either. Break up your text as much as you can. This makes it easier for the audience to remember what you presented to them.

5. Practice Your Speech

Practice your speech so that you know the information that'll be part of your presentation. Practicing will also help keep you from talking too fast. Talking to fast in your presentation can make you seem inexperienced. 

When giving your presentation, try to make eye contact with your audience. This gives the presentation more of a personal feel. It also makes it seem like you're really talking to the audience.  

If it's possible, make sure the equipment is working in the room where the presentation will take place.  Also, run through your presentation in that room without the audience present to make sure everything is legible and professional looking.

Learn More About Creating Report Presentations With PowerPoint

For even  more information  on how to customize your PowerPoint template, check out our guide to using PowerPoint. Here are more tutorials to help you learn how to make a report PowerPoint presentation:

Find More Report Presentation Templates

If you didn’t find a template that you liked above, check out these articles:

Download a Premium Presentation Report Template Today!

There are many times you may have to make a report. When designing your own report presentation, you may not have the time to create a good-looking design. Using a premium template saves time because the design is already there.

In this article, you read about how to how to make a presentation report .  So, you should be ready to start your presentation. Download  a report presentation format template today to save time and ensure a professional report presentation.

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Sonja Stetzler

Effective Connecting

October 25, 2011 By Sonja Stetzler

Oral Presentations Vs Written Presentation

Communication – the way you speak, the way you write, even the way you carry yourself each carry a great deal of power. They each allow you to reach an audience and deliver a message. When you are called upon to deliver a presentation you will find yourself faced with a decision. Will you deliver a written or oral presentation? While both can be powerful, there are quite a few differences in the way that they are affected through communication.

A written presentation tends to be rather direct and to the point. It is typically very objective in nature, highly organized, and yet may seem to be rather impersonal. When you plan a written presentation it will often require careful planning and may rely on rote listing of information in order to achieve its message.

You will find that an oral presentation may be altogether different. Oral communication is by nature a very dynamic method for transferring information between individuals and/or groups. Rather than relying on the more rigid rules of language, oral presentations can allow you to connect with your audience using everyday language.

Holding an oral presentation either live or through video allows you to incorporate non-verbal communication to help engage your audience on a deeper level. Rather than simply relying on the written word to feed out information, you can achieve a much more conversational feel with a softer tone. Oral presentations can be subjective in nature and may allow you to truly share your personal feelings on the subject matter.

Another bonus that oral presentations offer is that you may clarify points that don’t quite come across properly the first time through. You can also correct mistakes at the time you make them unlike those made in written presentations which may tend to be intractable.

You should always keep in mind that there may always be occasions when written presentations could be required; however, oral presentations offer you a level of power and control over the message and your connection with the audience that is second to none. In the end that is what effective connecting is all about!

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25 Powerful Report Presentations and How to Make Your Own

If we are what we repeatedly do, then consultants are report presentations. In the words of veteran consultant John Kim , “If you cannot put together a well-structured, persuasive, and visual presentation… you won’t be a management consultant for long.”

Unfortunately, over 90% of consultant report presentations fail to make an impact, either because they don’t have enough content, have too much content, are unstructured, lack persuasiveness or in all honesty, are just plain boring.

You can know your data inside and out, and you couldn’t have a firmer grasp on the industry, but no matter how prepared or well-researched you are – even one bad slide can ruin great content. Not to mention, a poorly designed presentation can literally cost your department and your organization over $100,000 per year (conversely, a well-design presentation earns you significant advantages).

The good news is that you don’t need a swanky suite of tools or a big design team to overhaul your reports – there are tons of free and online resources for creating interesting, compelling, and seriously persuasive reports. Just sign up for a free Piktochart account and use any of the available slides templates to start easily.

So while the pyramid principle remains one of the best ways for structuring your presentation content, in this article we provide other top tips and insights you can use to create powerful slides that speak to your audience through 25 best practice examples.

Make Your Data Digestible

1. achieving digital maturity: adapting your company to a changing world by deloitte.

Click to view SlideShare

This deck ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to giving tips for powerful presentations. This report consists of an absolutely brilliant use of data visualization , a subtle “progress bar” at the top that reminds the audience which part of the presentation they’re at, and concise summaries accompanying each infographic. Here at Piktochart, it’s certainly one of the best report presentations we’ve swooned over in a while.

2. Digital globalization: The new era of global flows by McKinsey

There is an overwhelming amount of data here, but McKinsey does a commendable job of keeping it engaging with clear summaries and good-looking infographics (slides 30 & 42). Some slides might feel a bit more cramped than others (slide 41–49), but when creating your own reports you should try to save these huge chunks of data for an article or whitepaper that a client can download and peruse at their own leisure. Your presentation should only contain the highlights.  

3. KPCB Design in Tech Report 2015: Simplified and Redesigned by Stinson

You’ll appreciate the brilliance of this presentation even more when you see the original . Instead of just inserting data in its raw form as graphs or tables, Stinson transforms their findings into something more graphic and appealing. The rest of the report also takes on a less-is-more principle, distilling only the most important points that would matter to the client – not the presenter.

4. The 60 Greatest Mobile Marketing Strategies of All Time by Leanplum

Leanplum only presents one point per slide, making their presentation supremely easy to follow along with (despite having 105 slides!). While they do use traditional line graphs and bar charts, they also find unconventional ways to illustrate their data (slides 71–77) or slip in nuggets of data that don’t detract from the main point (slides 52–53) – they use data to back their insights, rather than make the data the focus of the slide.

Clean Up Your Report Presentation Slides

5. findings on health information technology and electronic health records by deloitte.

Make use of white space and clean graphics to get your point across more effectively. This consulting deck does what most report presentations neglect, which is to highlight key takeaways (and bolding the important points) to avoid cluttering the audience with too much information.

6. Getting ready for IFRS 16 by KPMG

Clean and simple, each slide in this presentation has a clear focus, enhanced by the use of one question per slide and accompanying minimalist-style icons . It’s one of the easiest styles to replicate, and can be used strategically at certain portions of your presentation where you want to remove distraction and place emphasis on certain messages.

Choose the Right Fonts For Your Report Presentation

7. global retail trends 2018 by kpmg.

Crisp and clear, the choice of sans serif fonts keeps your report looking sleek, modern, and supremely legible when presenting. While your choice of font may be constricted by brand guidelines or house style, regardless, a good rule of thumb in your report presentation is to use clear, minimally-styled fonts so your message doesn’t get lost in a web of visual distraction.

Make Use of Report Presentation Visuals

8. how to use weflive 2017 by kpmg.

This presentation has been viewed over 87,500 times, making it a great example of what works in an educational deck. The use of screengrabs gives both current and potential clients better recognition of your services or products. It’s also been proven that visual elements attract clients better.

9. Top Ten Customer Airport Complaints by McKinsey

Smart use of custom illustrations and images helps audiences to instantly identify with each pain point. Good, relevant visuals amplify your message because they elicit emotional responses, helping your audience retain key points.

10. Global Construction Survey 2016 by KPMG

The first half of the presentation has a strong storytelling quality bolstered by great illustrations to help set up the second half – where the important data is presented. Our brains process images faster than words, so this is a good hack to getting messages across more effectively.

Stay Organized

11. trends in people analytics by pwc.

Having a table of contents to display on the side of the slide helps prevent audience fatigue – often when a presentation is too long, the audience’s retention rate starts to slip. A “tracking” tool like this can serve as a visual cue so that your audience knows where they are, and what they can expect next.

12. The CMO Blueprint for Account-Based Marketing by Sangram Vajre

There is a clear flow to this presentation – it starts with introducing some key statistics, which eventually leads up to why these statistics matter, and ends with what the proposed solution is. It’s all very organized. Another great thing about this presentation is that it uses graphics to reinforce, not distract from, its key points (slides 22–29).

Speak to Your Audience, Not at Them

13. moving digital transformation forward: findings from the 2016 digital business global executive study and research report by mitsloan + deloitte digital.

This is an all-around stellar presentation, which makes use of an active voice (“we did this…”, “we found this…”, “my digital strategy is…”) to better connect with the audience. The use of conversational copy, straightforward messages, and a consistent aesthetic theme make this one of our favorite report presentations to share with our users.

14. TMT Outlook 2017: A new wave of advances offer opportunities and challenges by Deloitte

At strategic points in this long presentation, polls are taken to keep the audience engaged and give them a break from information overload. By asking them to reflect on their current status and thoughts, they are “primed” into receiving what the presenter next has to say.

15. Business Pulse – Dual perspectives on the top 10 risks and opportunities 2013 and beyond by Ernst & Young

This is another example of keeping your audience engaged through the use of questions (slides 2, 3 & 7). The questions’ tone and voice were also creatively and intelligently crafted because it uses FOMO (fear of missing out) to ensure customers want to listen.

Break Your Report Presentation Down

16. a step-by-step overview of a typical cybersecurity attack—and how companies can protect themselves by mckinsey.

The title speaks for itself – breaking down your solution step-by-step is one of the best ways to create an effective presentation . The smart use of “hit or myth?” in each of its slides also gets the audience to reflect on their own experiences and (potentially false) impressions of the industry.

17. 5 questions about the IoT (Internet of Things) by Deloitte

There is a lot to say in this presentation about the findings and impact of IoT on various industries, but Deloitte presents it in a way that keeps it relevant – by using a question-and-answer format that works to connect rather than alienate the audience.

18. How to be Sustainable by The Boston Consulting Group

This is a prime example of how you can capitalize on the “listicle” style of writing to present your main points with supreme clarity and persuasiveness. Notice that each of the 10 steps is supplemented by key statistics? That’s how you can add weight to what you’re saying without overloading the audience with too many graphs and data charts.

Give Actionable Insight in Your Report Presentation

19. putting digital technology and data to work for tech cmos by pwc.

What makes a great consultant is his or her ability to go beyond surface data to give customers real, actionable insight. Not only does this presentation by PwC provide step-by-step recommendations (slides 15–18), but it uses real case studies and testimonials to boost credibility and illustrate value.  

20. Shutting down fraud, waste, and abuse: Moving from rhetoric to real solutions in government benefit programs by Deloitte

Identified an issue? Great. Worked out a solution? Even better. This presentation breaks down its proposed solution through one message per slide, punctuated by a relevant graphic that reinforces its key point. It’s clean, clear, and effective.

21. A labor market that works: Connecting talent and opportunity in the digital age by McKinsey

Personalization works in every industry. The next time you prepare a presentation , think about how you can give tailored advice to the unique stakeholders involved (slides 30–33). 

Keep Your Report Presentation Short and Sweet

22. six behavioral economics lessons for the workplace by deloitte.

There’s a reason why TED talks are only 18 minutes or less – any longer and the speaker will lose the audience’s attention. Taking this advice, keep your report presentations short whenever possible. This example by Deloitte depicts a smart way to keep things bite-sized yet meaty, and also publicizes all your white papers and articles in one place.

23. Private Sector Opportunity to Improve Well-Being by The Boston Consulting Group

This compact presentation is a great example of how to summarize all your key findings in less than 10 slides. When you force yourself to reduce clutter, you start being more discerning about what you include. Remember, what you find interesting may not be the same as what the audience finds relevant. Don’t get too attached, and be prepared to edit down.  

24. Four approaches to automate work using cognitive technologies by Deloitte

Try using a report presentation as a “preview” for your full suite of business services. This way, you summarize your best points to potential clients, and if what you’ve said interests them enough, they will be more invested in a follow-up meeting.

The key to doing this successfully, however, is that whatever few points you choose to present need to be accompanied by some form of tailored business solution or insight into their specific needs. 

Don’t Forget to Take Credit

25. european family business trends: modern times by kpmg.

It seems obvious, but you would be surprised how many times consultants neglect to put their profile image and professional business contact information at the end of each report.

There are many reasons to do so, but most importantly, it helps your potential business client remember you better. The truth is, we remember faces better than names, and adding this information allows them to reach out if they’re interested in a follow-up oppurtunity.

“Simplified and impressive reporting in one landscape. Quick templates are present for impressive graphical visualizations! Ease of use, upload and export options.” – Derrick Keith, Associate Consultant at KPMG Easily create reports , infographics , posters , brochures , and more with Piktochart. Sign up for free .

Audience First

Clarity of thought translates directly into how succinct your presentation comes off. A key presentation design tip is that your slide deck should always be the last thing you tackle – structure and story come first. It may not be that surprising of a reveal if we were to tell you: The elements that make a business consultant’s report presentation great are almost the same that make any presentation great.

At the end of the day, keep your audience at the center, be creative and thoughtful of their needs; use design and visuals to your advantage and integrate them early on, not as an afterthought. And remember: Even with more options, sometimes, less is more.

Time to Make Your Own 

Now that you’re thoroughly inspired and well-versed in report presentation creation, it’s time to make your own using the tips from this article. At Piktochart, we have a handful of slick and highly customizable templates to help you create impactful report presentations. Just search in our reports and presentation templates database and take a look at a few examples below.

1. Monthly Marketing Report Template

2. Social Media Report Template

3. monthly progress report template, 4. client research report template.

5. Monthly Sales Report Template

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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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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. 

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. 

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

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.

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

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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Essay vs Report: What Are the Key Differences?

(Last updated: 5 April 2024)

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Reports and essays serve as fundamental forms of scholarly communication, each with its distinct purpose, structure, and style. While both convey information and analysis, they vary in their objectives, audience, and presentation. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the different nuances between reports and essays, unpacking their key characteristics and offering insights into when and how to utilise each form effectively.

Reports: Capturing Data and Analysis

Reports are structured documents designed to convey factual information, findings, and analysis on a specific topic or issue. They are commonly used in academic, professional, and scientific contexts to present research outcomes, project evaluations, or business insights. Key features of reports include:

• Objective Presentation : Reports aim to provide an objective overview of data, observations, and analysis without personal interpretation or opinion.
• Structured Format : Reports typically follow a structured format, including sections such as introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions.
• Visual Aids : Reports often incorporate tables, charts, graphs, and other visual aids to enhance the presentation of data and facilitate understanding.
• Audience Focus : Reports are usually intended for a specific audience, such as academic peers, business stakeholders, or policymakers, who require concise and actionable information.

Essays: Exploring Ideas and Arguments

Essays, on the other hand, are scholarly compositions that explore and analyse ideas, arguments, and theories within a particular subject area. They provide opportunities for critical thinking, reflection, and interpretation of course material or research findings. Key features of essays include:

• Thesis-driven Structure : Essays typically present a central thesis or argument, supported by evidence, analysis, and interpretation.
• Logical Progression : Essays follow a logical progression of ideas, with clear transitions between paragraphs and sections to guide the reader through the argument.
• Engagement with Sources : Essays engage with a range of scholarly sources, including academic articles, books, and primary documents, to support the argument and provide context.
• Critical Analysis : Essays encourage critical analysis and evaluation of ideas, theories, and evidence, often requiring students to synthesise information and draw their conclusions.

Key Differences: Report vs Essay

While both reports and essays involve research, analysis, and communication of ideas, there are key differences in their purpose, structure, and approach:

Purpose : Reports aim to present factual information and analysis to inform decision-making, while essays explore ideas, theories, and arguments to provoke thought and discussion.

Structure : Reports follow a structured format with clear sections, while essays offer more flexibility in organisation and presentation.

Language and Style : Reports use formal, concise language and avoid personal opinions, while essays may incorporate personal voice, reflections, and interpretations.

Audience : Reports are often written for a specific audience, such as stakeholders or decision-makers, while essays are typically written for academic audiences or peers.

Choosing the Right Format

The choice between a report and an essay depends on the nature of the assignment, the requirements of the task, and the expectations of the audience. Consider the following factors when determining which format to use:

Purpose : Clarify the purpose of the document—is it to present factual information (report) or to explore and analyse ideas (essay)?

Audience : Consider the intended audience and their expectations regarding format, style, and depth of analysis.

Scope and Depth : Assess the scope and depth of the topic—are you presenting data and findings (report) or engaging in critical analysis and interpretation (essay)?

Instructions : Review the assignment instructions carefully to determine whether a specific format is required and to understand the evaluation criteria.

Leveraging the Power of Structure and Style

Reports and essays are valuable tools for scholarly communication, each offering unique opportunities for knowledge dissemination and intellectual exploration. By understanding the differences between reports and essays and knowing when to employ each format, students and researchers can effectively convey information, analyse ideas, and engage with academic discourse. Whether crafting a data-driven report or crafting a compelling essay, mastering the nuances of structure and style is essential for academic success.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Presentation

Curious about the Advantages and Disadvantages of Presentations? Presentations can effectively convey information, engage audiences, and enhance understanding. However, they may also pose challenges, such as time constraints and reliance on technology. This blog explores both the benefits and drawbacks of using Presentations.

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Have you ever wondered why some Presentations captivate audiences while others fall flat? Or how you can leverage the strengths of Presentations to enhance your communication skills? Presentations are a strong tool for conveying information, but what are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Presentation methods? In this blog, we’ll explore the key benefits and potential drawbacks of using Presentations in various settings.

Understanding the Advantages and Disadvantages of Presentation techniques can help you make informed decisions about when and how to use them effectively. Ready to elevate your Presentation game and avoid common pitfalls? Let’s dive in and discover the best practices for creating impactful Presentations!

Table of Contents  

1) What is a Presentation: A Brief Introduction 

2) Advantages of Presentations 

3) Disadvantages of Presentations 

4) How to Make a Successful Presentation? 

5) Conclusion 

What is a Presentation: A Brief Introduction  

A Presentation is a method of conveying information, ideas, or data to an audience using visual aids and spoken words. It can be formal or informal and is used in various settings, including business meetings, educational environments, conferences, and public speaking engagements. Presenters use visual elements like slides, charts, graphs, images, and multimedia to support and enhance their spoken content. The aim is to engage the audience, communicate the message effectively, and leave a lasting impact. 

The success of a Presentation hinges on the presenter’s ability to organise content coherently, engage the audience, and deliver information clearly and compellingly. Moreover, Presentation Skills are applicable to a wide range of scenarios, from business proposals and academic research to sales pitches and motivational speeches.  

Advantages of Presentations  

1) Effective Communication  

One of the primary advantages of Presentations is their ability to facilitate effective communication . Whether you're addressing a small group of colleagues or a large audience at a conference, Presentations help you to convey your message clearly and succinctly. By structuring your content and using visuals, you can ensure that your key points are highlighted and easily understood by the audience. 

2) Visual Appeal  

"Seeing is believing," and Presentations capitalise on this aspect of human psychology. The use of visuals, such as charts, graphs, images, and videos, enhances the overall appeal of the content. These visual aids not only make the information more engaging but also help reinforce the main ideas, making the Presentation more memorable for the audience. 

3) Engaging the Audience  

Captivating your audience's attention is crucial for effective communication. Presentations provide ample opportunities to engage your listeners through various means. By incorporating storytelling , anecdotes, and real-life examples, you can nurture an emotional connection with your audience. Additionally, interactive elements like polls, quizzes, and group activities keep the audience actively involved throughout the Presentation. 

4) Simplifying Complex Information  

Complex ideas and data can often be overwhelming, making it challenging to convey them effectively. However, Presentations excel in simplifying intricate information. By simplifying complex concepts into clear and interconnected slides, you can present the information in a logical sequence, ensuring that the audience grasps the content more easily. 

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5) Persuasive Impact  

Presentations are powerful tools for persuasion and influence. Whether you're convincing potential clients to invest in your product, advocating for a particular cause, or delivering a motivational speech, a well-crafted Presentation can sway the audience's opinions and inspire action. The combination of visual and verbal elements enables you to make a compelling case for your ideas, leaving a lasting impact on the listeners. 

6) Versatility in Delivery Methods  

Another advantage of Presentations lies in their flexibility and versatility in terms of delivery methods. Gone are the days when Presentations were limited to in-person meetings. Today, technology allows presenters to reach a wider audience through various platforms, including webinars, online videos, and virtual conferences. This adaptability makes Presentations an ideal choice for modern communication needs. 

7) Enhanced Understanding and Retention  

When information is presented in a visually appealing and structured manner, it aids in better understanding and retention. Human brains process visuals faster and more effectively than plain text, making Presentations an ideal medium for conveying complex concepts. The combination of visual elements and spoken words create a multi-sensory experience, leading to increased information retention among the audience. 

8) Professionalism and Credibility  

In professional settings, well-designed Presentations lend an air of credibility and professionalism to the presenter and the topic being discussed. A thoughtfully crafted Presentation shows that the presenter has put effort into preparing and organising the content, which in turn enhances the audience's trust and receptiveness to the information presented. 

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Disadvantages of Presentations  

1) Time-consuming  

Creating a compelling Presentation can be a time-consuming process. From researching and gathering relevant information to designing visually appealing slides, a significant amount of effort goes into ensuring that the content is well-structured and impactful. This time investment can be challenging, especially when presenters have tight schedules or are faced with last-minute Presentation requests. 

2) Technical Glitches  

Presentations heavily rely on technology, and technical glitches can quickly turn a well-prepared Presentation into a frustrating experience. Projectors may malfunction, slides might not load correctly, or audiovisual components may fail to work as expected. Dealing with such technical issues during a Presentation can disrupt the flow and distract both the presenter and the audience. 

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3) Overdependence on Technology  

In some cases, presenters may become overly reliant on the visuals and technology, neglecting the importance of direct engagement with the audience. Overloaded slides with excessive text can make presenters read directly from the slides, undermining the personal connection and interaction with the listeners. This overdependence on technology can lead to a lack of spontaneity and authenticity during the Presentation. 

4) Lack of Interactivity  

Traditional Presentations, particularly those delivered in large auditoriums, may lack interactivity and real-time feedback. In comparison, modern Presentation formats can incorporate interactive elements; not all Presentations provide opportunities for audience participation or discussions. This one-sided communication can lead to reduced engagement and limited opportunities for clarifying doubts or addressing queries. 

5) Public Speaking Anxiety  

For many individuals, public speaking can be a nerve-wracking experience. Presenting in front of an audience, especially in formal settings, can trigger anxiety and stage fright. This anxiety may affect the presenter's delivery and confidence, impacting the overall effectiveness of the Presentation. Overcoming public speaking anxiety requires practice, self-assurance, and effective stress management techniques. 

6) Not Suitable for all Topics  

While Presentations are an excellent medium for conveying certain types of information, they may not be suitable for all topics. Some subjects require in-depth discussions, hands-on demonstrations, or interactive workshops, which may not align well with the traditional slide-based Presentation format. Choosing the appropriate communication method for specific topics is crucial to ensure effective knowledge transfer and engagement. 

7) Accessibility Concerns  

In a diverse audience, some individuals may face challenges in accessing and comprehending Presentation materials. For example, people with visual impairments may find it difficult to interpret visual elements, while those with hearing impairments may struggle to follow the spoken content without proper captions or transcripts. Addressing accessibility concerns is vital to ensure inclusivity and equal participation for all attendees. 

8) Information Overload  

Presentations that bombard the audience with excessive information on each slide can lead to information overload. When the audience is overwhelmed with data, they may struggle to absorb and retain the key points. Presenters should strike a balance between providing adequate information and keeping the content concise and focused. 

How to Make a Successful Presentation?  

Now that we know the Advantages and Disadvantages of Presentations, we will provide you with some tips on how to make a successful Presentation. 

1) Understand your audience's needs and interests to tailor your content accordingly. 

2) Begin with an attention-grabbing introduction to captivate the audience from the Start of Presentation .

3) Structure your Presentation in a clear and coherent manner with a beginning, middle, and end. 

4) Keep slides simple and avoid overcrowding with excessive text; use bullet points and keywords. 

5) Incorporate high-quality images, graphs, and charts to enhance understanding and engagement. 

6) Rehearse your Presentation multiple times to improve your delivery and confidence. 

7) Show passion for your topic and maintain good eye contact to build trust with the audience. 

8) Include relevant anecdotes and case studies to make your points more relatable and memorable. 

9) Encourage audience participation through questions, polls, or discussions to keep them engaged. 

10) Respect the allotted time for your Presentation and pace your delivery accordingly. 

11) Summarise your key points and leave the audience with a clear takeaway or call to action. 

12) Request feedback after the Presentation to identify areas for improvement and grow as a presenter.

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Conclusion 

Understanding the Advantages and Disadvantages of Presentation methods can significantly enhance your communication skills and audience engagement. By comprehending the strengths and mitigating the weaknesses, you can create impactful Presentations that leave a lasting impression. So, apply these insights and watch your effectiveness soar!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Strong Presentation skills can boost your ability to clearly and persuasively communicate ideas. This can lead to increased networking opportunities, as people are more likely to connect with and refer to someone who presents confidently and effectively.

Good Presentation skills are crucial for educators and trainers as they ensure information is delivered clearly and engagingly. Effective Presentations help maintain audience interest, facilitate better understanding, and promote active participation, ultimately leading to improved learning outcomes.

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More From Forbes

The 5 differences between a pitch and a presentation.

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Persuade me. If you can.

“Tell me a little bit about yourself.”

“Pitch me your business idea.”

“Why should I do business with you?”

Where, exactly, does the story begin? In order to pitch your ideas - or your job skills - effectively, it’s important to understand the fundamental differences between a presentation and a pitch. Because a pitch is more than just an informational presentation. Beyond the constructs of the various TV shows, like Shark Tank , a pitch doesn’t necessarily inform. A good pitch compels . In other words, a pitch inspires action.

Persuasion Creates Opportunity, inside Your Pitch

That’s right, “inspires”. Because if all you want to do is instruct, like an informational presentation, that’s not a pitch. True, your audience might get smarter. But are you getting any richer? What does “good” look like, when it comes to your pitch? Maybe it looks like a new job . A new promotion. Or a new initiative that’s delivered (persuasively) by none other than you. Would you invest in that pitch?

Consider these five key differences between a presentation and a pitch:

• You Don’t Have to Go it Alone : it’s easy to fall into the trap that you’re alone on an island when it comes to your pitch - and that’s why you better talk fast, right? Wrong. 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: your investors, your potential new employer, your boss. Stop focusing on yourself and consider the puts and takes for the person right in front of you. You may not be facing off with Mr. Wonderful, but if you can find a way to connect to your audience, you’re making wonderful progress. How does your pitch impact the person you’re trying to influence? Are you clear on their outcomes, not just your own?
• Outcomes, Not Obstacles : there are four words that need to be a part of any persuasive conversation or pitch. Here they are: “I’ve thought this through”. Thinking things through means looking beyond the details. Zoom out and see if you see the big picture - have you thought things through? After all, a pitch is persuasive. It’s not a how-to. You’re not there to instruct, you’re there to inspire. Thinking things through points towards outcomes . What is the outcome of your business idea? What’s the outcome of you being hired by this firm? Stop focusing on your past experience and knowledge (Your background and resumé won’t disappear, when you make this shift). Turn your experience into outcomes for your audience. That way, you create an experience for your investor (or potential employer). Sharing outcomes starts by answering this simple question: “What’s the biggest promise you can keep?”
• What’s Your Log Line? Brant Pinvidic has sold over 300 different vehicles to various studios in Hollywood, including reality TV shows like Pawn Stars and Bar Rescue . In his book, The 3-Minute Rule, he explains how it can be useful to have a “log line”. He defines a log line as “the single most valuable element of your offering...in a single sentence or phrase.” He explains how he sold the idea of The Biggest Loser, the most successful show his company has produced so far: “Overweight contestants compete to lose weight; the winner is the biggest loser.” Simplicity wins, when it comes to your pitch.
• Use Leadership Language - Not Just Description: If you want a pitch that’s a winner, consider the difference between language that describes and language that creates. The language of description is all around us - in news reports, white papers and web pages. The language of creation, however, focuses on what we might be able to make, build or do together. Leadership language emphasizes creation: creating partnerships, opportunities, options and outcomes. Which do you think is more important in a pitch, description or creation? If an investor can take a quiz on your business idea, describe it, and earn an “A”, you might just be the biggest loser. Because if your audience is smarter, but they’re not co-creating a new solution with you, what have you won? Do you want to get a grade, or to get paid?
• Close Like You Know: a compelling pitch is, at its core, is a series of “yeses”. A pitch always finds a way to “yes”. How do you know if your pitch is going well? When you hear these three words from your audience: tell me more . Can you share ideas that are inarguable? Ideas and concepts that inspire agreement instead of inviting argument? These paths lead to yes. And then, at the end of your pitch, offer the easiest thing in the world to say “yes” to. And what is the easiest thing in the world to say “yes” to? No, it’s not free beer. It’s an invitation . What is the invitation you can offer? An invitation that’s logical and actionable and measurable. An invitation to co-create the next step - the step that just might get you into the winner’s circle. Or that new job you’ve been hoping for.

You don’t have to watch Shark Tank in order to see the value in a persuasive conversation. That’s right: a pitch is simply a conversation, if it’s done right. A conversation that’s compelling, clear and guided, so that your audience sees your vision. A vision that’s presented in a way that makes people say “yes”. Using the language of creation, a pitch builds to a “tell me more”, based on a story that gets your audience involved and connected with your vision. So, if you’re looking for a new job, or a new way to get your ideas across, consider how you might be able to create the one thing that every pitch needs: a connection to your audience. Instead of focusing intently on your background, your struggle, or your hero’s journey, consider instead how you can make your audience the hero. That kind of language just might help you create what’s missing. So, you’re invited to change the conversation - and change your results - whenever you’re ready to win.

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Using PowerPoint for Business Reports: 15 Reasons why it is Better Than Excel

Jan 20, 2017 | Articles , DataPoint , DataPoint Automation

Why Business Reports Are Essential?

Before we discuss the compelling reasons why PowerPoint is better to be used than Excel, let us first have a glimpse at some of the reasons why business reports are important:

• Gives a Clear Picture of the Company: Among others, one of the best things about business reporting is that it can effectively provide insights about the current performance of a company, such as where it stands in terms of its profit and the competition.
• Improves Decision-Making: Business reports are also critical for making the right decisions. It clarifies Key Performance Indicators, which can be used as the foundation for decision-making.
• Takes a Look at Problems: Another benefit of business reporting is the fact that it will make it possible to highlight different problems within an organisation, and in turn, use the findings to formulate strategic initiatives to solve the problem.
• Helps Develop a Marketing Strategy: Based on the findings stated in the business reports, it will also be easier to come up with effective marketing initiatives. For instance, it can outline the latest trends that will be instrumental in crafting strategies for marketing.

From the things that have been mentioned above, it is clear that business reporting is a critical component for any organisation, regardless of its size and nature of operations. Given its significance, it is vital to make use of the right tools. In this case, PowerPoint and Excel are two of the most popular options that are available.

Many people would most probably resort into the use of Excel, given the fact that it provides an easy platform to present numerical data. In addition, you can also automatically create charts and graphs, which will make it easy for the stakeholder to understand the information that is being presented.

1. It is Made Specifically for Report Presentation

One of the best things about PowerPoint is that it is a program that has been specifically made for report presentation. With the tools that are available, including animations, it will be easier to present information in a manner that is easy to understand, and most importantly, engaging. There is more room to use your creativity.

Excel, on the other hand, is used primarily for the collection of data and numbers. It provides an easy platform to make calculations. There are charts and graphs that can be made, but they do not present information in a manner that is as creative as what you can with PowerPoint.

2. It is Easier to Navigate

When it comes to ease of navigation and presentation, PowerPoint clearly takes over Excel. In the case of a PowerPoint presentation, you will be able to easily move from one slide to another. You can also jump to a specific slide with ease. With this, when you are presenting the business report, it will be a snap for you to show relevant information that your audience needs to know.

3. It is Easier to Arrange Data

This is a benefit that is closely related to what has been previously mentioned. When using PowerPoint, one of the most useful tools that you will have is the Slide Sorter View. Simply put, this will allow you to highlight a chart that you need to present. It is a breeze to have it placed on the first slide if that is what you need to do.

4. It has Multimedia Capabilities

When it comes to presenting business reports, one of the most important is to make sure that it is going to be engaging and entertaining. Regardless of who your audience is, the assumption is that they can easily get bored. Presenting chunks of numbers and texts can make them lose their interest in what you are saying. The good thing about PowerPoint is that it has capabilities for multimedia integration.

5. It Creates a Cohesive Theme

6. it has better options for charts.

We have earlier mentioned that Excel is a good choice when it comes to presenting information in graphs, such as charts and bars. However, PowerPoint can do a better job. You will have several options by which it will be possible to create graphical representation of data. One of the best examples of such would be in the form of tachometer. There are many templates that are available for users, and the layouts are richer compared to what you can find from Excel.

7. It Offers Options for Automation

8. it presents only the final data, 9. it is easy to view and distribute, 10. it has better visual impact, 11. it improves collaboration, 12. it can be viewed as a video, 13. it is flexible, 14. it offers interactive clicking, 15. it is easy to use, use datapoint for up-to-date presentations and automatic reporting.

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How to Give a Killer Presentation

• Chris Anderson

For more than 30 years, the TED conference series has presented enlightening talks that people enjoy watching. In this article, Anderson, TED’s curator, shares five keys to great presentations:

• Frame your story (figure out where to start and where to end).
• Plan your delivery (decide whether to memorize your speech word for word or develop bullet points and then rehearse it—over and over).
• Work on stage presence (but remember that your story matters more than how you stand or whether you’re visibly nervous).
• Plan the multimedia (whatever you do, don’t read from PowerPoint slides).
• Put it together (play to your strengths and be authentic).

According to Anderson, presentations rise or fall on the quality of the idea, the narrative, and the passion of the speaker. It’s about substance—not style. In fact, it’s fairly easy to “coach out” the problems in a talk, but there’s no way to “coach in” the basic story—the presenter has to have the raw material. So if your thinking is not there yet, he advises, decline that invitation to speak. Instead, keep working until you have an idea that’s worth sharing.

Lessons from TED

A little more than a year ago, on a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, some colleagues and I met a 12-year-old Masai boy named Richard Turere, who told us a fascinating story. His family raises livestock on the edge of a vast national park, and one of the biggest challenges is protecting the animals from lions—especially at night. Richard had noticed that placing lamps in a field didn’t deter lion attacks, but when he walked the field with a torch, the lions stayed away. From a young age, he’d been interested in electronics, teaching himself by, for example, taking apart his parents’ radio. He used that experience to devise a system of lights that would turn on and off in sequence—using solar panels, a car battery, and a motorcycle indicator box—and thereby create a sense of movement that he hoped would scare off the lions. He installed the lights, and the lions stopped attacking. Soon villages elsewhere in Kenya began installing Richard’s “lion lights.”

• CA Chris Anderson is the curator of TED.

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