What are the components of a successful, and effective, presentation?
In the management consulting industry, there is a high likelihood that you will be required to give presentations to your clients, or your group. Whether or not you have experience giving presentations, you likely understand the difference between a terrible performance and one that captures the attention of your audience all the way through.
Here are some factors that make a successful presentation:
- Understanding your audience
- Using relatable term and jargon
- Introducing multi-media or other visuals
- Being presentable in appearance
- Utilizing the art of storytelling
"I have given many presentations in my consulting career and have found that when I start with a story, give some facts, and end with how those facts pertain to story, and the client pain point; I can capture and keep the attention of my audience. Everyone loves a great story, especially one that is relatable to their personal or professional situation."
"I present pitches to my clients on a regular basis. For myself, I have learned that the key to a compelling presentation is facts like percentages, numbers, and achievements. I avoid long drawn out sentences and long bunches of text on my slides."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Throughout my experience at university and in certain jobs, I have found that among utilizing the art of storytelling and understanding the audience, the key to a compelling presentation is to avoid long bunches of text and use facts such as percentages, numbers, and achievements instead. In my most effective presentation, I re-enacted the role of a civil servant, analyzing the "No Net Loss Initiative' for biodiversity offsetting in the UK's Green Paper 2013. I demonstrated key issues and included facts and graphs to be better understood. All this made for an exhilarating presentation that covered all the necessary information, was engaging, and spurred on interesting debates.
Amanda's Feedback
This is a great answer! You've expressed what makes a presentation engaging and effective, shared a specific presentation you gave using those components, and told the interviewer the positive outcomes of the presentation. Providing specific examples shows the interviewer that you have experience putting those components into practice in the workplace.
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