Creating Engaging Content For Sales Presentations

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

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!

📖💡#UnforgettablePresence Insight of the Week: Why is it that subpar business presentations have become an accepted norm? As keynote speaker and founder Richard Mulholland shared with me, if your punctuality was as poor as the average presentation, you’d be fired on the spot. In my latest conversation with Rich Mulholland, a presentation expert and one of my awesome mentors, we dug deep into what makes or breaks a presentation. But — what makes a presentation bad isn’t what you might automatically think. He emphasized that the key to a memorable presentation isn’t just beautiful slides. Tools like Canva have certainly made it easier to create visually stunning content, but that’s not enough. The core issue lies in the structure and content. According to Rich, a presentation needs three critical components: ✅ Good Content – Content that resonates with your audience. ✅ Proper Structure – A framework that makes your message digestible. ✅ Compelling Visuals – Slides that enhance, not overshadow, your message. Rich’s Action Framework is a powerful tool to structure your presentations effectively: 1️⃣ Give them a reason to care If your audience doesn't care about your topic, they won’t listen. 2️⃣ Give them a reason to believe Establish credibility. Why should they trust you? 3️⃣ Tell them what they need to know  Focus on three big takeaways. 4️⃣ Tell them what they need to do Your call to action. What’s the next step? At the end of the day, delivering a great presentation is about making your audience remember your message and, most importantly, inspiring them to take action. 💬 What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to creating presentations? What are some subpar presentation norms that get on your nerves? 😂 How do you ensure your message sticks with your audience? Share your thoughts below! (I share more about how to turn presentations into your superpower in Chapter 7 of my upcoming book.) ************** Do you feel like you’re doing everything right but struggling to reach the next level in your career? In my upcoming book 𝘜𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, I share my personal strategies and lessons from top business leaders to help you build the presence needed to thrive in your career. Sign up for updates and bonuses: lorraineklee.com/book #UnforgettablePresenceBook #BookInsights #UnforgettablePresence