How to Give a Great Presentation

As a Health Leader, your voice is unique and powerful. At some point in your health advocacy work, you may be tasked with presenting your health journey or a particular topic to a group of people.

Whether you’re presenting at a health conference or directly engaging with a pharmaceutical company, giving a great presentation is key to effectively conveying your message and advocating for the needs of your community.

Presentations can be nerve-racking, to say the least. If you feel that way, you’re not alone. In fact, some of the most renowned and respected scientists, academics, and writers have admitted to being deeply uncomfortable with presenting in front of an audience. It is completely natural to be nervous. It means that what you’re presenting is very important to you.¹

Thankfully, there are some techniques that can help. Keep reading for some tips to help you deliver a great presentation while making a lasting, memorable impact.

Know your audience

Before crafting your presentation, take the time to understand who you’ll be speaking to. Are they healthcare professionals? Researchers? Executives at a pharmaceutical company? Fellow patients? Tailor your message to resonate with their interests, knowledge, and priorities.¹

Start with a compelling story

Stories have the power to captivate and evoke emotions. Begin your presentation with a personal anecdote or a story from someone within your community to illustrate the importance of your cause. This will help create a connection with your audience from the start.^1,2

Then, thread your narrative throughout your talk. The goal is to take your audience on a journey with you. Have data or important findings you want to share? Great! Just be sure to find the right mix of story and data. A story is compelling and helps the information resonate in a deeper, more memorable way.^1,2

Plan your multimedia wisely

If you are planning to have some sort of multimedia, like a PowerPoint or Prezi, there are some key things you may want to keep in mind:^1-3

• Keep your slide deck concise and focused.
• Use clear and succinct bullet points or visuals to support your key messages.
• Complement text with images and videos. Research shows that people are better at remembering images and videos than text. If using a video, keep it short (under 1 minute).
• Avoid overcrowding your slides with too much text or cluttered graphics, which can be distracting.
• Stick to 1 main idea per slide to maintain clarity and avoid overwhelming your viewers. Less is more.
• Practice slide transitions. Smooth transitions between slides can maintain the flow and momentum of your presentation.

Highlight solutions

Instead of focusing solely on the health challenges faced by your community, also highlight potential solutions and advancements in research or treatment options. If possible, offer concrete examples of progress and success stories to inspire hope and optimism.

Be authentic

Your passion and authenticity are your greatest assets as a Health Leader and advocate. Speak from the heart. Share your personal experiences and insights. These firsthand stories are invaluable to those you're speaking to. Authenticity builds trust and credibility, making it easier for your audience to connect with you and your cause.¹

Get your audience involved

Encourage interaction and participation throughout your presentation. Ask questions, invite feedback, or have a question-and-answer session at the end to encourage discussion. Interaction creates a dynamic atmosphere and makes your presentation more memorable.1

End with a call to action

Conclude your presentation with a clear call to action. Whether it’s advocating for policy changes, raising awareness, or supporting research initiatives, make it easy for your audience to take the next step and get involved.

Be prepared for questions

It can be helpful to anticipate questions. Prepare thoughtful responses in advance, should they come up. Be confident in your knowledge and expertise, but also be honest if you don’t know the answer to a question. Offer to follow up later with more information if needed. Humility will inspire your audience to trust you.

Practice, practice, practice

We’ve all heard that “practice makes perfect.” Well, in the case of presenting, this is true. Even experienced presenters will admit that they rehearsed presentations repeatedly to make their talk sound as seamless and natural as possible.^1-3

Practice in the car, practice in front of trusted family or friends, practice in front of a mirror. Record yourself, and listen for areas where you could refine your point or make a smoother transition. The more you practice, the better your presentation will be and the more confident you’ll look and feel when presenting to an actual audience.^1-3

5 practical presentation tips

Here are some practical tips to take your presentation from good to great:^1-3

1. Speak loudly and clearly

Project your voice so that everyone in the room can hear you. Enunciate your words. Change the pitch, cadence, and volume of your voice to emphasize key points. This will make your presentation more interesting than listening to someone drone on in a monotone voice.

2. Use body language

Your body language can convey confidence and can be a great complement to your presentation. Stand tall, make eye contact, and use hand gestures to emphasize important points.

3. Time yourself

Practice timing your presentation to make sure it fits within the allotted time frame. Be mindful of pacing, and avoid rushing through slides or sections. Many people talk very fast when they are nervous, so slow down if you need to.

4. Don’t read your slides word for word

When your audience knows you’re simply reading to them, their attention will plummet. You want to keep them engaged, not bored. There’s no harm in having notecards to help you stay on track. Just be sure you’re not reading them verbatim.

5. Don’t forget to breathe

It’s normal to be nervous. Deep breathing – before and during your presentation – can help you stay calm and confident.

Make it your own

There are countless ways to give a great presentation. Don’t feel like you have to check off all of these boxes. Rather, use them as a guide to help you hone your craft.¹

Memorable presentations offer something fresh and new. Make your presentation unique to you and your experience. Remember, you are an expert on your topic, and your audience is eager to hear what you have to say.¹