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On average, organizations spend roughly 15% of their time in meetings, according to Airgram. Therefore, when it comes to a sales meeting, we must put in extra effort to make a lasting impression on prospects.
We invited Richard Mulholland and Dani Balona from the persuasive communications agency Missing Link to share their masterclass on how to use Prezi in meetings to hack customer expectations. Check out the three steps you need to take to change the way you think about your sales meetings or watch the full webinar here.
According to Rich, “Great service isn’t defined by how well you do your job, it’s defined by how well you do the ‘not my job’ stuff. i.e. the stuff that they didn’t pay you for.” If you go to a 5-star hotel, you’re going to expect 5-star treatment — however, it’s when they provide something unexpected that it becomes memorable.
When the Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets movie came out, Rich mentioned to his business partner that he already bought tickets and was so excited to see it. His partner said it wasn’t very good, but still told Rich to go see for himself. After Rich watched it, he called his partner wondering what he was talking about — the movie was amazing. His business partner said he didn’t want to ruin it for him, so he set his expectations low (in other words, he hacked Rich’s expectations).
The bar is already set low for online meetings. All you need to do is appear more professional on camera to hack expectations. Dani and Rich shared a few ways to do so:
Prezi lets you easily hack expectations and present the unexpected by allowing you to bring slides on screen right in front of you. You can do this with a full-screen slide, a transparent full-screen slide, a picture-in-picture reveal, or a side slide. By taking advantage of these slide options, you can change the mundane nature of client meetings.
To make the most of Prezi and incorporate immersive scenes into your presentation, you’ll want to follow two key principles:
Remember: It’s not about storytelling but about story selling. The focus should not be solely on improving how you tell your story during client meetings, but rather on centering your attention on your customer’s story. “Don’t tell them your story. Sell them a new version of their story in which you play a part,” Rich said.
When you’re meeting a customer for the first time, find common ground or “commonplace” as Dani and Rich refer to it.
Dani shared an example from a Harvard negotiation class, where students were paired up and tasked to make a deal. Within that group, 55% came to an agreement.
The next group was assigned the same task, except this time the professor said that before you begin negotiating, share some information about each other and find something in common. Out of that group, 90% of the pairs reached a mutually beneficial agreement, resulting in deals that were 18% better for both parties. Therefore, finding some sort of connection with your clients off the bat will prove beneficial.
According to Rich, the audience’s enjoyment of a presentation can never surpass the presenter’s own enthusiasm for delivering it.
Prezi allows you to surprise and excite your audience by being intentional when you share your content. As Rich shared earlier, while you have slide options, what he particularly appreciates about Prezi is that it allows you to choose specific moments when you bring the content on screen.
There’s no need to screen share or have your content up the entire time. By doing so, your prospect can feel like they’re guiding the conversation, and you can incorporate the “wow” factor by bringing up content they actually want to see.
Like what you see? Contact us to see a product demo and learn more about Prezi for Sales.
In the realm of public speaking and professional communication, mastering different presentation styles is essential for engaging and captivating your audience. Whether you’re delivering a business pitch, an educational lecture, or a sales presentation, the way you present your content can make a significant impact on conveying your message effectively. This article aims to explore various presentation styles and highlight the versatility of Prezi presentations that can elevate your delivery to new heights. From the classic approach to storytelling and demonstrations, we’ll delve into how Prezi can support and enhance each presentation style.
Selecting the appropriate types of presentation styles is crucial for effectively delivering your message and engaging your audience. The choice of style can significantly impact the overall effectiveness and success of your presentation. Here are some reasons why it’s important to choose the right style for your presentation.
Different presentation styles have varying levels of audience engagement. By selecting a style that aligns with your audience’s preferences and expectations, you can enhance their level of engagement and create a more impactful presentation. For example, an interactive style may be ideal for engaging a tech-savvy audience, while a visual style can captivate visually-oriented individuals.
Each presentation style has its strengths in conveying specific types of information. For instance, a storytelling style is effective for presenting narratives and evoking emotions, while a demonstration style is suitable for showcasing the practical application of a product or process. Choosing the right style ensures that your message is communicated clearly and resonates with your audience.
A well-suited presentation style enhances the audience’s ability to remember and retain information. By utilizing visuals, interactive elements, or a freeform approach, you can create a memorable experience that helps your audience internalize and recall key points long after the presentation is over. The right style can make your content more memorable, increasing its impact and effectiveness.
The presentation style you choose can also influence the level of personal connection you establish with your audience. Some styles, such as a freeform or conversational approach, foster a sense of rapport and authenticity. By selecting a style that aligns with your personality and communication style, you can establish a stronger connection with your audience and create a more engaging and relatable experience.
Your presentation style should also align with your brand identity and values. Consistency in style and tone across your presentations helps build brand recognition and reinforces your messaging. Choosing a style that is consistent with your brand image ensures a cohesive and professional representation of your organization or personal brand.
Understanding your audience’s needs, preferences, and expectations is paramount when choosing a presentation style. By considering factors such as their industry, demographics, and familiarity with presentation formats, you can tailor your style to cater to their specific requirements. This customization enhances their overall experience and increases the likelihood of achieving your presentation goals.
To explore the different presentation styles in a video format, watch our comprehensive video on this topic:
The classic style of presentation serves as the foundation for many public speeches and business presentations. It follows a structured and logical approach, with a clear introduction, main points, and conclusion. This style often utilizes bullet points, accompanied by concise explanations. By employing the classic style of presentation, speakers can effectively communicate their ideas, engage their audience, and leave a lasting impact.
Integrating Prezi into the classic style of presentation introduces an interactive dimension, enabling you to craft visually appealing slides that captivate and sustain audience interest. Through Prezi’s dynamic capabilities, such as zooming and panning, you can accentuate essential details and maintain an engaged audience from start to finish. For a classic presentation style, check out the following Prezi presentation templates.
Storytelling is a powerful technique that can breathe life into your presentations. It goes beyond simply relaying facts and figures. It taps into the power of narrative, engaging the audience’s imagination, emotions, and personal experiences. Through storytelling, you can create a shared experience with your listeners, allowing them to relate to your message on a deeper level. By presenting information in the form of a story, you can captivate attention, maintain interest, and ensure better retention of key points.
Storytelling also provides a framework for organizing complex information, as it follows a natural progression of beginning, middle, and end. It allows you to introduce characters, conflicts, and resolutions, which help in clarifying concepts and illustrating the practical applications of your ideas. This style invites active participation from the audience, as they become invested in the narrative and eagerly anticipate the outcome. Overall, storytelling is a potent tool that enriches presentations by fostering emotional connections, enhancing understanding, and leaving a lasting impact on your audience.
Prezi offers a range of templates and design options that enable you to create visually stunning storytelling presentations. You can incorporate images, videos, and other multimedia elements to enhance the storytelling experience. With Prezi’s seamless transitions and cinematic effects, you can take your audience on a captivating journey, effectively conveying your message in a memorable way.
Demonstration presentations are particularly useful when showcasing a product, process, or concept. This style involves actively illustrating how something works or how to perform a task. Furthermore, the demonstration presentation styles cater to different learning styles, accommodating visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. Through a combination of visual aids, live examples, and interactive elements, this style ensures a memorable and impactful experience that resonates with the audience long after the presentation is over.
Prezi’s interactive features allow you to embed videos, animations, or step-by-step visual guides to provide a clear demonstration. You can create a path through the presentation that guides the audience through each step, ensuring a smooth and engaging experience. Prezi’s flexible canvas provides ample space to showcase details and highlight important features, making your demonstration impactful and informative.
The interactive presentation styles break away from the traditional one-way flow of information and encourage active participation from the audience. It involves incorporating interactive elements, such as quizzes, polls, and collective exercises, to engage the audience and promote a two-way communication process. By embracing interactive presentation styles, speakers can transform their presentations into dynamic and engaging experiences that foster collaboration, encourage audience involvement, and create a shared learning environment.
With Prezi’s interactive capabilities, presenters can spark discussions, successfully hold people’s attention, and create a collaborative environment that keeps the audience involved and invested in the presentation. For an interactive presentation, discover the Prezi presentation example below.
A visual presentation style relies heavily on visually appealing elements to convey information. It emphasizes the use of graphics, images, charts, and infographics to enhance understanding and capture the audience’s attention.
This style leverages the principle of visual hierarchy, organizing information in a visually logical manner to guide the audience’s attention and comprehension. Visual presentations not only make information more digestible but also enhance retention and recall. The combination of relevant visuals and concise text creates a harmonious blend that aids in understanding and increases the overall impact of the presentation.
Prezi provides a wide array of visually stunning templates, design elements, and multimedia integration options to create visually impactful presentations. Presenters can leverage Prezi’s drag-and-drop editor to easily incorporate eye-catching visuals, ensuring that complex concepts are simplified and memorable. By combining Prezi’s visual capabilities with storytelling techniques, presenters can create visually engaging presentations that resonate with their audience.
The freeform style of presentation offers presenters the flexibility to adapt their content on the go, responding to audience reactions and tailoring the presentation in real-time. It allows for spontaneity, improvisation, and a more conversational tone.
While it requires confidence, knowledge, and the ability to think on one’s feet, the freeform style allows for a more fluid and natural presentation that can resonate deeply with the audience. It’s a format that encourages active participation, facilitates meaningful discussions, and provides an opportunity for presenters to truly connect and build rapport with their listeners.
Prezi’s open canvas and non-linear structure provide the perfect platform for freeform presentations. Presenters can navigate freely between topics, zoom in on important details, and adjust the flow based on audience engagement. Prezi’s zooming and panning capabilities enable presenters to have a dynamic and fluid presentation, allowing for seamless transitions and a personalized delivery that connects with the audience.
Mastering various presentation styles is crucial for effectively conveying your message and captivating your audience. Prezi serves as an invaluable tool that enhances each presentation style, allowing you to create engaging, visually stunning, and interactive presentations. Whether you choose the interactive, visual, or freeform style, Prezi’s features and versatility enable you to craft memorable presentations that leave a lasting impact. Embrace the power of Prezi as you embark on your journey to deliver exceptional presentations that captivate, inform, and inspire your audience. Elevate your communication skills to new heights of excellence and unlock the true potential of your ideas with Prezi’s transformative capabilities.
Delivering presentations with a partner can be challenging as it requires synchronizing with them, balancing speaking time, and ensuring a smooth flow. However, with proper preparation and practice, co-presenting can be a highly effective way to engage and inform your audience. Co presenting can also be fun and engaging, as it allows you to showcase different perspectives, share ideas, and build on each other’s strengths.
One key benefit of co presenting is the ability to divide the workload and responsibilities among multiple presenters. This allows for a more efficient and effective presentation. It can also result in a more engaging and dynamic presentation, as each presenter can bring their unique perspectives and expertise to the table. Additionally, co presenting can make it easier and less nerve-wracking than presenting alone. It can also provide support and backup for each other during the presentation. Overall, co presenting can lead to a more polished, collaborative and successful presentation.
In this article, we’ll discuss co-presenting tips to help you deliver an engaging and cohesive presentation. Whether you’re presenting with a colleague, friend, or partner, these tips will help you work seamlessly and deliver an impactful presentation.
Co presenting is a term used to describe a situation where two or more people present a topic or subject matter to an audience. It’s common in business, education, and public speaking, and is often used to showcase different perspectives, share ideas, and build on each other’s strengths.
Co presenting requires a high level of coordination and cooperation between the presenters. Each presenter must work seamlessly with the other to ensure that the co presentation is cohesive and engaging. This is why Prezi Present is an asset to your co presentations. Prezi Present’s open canvas feature can aid in delivering an exceptional co-presentation by offering a comprehensive view of the entire presentation. With the freedom to move between topics in real-time, presenters can emphasize vital information with precision, keeping the audience engaged. Co-presenters can work together effortlessly, using the open canvas feature to create an impactful presentation that delivers the intended message effectively.
Being comfortable with co-presenting is a valuable skill to possess as it fosters more successful and cooperative presentations. In many business and educational settings, presentations require input and collaboration from multiple individuals with different expertise and experiences. By being comfortable with co presenting, you can better work with others to divide the workload, share the responsibility of presenting, and make use of each other’s strengths to create a more engaging and informative presentation. Additionally, co presenting allows for constructive feedback and support from your co-presenters, which can help you improve your presentation skills and boost your confidence.
Simultaneous co-presenting is when two or more presenters work together to deliver a presentation in real time. Each presenter takes turns speaking while the others may assist by operating visual aids or providing additional commentary.
This type of presentation delivery also has numerous advantages that can benefit both presenters and audiences. One of the most significant advantages of simultaneous co-presenting is enhanced engagement. With multiple presenters working together to deliver content in real time, there is a greater chance of capturing and maintaining audience attention throughout the presentation. Check out a Prezi presentation example below that can easily be used for this type of delivery.
Author: Lydia Antonatos
In this format, each presenter takes turns presenting a segment of the content, often separated by specific topics or themes. The presenters may provide additional insights or feedback on each other’s segments, but each is responsible for delivering their content independently.
This form of co presenting allows presenters to delve into specific topics or themes in greater detail, as each presenter can focus on a specific area of the content. It also ensures that each presenter has adequate time to prepare and deliver their segment, reducing the risk of errors or miscommunications.
When designing a presentation for this type of delivery, check out Prezi’s presentation templates and examples that can be perfect for this presentation form. With open canvas and zooming effects, you can choose to zoom in and out of topics in whatever order you want. Check out one of the examples below.
Author: Gretchen Rubin
This form of co-presentation involves presenters working together in pairs or small groups. One presenter can introduce the topic and the other(s) provide additional insights or examples to support the presentation. What’s more, this format can add variety and dynamism to the presentation, as presenters can switch roles and add their own personal touches to the presentation.
The Prezi presentation template below is perfect for tag team co-presenting as you can easily navigate through the presentation topics and subtopics, and go into detail where necessary by zooming into specific areas on the canvas.
Author: NOBL Collective
This format involves one presenter serving as the primary expert on the topic, with other presenters providing additional commentary or insights that complement the expert’s content.
This form of presenting can be especially valuable for complex or technical topics where multiple perspectives are needed to fully understand the material. Additionally, expert co-presenting can help build credibility and authority with the audience, as the collective expertise of the presenters can instill confidence and trust in the material being presented.
The Prezi presentation example below showcases how you can structure your presentation for this presentation delivery style.
Author: Jan Rezab
Panel discussion co-presenting is often used in conferences or public events, where a panel of presenters is assembled to discuss a specific topic. Each presenter may deliver a brief presentation, followed by a discussion or debate on the topic moderated by a host or facilitator.
This form can help build a sense of community and collaboration among presenters and audiences alike, as everyone is invited to participate and contribute to the discussion.
To create this type of presentation format, check out the Prezi presentation template below and re-create it for your topic.
Author: Monserrat Molina
The key to successful co presenting is planning and preparation. The presenters must plan and prepare the presentation together to ensure that they are on the same page and that the co presentation flows smoothly.
Before the presentation, the co-presenters should discuss the following:
By planning and preparing together, the co-presenters can ensure that they are aligned and that the presentation is structured and coherent.
To ensure that co presenting runs smoothly, it’s essential to assign roles and responsibilities to each presenter. Each presenter should have a specific role to play, whether it’s introducing the topic, presenting the main points, or concluding the presentation.
Assigning roles and responsibilities can help to:
Practice is essential when co-presenting. The presenters should rehearse the presentation together several times to ensure that they are synchronized and that the presentation progresses with ease.
During the practice sessions, the presenters should focus on the following:
Practice sessions should be conducted in a quiet and distraction-free environment. Also, the presenters should be open to feedback and suggestions from each other. Feedback can help build trust and collaboration among presenters, as they work together to create the best possible presentation. By listening to each other’s feedback and incorporating suggestions, presenters can create a more cohesive and effective presentation.
Visual aids are a powerful tool for engaging audiences and simplifying complex information. With Prezi and Prezi Video (for online meetings and presentations), you can take your co presenting to the next level by adding stunning, real-time visuals that captivate and inspire your viewers. Co-presenters can collaborate seamlessly, creating an immersive experience that seamlessly integrates their words with the visuals.
Using visual aids when co-presenting helps to:
Co-presenters should work together to engage the audience in new and interesting ways. This can include asking questions, using humor, or incorporating interactive elements such as charts or polls. Engaging the audience during a co-presentation is important because it helps to keep their attention focused on the presentation and increases their interest and understanding of the topic being presented. When audience members are engaged, they are more likely to retain the information being presented, as well as be more receptive to the ideas being conveyed.
It’s important to maintain consistency throughout the presentation, including style, tone, and pacing. Co-presenters should work together to ensure that the presentation feels cohesive and seamless. It’s important to remain consistent during a co-presentation because inconsistency can create confusion and undermine the effectiveness of the presentation. When working together, use the best presentation design practices that we describe in the following video:
Co-presenting can be unpredictable, so it’s important to be prepared for unexpected events such as technical difficulties or questions from the audience. Co-presenters should work together to develop a plan for addressing these situations. By preparing for the unexpected, presenters can maintain their composure and continue to deliver an effective presentation, even in challenging or unexpected circumstances. Additionally, being prepared for unexpected situations can help you build credibility and trust with the audience. It demonstrates that the presenters are professional, adaptable, and able to handle unexpected challenges with ease.
Co-presenting can be a rewarding experience if executed correctly. But unfortunately, sometimes that does not always go to plan. Sometimes there are disagreements or conflicts between presenters. To ensure a smooth and effective presentation, it’s important to handle conflicts gracefully.
Here are some tips for handling conflicts:
Listen actively: When a conflict arises, listen to the other presenter’s perspective without interrupting. Active listening can help you understand the other presenter’s point of view and find common ground.
Express your own perspective calmly: When expressing your own perspective, avoid attacking or blaming the other presenter. Instead, focus on explaining your own viewpoint and how it can benefit the presentation.
Compromise: When there are disagreements, try to find a compromise that works for both presenters. Look for solutions that can meet both presenters’ needs and still achieve the goals of the presentation.
Take a break if necessary: If conflicts become too heated, take a break and step away from the situation. Give yourself time to cool down and gather your thoughts, and then return to the discussion with a fresh perspective.
Apologize when needed: If you realize that you have made a mistake or reacted poorly during a conflict, take responsibility for your actions and apologize. This can help rebuild trust and collaboration between co-presenters.
By handling conflicts gracefully, co-presenters can maintain a positive and collaborative working relationship. This can ultimately lead to a more successful presentation.
Non-verbal communication can greatly affect the impact the presentation has on the audience. Co-presenters should pay attention to their body language, eye contact, and facial expressions to ensure they send the right message to the audience. Practicing active listening skills can help co-presenters to understand each other’s perspectives better and avoid countering your co presenters’ narrative.
By managing non-verbal communication, co-presenters can create a positive and engaging environment for the audience. This can help them to better understand and retain the information being presented. Effective non-verbal communication feeds the mood to the audience before any information has been presented. This allows the audience to view the co presenters as impactful individuals, leading to a hard-hitting presentation.
For more tips on non-verbal communication and body language skills, watch the following video:
In conclusion, co-presenting can be a highly effective way to engage audiences and deliver compelling presentations. However, it can also be a challenging experience, requiring careful planning and coordination between presenters. That’s where Prezi comes in – with its range of innovative presentation tools, Prezi can help ease the stresses of co-presenting and make creating engaging and impactful presentations a stress-free and exciting experience.
The unique open canvas feature of Prezi Present allows the viewing of your presentation as a cohesive whole. With the freedom to move seamlessly between topics and the ability to zoom in on pertinent details in real-time, Prezi empowers you to highlight critical information with precision and impact. And with Prezi Video, you can easily bring your words to life even in the limiting online space. By following the tips provided and using Prezi, co-presenters can work together to create the best possible presentation and deliver a memorable and engaging experience for their audience.
Presentation skills are a crucial aspect of communication in today’s world. Whether you’re delivering a pitch to potential investors, giving a lecture in front of a class, or trying to make a point at a meeting, your ability to effectively present your ideas can greatly impact your success. However, not everyone is a natural-born speaker. Many struggle with nerves and self-doubt when it comes to presenting in front of an audience. But don’t worry! Improving your presentation skills is possible with practice and dedication. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with practical tips that will help you become a confident and engaging speaker. From preparing your material to engaging with your audience, we’ll cover everything you need to know to take your presentation skills to the next level. So whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your existing presentation skills, read on for all the advice and inspiration you need to succeed.
Before we dive into specific presentation skills, it’s important to define the different types of presentations that may require different skills in how they’re presented. There are several types of presentations you can choose from, each with its own distinct format and style. Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of presentations:
In these types of presentations, the speaker focuses on telling a story that engages the audience and reinforces the main message. This type of presentation is perfect for engaging and entertaining an audience. It helps to keep the audience interested and focused and can be a great way to reinforce the main message. However, it can also be time-consuming to prepare a well-structured narrative.
These types of presentations are designed to provide information on a specific topic. The speaker focuses on delivering accurate and relevant information to the audience in an organized and straightforward manner. This type of presentation is great for providing accurate and relevant information to the audience. The organized and straightforward delivery makes it easy for the audience to understand and retain the information. However, it can be difficult to keep the audience engaged and interested if the presentation is too dry or lacks excitement.
In persuasive presentations, the speaker aims to convince the audience to take a specific action or adopt a particular point of view. This type of presentation often includes arguments, statistics, and other persuasive techniques. However, if the arguments are weak or the persuasive techniques are ineffective, the presentation can fall flat and fail to achieve its intended outcome.
These types of presentations focus on demonstrating a product or service to the audience. The speaker often includes visual aids, such as slides or videos, to help illustrate the key features and benefits of the product or service. However, it can be difficult to keep the audience engaged if the demonstration is too lengthy or repetitive.
Instructional presentations are designed to teach the audience a specific skill or provide them with step-by-step instructions. The speaker often uses visual aids, such as diagrams or slides, to make the instructions clear and easy to follow. It’s perfect for teaching the audience how to perform a specific task. The use of visual aids, such as diagrams or slides, makes it easy for the audience to understand and follow the instructions. In this type of presentation, it’s important to present the instructions in a highly engaging way so the audience doesn’t lose interest.
Choosing the right type of presentation format can greatly impact the success of your presentation. Consider the audience, the message you want to convey, and the resources available to you, when deciding on the best presentation format for your needs. Once you’ve decided on a presentation format, you can move on to developing certain presentation skills that are most important for the specific case.
The way you deliver your presentation is crucial. Therefore, we want to highlight this aspect before we dive into other effective presentation skills. A delivery method can make or break a presentation, regardless of the quality of the content. There are various methods of presentation delivery. The choice of method depends on the type of audience, the topic of the presentation, and the desired outcome. Discover 4 ways you can deliver a presentation and what kind of skills and approach they require.
One of the most common presentation delivery methods is the traditional method of standing in front of an audience and delivering a speech. This method is suitable for formal presentations, such as keynote speeches, lectures, and corporate presentations. This method requires the speaker to have excellent public speaking skills, including voice modulation, body language, and eye contact. A traditional presentation delivery usually follows a classical presentation outline that has a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Another method of presentation delivery is the use of visual aids. This method involves using multimedia tools, such as images, videos, and infographics. Visual aids are effective because they can help the audience to better understand complex information, and they can also serve as a reference for the audience to refer to after the presentation. However, visuals should not be the sole focus of the presentation, as they can distract the audience from the message.
If you want to create a visually-focused presentation, discover different Prezi presentation templates, and be sure to add images, videos, data visualizations, GIFs, stickers, and other visuals that you can find in Prezi’s content library and Prezi Design.
If you want to learn more about the use of visuals in a presentation, and what are the best design practices, watch this video:
Another way to deliver a presentation is by using interactive methods such as group discussions, role-plays, and simulations. This method is suitable for presentations that require the audience to actively participate in the presentation. Interactive presentations can be useful for training sessions, team-building exercises, and workshops.
On Prezi, you can create highly interactive presentations where your audience can be active participants. Prezi’s non-linear format allows you to jump between topics instead of flipping through slides, so your presentation feels more like a conversation than a speech.
The last method of presentation delivery is storytelling. It involves the use of anecdotes, personal experiences, and stories to deliver a message. Storytelling is a highly effective tool because it can help the audience to relate to the message on a personal level.
Storytelling can also be used to make a presentation more engaging and entertaining.
If you want to visually showcase a relation between two aspects and capture the transitional movement in a timeline, use motion, zoom, and spatial relationships in a Prezi presentation to showcase the nuances of your story world.
Regardless of the presentation delivery method, make sure to follow the best presentation practices:
There are numerous skills that you can develop to improve your presentations. In this article, we’ve summoned the following 8 presentation skills that are essential to any presenter that wants to make an impact with their message.
Effective communication skills are critical when it comes to presenting information to others. Presentations require a clear and concise message, and communication skills are key in delivering this message to your audience. Good communication skills allow you to connect with your audience, build rapport, and maintain engagement throughout the presentation. In addition, communication skills allow you to articulate your ideas and arguments clearly, and to respond to questions or challenges effectively.
To improve this skill, practice speaking in front of a mirror or recording yourself to identify areas where you may need improvement. Also, consider using vocal techniques such as varying your tone and volume to keep your audience engaged.
Confident body language is an essential presentation skill as it communicates to the audience that the speaker is credible, knowledgeable, and in control. A confident posture, eye contact, and gestures can help you establish a strong presence and build rapport with the audience. It also helps you to convey your message more effectively.
To practice confident body language, start by standing tall with shoulders back and head held high. Also, make eye contact with the audience and use natural hand gestures to emphasize key points. It’s also important to practice speaking clearly and with conviction, as this can further enhance the impact of confident body language during a presentation.
If you’re interested in learning more about body language, read our article on 9 secrets to a confident body language.
Being able to engage your audience is a crucial presentation skill because it ensures that your message is well-received and understood. When you engage your audience, you capture their attention and maintain their interest throughout your presentation. This can make the difference between a successful presentation and one that falls flat. Holding the attention of your audience requires a combination of factors, such as having a clear message, being confident and comfortable in your delivery, using visual aids effectively, and connecting with your audience on a personal level.
To improve this skill, you can practice rehearsing your presentation in front of friends or colleagues and seeking feedback. You can also try studying successful public speakers and their techniques and incorporating audience participation activities into your presentation to keep them engaged and interested.
Additionally, you can engage your audience by opting for a motion-based presentation. It’ll enhance the impact of your content and ideas, making it more captivating for your audience to watch than a slide-based presentation. On Prezi, you can use motion, spatial relationships, and zooming effects to create highly impactful presentations.
Time management is an essential presentation skill as it helps to ensure that you deliver your message effectively and efficiently within the allotted time. Poor time management can lead to an unprofessional and unprepared presentation, leaving the audience disinterested or confused.
To practice good time management, begin by planning and rehearsing your presentation in advance. It’s important to allocate sufficient time to each section and consider factors such as audience engagement and potential interruptions. You can also use time-tracking tools and practice pacing yourself during rehearsals to ensure you stay on schedule. By mastering time management, you can deliver a polished and engaging presentation, leaving a positive and lasting impression on your audience.
Effective organization of presentation content is crucial for any presenter, as it determines the clarity and impact of the message. Organized content can help you convey your ideas in a logical and coherent manner, which aids in maintaining the audience’s attention and retention of information.
To ensure that your presentation’s content is well-organized, it’s important to follow a few key steps.
By following these steps, you can effectively organize your presentation’s content and create a memorable and impactful experience for the viewers.
If you’re creating a sales presentation, be sure to read our step-by-step guide on crafting a winning sales presentation.
Also, discover how to best structure your presentation based on your presentation goal in this video:
Storytelling is a powerful presentation skill that can captivate your audience’s attention and enhance the impact of your message. Stories allow us to connect with people on a deeper emotional level, and help us convey complex ideas in an easy-to-understand way. When we tell a story, we engage our audience, evoke their imagination, and inspire them to take action.
To develop strong storytelling skills, you should practice telling stories with a clear beginning, middle, and end that convey a message or lesson. It’s also important to incorporate sensory details, such as sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste, to help the audience visualize the story. Also, make sure to focus on the tone of your delivery, including voice inflection, body language, and facial expressions, to effectively convey the emotions and dynamics of the story. Finally, use one of Prezi’s presentation templates like the one visualized below, or create your own story presentation on Prezi and visualize relations between topics, events, and characters using spatial relationships and visual hierarchy.
By mastering the art of storytelling, you can deliver a powerful presentation that resonates with the audience and creates a lasting impression.
Adaptability is a crucial presentation skill – it allows you to adjust and respond to unexpected situations, changes, and challenges during the presentation. The key is to be properly prepared. This means researching your topic and practicing your presentation speech enough so that you’re prepared for any changes or questions that may arise. When you’re prepared, you’ll feel more present and be able to read the room and adjust to your audience’s needs and interests.
Also, be flexible and open-minded to new information, feedback, and audience reactions. This skill will enable you to think on your feet and modify your content or delivery style accordingly.
And lastly, you want to uphold the quality of your presentation no matter where you’re presenting, online or offline. If you need to adapt your presentation to an online experience, use Prezi Video and simply import your already-existing Prezi, Powerpoint, or Google slides, and deliver the same level of presence and quality as offline. With Prezi Video, you can showcase your slides next to you on-screen as you present, keeping that face-to-face interaction.
Make sure to check out Prezi Video templates that you can find in Prezi’s template gallery.
Last but definitely not least, one of the key presentation skills a great presenter possesses is confidence. Presenting with confidence can help you engage your audience and convince them of your authority and knowledge on the topic at hand. When you exude confidence, the audience is more likely to trust you and your message, leading to better communication and understanding.
Developing confidence can be achieved through several methods. Practicing your speech multiple times, visualizing a successful presentation, and focusing on positive self-talk are all techniques that can help boost your confidence. Additionally, learning to control body language and voice tone can also have a positive effect on confidence levels during your time in the spotlight.
By implementing these strategies, you can build your confidence and improve your presentation skills each time you’re speaking in front of an audience.
Discover more about effective presentation skills in this video:
While working on the effective presentation skills we listed above, you may feel nervous about public speaking in general. It’s no secret that public speaking can be a daunting task for many people. However, if you want to be a powerful, confident, and impactful presenter, you need to overcome your fear of anxiety of public speaking and improve the way you feel and appear when presenting.
If you want to learn more about different techniques that can help you calm down before a presentation, here’s a helpful video for you to watch:
To help you become better at public speaking, we summoned 20 tips you can follow:
One of the most effective ways to become more comfortable with public speaking is to practice your speech as much as possible. When you practice, you can work out any kinks or rough spots that you may encounter when giving your speech in front of an audience. Additionally, practicing allows you to become more familiar with the material, making it easier to remember and deliver with confidence. While it may be tempting to simply read your speech from a script or cue cards, practicing your speech will allow you to internalize the material and deliver it with greater ease, flow, and naturalness. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that you take the time to practice your speech as much as possible before giving it in front of an audience, whether that be your friends, family, or colleagues.
Preparing for a presentation can be a lengthy endeavor, particularly if you aim to memorize the entire script. Trying to remember every point can be challenging. Plus, the stress of public speaking can cause you to overlook crucial details. Jotting down your talking points can help you stay organized and avoid forgetting any essential information. However, relying solely on flashcards or paper notes may not be ideal. Constantly glancing at sticky notes or looking away from your audience can disrupt the flow of your presentation and disconnect you from your listeners. Instead, try using presenter notes on Prezi, where you can easily add notes to each slide. While presenting, you’ll be the only one that sees them, helping you deliver an impressive presentation with maximum confidence.
When delivering a speech, it’s important to analyze and understand the audience you’ll be speaking to. By doing so, you can tailor your speech to their interests and needs. This means that you should take into account factors such as their age range, educational background, and cultural or professional affiliations. Additionally, it’s important to research the topic you’ll be discussing thoroughly and provide examples that are relevant to your audience. By doing this, you can ensure that your message will resonate with your listeners and leave a lasting impact.
To really captivate your audience, it’s important to start with a strong opening that grabs their attention and sets the tone for the rest of your speech. One approach could be to start with a thought-provoking question or a powerful anecdote that relates to your topic. Alternatively, you could begin with a surprising fact or statistic that shocks and intrigues your listeners. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s attention-grabbing and relevant to the message you want to convey. Remember, the opening of your speech is your chance to make a lasting impression, so make it count!
Discover other ways to start your presentation speech and watch this video for more tips on starting a virtual presentation:
Using humor can be a great way to start off a presentation. It can help to reduce the tension in the room and make your audience feel more at ease. For example, you could start off with a joke or a funny story that relates to your topic. Alternatively, you could use a humorous image or meme to grab your audience’s attention. Just be sure not to overdo it – too many jokes can detract from your message and make you seem unprofessional. Remember that the ultimate goal of your presentation is to communicate information and ideas effectively, so use humor wisely.
Using stories in your speech can be an incredibly powerful tool. Personal stories, in particular, can help illustrate your points and make your message more memorable. By sharing a personal experience, you can connect with your audience on a deeper level and create an emotional bond. This can help them better understand your message and remember it long after your speech is over.
One way to incorporate personal stories into your speech is to draw from your own life experiences. Think about a time when you faced a challenge or overcame an obstacle, and how that experience taught you something valuable. Share that story with your audience and explain how the lessons you learned can be applied to their lives as well.
You can also use stories to illustrate more abstract concepts. For example, if you’re giving a talk about the importance of perseverance, you could share a story about someone who faced numerous setbacks but refused to give up. By sharing that story, you can make the concept of perseverance more concrete and relatable to your audience.
Using pauses is a great way to enhance your communication skills. In fact, when you take breaks in your speech, can help you gather your thoughts and think more clearly. Pausing also allows you to emphasize key points you want to make in your speech. Additionally, by using pauses strategically, you give your audience time to process the information you’re sharing with them, which can help ensure that they understand and retain it better. All in all, incorporating pauses into your speaking style can be incredibly effective in making your message more impactful and memorable.
When delivering a speech or presentation, it’s important to speak in a manner that is clear and easy to understand. However, it’s equally important to ensure that your voice is projected loudly enough for your audience to hear you. Speaking too softly can make it difficult for people in the back of the room or in larger spaces to hear what you’re saying, which can lead to confusion and a lack of engagement. To avoid this, try to practice projecting your voice and enunciating your words clearly before you give your speech. You can also use tools like microphones or audio amplifiers to help ensure that your message is heard loud and clear by everyone in the room.
Taking deep breaths is a great way to help you relax and calm your nerves, but there are other things you can do too. For example, you might want to try some light yoga or stretching exercises to loosen up your muscles and release tension. Also, you could take a warm bath or shower to soothe your body and mind. Another option is to listen to some calming music or read a book that you enjoy. By taking the time to find what works best for you, you can develop a personalized relaxation routine that you can turn to whenever you need it.
Repetition is a powerful tool that can help you drive the point home in your speech. By repeating key points, you can reinforce your message and increase your chances of being remembered. In addition, repetition can help you emphasize important ideas and create a sense of rhythm in your speech. It can also be used to build suspense and create a sense of anticipation in your listeners. With these benefits in mind, it’s clear that repetition is an essential aspect of effective public speaking.
One way to improve the effectiveness of your speech is to use active verbs. Active verbs help to create a more engaging and dynamic presentation, as they convey a sense of action and energy. By using active verbs, you can help to capture your audience’s attention and hold their interest throughout your speech.
In addition to using active verbs, it’s also important to consider the pace and rhythm of your speech. Varying the speed and tone of your delivery can help to keep your audience engaged and prevent them from becoming bored or disinterested.
Another way to enhance the impact of your speech is to use vivid language and descriptive imagery. By painting a vivid picture with your words, you can help to create a more memorable and impactful presentation. For example, instead of simply saying “the sky was blue,” you could describe it as “a brilliant shade of deep blues, like the ocean on a clear summer day.”
By focusing on these key elements of effective speechwriting, you can help to create a more engaging and impactful presentation that will leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Rhetorical questions are a powerful tool that can help make your speech more engaging and interactive. They can be used to stimulate critical thinking, provoke curiosity, and encourage the audience to reflect on the topic at hand. By asking a thought-provoking question, you can capture the audience’s attention and encourage them to think about the subject matter in a new and different way. Furthermore, rhetorical questions can be used to create a sense of anticipation and excitement, as the audience eagerly anticipates the answer to the question you have posed.
Metaphors and similes are powerful tools that can help individuals better understand complex concepts. They are like a flashlight that illuminates the dark corners of the mind, providing clarity and insight. By comparing two seemingly different things, metaphors and similes can create a bridge between the familiar and the unfamiliar, allowing individuals to grasp difficult ideas with ease. In our fast-paced world, where information overload is a common issue, the use of metaphors and similes can help cut through the noise and deliver a clear message. So, the next time you encounter a challenging concept, remember to use these techniques to shed light on the subject matter.
When giving a speech, it’s important to remember that your audience needs to be able to follow along with what you’re saying. One way to help them do this is by using handouts. Handouts can be a great way to enhance your presentation because they allow you to provide additional information that may not be covered in your speech. For example, you can use handouts to provide graphs, charts, or other visuals that illustrate your points. Additionally, handouts can be a useful tool for your audience to take notes and refer back to later. By providing handouts, you can ensure that your audience is engaged and able to fully understand the information you’re presenting.
Using props during your speech is a great way to enhance your delivery and keep your audience engaged. By incorporating visual aids such as props, you can help to illustrate your points and add depth to your content. Additionally, props can be used to make abstract concepts more concrete and easier for your audience to understand. For example, if you’re delivering a speech on the importance of recycling, you could bring in a visual prop such as a bin of recyclable materials to help drive home your message. Overall, the use of props can help take your speech to the next level while making it more memorable and impactful for your audience.
Another useful tip for improving your presentation skills is to practice in front of a mirror. Not only can this help you perfect your body language and delivery, but it can also give you a better sense of how you come across to others. Additionally, practicing in front of a mirror can help you identify any nervous habits or tics that you may have, allowing you to work on eliminating them before your actual presentation. Overall, incorporating mirror practice into your preparation routine can be a simple yet effective way to boost your confidence and improve your presentation skills.
Joining a public speaking group is a great way to improve your public speaking skills. Not only will you have the opportunity to practice speaking in front of others, but you’ll also receive valuable feedback that can help you improve. Additionally, by joining a group, you’ll have the chance to meet and network with other like-minded individuals who share a passion for public speaking. This can lead to new opportunities and connections that can benefit you both personally and professionally. Finally, being part of a public speaking group can also provide a sense of community and support, as you work together with others to achieve your goals and improve your skills.
Another way to enhance your public speaking skills is to record yourself. By doing this, you can identify areas where you need to improve and refine your delivery. When you listen to yourself speak, you can pay attention to your pitch, pacing, and tone. You can also identify filler words or phrases, such as “um” or “like,” that you might use unconsciously. Additionally, recording yourself can help you become more comfortable with the sound of your voice. This can be especially helpful if you’re not used to hearing yourself speak for extended periods of time. Overall, recording yourself is a simple yet effective way to become a more confident and polished public speaker.
One of the most common challenges that speakers face is handling interruptions. These interruptions can come in many different forms, such as unexpected questions, technical difficulties, or distractions in the environment. It’s important to learn how to handle these interruptions gracefully, as they can often derail a speech and throw off the speaker’s focus and confidence.
One key strategy for handling interruptions is to remain calm and composed. It’s natural to feel frustrated or flustered when faced with an interruption, but it’s important to take a deep breath and stay focused. Remember that interruptions are a normal part of public speaking, and they don’t have to ruin your presentation. If you need a moment to collect your thoughts, don’t be afraid to pause and take a few seconds to regroup.
By learning to handle interruptions with grace and composure, you can become a more effective and confident speaker. With practice and preparation, you can manage interruptions and keep your presentation on track, even in challenging situations.
When giving a speech, it’s important to not only focus on what you say during the body of your presentation, but also on the way in which you conclude. A strong presentation should summarize the main points of your speech and leave a lasting impression on your audience. This can be achieved by reiterating your main points in a memorable way, making a call to action, or leaving your audience with a thought-provoking question. By doing so, you’ll ensure that your message resonates with your audience long after your speech has ended.
Another useful technique is to anticipate potential interruptions and plan how to address them in advance. For example, if you’re giving a presentation with a Q&A session at the end, be prepared for questions that might challenge your ideas or require additional information. It can be helpful to practice your responses to common questions ahead of time so that you feel more confident and prepared.
Discover other memorable ways how to end a presentation.
Effective presentation skills are key. While not everyone may be a natural-born speaker, with practice and dedication, anyone can improve their abilities to become a confident and engaging presenter. Whether you’re pitching to investors, delivering a lecture, or presenting in a meeting, being able to effectively present your ideas can greatly impact your success.
Remember, becoming a great presenter is a journey that requires patience, perseverance, and constant improvement. Don’t be afraid to seek feedback from others, practice regularly, and try out new techniques. With time, you’ll become more comfortable and confident in your abilities to deliver engaging and impactful presentations.
In conclusion, improving your presentation skills is a worthwhile investment that can pay dividends in both your personal and professional life. So take the time to hone your abilities, put in the effort, and embrace the opportunities that come your way. With the tips and techniques we’ve provided in this blog post, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a confident presenter.
Interactivity with a personal touch that includes everyone — that’s what attracted Michelle Singh to Prezi from the first time she saw it.
During her time working at the Miami-Dade Public School System, Michelle was first introduced to Prezi because her students used it as a tool in the classroom. Then, a few years ago, she was attending a session as part of the Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert program, where they spoke about Prezi Video. When she first tried it out for herself, all she had to do was import existing PowerPoint presentations and fell in love.
“What a great way to bring in something that’s already created and have that interactivity with my content and me on the screen,” Michelle said. “It allows me to create presentations with a personal touch.”
For the college courses she’s teaching, virtual workshops, webinars, workshops, trainings, and client meetings, Michelle uses Prezi Video to create welcome videos and lead live sessions to connect better with her audience and increase participation. She uses Prezi for these trainings to not only show teachers how practical of a tool it is, but also all of its possibilities for student engagement and interactivity. By using Prezi Video, educators can “have an added layer of visibility and creativity for your students to view this content, as well as more personalization.”
“Engagement and retention are definitely addressed when you’re using Prezi, whether it’s in the classroom or in a meeting,” Michelle added. “I’ve had meetings where someone made a great point or I want to reiterate a point, so I type it right there on the screen. And then that light bulb goes off.”
Check out her upcoming workshop on March 30, Creating a Culture of Engagement & Equity, if you want to see Prezi Video in action.
For 15 years, Michelle Singh worked as a classroom teacher, teacher leader, department chair, and district curriculum specialist and technology trainer for Miami-Dade until 2019. One year later in 2020, she founded LCT-E Learning Solutions, a leading education consulting firm that specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion training and development. One of the reasons Michelle left her career as a public school educator was because there was a need for teachers to have research- and evidence-based techniques that they can use in the classroom, especially in a public school system where 54% of students are Black and brown. Michelle used her 20 years of experience and expertise in education to design the powerful proprietary EQUAL Methodology, a simple and effective framework to address the complexities of diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools.
“There are disparity gaps that exist in our educational system that need to be addressed, and we are really doing the work to equip teachers with the tools, strategies, and framework they need to bridge these gaps and meet the diverse learning needs, cultural needs, relationship-building needs, community needs, socio-emotional needs of students of color, and really of all students.”
Her daughter, who is in college now at Howard University, also matriculated through the system and faced similar challenges that Michelle had faced in school. It broke Michelle’s heart to see her daughter at the back of the classroom, being ignored. When Michelle migrated to Florida from Jamaica at age 9, she entered the Miami-Dade County public school system, the third largest public school system in the United States. As a student and educator in the system, Michelle faced similar challenges, which is why inclusion, and diversity, equity, and inclusion are so important to her.
“The reason that I decided to quit my 15-year career for this journey was seeing my daughter experience shame and pain as the only Black kid in her classroom — being ignored, not being understood — which broke my heart,” Michelle said. “It tore me apart to see my daughter this way, but it also lit a fire in me. That fire fueled my passion to support and empower children like 9-year-old immigrant me, my brilliant and bold Black daughter, and all the other Black and Brown students whose voices are silent in their educational settings. I have the tools, experience, empathy, and expertise to help them flourish and shine culturally, academically, socially, and emotionally. And to help them reach their full potential, despite the obstacles they may face. This is my why. This is my purpose.”
This is why Michelle gravitated toward and was encouraged by Prezi — it includes and engages all. Michelle is currently working on programs using Prezi for new teachers who want long-term guidance and mentorship, specifically when it comes to DEI. Everything she teaches is aligned with her methodology that addresses five key areas — the school culture, the pedagogy and practices of the teacher, how to build students’ skill sets and their mindsets, how to utilize relationships and partnerships within the school and the community, and how to leverage equitable assessments.
“That’s where Prezi comes in because students have access to Prezi as a way to show their learning,” Michelle stated. “Teachers have access to Prezi as a way to make their content more multimodal and engaging for their students to be able to consume it and learn it.”
It’s just a matter of a click. That’s how simple Michelle says Prezi Video can be.
When Michelle first started using Prezi, she started by importing PowerPoint presentations because it was easy and they were already done — it was just a matter of bringing them on screen with her.
“I tried to get teachers to see that it’s like the Staples Easy button,” Michelle said. “You already have the content and you’re more than halfway there. All that’s left is to try it.”
When Michelle uses Prezi Video for a virtual conference, other people are just sharing their screens. Most recently, Michelle used Prezi for a pitch competition, and Prezi definitely made her stand out, earning her second place.
“It has really amped up my game,” Michelle said. “There I am with Prezi on the screen, interacting with my content, which has totally leveled me up.”
Best of all, this platform is accessible and engaging for all, no matter where you are in the classroom.
What emotion does the course title “Rhetoric and Western Thought” invoke in you? For most at Texas A&M, it was one of the more feared courses in the Department of Communication and Journalism. For Professor David Tarvin, it was one of his favorite courses when he was a student.
Imagine his confusion when he heard one of his students crying outside of his office, upset over not understanding what David thought was fascinating material. She said, “It’s just Greek philosophy. It goes in one ear, and out the other.” Even though he wasn’t currently teaching the course, he had such fond memories of it that he decided to map out the Greek story that she was learning using a process called graphic facilitation. In basic terms, it means using pictures to help with learning. This method, one that is used in Prezi, helped her understand and appreciate the course in a more comprehensive way.
After that, David, who is in his ninth year of teaching at Texas A&M, requested to teach that course, in addition to his inner cultural communication and public speaking courses.
Remember childhood books with beautiful illustrations? David uses a similar approach to teaching, graphic facilitation, to teach his courses and make them more accessible to students. He has struggled with ADHD and dyslexia so he understands that hand drawing all of his lectures and using Prezi as a capture tool helps his students engage with the material that “lives a little bit more than with other software.”
“Using Prezi for my lectures makes the classroom experience more fun for the students, and for myself,” David said.
Because of how David organizes these concepts in his mind, he likes using Prezi because it allows him to envision his presentations based on how he can zoom in and out of topics. When he was writing his dissertation, he used Prezi to visualize his structure.
“If I had an idea that could be more developed, I would ‘zoom’ into it or ‘zoom’ out of it if it related to something broader,” David said. “It really helped me organize my brain for writing. I think in Prezi even when I’m not using Prezi.”
His punny images in the Prezi presentations that he shares bring modern-day laughter into a class about ancient comedy. For one of his lectures, David tells the story of Aristophanes, who was the first comedian, and showcases his play, Birds, where he uses each letter as a different slide and zooms out to a comedy club.
“In this lecture, we start talking about the rhetoric of humor, and how we can use humor to persuade, and using Prezi just shows that we can communicate language in an interesting way,” David said.
“And my favorite thing about Prezi is my zoom-out moments where it reveals my theme of the day.”
In another lecture, David shared the story of the Iliad, where his presentation zooms out to Brad Pitt’s face, who played Achilles in Troy. Using this approach helps the modern-day student feel more connected with an ancient text.
With the shift to virtual teaching, David was prepared with Prezi Video. He really loves that he can upload Prezi presentations and PowerPoint presentations and they appear right next to his face.
“I like having it next to me because I find students are more engaged if they have eyeballs to look at, rather than a PowerPoint presentation, and also that I can point to content,” David said. “I also like the feature of zooming into the video and then zooming back out to me as a speaker. It’s just so easy and seamless.”
When David worked at Louisiana State University, his adviser Dr. Nathan Crick was focusing his research on Marshall McLuhan’s philosophy of the medium as the message, meaning it’s not just the message that’s important, but equally as important is the way it’s delivered.
“And so when Prezi was first initiating, he realized this new medium could be a new message to get to students, which is how I got into it,” David said.
That same student who came into David’s office years ago is another Prezi success story. During her time at Texas A&M, she took more of David’s classes and had an even bigger interest in graphic facilitation.
Now, she’s a language, arts, and theater high school teacher in Dallas, where she draws out her lectures and then uses Prezi to present them to students, just like David had taught her. Prezi helped turn those tears of frustration into an engaging educational experience — not only in her past but also in her future.
When he discovered Prezi Video, Andrew Tarvin, a bestselling author and keynote speaker, said, “Holy schwow, this is the easiest, quickest way to do picture in picture, and it’s smooth, so I’ve been using it for all of my virtual presentations ever since.”
And now, he’s used Prezi Video for 121 virtual presentations and counting.
Andrew has delivered more than 500 talks, in-person and virtual, one of which was a viral TEDx talk that has over 13 million views (only half of which he claims came from his mother). He’s primarily spoken to corporate audiences, including Microsoft, IBM, NASA, and the FBI.
Typically, Andrew had been presenting in person, but when the pandemic hit, all of his presentations shifted to virtual. He hated the idea of sharing his screen, which forced him into a tiny little box. What he aspired for in his virtual presentations was to have picture-in-picture slides. He had tried other tools, including Ecamm Live or ATEM Mini, but then was hooked once he discovered Prezi Video in April 2021.
“I have a degree in computer science & engineering, so theoretically I could build out the perfect system using OBS and Elgato Stream Deck,” Andrew shared. “But Prezi Video already does it so well, there’s no reason to.”
Andrew’s keynotes and workshops cover a wide range of topics, such as how to build a culture of using humor in the workplace, how to be more effective while working remotely, how to deliver engaging virtual presentations, and how to make work suck less.
With Prezi, Andrew has also been able to collaborate and present side by side with other speakers. For one virtual presentation, Andrew presented alongside author and founder David Nihill, and they would both switch between presenting their Prezi video presentations.
What Andrew really likes about Prezi is how it enables him to connect with his audience.
“It’s primarily the ease to transition in and out of slides for me, connecting and engaging with the audience by making eye contact, while at the same time then bringing up a visual right next to me. Now I can be speaking and show a picture, video, or meme right next to me to make a point,” Andrew said.
Ease of use is a big part of his message and he demonstrates things that he wants other people to feel like they can do very easily. Therefore, he loves the function of designing in PowerPoint and then importing it into Prezi Video because it’s simple, quick, and effective.
It’s also enabled him to take slides that he had used for in-person talks and easily upload or import them into Prezi so he could get more use out of his presentations without having to reinvent the wheel — and just like that, he gets picture in picture.
“It lowered the bar in terms of what it takes to get started while also raising the bar of how engaging virtual presentations can be,” Andrew said. “It made users feel like ‘Oh, I can do that,’ making it more accessible.”
Andrew also likes how Prezi Video’s desktop app makes recording so seamless, whether that’s recording a video in one take, or sometimes, 37. Features like presenter notes at the top of the screen, the pause functionality, and the countdown all make Andrew love using Prezi Video for recording asynchronous videos and as a capture tool.
One of Andrew’s favorite features is that he can edit his Prezi video presentations on the fly. While he’s on a call or sitting in the audience during a virtual conference, he can go in and change his notes to customize a point or add another slide to reference something that was said earlier, which always amazes his audiences.
“I continue to use Prezi Video because it is by far the easiest way to very quickly make a more engaging, more compelling virtual presentation experience. I can so quickly and easily get into picture-in-picture views, fluid slide transitions, fluid zoom in and zoom out,” Andrew stated. “It’s almost inevitable that people will ask, ‘How did you have the slides right next to you?’ and the answer is always Prezi Video.”
What do “Three Men and a Baby”, “Good Morning, Vietnam”, “Beverly Hills Cop 2”, and PowerPoint all have in common?
They all were released in 1987. This is why David Nihill, a founder, bestselling author, and comedian, wants to know why we’re still using old technology.
“I wanted the whole approach to be fresh, so if everybody is out there with their PowerPoint deck, it just looks dull and boring and stagnant, and it isn’t moving in any way,” David said. “Prezi was a way for me to say ‘new message, new approach, new way for me to deliver this message,’ and I think ultimately that’s why it was a better fit.”
According to David, our tools should evolve with us — as a result, since he discovered Prezi, he hasn’t looked back.
“It’s fun,” David said. “It scratches a creative itch. It allows you to just take a bit of canvas and go for it and make it cool and dynamic, and with PowerPoint, it’s very hard to do that.”
After getting his master’s in business, David worked for the Irish government; worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers; and worked as the Operations Director for the largest private education company for five years. David has taught programs at Stanford Business School and the University of Oxford using Prezi. But, he says he can undo the perception of all that hard work once people find out he’s an internationally touring comedian. Thankfully, Prezi allows him to show his credibility and his professionalism.
“It’s funny that all that can be done away very quickly with comedy, and the way I combat that is by having material that is very fresh, but looks very professional, and that’s where Prezi kicks in,” David said. “By the time they’re done listening, they completely forget the comedy element. They’re like, ‘Well, I learned so much there, and that was really funny and engaging, and I never heard any of it before, and that was really well put together.’ So it’s kind of funny, but for me, it allows me to balance comedy with the business stuff, and those are two big parts of my life that I don’t want to separate.”
Plus, it catches people’s attention. One of the most frequently asked questions David receives after any presentation is, “How did you make that?”
“There’s nothing about me that screams ‘professional.’ But when I’m on stage and I’m using Prezi and I’m giving a talk that I know all the beats of and I have a visual representation behind me that screams somebody put effort into this — when you combine those elements, the takeaway for the audience is always that it’s slick,” said David.
That remained the same when David began presenting virtually and used Prezi Video. For one of his first talks during the pandemic, he presented to the University of Oxford, and every lecturer and professor asked the same question of how he created the presentation.
What he especially liked about using Prezi Video was that “you’re not separate from your slides anymore,” eliminating the need for him to screen share.
David is also the founder of the FunnyBizz conference, which is dedicated to teaching modern businesses the essential principles of comedy, improv, and storytelling — by doing so, he can help them use humor to make an impact, add value, and connect with customers on a level that inspires loyalty and encourages laughter.
As a founder, he knows what goes into making it happen, and how to stretch some of their “deadlines.”
Most organizers will ask for their presentation a couple of weeks in advance to ensure that the presenter has their content created. With Prezi Present, David is able to easily send the link to the organizer by their deadline and still has the capability to make tweaks up until the minute he goes on stage.
“I could update the presentation last minute, and a lot of the times I actually sat in the audience and watched the other presenters. Then, I took elements from their talks, and I built it into mine, where the audience was like, ‘Whoa! How did he do that?’” David said. “Because there’s no conceivable way in their mind that I could have known in advance. That definitely allowed me to stand out in a lot of conferences for just being extremely different.”
With Prezi, you can take your audience on a roadmap, with a clear beginning, middle, and end — just like a good story.
“You’re never going to be able to do conversational presenting with PowerPoint, but you can with Prezi. The whole thing is built to encourage you not to put a giant pile of words or bullet points on a page,” David said.
For 2023, David is planning to embark on a 50-city comedy tour. Keep an eye out for him — chances are he’s coming to a place near you. Prezi and all.
For now, David wants to leave you with this lasting thought about Prezi.
“Prezi just looks great,” added David. “It’s more unique, and it gets people’s attention. They’re getting the visual representation of the exact journey I want to take them on. It adds a layer to public speaking.”
“If you tell me to list out how, I could write a big, fat book on it.”
That’s how Shehrevar Davierwala, a global computer science educator and assistant professor at RK University, Rajkot, Gujarat, answered when asked how he’s benefited from using Prezi.
It’s certainly made his life easier, especially in attracting students’ attention. As an educator who conducts academic workshops using information and communications technology (ICT) to “contribute a sense of diversity and inclusion within various cultural aspects” to students from 30 different countries, Shehrevar wanted a tool that would allow him to better connect with his students.
Shehrevar had been using Prezi since 2018, but in 2021, he discovered the Prezi Certified Educator Program, which is a program that aims to help educators learn how to effectively use Prezi tools to support instruction, whether hybrid, blended, or in the classroom. By enrolling in the Prezi Certified Educator Program, he completed courses on how to create engaging videos for blended learning with Prezi Video, how to create dynamic presentations and content bundles for students using Prezi Present, and how to create stunning classroom visuals and graphics using Prezi Design.
Since then, Shehrevar uses Prezi on a weekly basis. His typical workflow is to import his PowerPoint presentations into Prezi Present to optimize for Prezi Video, which he uses to record async videos or present to his students live.
“The first reaction is always like, ‘Hey, you’re making a YouTube-like video. How do we do that? Which software are you using?’” Shehrevar said. “And the most important thing is you’re able to connect with the students because you have the presentation running next to you, so you can point and show some actions. You have full control.”
For more information on how Shehrevar and his students have benefited from Prezi, check out the presentation below.
Since he has such a diverse group of students, Shehrevar encourages students to introduce themselves by showing off their country and culture to their peers using Prezi Present.
“So that’s where the first exchange of ICT is because we are learning a technology — Prezi — and how to use the presentation software,” Shehrevar said. “And through this software, there’s an exchange of cultural ideas.”
Additionally, Shehrevar works to make all his students feel seen. He paired with a student to design a presentation about building a virtual assistant, who voiced over it in Nepali.
Shehrevar upped his Prezi game with the announcement of Prezi Video in 2019, and now he leverages both tools to create a multifaceted learning experience for his students. Let’s take a look at what Shehrevar likes the most:
Since the pandemic, Shehrevar now follows the traditional flipped classroom approach. He shares async videos with his students for them to go through and complete their tasks. Then, in the classroom, they focus more on the practical aspects.
One of the most impressive features for him was using Prezi Video for video conferencing because it made it so easy to review what was shared in their online learning materials, as well as have a discussion with key points outlined live with Prezi Video.
“So this was one complete package, where the students just had to log in and they got everything together, and it made the video in the live session much more engaging,” Shehrevar said.
Another feature that Shehrevar really appreciates is Prezi’s compatibility.
“The best feature is that Prezi’s quite compatible with other software. Like, if I have a Google Slides or PowerPoint presentation, I can import it. Or, it’s easy to take a Prezi template and start something from scratch,” Shehrevar said.
One of the features he uses the most is being able to add collaborators. Whenever his students create Prezi presentations, they add him as a collaborator, which enables him to add comments to give direct feedback on specific slides.
In order to create his presentations, Shehrevar’s been using Prezi to create mockups. For example, for a class he’s teaching about Android mobile app development, he says that Prezi enables him to take his students on a journey and help them understand the flow.
“I use Prezi because I’m starting from the initial stage with the students and then slowly taking them on the path of coding,” Shehrevar said.
Using Prezi also gives Shehrevar the ability to incorporate storytelling and creativity into his presentations.
“I find that Prezi has made me more creative because you need to think more about how you design and how you add animations — not just about the content itself,” Shehrevar said. “And that creativity is one of the most important things as an educator.”
His work goes beyond the classroom, where he uses Prezi to support and train other organizations. One of these organizations is Afghan Tech Sisters, an initiative to train Afghan school girls in computer skills to motivate more girls to enter the IT sector by walking them through using Prezi. His commitment to these students is much more than just teaching them. Once they’ve completed their presentations and videos, Shehrevar showcases them on social to highlight their achievements and provide examples for future students. He has demonstrated how Prezi can support flipped classrooms to provide a better learning experience, introduce students to cross-cultural curricula in different ways, and connect them from all around the world.
FreshRSS 