By now you would have sat through countless presentations: speeches, university lectures, school assemblies, TED talks, staff presentations, etc. Clearly, there are many ways to present information: some being more effective than others.
What makes a presentation effective? Think back to the most effective presentations you ever saw. What made them so effective?
In general terms, here are some of the essential ingredients for an effective presentation:
- Enthusiasm in the speaker’s voice and body language
- An emotional connection between the speaker and audience
- A memorable story
- The audience feels inspired to think or do something differently.
These elements work for video, too: particularly when you are presenting directly to camera.
The Most Powerful Presentation
Back when I was an undergraduate student at university, I was subjected to many a boring lecture. Lecturers had a range of ways to deliver content to the audience. Some lecturers used loads of visuals to explain concepts; some used comedy to engage us; and some literally read out all the words on all the slides (needless to say, these were the least interesting of all lectures, and I decided to skip them: figuring that I already knew how to read).
I will never forget the most powerful lecture I ever attended. It was opened by a casual lecturer who had tremendous energy and made terrific eye contact with us, and then introduced us to her guest lecturer. It was a young man who told us his personal story of growing up and being diagnosed with schizophrenia. We learned about his first experience of having a schizophrenic episode. He discussed the challenges he faced in his daily life, and of his work to face and overcome them. He was a complete inspiration: being so very honest and open with us, and so very brave to speak to us so candidly. I’m sure I shed a tear or two as I listened with fascination to his very personal story. It was a lecture I’ll never forget, and he forever changed the way that I would view schizophrenia and mental illness in general.
No slides were used and no computers were needed: it just came down to a human being sharing their personal story in a way that resonated with everyone in the room.
It can be so easy to think that content delivery is just about announcing facts to an audience. But, to truly engage and communicate with an audience, there is so much more to be done. When the presenter is sharing personal information and allowing themselves to be vulnerable we as an audience empathise: it is widely cited that one of our greatest fears is public speaking1. So, when someone is in front of us doing just that – and having the courage to tell us a personal story – we can’t help but empathise with them. This strong emotional connection solidifies our memories of the presentation and thus has a strong impact.
So, consider this for your next opportunity to deliver content to an audience. Consider being vulnerable and conveying emotion with your audience. They won’t forget you.
Want To Learn More?
We have a range of training options available to enhance your presentation skills. For all the details, head over to our sister site where you find links to our online training courses, one-on-one and group tailored training sessions and free guides and templates.
References
- Dodd, T. (2025). Fear of public speaking can be conquered: new research. Macquarie University: The Lighthouse. Retrieved 24 March 2026 from https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/may-2025/fear-of-public-speaking-can-be-conquered-new-research
