how to give a killer presentation harvard business review

Chris Anderson shares his tips for giving a killer presentation

In a new essay in The Harvard Business Review ’s June issue , Anderson shares his fine-tuned advice for delivering a powerful talk. A few choice tidbits:

“We all know that humans are wired to listen to stories, and metaphors abound for the narrative structures that work best to engage people. When I think about compelling presentations, I think about taking an audience on a journey.”

“Many of our best and most popular TED Talks have been memorized word for word … Most people go through what I call the ‘valley of awkwardness,’ where they haven’t quite memorized the talk. If they give the talk while stuck in that valley, the audience will sense it … Getting past this point is simple, fortunately. It’s just a matter of rehearsing enough times that the flow of words becomes second nature.”

“Perhaps the most important physical act onstage is making eye contact. Find five or six friendly-looking people in different parts of the audience and look them in the eye as you speak. Think of them as friends you haven’t seen in a year, whom you’re bringing up to date on your work.“

Read more and/or purchase the full article »

• Subscribe to TED Blog by email

Comments (19)

Pingback: 5 absolutely kick-ass techniques to make amazing presentations

Pingback: Chris Anderson shares his tips for giving a “killer presentation”

Pingback: Morning Roundup 2/19/14 | The Chronicles

Pingback: Administrative Sciences & Business Technology | How to give a Killer Presentation

Pingback: How to rock your next presentation | Sturg says

Pingback: Only1List Cheat Sheets | Presentations

Pingback: Tipp – Wie hält man einen guten Vortrag | Netresearch App Factory Broadcast

Pingback: Tip – How to keep a good lecture | Netresearch App Factory Broadcast

Pingback: Happiness At Work #57 ~ altruism, helping others & living ‘the good life’ | performance~marks

• HBR's 10 Must Reads

Communication

HBR's 10 Must Reads on Public Speaking and Presenting (with featured article "How to Give a Killer Presentation" By Chris Anderson)

HBR's 10 Must Reads on Public Speaking and Presenting (with featured article "How to Give a Killer Presentation" By Chris Anderson) ^ 10350

Product description.

Publication Date: May 12, 2020

Command the room--whether you're speaking to an audience of one or one hundred. If you read nothing else on public speaking and presenting, read these 10 articles. We've combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you find your voice, persuade your listeners, and connect with audiences of any size. This book will inspire you to: Win hearts and minds--and approval for your ideas; Conquer your nerves and speak with confidence; Focus your message so that people really listen; Establish trust with your audience by being your authentic self; Use data and visuals to persuade more effectively; Master the art of storytelling. This collection of articles includes "How to Give a Killer Presentation," by Chris Anderson; "How to Become an Authentic Speaker," by Nick Morgan; "Storytelling That Moves People: A Conversation with Screenwriting Coach Robert McKee," by Bronwyn Fryer; "Connect, Then Lead," by Amy J.C. Cuddy, Matthew Kohut, and John Neffinger; "The Necessary Art of Persuasion," by Jay A. Conger; "The Science of Pep Talks," by Daniel McGinn; "Get the Boss to Buy In," by Susan J. Ashford and James R. Detert; "The Organizational Apology," by Maurice E. Schweitzer, Alison Wood Brooks, and Adam D. Galinsky; "What's Your Story?" by Herminia Ibarra and Kent Lineback; "Visualizations That Really Work," by Scott Berinato; and "Structure Your Presentation Like a Story," by Nancy Duarte.

This Product Also Appears In

HBR's 10 Must Reads on Public Speaking and Presenting (Paperback + Ebook)

Buy together, related products.

Copyright Permissions

If you'd like to share this PDF, you can purchase copyright permissions by increasing the quantity.

Order for your team and save!

CLAUDIO SENNHAUSER

How to give a killer presentation – lessons from ted.

On the Harvard Business Review website presenters can find a true gem:  Lessons from Chris Anderson , curator of the TED conference series. While it was originally published in the magazine in 2013, I find this timeless insight for anybody who wants to improve presentation skills.

Chris starts out with a story to demonstrate that  giving a good talk is highly coachable.

He recalls meeting Richard Turere, a 12-year old Masai boy, who came up with a solution to one of the biggest challenges livestock farmers in Kenya face: protecting their animals from lions and other wild animals. He devised a system of lights that created a sense of movement that scared off lions at night. The lights worked as imagined by Richard and soon villagers in other part of Kenya started installing Richard’s “lion lights”.

This is the kind of inspiring story that is perfect for a  TED Talk . The only problem: Richard seemed not an ideal candidate to give a presentation to a large audience used to listening to polished speakers like Bill Gates and Al Gore. Richard was painfully shy and when he tried to explain his invention, the sentences came out incoherently. Despite of this, Chris invited Richard to tell his story at at the 2013 TED conference.

In the months prior to his presentation, the team at TED coached Richard to frame his story – to find the right place to begin, and to develop the story into a killer presentation.

Chris Anderson writes in the HBR article, “When he finally gave his talk at TED, in Long Beach, you could tell he was nervous, but that only made him more engaging — people were hanging on his every word. The confidence was there, and every time Richard smiled, the audience melted. When he finished, the response was instantaneous: a sustained standing ovation.”

So how does the TED team coach their presenters to frame, practice, and deliver their stories? The process to create a killer presentation starts six to nine months before the event. That’s right!

A real killer presentation requires lots of planning, devising, rehearsing, and lots of fine tuning along the way.  The actual task of transforming a presentation from muddled to mesmerizing is a matter of hours…spread over a longer period of time.

How to Give a Killer Presentation Anywhere – Not Only at TED

Frame your story.

We all have good stories to tell. The most vital part of making your story compelling is to conceptualize it and put it in a frame that people want to hear.

Think about taking your audience on a journey. As with any journey, how you start it and where you finish it is vital to the entire experience.  The most engaging speakers quickly introduce the topic, explain why they care so deeply about it, and convince the audience members that they should as well.

Don’t cram everything you know into your presentation. Instead, use a few specific examples to highlight your ideas. Your presentation won’t be rated by how broad it is, but rather by how deep you can involve your listener into a few well explained details about the problem you are solving.

Plan Your Delivery

There are three main ways to give a talk. You can read it off a script or teleprompter. You can develop a set of bullet points that map out what you’re going to cover in each section. Or you can memorize your talk to deliver it word for word as you have practiced it.

Of course, the last method is the most time consuming during your preparation. It will require hours of rehearsing. Memorizing your talk, however, is also the most effective once you are in front of your audience. It is the one the TED team recommends to their presenters for a good reason: many of their best and most popular talks have been memorized word for word.

What if you don’t have the time or the presentation is not as significant as a TED Talk with 1,400 people in the audience and millions behind their computer screens? Go with bullet points on flash cards. As long as you know what you want to say to each point and transition well from section to section, you’ll be fine.

Another point Chris makes in the HBR article is to sound natural. Present your information and story in a conversational tone. Don’t orate, don’t lecture. Be as natural as if you would talk to a group of your friends.

Develop Stage Presence

Just the thought of standing in front of an audience can be extremely frightening. To take off some of this edge, always remember that your words, story, and substance is much more important to the audience than the way you stand or if you are visibly nervous.

Richard seems quite nervous in his presentation about the “lion lights”, but people in the audience didn’t care at all about that. In fact,  he built better rapport because the audience members could identify with this nervousness.  Furthermore, they sensed that he is confident talking about his experience and story. That’s one of the reasons his talk was receiving such a positive feedback.

One of the biggest mistakes the TED team sees in early rehearsals is that people move their bodies too much. They sway from side to side or shift their weight from one leg to the other. They coach their presenters to keep their lower bodies motionless, which can dramatically improve stage presence. Although there are some presenters that are able to walk around the stage during their presentation (the late Steve Jobs was very natural doing it), the majority of presenters is better off standing still and relying on hand gestures and facial expressions.

The one aspect that will do most for your successful presentation is eye contact.   Pick a few audience members and imagine them as friends you haven’t seen in a while.  Make solid eye contact with them while you update them on your work.

Plan the Multimedia

You probably have heard the advice about PowerPoint (or similar presentation software): Keep it Simple!   Don’t use your presentation deck as a crutch, as a substitute for notes. And never, ever read from your slides.  It will only make the audience think that they could do that themselves in the comfort of their home or office. Instead, use powerful images that visualize the key points of your presentation.

In Richard’s presentation about his “lion lights” there are no text slides. They are not needed. There are, however, many photographs that engage the audience to take a short journey into Richard’s world.

Putting it Together

The TED team starts helping their presenters at least six months in advance so that they’ll have plenty of time to practice. They want people’s talks in final form one month prior to the event. Why? The more practice the presenters can put in during the final weeks, the more compelling the presentation will be.

The most important thing to keep in mind though is that  presentations rise and fall on the quality of ideas, the narrative, and the passion of the speaker.  It’s about substance, not speaking style or multimedia pyrotechnics. If you have something to say, you can build a great talk.

Remember, there is no one good way to give a killer presentation. The most memorable talks offer something fresh, engaging, and relevant.

Read the full article on the Harvard Business Review website.

Get instant access to my newsletter where I share my best presentation tips.

100% Privacy. No Spam.

RECENT PRESENTATION TIPS

Why You Should Avoid Saying “That’s a Great Question”

Virtual Card Magic for Online Presentations

10 Key Takeaways from a Shark Tank Success Story

Enter the Spotlight with PowerPoint Cameo

ChatGPT Voice – A Translator in Your Pocket

Boost Your Productivity with ChatGPT and PowerPoint

Related presentation tips, stay in the loop.

Join my mailing list to get exclusive tips and updates to become a presentation pro.

I never share your contact info. And you can unsubscribe at any time.

• PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright 2024 © All rights Reserved.

• Virtual + Live Programs
• TCL Program
• Member Benefits
• Resource Library
• Event Calendar
• 27 Competencies

How to Give a Killer Presentation

By Harvard Business Review

Lessons from TED by Chris Anderson, June 2013

HBR's 10 Must Reads on Public Speaking and Presenting (with featured article "How to Give a Killer Presentation" By Chris Anderson) by Harvard Business Review, Chris Anderson, Amy J.C. Cuddy, Nancy Duarte, Herminia Ibarra

Get full access to HBR's 10 Must Reads on Public Speaking and Presenting (with featured article "How to Give a Killer Presentation" By Chris Anderson) and 60K+ other titles, with a free 10-day trial of O'Reilly.

There are also live events, courses curated by job role, and more.

How to Give a Killer Presentation

By chris anderson.

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, ...

Get HBR's 10 Must Reads on Public Speaking and Presenting (with featured article "How to Give a Killer Presentation" By Chris Anderson) now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Don’t leave empty-handed

Get Mark Richards’s Software Architecture Patterns ebook to better understand how to design components—and how they should interact.

It’s yours, free.

Check it out now on O’Reilly

Dive in for free with a 10-day trial of the O’Reilly learning platform—then explore all the other resources our members count on to build skills and solve problems every day.

• Business & Money
• Business Culture

Sorry, there was a problem.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

HBR's 10 Must Reads on Public Speaking and Presenting (with featured article "How to Give a Killer Presentation" By Chris Anderson) Paperback – Illustrated, May 12, 2020

Command the room--whether you're speaking to an audience of one or one hundred.

If you read nothing else on public speaking and presenting, read these 10 articles. We've combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you find your voice, persuade your listeners, and connect with audiences of any size.

• Win hearts and minds--and approval for your ideas
• Conquer your nerves and speak with confidence
• Focus your message so that people really listen
• Establish trust with your audience by being your authentic self
• Use data and visuals to persuade more effectively

This collection of articles includes "How to Give a Killer Presentation," by Chris Anderson; "How to Become an Authentic Speaker," by Nick Morgan; "Storytelling That Moves People: A Conversation with Screenwriting Coach Robert McKee," by Bronwyn Fryer; "Connect, Then Lead," by Amy J.C. Cuddy, Matthew Kohut, and John Neffinger; "The Necessary Art of Persuasion," by Jay A. Conger; "The Science of Pep Talks," by Daniel McGinn; "Get the Boss to Buy In," by Susan J. Ashford and James R. Detert; "The Organizational Apology," by Maurice E. Schweitzer, Alison Wood Brooks, and Adam D. Galinsky; "What's Your Story?” by Herminia Ibarra and Kent Lineback; "Visualizations That Really Work," by Scott Berinato; and "Structure Your Presentation Like a Story," by Nancy Duarte.

HBR's 10 Must Reads paperback series is the definitive collection of books for new and experienced leaders alike. Leaders looking for the inspiration that big ideas provide, both to accelerate their own growth and that of their companies, should look no further. HBR's 10 Must Reads series focuses on the core topics that every ambitious manager needs to know: leadership, strategy, change, managing people, and managing yourself. Harvard Business Review has sorted through hundreds of articles and selected only the most essential reading on each topic. Each title includes timeless advice that will be relevant regardless of an ever‐changing business environment.

• Print length 192 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Harvard Business Review Press
• Publication date May 12, 2020
• Dimensions 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.25 inches
• ISBN-10 1633698831
• ISBN-13 978-1633698833
• See all details

Products related to this item

From the Publisher

Hbr's 10 must reads series.

Editorial Reviews

About the author.

Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, 12 international licensed editions, books from Harvard Business Review Press, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review provides professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact.

You can find Harvard Business Review at: hbr.org Twitter: @HarvardBiz LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review Facebook: facebook.com/harvardbusinessreview Instagram: @harvard_business_review YouTube: youtube.com/user/harvardbusinessreview

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harvard Business Review Press; Illustrated edition (May 12, 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1633698831
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1633698833
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.25 inches
• #156 in Communication Skills
• #423 in Business Management (Books)
• #625 in Leadership & Motivation

About the author

Nancy duarte.

Nancy Duarte is a communication expert who has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, Wired, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Economist, LA Times and on CNN.

As the storyteller of the Silicon Valley, and 5th largest woman-owned employer there, her firm, Duarte, Inc., is the global leader behind some of the most influential messages in business and culture.

Since 1988, Duarte works with global companies and thought leaders, influencing how the world perceives some of the most important brands and entities, including Apple, AT&T, Cisco, Facebook, GE, Google, HP, Qualcomm, Salesforce, Target, TED, Twitter, Virgin, VMWare, and the World Bank.

Nancy has been a keynote speaker on numerous public stages and her firm counts almost 200 of the Fortune 500 among her firm's clientele. Nancy also speaks at business schools and lectures at Stanford University and UC Berkeley.

Nancy is the author of three bestselling books. Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences, which identifies the hidden story structures inherent in great communication, spent more than 300 days on Amazon's top 100 business book bestsellers list. Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations teaches readers to think visually and has been translated into eight languages. The HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations gives readers the tools and confidence they need to master public speaking. Illuminate helps leaders use empathy to create a communication plan that helps teams be motivated to drive change.

Nancy has three grown children who walk in their destiny, a husband who has loved her for, like, ever, and two grand kids that take her breath away.

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 75% 17% 7% 0% 1% 75%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 75% 17% 7% 0% 1% 17%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 75% 17% 7% 0% 1% 7%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 75% 17% 7% 0% 1% 0%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 75% 17% 7% 0% 1% 1%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• About Amazon
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell products on Amazon
• Sell on Amazon Business
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Make Money with Us
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon and COVID-19
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices

• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

Avoid Death by PowerPoint with These 10 Engaging Presentation Tips

Avoid boring PowerPoint presentations by keeping slides simple and focused . Use one main idea per slide, limit objects, and choose clear fonts . Tell a story , use visuals wisely , and engage your audience with eye contact and questions . Practice your public speaking skills to deliver powerful presentations.

Did you know that people give 88 million PowerPoint presentations every day? Learn how to make your presentations stand out and keep people awake.

Bad presentations can hurt your chances, waste time , and damage how people see you at work. Boring slideshows can lead to death by PowerPoint , making people lose interest and miss your main points. Here, you'll find useful tips to make interesting talks that grab attention and clearly explain your ideas, helping you do well in business meetings .

Making Lively Presentations

People often call boring and unproductive presentations "Death by PowerPoint." To improve, presenters should focus on three main things: making content simpler , cutting down on distracting visuals, and using design features wisely. Getting good at these skills helps you create interesting presentations that clearly share your message and avoid death by PowerPoint.

Each Slide Should Contain One Main Idea

A common mistake in PowerPoint slides is putting too much information on them. Too much information confuses people and weakens your point. Stick to one main idea for each slide. This method keeps viewers interested and makes your key messages easier to understand.

Using short phrases instead of long sentences helps your slides support what you're saying without distracting listeners. Remember that your visuals should make your speech better, not replace it. As David Phillips, an expert in presentation techniques, says:

"Use PowerPoint for what it's supposed to be used for: short, sweet bits of text and an image." — David Phillips

Limit Objects on Slides

Studies show that the human brain can only handle a small amount of information at once. Keep each slide simple by using fewer elements to avoid confusing your viewers. According to presentation expert Don McMillan:

"The magical number is six. The correct number is six, not five or seven." — Don McMillan

Using more than six objects makes your audience work much harder to understand your slide. This extra work often leads to people losing interest. Clear, simple slides help people focus on what you're saying instead of struggling with busy visuals.

Use Differences in Appearance and Size

Using different sizes and contrasting elements helps guide viewers to important parts of your slides. Big text works well for main ideas and encourages brief content. But don't overdo it – extremely large fonts might look unprofessional.

You can highlight certain details by using contrast. One way is to show information step-by-step using PowerPoint features to control what the audience sees. This method helps keep listeners interested and focused on what you're talking about now. Your main goal should be to create slides that people can quickly understand.

Making Captivating Talks

A compelling presentation needs more than just good-looking slides. You need to organize your information well, choose suitable text styles, and add helpful images thoughtfully. These parts work together to create a unified and powerful presentation that connects with viewers.

Narrative Framework for Presentations

Good talks often use a story-like format similar to books and films. This layout has three parts: a beginning that shows the current situation, a middle that discusses problems and answers, and an end that reviews main ideas and suggests future actions.

For example, when proposing a new business, you could start by explaining a market problem, then show your solution and its benefits, and finish with costs and what you want people to do next. This layout keeps viewers engaged and makes your talk flow smoothly.

Pick Good Fonts

The text style you use can greatly affect how people understand your message. Simple fonts often look more relaxed and modern , while fancy fonts can seem more serious. It's important to use fonts that are easy to read and fit the mood of your talk.

Don't use fancy or curvy letters, as they can be hard to see, especially from far away. Pay attention to how big the letters are – if they're too small, people can't read them; if they're too big, it might look unprofessional. Generally, it's best to use letters at least 24 points big for the main text and 36 points for titles.

Use Pictures and Graphs Wisely

Images and charts can make your talk better, but you should use them carefully. Use pictures, graphs, or simple diagrams to explain your ideas instead of slides full of words. Websites like Unsplash offer free, good-quality images to make your slides look better.

If you use charts or graphs, make sure people can quickly understand them. Don't put too much information or complicated visuals on your slides. Remember that your slides should help your talk, not be a complete document on their own. According to presentation specialist Caya:

"Images are often more effective than text, so use visuals when possible." — Caya

Creating Impactful Talks

How you present is just as important as your slides and material for a successful presentation. Looking at your listeners, adding jokes and questions, and improving your public speaking can turn your presentation from good to great.

Maintain Eye Contact

Looking at your listeners directly helps build a strong connection and keeps them focused on you. Meeting people's eyes shows you're confident about what you're saying and makes them feel more involved. By watching your audience, you can see how they respond and change your talk if needed.

For good eye contact, try not to read everything from your presentation or paper. Know your topic well so you can talk freely and only look at your slides now and then. Look around the whole room, meeting the eyes of different people in your audience for a moment. Doing this makes all listeners feel part of your talk and keeps them interested.

Use Jokes and Ask Questions

Adding some funny comments and asking the audience things can really get them involved in your talk . A good joke or funny story at the right time can make people relax and help them remember what you said. Make sure your jokes fit the crowd and don't overshadow your main point.

Asking questions during your talk has several benefits. It helps listeners stay focused, gets them involved, and shows you if they're following along. You can use thought-provoking questions or ask directly to start conversations. After asking, wait a moment to let people think and answer.

Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

How you talk can significantly affect how well your presentation goes over. Work on speaking clearly and not too fast, changing your voice to highlight important parts. Try not to use words like "um" or "uh," as they can take away from what you're saying and make you seem less confident.

How you move and stand is also very important when giving a good presentation. Keep good posture, use normal hand movements, and walk around the stage when it makes sense. Your body language can support your words and make you seem more confident. Remember that practice helps you improve . Practice your talk many times to get better at giving it and feel more confident.

Learn to Give Powerful Talks

Using these tips, speakers can change their PowerPoint slides from boring to effective ways of sharing information . The key is to keep things simple, stay on topic, and connect with your audience. Don't forget to have a backup: bring paper copies or a PDF of your talk in case something goes wrong with the technology. Being ready like this shows you're professional and makes sure people hear what you have to say, no matter what happens. As you get better at presenting, try using fewer slides . See if you can share your main ideas using only three slides. When you try new things, you'll find better ways to engage people and make them remember you. Before your next talk, think about how you can make it really stand out and stick in people's minds, avoiding death by PowerPoint and creating a memorable experience for your audience.

MrBeast's tips for increasing YouTube views and creating successful content

How to study effectively by eliminating distractions and planning topics

Gamma vs. PowerPoint: Can this AI tool revolutionize your presentations?

How to improve focus and achieve success in meaningful projects

How to use emotional intelligence and fear control to influence others

15 Communication SMART Goals Examples to Improve Your Skills

Jordan Peterson's tips on improving communication skills

Was this article helpful?