Creating Presentations That Hold Attention

Many amazing presenters fall into the trap of believing their data will speak for itself. But it never does… Our brains aren't spreadsheets, they're story processors. You may understand the importance of your data, but don't assume others do too. The truth is, data alone doesn't persuade…but the impact it has on your audience's lives does. Your job is to tell that story in your presentation. Here are a few steps to help transform your data into a story: 1. Formulate your Data Point of View. Your "DataPOV" is the big idea that all your data supports. It's not a finding; it's a clear recommendation based on what the data is telling you. Instead of "Our turnover rate increased 15% this quarter," your DataPOV might be "We need to invest $200K in management training because exit interviews show poor leadership is causing $1.2M in turnover costs." This becomes the north star for every slide, chart, and talking point. 2. Turn your DataPOV into a narrative arc. Build a complete story structure that moves from "what is" to "what could be." Open with current reality (supported by your data), build tension by showing what's at stake if nothing changes, then resolve with your recommended action. Every data point should advance this narrative, not just exist as isolated information. 3. Know your audience's decision-making role. Tailor your story based on whether your audience is a decision-maker, influencer, or implementer. Executives want clear implications and next steps. Match your storytelling pattern to their role and what you need from them. 4. Humanize your data. Behind every data point is a person with hopes, challenges, and aspirations. Instead of saying "60% of users requested this feature," share how specific individuals are struggling without it. The difference between being heard and being remembered comes down to this simple shift from stats to stories. Next time you're preparing to present data, ask yourself: "Is this just a data dump, or am I guiding my audience toward a new way of thinking?" #DataStorytelling #LeadershipCommunication #CommunicationSkills

Want to make your audience SUFFER? Your guide to creating MOST BORING presentations: 1/ MORE is better ↳ Cram every slide with text ↳ Put EVERY single bullet on slide REALITY CHECK: When presenters do this, audiences: • Mentally check out within 2 minutes • Miss the key message entirely 2/ Tell, don't show ↳ Theory over examples ↳ Words trump visuals REALITY CHECK: Research shows audiences: • Retain only 10% of verbal info • Zone out during theory-only talks • Can't process walls of text 3/ Be a corporate robot 🤖 ↳ Remove all personality ↳ Perfection beats authenticity REALITY CHECK: Studies confirm: • Robotic speakers lose 70% of attention • Audiences crave human connection 4/ Test their memory ↳ Pack 20 ideas per section ↳ Make them guess takeaways REALITY CHECK: Brain science reveals: • People remember max 3-5 key points • Information overload kills learning 5/ Time slot? Ignore it! ↳ Go overtime ↳ Leave NO room for questions REALITY CHECK: Going overtime means: • Lost audience trust • Reduced impact 6/ Drown them in numbers ↳ Show ALL the data ↳ Context is overrated REALITY CHECK: Data overload causes: • Mental shutdown • Lost message impact • Audience frustration 7/ Start with your life bio ↳ Start from birth ↳ List every achievement REALITY CHECK: Opening with bio means: • Lost first impression • Wasted attention span • Audience disconnection 8/ Slides lead, you follow ↳ Read every bullet point ↳ Turn your back to audience REALITY CHECK: This approach: • Kills audience engagement • Breaks eye contact • Shows lack of preparation 9/ Avoid all analogies ↳ Keep it complex ↳ Make it impossible to relate REALITY CHECK: Complex presentations: • Create mental barriers • Waste everyone's time 10/ Use the most boring intro ↳ Start with "Today we will discuss..." ↳ List all agenda items twice REALITY CHECK: Boring intros result in: • Immediate phone checking • Mental checkout 11/ Multiple messages everywhere ↳ Change topics randomly ↳ Maximum confusion encouraged REALITY CHECK: Message overload means: • Zero retention • Complete confusion • Lost audience trust 12/ Avoid all controversy ↳ State only obvious facts ↳ Keep it mind-numbingly safe REALITY CHECK: Playing it too safe: • Makes content forgettable • Kills learning opportunities 13/ Stick to the script ↳ Ignore audience reactions ↳ Push through no matter what REALITY CHECK: Ignoring audience cues: • Breaks connection • Ruins engagement 14/ Panic at "mistakes" ↳ Apologize profusely ↳ Point out every error REALITY CHECK: Constant apologizing: • Undermines credibility • Distracts from content 15/ Skip all examples ↳ Keep it theoretical ↳ Never get practical REALITY CHECK: No examples means: • Lost context • Zero relatability → Want to be memorable? Do the exact OPPOSITE → Your audience will thank you ♻️ REPOST to help your network get better with presentations 📌 Which of these mistakes have you suffered through recently?

I lost my audience 5 minutes into every presentation: Glazed eyes. Checked phones. Polite nods. Then I discovered the 5 rules that changed everything: 1. The Controversy Rule Instead of "Our transformation is going well..." Try: "Many believe change should be comfortable. I disagree." Start with tension. It wakes people up. 2. The Abstraction Rule   Move from concepts to concrete actions. Not: Action steps first But: Big picture → analogies → stories → next steps 3. The Suspense Rule Don't announce all your points upfront. Reveal one insight at a time. Let curiosity pull them forward. 4. The One Problem Rule Multiple problems overwhelm. One problem with multiple solutions engages. 5. The 2-Minute Rule Change your format every 2 minutes: Story → data → question → case study Attention spans reset with variety. The result: - Increase in meeting participation - More strategic questions - Faster implementation Your team's attention is earned, not assumed. Which rule will you try in your next presentation?

As a Data guy, I had certain beliefs about presenting. I feel icky admitting this, but I used to think... "Can I impress them with my charts and graphs?" If you've ever seen a data analyst present, you've seen this. Data Analysts love their charts and graphs. But the truth is... Pretty graphics don't win people over, especially Senior Leaders. My problem was... my ego. And it actually made me a ball of nerves. So why does this matter to you? Because when presenting is about YOU, it's all wrong. Being impressive isn't about great slides... being extra funny or sarcastic... or having a one line zinger... Business leaders aren't impressed by this. Here's the key that changed everything… Your Leaders want Team Members who know this: Great business presentations are about being RELEVANT for your audience. Here are 5 ways to be more RELEVANT when speaking... so you can engage your audience and win them over. (See if you see the common thread.) 1️⃣ Start with their priorities Don’t open with your outline. Start with what they care about. 2️⃣ Use their language and examples Skip buzzwords. Speak in terms they already use day-to-day. 3️⃣ Answer: what does this mean for them? After every key point, tie it to... what and why it matters to them. 4️⃣ Prioritize what impacts their world Cut anything that’s irrelevant... Oh, and don't think emotions don't matter Every leader makes decisions with some emotion. 5️⃣ Tailor your visuals and data to your audience Your examples and slides should reflect... their world, not yours. Did you see the common thread? Notice how being engaging & impressive is about THEM! Yes, great communicators know it's about the audience! Focus on SERVING them and you'll engage (and impress) them. Why? Because... Serving others reduces nerves (and your ego). Relevance to your audience earns attention. Speaking in their language builds credibility. Was there one of the 5 that stood out to you? - - - - - If we haven't met, I'm Cooper, and I help business professionals grow their confidence & credibility when speaking and presenting. +Follow me for more actionable tips.

If you want your next presentation to inform, engage, and stick, this is the framework you need….. One of my best reads (A summary) Fact: AI slide generators won’t save you. Powerful slides aren’t about automation. Slides aren’t filler. They’re the frame that holds your message; visually, cognitively, and emotionally. A single slide can speak more powerfully than 10 spoken minutes when done well. ——————————————— ➊ 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲 ➜ A slide = one thought. No more. No less. 📌 Break complex ideas into digestible visuals. ➋ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 “𝟭 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲” ➜ If it takes longer than a minute to explain a slide… 📌 It’s doing too much. Cut or split it. ➌ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 ➜ “Results” isn’t a heading. 📌 Try: “This method increases accuracy by 37%.” ➍ 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆 ➜ If you won’t speak to it, delete it. 📌 Every extra label is cognitive noise. ➎ 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲 ➜ Add references as you build, not at the end. 📌 A polished slide acknowledges others. ➏ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀 ➜ Visuals aren’t decoration; they’re delivery tools. 📌 Avoid text-only slides. Always. ➐ 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 ➜ 6 elements max. 📌 Use white space, bold selectively, and avoid clutter. ➑ 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 ➜ If they hear nothing, can they still see the takeaway? 📌 Assume your viewer is half-tuned in and still make an impact. ➒ 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 = 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 ➜ Your transitions reveal your thinking. 📌 Practicing reveals which slides don’t flow. ➓ 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 ➜ PDFs > animations. Backup slides > failed videos. 📌 Assume something will break and prepare for it. ——————————————— 📍Your slides are not your script. They’re not your paper. They’re your audience’s window into your idea. Make every second of their attention count. 💬 Which slide mistake are you guilty of and ready to fix? ♻️ Repost to help someone transform their next research talk. 📄 Reference: Naegle, K. M. (2021). Ten simple rules for effective presentation slides. PLOS Computational Biology, 17(12): e1009554. #PresentationTips #SlideDesign #AcademicCommunication

You have 8 seconds. That’s it. Not to sell. Not to impress. Just to keep someone listening. Because in today’s world, attention isn’t earned. It’s lost quickly. The average human attention span? Just under 8 seconds. That’s less than a goldfish. So if you start with a long-winded backstory, a weak intro, or a “quick thought” that takes two minutes to land? You’ve already lost them. Here’s the truth: The first 8 seconds of anything you say determine whether people will keep listening. This isn’t about gimmicks. It’s about clarity. Intent. And how you show respect for someone’s time. Want to master the 8-second rule? Here’s how: 1. Start with the point, not the preamble. “Let me back up a bit…” = disengagement. “Here’s what I think we should do.” = engagement. People don’t need buildup. They need value—fast. 2. Drop your best line first. Don’t bury the insight. Don’t save the story’s punchline for the end. Lead with the line that makes them look up. 3. Use contrast. “This worked last year. It’s failing now.” Contrast creates tension. And tension creates attention. 4. Ditch filler words. If it starts with “I just wanted to say…” you’ve already wasted 3 of your 8 seconds. Be direct. Be kind. But cut the fluff. 5. Ask a question. Real curiosity pulls people in. “What would happen if we flipped the script?” That’s how you make ears perk up. 6. Get visual. Stories, metaphors, images; they light up the brain. “Saying yes to everything is like trying to run with bricks in your backpack.” Now they’re listening and picturing it. 7. Own your voice. Speak with calm, clear conviction. People don’t just hear your words. They feel your certainty. 8. Leave them wanting more. Not “Let me explain for 15 more minutes.” Try: “There’s a deeper layer to this; happy to unpack it if helpful.” Curiosity is a more powerful hook than explanation. You’ve been in those meetings. Someone starts rambling. You check your phone. They lost you at hello. Now flip it. You say one sentence that hits. Someone looks up. You’ve earned the next 8 seconds. And then the next. This isn’t just about being polished. It’s about being intentional. Because in a noisy world, clarity feels like leadership. So before your next pitch, update, or conversation, ask yourself: What can I say in 8 seconds that will make someone want to hear 80 more? Master that, and people won’t just listen. They’ll remember. ❓ Do you enjoy public speaking? ♻️ Repost to help others. ➕ Follow Nathan Crockett, PhD for daily posts about leadership, culture, and family.

I have a confession to make. I have been guilty of putting people to sleep during my presentations. Unfortunately, not once, but many times. I could blame it on the complexities of tech topics or the dryness of the subject. I could always console myself by saying that at least it's not as sleep-inducing as financial presentations (sorry, my friends in Finance). Deep down, though, I knew that even the most complicated and dry topics could come alive. As with anything, it's a skill and can be improved upon. Thus, I turned to my friend Christopher Chin, Communication Coach for Tech Professionals, for some much-needed advice. He shared these 5 presentation tips guaranteed to leave a lasting impression: 1/ Speak to Their Needs, Not Your Wants Don’t just say what you like talking about or what your audience wants to hear. Say what your audience needs to hear based on their current priorities and pain points: that sets your presentation up to be maximally engaging 2/ Slides Support, You Lead Slides are not the presentation. You are the presentation. Your slides should support your story and act as visual reinforcement rather than as the main star of the show.  Consider holding off on making slides until you have your story clear. That way, you don’t end up making more slides than you need or making slides more verbose than you need 3/ Start with a Bang, Not a Whisper The beginning of a presentation is one of the most nerve-wracking parts for you as the speaker and one of the most attention-critical parts for your audience. If you don’t nail the beginning, there’s a good chance you lose the majority of people. Consider starting with something that intrigues your audience, surprises them, concerns them, or makes them want to learn more. 4/ Think Conversation, Not Presentation One-way presentations where the speaker just talks “at” the audience lead to dips in attention and poorer reception of the material. Consider integrating interactive elements like polls and Q&A throughout a presentation (rather than just at the very end) to make it feel more like a conversation. 5/ Finish Strong with a Clear CTA We go through all the effort of preparing, creating, and delivering a presentation to cause some change in behavior. End with a powerful call to action that reminds your audience why they were in attendance and what they should do as soon as they leave the room. By integrating these, you won't just present; you'll captivate. Say goodbye to snoozing attendees and hello to a gripped audience. 😴 Repost if you've ever accidentally put someone to sleep with a presentation. We've all been there!