Types of Presentations That are Most Effective

You have likely been to several presentations throughout your career, yet there are only a few that probably left an impression. Why? They had a clear purpose and it was delivered in a way that was engaging and entertaining. Believe it or not, you don’t have to be a seasoned professional to give an effective presentation. Everyone, from those who pitch ideas in a boardroom to managers who may have to present in front of a large audience, can improve the impact of their message. Here are some examples of presentations that are highly effective.

Instructional Presentations

Instructional presentations are designed to help audiences understand a specific topic and teach them how to take certain actions. Webinars and training workshops are great examples of instructional presentations. They present audiences with new information that can help them learn a new skill. For example, if you work in the IT department you may give an instructional presentation to new employees teaching them how your company’s internal network operates. These presentations are most effective when they have a clearly defined purpose, simple language is used, and there is an opportunity for the audience to try out what they are being taught. 

Informative Presentations

This type of presentation could encompass any subject matter and is intended to inform audiences about a specific topic. For example, it could be a meeting that provides updates on a current project or upcoming event or it could be a weekly meeting that provides information on current happenings within the industry. These presentations should have a main topic and opportunities to elaborate on each topic to ensure the audience has a full understanding of the subject matter. 

Motivational Presentations

These presentations aim to inspire and encourage audiences to overcome obstacles or challenges. They are useful when you are trying to build up morale surrounding a topic and often end with a call to action. They often involve personal stories to address a specific topic and might be used by leaders to inspire employees to improve their skills. 

Persuasive Presentations

These presentations are intended to influence an audience to adopt your way of thinking. For example, they may be used to convince audiences to purchase a product or service. They typically use real-life examples to illustrate their points and they may even include personal narratives that evoke audience emotions. These presentations are common in the sales field. 

Visual Presentations

While some presentations may include text, spoken word, or a combination of the two, visual presentations rely on things like graphs, pictures, charts, tables, or other visual elements to convey information. They could even involve product demonstrations so audience members can better understand the topic.