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18 Best Presentation Topics for Business Communication

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Delivering effective presentations is a vital component of successful business communication. Whether you are presenting to your team, clients, or stakeholders, choosing the right topic can make all the difference in the success of your presentation.

However, with so many potential topics to cover, it can be challenging to know where to start. In this blog post, we will provide you with 15 presentation topics for business communication that are relevant and engaging for a variety of audiences.

What is a business presentation in business communication?

A business presentation is a formal presentation given to a group of people in a business setting. Business presentations are commonly used to inform stakeholders, investors, employees, or customers about various aspects of a business such as company performance, products or services, and marketing strategies.

It is often delivered using visual aids such as slides, charts, and graphs to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of the message. Business presentations can take many forms, such as sales presentations, product demonstrations, project proposals , financial reports, or company overviews. They can be delivered in person, through video conferencing, or even in written form. 

A successful business presentation should be well-structured, clear, and engaging, with a clear focus on the audience’s needs and interests.

18 Best Topics for Business Communication Presentation 

1/ the importance of emotional intelligence in business communication.

Emotional intelligence, or the ability to recognize and manage one’s emotions, is a critical factor in effective communication. Having this ability is crucial for developing robust connections, handling disputes, and guiding groups effectively. This topic will explore the principles of emotional intelligence , as well as techniques for improving emotional intelligence in the workplace. Additionally, it can highlight the essentiality of emotional intelligence in business communication and how professionals can develop this skill.

2/ The Role of Nonverbal Communication in Business Communication

In a professional environment, nonverbal cues like gestures, facial expressions, and vocal intonation can carry significant weight in determining how messages are perceived. In this topic, you could explore the various types of nonverbal communication and how professionals can improve their ability to read and use these cues.

Related Reading: What are the pros and cons of non-verbal communication

3/ Workplace Health and Wellness In the Business Environment

Promoting workplace health and wellness is becoming increasingly important for businesses, as research shows that healthy employees are more productive , engaged, and less likely to take sick leave. In addition, a workplace that prioritizes health and wellness can attract and retain top talent, which can give the business a competitive edge.

One of the key topics to cover in a presentation on workplace health and wellness is stress management. Stress is a major contributor to employee burnout, which can lead to decreased productivity. Additionally, other topics that can be covered include workplace ergonomics, and creating a culture of wellness.

4/ The Art of Persuasion in Business Communication

Persuasion is a valuable skill in the business world, whether you are trying to sell a product, convince a colleague to support your idea or negotiate a deal. Persuasion involves understanding the needs and motivations of your audience and tailoring your message to their interests. This topic will explore the principles of persuasion and provide tips for crafting persuasive messages.

5/ Writing for Business- How to Create Effective Business Documents

Business writing requires a unique set of skills and techniques that differ from other forms of writing. In this topic, you could explore the elements of effective business writing, such as tone, structure, and formatting, and provide examples of best practices.

6/ Writing Effective Business Emails

An email is a critical tool for business communication , but many people struggle with crafting clear and effective messages. Effective business emails are professional, concise, and to the point, and they convey important information in a way that is easy to understand. This topic will provide tips and best practices for writing professional, concise, and effective business emails.

7/ Business Communication Ethics

To communicate effectively, it is not enough to simply convey your message. You must also take into account ethical principles such as integrity, transparency, and consideration for others. This topic will explore the ethical principles of business communication , as well as techniques for avoiding ethical pitfalls and building trust and credibility with stakeholders.

8/ How to Give and Receive Constructive Feedback

Constructive feedback is feedback that is framed in a positive, helpful way, with the goal of helping the recipient improve. Feedback is essential for growth and development in the workplace. However, it can be difficult to give and receive constructive feedback. This topic will cover the best practices for giving and receiving feedback, including how to frame feedback in a constructive and productive way along with the feedback communication process .

9/ Cross-Cultural Communication in Global Business

As businesses become more global, professionals must learn to navigate communication barriers in business that arise in multicultural settings. In this topic, you could explore the unique challenges of cross-cultural communication in a global business context and provide strategies for improving communication effectiveness.

10/ How to Manage Conflict in the Workplace

Although conflict is a normal occurrence in any workplace, managing it in an efficient manner can be quite difficult. Effective conflict management involves understanding the underlying causes of conflict, identifying potential solutions, and working with others to find a resolution that is mutually beneficial. This topic will cover strategies for identifying and addressing conflict, as well as techniques for resolving disputes and building stronger relationships.

11/ Building Strong Business Relationships

Strong relationships are the foundation of any successful business. Whether you are working with customers, employees, or partners, building trust and rapport is critical for long-term success. This topic will explore the key principles of relationship-building, including communication, trust, and mutual benefit.

12/ Using Data Visualization to Communicate Business Insights

Data visualization is a powerful tool for communicating complex business insights in a clear and compelling way. This topic will explore the principles of data visualization, including choosing the right charts and graphs, using color and typography effectively, and avoiding common visualization pitfalls.

13/ Managing Virtual Communication Challenges

Virtual communication can present unique challenges, including technical difficulties, lack of face-to-face interaction , and time zone differences. This topic will cover techniques for managing virtual communication challenges, including using virtual collaboration tools, establishing clear communication protocols, and building rapport with remote team members.

14/ The Art of Negotiation in Business

Negotiation is an essential skill for achieving successful outcomes in business, from closing deals to resolving conflicts. This topic will explore the principles of negotiation, including preparing for negotiations, identifying common negotiation tactics, and building win-win solutions.

15/ The Impact of Technology on Business Communication

Technology is changing the way we communicate in business, from email to social media to virtual collaboration tools like instant messaging or  online presentation makers . This topic will explore the impact of technology on business communication , including the benefits and challenges of different communication channels and the future of business communication.

16/ The Role of Communication in Change Management

Effective communication is essential for managing change in the workplace, from introducing new products or services to implementing organizational changes. This topic will explore the principles of change management communication, including identifying key stakeholders, creating messaging guidelines, and managing resistance to change.

17/ Communicating with Confidence-B uilding Assertiveness in Business Communication

Assertiveness is an essential skill for effective communication in the workplace, from managing conflicts to presenting ideas effectively. This topic will explore the principles of assertiveness, including identifying communication styles, using “I” statements effectively, and managing challenging conversations.

18/ Communicating During Times of Crisis

When a crisis occurs, effective communication is essential to manage the situation and mitigate any potential damage. In this topic, you could explore the elements of effective crisis communication, including transparency, empathy, and quick response time.

Usefull Insight: We chose these topics because they cover a wide range of communication skills and are relevant to today’s business environment. Each topic provides practical strategies for improving communication and achieving business success. Additionally, these topics are evergreen and can be adapted to a variety of industries and organizations.

General business topics for presentation

General business topics cover a broad range of subjects related to the world of business, including management, marketing, finance, economics, and entrepreneurship. These topics are essential for understanding how businesses operate and how they can be successful in their respective industries. Examples of general business topics include:  

  • General business topics for presentation 
  • Supply chain management and logistics
  • Human resources management and talent development
  • International trade and globalization
  • Leadership and management development

Business communication skills topics for presentation 

Business communication skills topics refer to the skills and techniques necessary to effectively communicate within a business environment. These skills involve the ability to effectively and persuasively convey information, ideas, and messages in a business setting. Here are some examples of topics related to business communication skills:

  • Sales Communication: Techniques for Persuasive and Effective Sales Communication
  • Business Etiquette: Best Practices for Professional Behavior in the Workplace
  • Networking: Building Professional Relationships through Effective Communication
  • Effective Presentation Skills: Techniques for Engaging and Persuading Audiences
  • Business Storytelling: Using Narrative to Communicate Business Messages Effectively
Must Read: Top 10 business communication skills

Management topics for presentation 

Management topics for presentation focus on the principles and practices of effective management in a business setting. They cover a wide range of topics, including leadership, team building, decision-making, organizational behavior, and performance management. Some examples of management topics for presentation include:

  • Innovation Management: Strategies for Fostering Innovation in Organizations.
  • Strategic Planning: Developing a Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Your Organization.
  • Performance Management: Strategies for Managing Employee Performance and Engagement.
  • Project Management: Best Practices for Successfully Managing Projects.

Business communication topics for college students

  • Social Media and Business Communication: Best Practices for Using Social Media to Build Relationships and Brand Awareness.
  • Leadership Communication: Strategies for Effective Leadership Communication.
  • Virtual Communication: Best Practices for Communicating Effectively in a Remote Work Environment.
  • What are the Methods of Communication in Business ? 

Presentation topics for professional communication 

  • Effective public speaking for business and career success.
  • Delivering effective feedback to colleagues and team members.
  • Navigating difficult conversations in the workplace.
  • Cultivating a positive company culture through effective communication.

5-minute business presentation topics

  • How to create a successful business plan
  • Creative methods for marketing and advertising.
  • How to improve customer retention through effective customer service
  • Tips for successful project management

What is a good business presentation? 

A good business presentation should be clear, concise, and engaging. It should effectively convey the main message or idea, and be structured in a logical and easy-to-follow manner. Here are some key elements that contribute to a good business presentation:

4-key-elements-of-a-good-business-communication-presentation

1/ Clear and concise message: A good business presentation should have a clear and concise message that is easy for the audience to understand. The presentation should stay focused on its main topic and avoid unnecessary details.

2/ Audience-focused: For a business presentation to be effective, it should be customized to suit the requirements and concerns of the audience. The presenter should use language and examples that are relevant to the audience and take into consideration their level of knowledge and understanding.

3/ Confident and professional delivery: A good business presentation should be delivered with confidence and professionalism. The presenter should maintain eye contact with the audience, use appropriate body language, and speak clearly and audibly.

4/ Engaging and visually appealing: A good business presentation should be visually appealing and use multimedia elements such as images, videos, and graphs to help convey information and keep the audience engaged.

What is the importance of business communication presentation and style

Business communication presentation and style are important because they can greatly impact the effectiveness of communication in a business setting. Here are some reasons why:

  • Clarity: An effective presentation and communication style can help ensure that the message is clearly understood by the audience.
  • Professionalism: A professional presentation and communication style can help to establish credibility and build trust with the audience. 
  • Persuasion: A well-designed and well-delivered presentation can be a powerful tool for persuading an audience to take a particular course of action or to support a particular idea or proposal.
  • Branding: A consistent presentation and communication style can help to reinforce a business’s brand identity and messaging. 

What are the 5 types of business presentations? 

The five commonly used business presentations are, sales presentations, financial presentations, training presentations, project proposal presentations, and company overview presentations. The type of presentation chosen will depend on the specific goals and objectives of the presenter and their audience.

list-of-5-types-of-business-communication-presentation

1/ Sales presentation: A sales  presentation is used to convince prospective customers to buy a particular product or service. It usually includes information about the benefits of the product or service, the pricing, and any other relevant details.

2/ Financial presentation: This form of presentation is utilized to communicate financial data with stakeholders, such as investors. It may include financial statements, projections, and analysis of financial performance.

3/ Training presentation: A training presentation is designed to teach employees a new skill or provide them with important information. These presentations may include interactive elements such as quizzes or hands-on exercises.

4/ Project proposal presentation: This type of presentation is used to pitch a project or idea to stakeholders, such as investors or management. It typically includes information about the project’s goals, timeline, budget, and potential benefits.

5/ Company overview presentation: This type of presentation provides an overview of the company’s history, mission, values, and current operations. It may be used for onboarding new employees or introducing the company to potential partners or customers .  

What are the uses of PPT in business communication? 

Business communication is a crucial aspect of any business, and presentations are a key tool for conveying important information, ideas, and messages to an audience. It helps businesses communicate more effectively, both internally and externally, and it is an essential part of modern business communication. 

One of the primary uses of PPT is to create and deliver presentations that convey information to an audience. PPT allows presenters to create visually appealing slides with images, graphics, and text that help to reinforce key points and keep the audience engaged.

Organizations also facilitate collaboration through PPT as it can be used among team members for creating collaborative presentations where multiple team members can contribute content and ideas.  At the same time, management can also simplify complex ideas and pass clear instructions that can easily be understood by the employees.

Additionally, PPT can be used to enhance branding by creating presentations that are consistent with a company’s branding guidelines, including the use of logos, colors, and fonts.

Advantages and disadvantages of presentation in business communication

Advantages of presentation in  business communication.

  • Clear and Concise Communication: Presentations are an effective way of conveying complex information to a large group of people. The use of visual aids, such as graphs and charts, can help to clarify complex data and concepts.
  • Showcase expertise: Presentations allow business professionals to showcase their expertise on a particular topic. This can help to build credibility and establish the presenter as an authority in their field.
  • Foster teamwork: Presentations can be a great way to foster teamwork among a group of individuals. It provides an opportunity for team members to collaborate on the presentation and work together towards a common goal.
  • Professionalism: Presentations can enhance the professionalism of business communication. It shows that you have put effort and thought into your message, which can reflect positively on your business.

Disadvantages of presentation in  business communication

  • Technical difficulties: Presentations often rely on technology, such as projectors or audio systems, which can sometimes fail. Technical difficulties can disrupt the flow of the presentation and cause frustration for both the presenter and the audience.
  • Time-consuming: Preparing and delivering a presentation can be time-consuming. It may require a significant amount of research, planning, and practice to ensure that the presentation is effective.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q1) what are the topics of business communication .

Ans: Some of the most common topics of business communication include business plans and strategies, sales and customer service, financial reports and analysis, corporate social responsibility, and crisis communication. The choice of topic largely depends on the context of the communication and the goals of the organization.

Q2) How to do presentations in business communication?

Ans: To create an effective presentation in business communication, you should:

  • Define your objective and audience
  • Plan your content and structure
  • Choose appropriate visuals and media
  • Practice your delivery and timing
  • Engage your audience with interactive elements
  • End with a strong call to action or conclusion

Q3) How do I start a business presentation? 

Ans: A good way to start a business presentation is by introducing yourself and your role in the company, stating the purpose and objective of the presentation, providing a brief overview of the content and structure, and previewing any key points or takeaways. 

Q4) What is the good rule of a business presentation? 

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Art of Presentations

15 Useful Presentation Topics for Business Communication

By: Author Shrot Katewa

If you are on this page, we know that you are a change maker in your business! We know that you understand the role that business communication plays in any professional setup. So, we want to give our best to enable you to make this change happen. Today, we want to talk about 15 useful topics for Business Communication that you can present in your organisation and empower others.

But first, let’s start with What is business communication? Business communication, in rudimentary terms, can be defined as a form of formal communication among professionals who are working for a common business objective.

While communication, in general, is important for any business to survive and thrive, in order to achieve success in business and for its respective teams, business communication becomes absolutely critical as success can’t be achieved without interacting with each other and having a common goal and objective in mind.

It is important to keep in mind that business communication is not just between your subordinates or your boss, you need to consider all stakeholders associated with your business. It can be one to many, one on one or many to one. Furthermore, it can involve various forms for communication medium such as email, telephone, intranet, presentations, video, social media, magazines, meetings, interviews, discussions etc.

So, what are some of the topics for business communication that you can give a presentation for your team? Let’s have a look –

A Quick Note Before We Begin – if you want to make jaw-dropping presentations, I would recommend using one of these Presentation Designs . The best part is – it is only $16.5 a month, but you get to download and use as many presentation designs as you like! I personally use it from time-to-time, and it makes my task of making beautiful presentations really quick and easy!

1. How to communicate business decisions during a crisis

Crisis management is one of the key moments when clear and coherent communication is of utmost importance. Any lack of communication or miscommunication during a crisis can lead to tragic circumstances for the business. A great topic for teams and companies to debate and create guidelines and response mechanisms to combat such issues.

2. Importance of Intranet

Intranet is a perfect platform to communicate business news and updates. As an internal business communication tool, it provides opportunities for information to be shared with the employees. Its importance can not be doubted. Taking up a topic like this one can help your team and colleagues truly understand the purpose behind deploying and managing the intranet within organisations.

3. Townhall and its benefits

This is often a forgotten mode of communication in many organisations. In today’s modern day of social media and other platforms, it is easy to forget the impact that a townhall can have on the employees of an organisation. An interesting presentation topic for business communication.

4. How to give an effective feedback

Giving feedback to your colleagues or team members can constitute one of the most essential types of communication as it ensures that the team has a healthy work relationship and there is no hindrance on the journey of achieving the common goal of the organisation. The best part about such a topic is that it is applicable across divisions and teams and can be useful irrespective for the background of your audience.

5. How to crack a business deal

Every organisation needs clients. Converting a potential lead into a successful client needs a lot more than business communication. However, understanding the need of your audience and communicating the right message, product or service that fulfils the requirement plays a key role in cracking a deal. It serves as a great topic for discussion on the importance of business communication among the sales team.

6. Managing relationship with you boss

There are many among us who don’t like their boss. Trust me, it is not uncommon! 🙂 But, part of the reason for the failure of a healthy relationship with your boss is business communication or the lack of it. A topic like this may not only enable you to come across colleagues who may resonate with your ideas, but also help improve relationships of your colleagues with their respective bosses.

7. Email Etiquettes

Let’s face it – email is the most common mode of communication among all employees in an organisation. Thus, it is of utmost importance that messages sent over an email communicate what was intended and not anything else. It is a great business communication presentation topic especially for the new employees who have recently joined your office.

8. How to communicate with your peers

Another important topic for most business settings. It is important for the employees to really understand the company’s policy on the work environment and communication among the employees. Having a presentation session on this business topic can be really helpful in setting up a healthy work environment for your employees.

9. Role of millennials in your brand success

I view this as a very interesting presentation topic for business communication. Why? Because, the role of millennials in the success of a brand is often not completely understood. With the onset of social media, millennials are finding it more and more easy to voice their opinion and impact a brand. This topic could serve as an interesting business communication presentation. 

10. Is the newsletter dead?

In this modern age where more and more information is consumed over digital mediums and the attention span of your audience is only diminishing, the importance of newsletter can form a good topic for not just a business presentation, but also include an interesting debate as an activity post your presentation.

11. Tips for successful business relationships with customers

Having a successful business relationship with customers goes way beyond just converting a potential lead into a customer. This is often a part of the business that gets missed out. Thus, considering this topic for your business communication presentation can be really fruitful.

12. Role of influencers for building a brand –

Social media has played a pivotal role of distributing the power to influence others from celebrities to individuals known as influencers. The role of an influencer is often not completely understood even though there are several influencers who now have the authority to influence your brand both positively and negatively. The lack of this understanding can impact the communication strategy of your brand. Thus, a very carefully curated session with this presentation topic for business communication can be highly effective in reaching success and achieving the goals of your business.

13. Brand guidelines and its importance

When we are talking about business communication, brand guidelines is a perfect topic as it sets the method of ensuring that the messaging and communication is consistent irrespective of which employee is engaging with a stakeholder outside your organisation. It is also really important that all employees understand the importance of consistent messaging.

14. Impact of social media for employees

We’ve come across several organisations that are struggling with leveraging their own employees across social media to create an awesome brand image. Furthermore, the impact of identifying the opportunities to leverage your employees towards a focused campaign is barely understood. Thus, considering this topic for your business communication presentation can be an eye opener for many within your organisation including business leaders.

15. Significance of company blogs

If you are a business communicator, you surely understand that each medium of communication is important as it often has its own pros and cons. Many believe that a company blog is turning out to be irrelevant. However, if a company blog is created with a correct strategy that is specific to a business, it can not just be successful but also push across customers. Taking up this presentation topic for business communication can, again, be a very interesting one. It may lead to an open debate and also help to work around and build upon your company’s existing communication strategy.

So there you have it. There is a lot to talk about when we need to share something useful on business communication. I would like you to consider these topics only as a conversation starter and build up from the brief pointers that we have mentioned. I also hope that you find the above topics really something that you can use and is effective in your business setting. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Our goal on this blog is to create content that helps YOU create fantastic presentations; especially if you have never been a designer. We’ve started our blog with non-designers in mind, and we have got some amazing content on our site to help YOU design better.

If you have any topics in mind that you would want us to write about, be sure to drop us a comment below. In case you need us to work with you and improve the design of your presentation, write to us on [email protected] . Our team will be happy to help you with your requirements.

Lastly, your contribution can make this world a better place for presentations . All you have to do is simply share this blog in your network and help other fellow non-designers with their designs!

120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience

Jenny Romanchuk

Updated: August 15, 2024

Published: August 09, 2023

Cooking is easy. The puzzle is figuring out what to eat. As soon as you know that, you can get started. The same holds for presentations. The sooner you can whip up a good, informative, and catchy topic, the easier the rest of the process becomes.

 man presents presentation topics to a group

Pick a good topic that resonates with you and your audience to set a strong foundation. But select the wrong topic, and it becomes difficult to connect with your audience, find mutual interests, or hold their attention.

So, let’s learn how to develop thought-provoking and relevant topics for your presentations. You’ll also find some best practices to make your presentation memorable.

business communication topics for presentation

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Everything you need to become more comfortable and effective during your next presentation, including:

  • Free Guide on Best Practices
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Table of Contents

How to Choose a Great Presentation Topic in 5 Steps

120 presentation topic ideas, 5 presentation tips.

How to Choose a Great Presentation Topic. Be novel. Begin with the end in mind.

4. Choose an appropriate presentation style.

There are many ways to present a topic. Your personality, the topic at hand, and your audience’s personas will help you determine which style would best fit you and your audience.

Select a presentation style that will communicate the main idea clearly and have a lasting impact on your audience.

For instance, explore a freeform style presenter by Sir Ken Robinson.

5. Engage with your audience.

Work on your presentation skills to make a strong connection with your audience, get through to them and leave a mark.

Think of the presenter as the link between the topic and the audience. A strong or a weak presenter can make a difference between a presentation being a thriving success or a boring failure.

Hone your skills by engaging and interacting with your audience. Make them feel like a part of the presentation and not just spectators. 70% of marketers have found presentations with interactive content to be more effective than those without.

Here are a few ways you can make your presentation interactive:

  • Start your speech with uncommon questions to your audience. Involve them from the get-go, like ask to raise their hands if X.
  • Make eye contact to build credibility and show confidence. Don’t stare at your slides or notes. Smile occasionally and talk to the audience directly.
  • Have an active and confident body language. Don’t stand in the same place the entire time. Move around the stage.
  • Don’t be monotonous. Speak as you would to a colleague — with enthusiasm.
  • Ask close-ended questions in between to keep the audience engaged without losing time. Address them using their names to keep things interesting.
  • Share personal experiences and stories that your audience will find fascinating and relatable.
  • Practice thoroughly before you present so you’re fluent with the material and delivery.
  • Energy and excitement can be quite contagious. Make sure you exude enough to spread some to your audience.

Feeling Inspired Yet?

Now you have all the right ingredients for choosing amazing topics and a hundred ideas to drive inspiration from. So, go ahead and start cooking presentations that will blow your audience away.

Don’t forget to choose a super-relevant topic and add meaty information. Do it with excitement to make it enjoyable for you and your audience. Best of luck!

Don't forget to share this post!

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  • Entrepreneurship

15 Unique & Interesting Presentation Topics for Business in 2024

Sarah Joy

Are you a business owner who needs to give a presentation, but you're unsure of finding interesting business topics to present? Do you need to make a good impression with your next presentation? Perhaps you need to impress investors or other stakeholders...

Business Presentation Topics

Interesting presentation topics paired with professional presentation templates can help.

Why use a professional presentation template? A professional presentation template saves you time. Just add the information that you want to present and you're ready to go. 

A template also ensures that your presentation looks professional and impressive. Slides that are unprofessional and sloppy distract from your topic. Not to mention, they reflect poorly on your business.

In this article, we'll help you find some interesting business presentation topic ideas. And once you've found your unique speech topics, you'll want your presentation to look good. Along with the topic ideas, we'll share some professional presentation templates from Envato Elements.

Check Out Our Free Online Presentation Guide

If you're reading this article, you're probably about to create a presentation. We'll help you out with some topic ideas below. But we've got even more presentation help available.

In our free presentation guide, The Complete Guide to Making Great Business Presentations , we'll take you through the complete process to get you ready for your next business presentation—from start to finish. Avoid common mistakes and learn how to plan and write powerful business presentations.

The Complete Guide to Making Great Business Presentations

Don't miss our new free online presentation guide. It's chock full of powerful business presentation advice. It will help you make your next business presentation your best yet. Why not take a look at the Complete Guide to Making Great Business Presentations in 2024 today?

Where to Find Professional Presentation Templates

You can find hundreds of the best PowerPoint presentation templates for your unique speech topics on Envato Elements. Envato Elements has a great offer: download as many as you want for one low price. 

Explore Presentation Templates

Envato Elements

All you've got to do is pay one low price for a subscription. Then you get unlimited use of the PowerPoint presentation template of your choice.

15 Interesting Presentation Topics for Business (With Unique PowerPoint Designs) 

If you're unsure about what to cover in your next business presentation, here are some ideas. We've also included a template suggestion to go with each unique speech topic.

Here are the business presentation ideas:

1. Meet The Team

Agio Template

Getting to know your coworkers is crucial for a healthy work environment. When your team members get to know each other, they'll be able to collaborate better. A simple presentation can work really well for this purpose. 

You can include a brief professional bio and a few interesting facts about each team member. You can even make it more interactive. Share the professional bio and invite each team member to share interesting facts. 

The Agio template is a multipurpose PowerPoint presentation template. It comes with several slides that are perfect for highlighting team members. It includes over 600 slides, custom icons, media placeholders, and more. It's also fully customizable and comes with nine premade color schemes.

2. Portfolio

Clea PowerPoint Template

Showcasing your skills and past projects is always a good idea. You can use this type of presentation to explain your process. Or speak about the results you've gotten for your clients. 

Use this type of presentation to explain your process and style to new employees. You can also use it to pitch new potential clients. 

The Clea PowerPoint template works beautifully for portfolio presentations. It features a modern design with 30 unique slides. You'll find plenty of image placeholders to share your past work. The template also includes other important slides for a complete presentation. Present your team members, share product information, and more. 

3.   Marketing Plan or Strategy

Marketing Plan

Marketing is important. Your marketing strategy depicts your company as both professional and appealing. Every business should have a marketing plan. It makes a great business topic for presentations to investors or managers. A marketing presentation informs the audience what your business is all about. 

This template is great for anyone wanting to present their marketing plan. The Marketing Plan template comes with over thirty different slides. Add as much information as you need to your presentation. 

This template also comes with ten premade color schemes. Plus, it includes device mockups. You can show what your website looks like on different devices. It also comes with infographics and data charts.  

4. New Products

Product Presentation

Is your company coming out with a new product? 

This is a good management topic for a presentation in PowerPoint. When you introduce a new product, it's important that everyone in your company know what it is and how it works. If they don't know about the product, they can't effectively use, explain, show or sell it. Presenting information through a presentation is a professional way to introduce new products.

The Product Presentation template comes with twenty slide masters. This gives you plenty of layout choices. This template package also comes with charts, diagrams, and table slides. This allows you to put your data into the presentation in a visually appealing way. 

Most objects in the template can be moved, reshaped, and edited. This template has a nice modern feel that'll allow you to present your new products.

5. Business Plan

Business Plan

Business plans document your long-term and short-term objectives. A business plan can help you generate ideas on what to do when your business encounters problems. 

It also helps your stakeholders know that you have a well-thought-out strategy. This tells them that you take your business seriously and it shows that you know what you're doing.

This business plan template has a contemporary and professional design. With this template, you get thirty unique slides and 150 total slides. That'll allow you to add as much information as you need to your presentation. Easily add any images you need to by dragging and dropping them into the image placeholder. This template comes with five color schemes. You can choose the colors you want to have in your presentation.

6. Pitch Deck 

Pitchdeck

Maybe you're starting out, and you're pitching your business to stakeholders or investors. A pitch deck template is a perfect way to present your business professionally. 

Using the Pitch Deck template permits you to present all your information in one place. The graphics and charts will help your investors understand and remember the information. It shows your potential investors everything they need to know about your business idea.

This template also features modern colors so that your presentation doesn't look outdated. This template comes with over 120 slides. Infographics, data charts, timelines, and price tables slides are also included. The flexibility and options make it easy to present any type of data you may have. This presentation will impress anyone who hears your presentation.

7. Data Analysis

Data Analysis

Do you have a lot of data to present?

Going over your data analysis can be a good business presentation topic idea. A data analysis presentation allows you to present how your business is doing. When presenting data, it's common to present it in different ways. This template package gives you the tools to do that. 

Analyzing your data helps you and your audience recognize current and future problems. Putting your data in charts makes it easier for people to visualize it.

This data analysis template has 35 total slides. The slides provide ample space to present all your data. This template comes with 11 color schemes. This allows you to choose what you want your presentation to look like. You also get handmade infographic templates that help your presentation look more professional. This template also comes with graphs and charts making it easy to present your data in many visual ways.

Finance

Your business finances are important. Presenting finances makes a good business topic for presentations. 

There are many types of interesting finance presentation topics. You could give a quarterly financial report that allows you to show how great your business is doing. Or you could explore ways that your business could improve. They can also be useful when you're trying to receive financial backing for a new business idea or a new product.

This Finance PowerPoint template comes with 30 multipurpose slides. That gives you enough slides to add all your financial information. This template also comes with five premade color schemes. This template has a modern design yet remains professional.

9. Diversity

Diversity

Whether you're a new company or you've been around for a while, diversity in your company is important. Having a diverse company helps the company to be more creative and productive. 

The Diversity presentation template has a vibrant and creative design. This template is a great if you want to present information about diversity. It comes with over 50 unique slides. This allows you to add as much information as you need to on why diversity is important in the workplace. 

Also, this template can be easily edited. Choose to change the colors or add images. It's got visual elements such as infographics and icons. All this allows you to make your presentation more visually appealing.

10. Newsletter

Newsletter

This allows you to update your employees about what's happening. Likewise, it's important to keep employees updated with a graphical, well-written newsletter. Why not combine the two?

Use this Newsletter presentation template to present important information to employees or stakeholders. This template has a modern and creative design on all 30 template layouts. It comes with five color scheme options. You can choose the colors you want in your presentation. You can also add any image of your choice by dragging and dropping the image into the image placeholder. 

11. Sales Data

Sales

This interesting presentation topic is an important part of a company. Sales are how many companies make money. So, it's good to inform your company stakeholders how your product is selling. A sales presentation can also be used to present information on a new product. 

Use this Sales Data presentation template to show projected sales or show how a product is currently selling. The template could also be used when trying to get funding or investors for a new project. With a template, you'll show your audience that you're serious about your product. 

This template comes with over 150 total slides. That's enough slides for detailed product information and projected sales. This template comes with five unique color schemes. A bonus is that this template comes with a sales expectations slide, a product information slide, and a company budget slide—making this a versatile package.

12. Business Organization and Processes

business organization

Keeping your business organized is an important problem that many businesses face. When a business is disorganized, it causes problems. These problems could end up costing your business a lot of money. A presentation on the importance of a company organization can convince your employees to take action.

Organizer is a multipurpose presentation template. This template comes in standard format and widescreen format. This allows your presentation to look good on different devices. Organizer comes with 32 different slides. You can put as much information as you need in your presentation. This template comes with five premade color schemes. Giving you options to choose from on how you want your presentation to look. This template has a modern design while remaining professional. This template can easily be edited to customize the presentation to fit your needs.

13. Brand Guidelines

Brand guidelines PPT template

Brand consistency is important. It's how you develop familiarity and trust with your customers. Brand consistency involves using the same messaging. It also means using a consistent visual style across all your marketing channels. 

To ensure brand consistency, everyone needs to be familiar with your brand guidelines. That's where a presentation on your brand guidelines comes in.

The Brand Guidelines PowerPoint presentation will help you put this presentation together quickly. It's got a modern design and includes 30+ creative slides. You can include all the important elements of your brand strategy. 

14. Customer Lifetime Value

CLV Customer Lifetime Value Presentation Template

Knowing your customer's lifetime value is important. It costs less to keep an existing customer than to get a new one. So, it's in your company's interest to nurture your customers and get them to buy from you again and again. Customer Lifetime Value refers to the total amount a customer spends with your business for the duration of the relationship. 

You can use this presentation to show stakeholders how much your customers are worth. This metric can also show you early signs of attrition which you can use to improve your offers. 

The CLV Customer Lifetime Value Presentation template is handy in this situation. It comes with 20 unique slides and ten premade color schemes. You'll also find many different charts, graphs, and other infographic elements. 

15. Sales And Digital Funnel

Sales and Digital Funnel PPT Template

Sales and digital funnels are the backbone of every business. They can be simple or complex. But what's important is that everyone understand how your funnels work. 

Why not create a simple presentation that outlines every step of your funnel? This ensures that everyone in your company understands the whole process. It also ensures that each funnel is created in a similar fashion. 

The Sales and Digital Funnel PowerPoint template comes with plenty of infographic elements. It also includes other slides necessary to outline your sales strategy.

5 Quick Business Presentation Tips for Great Impact in 2024

Choosing a great topic and the right template is only the beginning of a great presentation. Here are five quick business presentation topic tips on designing and writing presentations:

1. Tailor the Template to the Topic

Pick a template that was designed with your presentation topic in mind.

For example, for a business presentation, choose a business-themed template. Similarly, for a fashion presentation, opt for a fashion presentation template. This will ensure that you’ll get slides that are in line with the topic. Plus, they can easily be customized with your information. 

Armio Business PowerPoint template is great for all kinds of business presentations.

Armio Business PowerPoint Template

2. Use the Built-In Slides to Help You Come up With Content Ideas

All the best PowerPoint templates have tons of content ideas built in. If you’re wondering what to include in your presentation besides raw data and facts, look to your PowerPoint template for inspiration.

3. Show Data Visually

Abstract data is hard to visualize and understand. Use the built-in charts, graphs, and infographic elements to display data. This will make it easier to understand. 

Circles PowerPoint template is an excellent example of an infographic template done well. Use it for any sort of unique topics for presentations. This includes business communication PPT topics to commerce topics presentations.

Circles PowerPoint Template

4. Keep Your Audience Engaged With a Question Slide

You spent hours working on your presentation. The last thing you want is for your audience to get bored and stop paying attention. Keep them engaged by including a question slide and encourage them to take part in a discussion.

5. Use Color 

The use of color is the perfect opportunity to build brand recognition. Color adds emphasis to your unique presentation topics. Use it to draw attention to important information. Another way to use color is to put it as an overlay over your images to make the text stand out more. 

The Sparrow PowerPoint template uses color in many creative ways. It would serve marketing presentation topics well.

Sparrow PowerPoint Template on Envato Elements

Where to Find the Best PowerPoint Templates in 2024 

Envato Elements is a top choice for finding modern and beautiful PowerPoint templates . And they all have stunning designs. But what makes Envato Elements a great choice?

1. Key Benefits of Envato Elements

Envato Elements is a premium subscription service. Once you sign up, you can download unlimited creative templates. They cover different digital asset needs for a low monthly fee. That’s certainly a compelling offer. 

Download as many PowerPoint templates as you need. Plus, you can download web templates, fonts, add-ons, and other graphic assets. There are tons of quality PowerPoint templates with on-trend designs on Envato Elements:

Unique and interesting PowerPoint templates on Envato Elements

If you own many brands or if you’re a designer working with many clients, Envato Elements is a perfect choice. It'll give you the best bang for your buck. Sign up for Envato Elements now .

Envato Elements - Design Without Limits

Learn More About Using PowerPoint

Now that you have some interesting presentation topics, put them into a business presentation. We can help you learn more about using PowerPoint. 

Start with our ultimate guide on how to use PowerPoint . Or turn to one of the tutorials below:

business communication topics for presentation

Find More Great PowerPoint Templates for Your Business Presentation Ideas

If none of the templates in the article were what you were looking for, check out the articles below:

business communication topics for presentation

Download a Professional Presentation Template for Your Unique Speech Topics

Making a presentation is a good way to present important information. Now you have some good business topics for presentations that you can create quickly. 

All the featured templates are easy to edit. They will save you time from having to make your own presentation. A template also ensures that your presentation is professional looking. If you're looking for more professional business templates check them out on Envato Elements.

Editorial Note : This tutorial was originally published in September of 2019. It's been revised to make it current, accurate, and up to date by our staff—with special help from Brenda Barron .

Sarah Joy

Like what you're reading?

Need a good presentation topic? Here are hundreds of them.

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

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Anete Ezera November 04, 2022

If you’re looking for good topics for presentations, you’ve landed on the right page. In this article, you’ll find plenty of good presentation topics, tips on choosing the most suitable presentation topic for you, and essential design elements to make your presentation a success. 

Many factors go into an excellent presentation. You need to have confident body language and engage your audience to hold their attention. You also need eye-catching visual aids like images, data visualizations, GIFs, and others (all of which you can find in Prezi ), not to mention a great opening to grab attention and a strong closing line to stay memorable. However, the most essential aspect of your presentation is the topic. It’s the core of your presentation, so it has to be strong, insightful, attention-grabbing, and appealing to yourself and your audience in order to evolve into a successful presentation everyone will love. 

good presentation topics: a woman giving a presentation in a business meeting

How to choose a good presentation topic

There are millions of topics you could create a presentation on, but what defines a good presentation topic? If you’re struggling to either come up with a good topic for a presentation or you can’t decide between multiple ones, here are a few questions you should ask yourself before choosing a topic. 

What’s the goal of your presentation? 

When you’re choosing a presentation topic, consider the meaning behind it. Ask yourself what the purpose of talking about this topic is, and what you want to say about it. Whatever topic you choose to present, the conclusion needs to provide a takeaway or lesson you want to communicate to your audience. A meaningful goal will make your presentation more memorable.  

Are you interested in the topic?

If you’re not interested in the presentation topic, others won’t be curious either. Interest, enthusiasm, and passion enrich your presentation and are noticeable when presenting. Interest shines through and inspires others to find the topic as fascinating as you do. Think about the last time you saw someone sharing something they were passionate about – their excitement drew people in to pay closer attention to what they were saying. 

When choosing a topic, you need to find it or a particular angle of it interesting for yourself. For example, perhaps you’re not a pop music enthusiast, but you’re passionate about studying cultural phenomena. In this case, you can talk about pop music’s influence on early 2000s youth culture. 

Will your audience find this topic relatable? 

While you have to find the topic you’re presenting interesting, you also have to think about your audience. When choosing a subject, consider your audience’s background in terms of demographics, interests, culture, and knowledge level about the topic. Think about what others will find fascinating and relevant, so they’re not bored or confused during your presentation.

Do you have prior experience or knowledge about this topic?

Personal experiences are always great to share in a presentation, providing your unique perspective for anyone listening. While you can easily prepare your presentation based on a quick Google search, it won’t make the same lasting impact on your audience. Choose a presentation topic you have some prior knowledge about, or have an interesting opinion you can share with others. It’ll make your presentation more engaging and memorable.

good presentation topics: a presenter on stage

Ideas for good presentation topics

It’s not easy to come up with a good presentation topic from scratch. It’s much easier to get inspired from other good presentation topics to build your topic on. Whether you’re looking for presentation ideas for work, about me presentation ideas, unique or easy presentation topics, you’ll find them all here.

Without further ado, here are some good presentation topics to choose from or get inspired by.

Presentation topics about social media

  • The role of social media in portraying gender stereotypes
  • How social media impacts our body image
  • How social media shaped Gen Z 
  • The most significant differences between the Facebook and TikTok generations
  • The negative effects of social media
  • The positive impacts of social media 
  • The effects of social media on behavior 
  • How social media impacts our physical (or mental) health
  • How social media has shaped our understanding of mass media
  • Should we teach about social media in schools?
  • The rise of social media influencers
  • How AR Instagram filters impact our self-image
  • How to go viral on social media?
  • The origins of social media echo chambers
  • Social media as a news outlet

Author: Ish Verduzco

Presentation topics about movies

  • How movies influence our understanding of good and evil
  • Beauty standards represented in movies
  • How female characters are depicted in Hollywood movies
  • How horror movies and global fears have developed through time
  • The adverse effects of romance movies
  • How movies have changed our understanding of the Western culture
  • Charlie Chaplin and the silent movie era
  • The globalization of culture: Hollywood vs. Bollywood
  • The psychology behind the music in films
  • The ethics of using animals in movies
  • Social media’s influence on the film industry
  • The history of filmmaking
  • The role of color in movies
  • The cultural impact of romance movies
  • How are gender stereotypes depicted in Hollywood movies?

Author: Cinto Marti

Presentation topics about music

  • The impact of pop music on beauty standards
  • Should digital music be free for everyone?
  • The psychology behind the music in advertisements 
  • The effectiveness of sound therapy
  • Can music inspire criminal behavior?
  • The psychological effects of metal music
  • The origins of K-pop
  • How does music influence our understanding of the world?
  • Can music help in the learning process?
  • The positive effects of classical music
  • The history of hip hop
  • Why is music education essential in schools?
  • The psychological benefits of playing piano
  • Can anyone become a famous musician?
  • The role of music in fashion

Author: Prezi Editorial

Presentation topics about health

  • The link between food and mental health
  • Inequality in the healthcare system
  • Myths about healthy practices
  • Simple practices that help you stay healthy
  • Health education in schools: Should it change?  
  • Toxic positivity and mental health
  • The impact of superfoods on our health
  • The psychology behind unhealthy eating habits
  • Sex education in schools: Why should we have it?
  • How to trick yourself into getting better: The placebo effect
  • How to strengthen your immune system
  • How to tell if someone is depressed
  • The health benefits of regular exercise
  • The impact of junk food on mental health
  • Stress-caused diseases

Author: Prezi Education Team

Presentation topics about human psychology

  • What is social depression?
  • What triggers panic attacks?
  • The impact of testosterone on aggressive behavior
  • How to overcome social anxiety
  • Differences in the functioning of the brain of a child and adult
  • The impact of violent video games on children’s brain development
  • How does the use of social media influence our attention span?
  • How to overcome childhood trauma
  • The influence of marijuana on the human brain
  • How does behavioral therapy work
  • The psychology behind fame
  • The causes of personality disorders
  • The differences in brain functioning between men and women
  • What happens in therapy sessions?
  • The psychology of substance abuse 

Presentation topics about self-development

  • The impact of exercise on productivity
  • How to deal with stress
  • How to deal with procrastination
  • The positive effects of meditation
  • Why new–year’s resolutions don’t work
  • How to overcome bad habits
  • The impact of negative thoughts
  • The negative effects of self-criticism
  • The role of creativity in self-development
  • Benefits of journaling
  • How to learn something fast
  • How to be mindful
  • The importance of curiosity 
  • How to become more self-aware
  • Why it’s essential to spend time with yourself

Author: Nir Eyal

Presentation topics about education

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of online education?
  • The positive effects of a gap year
  • Should university education be free?
  • Inequality in education access
  • How language learning benefits brain development
  • Emerging gender issues in education
  • The importance of socialization in school
  • School bullying and student development
  • The benefits of reading 
  • Is the education system broken?
  • What you don’t learn in college
  • The link between education and brain development
  • The history of schools
  • The gender gap in STEM
  • The connection between equality in education and economic growth

Presentation topics about culture

  • Is graffiti a form of art or street vandalism? 
  • Cultural diversity in the workplace
  • The impact of culture on gender roles
  • The issue with orientalism
  • Are humans the only species that has culture?
  • How do different cultures view death? 
  • The ethical issues of pop culture
  • The impact of culture on personal development
  • Sexism in different cultures
  • The impact of globalization on local cultures
  • The viral spread of the #metoo movement
  • The history of subcultures
  • The problem with romanticizing toxic relationships in movies
  • 90s pop-culture influence on fashion trends
  • The evolution of cultural psychology 

Author: Devin Banerjee

Presentation ideas for work

  • What it’s like to be a digital nomad?
  • How to deal with workplace conflicts
  • The secret to a productive day
  • How to set achievable goals
  • The importance of diversity in a workplace
  • The positive effects of creative thinking at work
  • How to give constructive feedback
  • The characteristics of a valuable team member
  • Inequality and the glass ceiling
  • Racial discrimination in the workplace
  • Work habits of different cultures
  • How is work perceived in various countries?
  • Technological development and the future of work
  • The importance of a healthy work/life balance
  • The rise of health problems in office work

Author: Charles Huang

Presentation topics about hybrid work

  • The positive effects of hybrid work on work/life balance
  • Is hybrid work the future work model? 
  • How to stay connected in a hybrid work model
  • The challenges of hybrid work nobody talks about
  • How to stay productive when working from home
  • The social effects of hybrid work
  • The economic impacts of hybrid work
  • Case study: Hybrid work model in [company]
  • What causes Zoom fatigue?
  • The problem with online meetings
  • Is hybrid work better than remote work?
  • How to develop a close relationship with colleagues in a hybrid work model
  • What kind of company culture is best for a hybrid work model?
  • Is hybrid work sustainable?
  • Cybersecurity consideration for hybrid working

Author: Barbie Brewer

Presentation topics about public speaking

  • The importance of body language in public speeches
  • How to appear confident when you’re not
  • How to become a better orator
  • The use of eye contact in public speaking
  • Breathing exercises that will calm you down before public speaking
  • The benefits of public speaking
  • Ways to improve public speaking skills
  • How to leave a great first impression on stage
  • How to engage your audience during a public speech
  • How to best structure your public speech
  • How to end your presentation speech
  • Can anyone learn to be good at public speaking?
  • How to prepare for a public speech
  • What not to do right before a public speech
  • How to address a controversial topic in a public speech  

Author: Prezi Team

Presentation topics about entrepreneurship and leadership

  • The main principles of a good leader
  • The impact of leadership skills on professional performance
  • The mistake every entrepreneur makes
  • How to successfully lead a cross-cultural team
  • How to celebrate inclusivity in a diverse team
  • What are the common personality traits of a successful entrepreneur?
  • The impact of entrepreneurship on the global economy
  • The characteristics of a leader
  • The most common challenges of entrepreneurship
  • Can anyone learn to become a successful leader? 
  • What affects new venture growth?
  • The psychology of leadership
  • What is crowdsourcing? 
  • The benefits of being an entrepreneur
  • Common mistakes leaders make

Author: Jill Sinclair

Presentation topics about technology

  • The rise of technological development
  • Is technology addictive?
  • Should we use drones for military and non-military purposes?
  • The sustainability of electric cars
  • What are deepfakes?
  • Limitations of AI machines
  • The future of programming
  • Ethical issues of AI
  • The future of AR in business
  • How VR can be used in the medical field

Author: David Vandegrift

Sales presentation topics

  • How to make a cold email intro
  • What is sales enablement?
  • How to build better relationships with customers
  • The best way to improve pipeline management
  • Coaching via verbal and written role-play
  • How to plan cold calls
  • What’s a deal-breaker for most customers? 
  • All about personalized coaching
  • How to manage objections
  • How to close more deals
  • How to keep your prospects engaged
  • Effective sales communication strategies
  • How to conduct a competitor analysis
  • The most valuable sales skills
  • What soft skills do you need to become a successful sales rep?

Author: Cindy McGovern

Easy presentation topics

  • Benefits of daily exercise and how to incorporate it into your routine
  • Simple and nutritious meal recipes
  • Tips for improving time management and productivity
  • The importance of recycling
  • The history of a local landmark or festival
  • Ways to reduce stress
  • Exploring different types of renewable energy sources and their impact on the environment
  • The basics of budgeting and saving money for future goals
  • The benefits of social media for professional use
  • Tips for overcoming stage fright
  • How to start a meditation practice
  • The impact of technology on modern society
  • The basics of personal finance
  • The health benefits of a plant-based diet
  • The history of Earth Day

Good how to presentation topics

  • How to create a successful social media marketing strategy
  • How to give a persuasive presentation
  • How to create effective and engaging content for your blog
  • How to discover your strengths and weaknesses
  • How to use project management tools to increase productivity
  • How to make the most out of boring meetings
  • How to build a personal brand
  • How to conduct effective market research
  • How to use data analytics to improve decision-making
  • How to improve your decision-making process
  • How to write a winning proposal
  • How to create a visually stunning presentation
  • How to manage stressful situations at work
  • How to make friends as an adult
  • How to network at work events

About me presentation ideas

  • My journey to becoming who I am today
  • My passion for [insert topic or activity]
  • My career aspirations and goals
  • My travels and adventures around the world
  • My hobbies and interests outside of work/school
  • My role models and influences
  • My strengths and weaknesses
  • My favorite books, movies, and TV shows
  • My proudest achievements and accomplishments
  • My favorite childhood memories
  • My family and friends
  • My education and academic background
  • My volunteer and community service experience
  • My personality traits and values
  • My vision for the future and how I plan to achieve it

Author: Adam Grant

Student presentation ideas

  • The history and evolution of video games
  • The history and cultural impact of tattoos
  • The impact of social media on body image and self-esteem
  • The effects of globalization on local cultures and economies
  • The role of education in promoting social justice and equity
  • The ethical implications of autonomous weapons in warfare
  • The impact of mass media on society and culture
  • The causes and effects of deforestation on biodiversity and climate change
  • The history and cultural significance of dance in different parts of the world
  • The psychology of addiction and recovery
  • The impact of the gig economy on labor rights and job security
  • The history and impact of feminism on gender equality
  • The benefits and drawbacks of renewable energy sources
  • The impact of colonialism on indigenous cultures and identities
  • The role of technology in promoting global connectivity and intercultural understanding

Author: Edward Quinn

Informative presentation topics

  • The science of sleep: How to get a restful night and improve your wellbeing
  • A journey through the history of the internet
  • Exploring the potential of AI in our world
  • Climate change: Understanding the challenge, seeking solutions for a sustainable future
  • How new technologies are shaping the future of food
  • Understanding the psychology of money for financial success
  • The power of a story: How storytelling captures hearts and minds
  • Mastering the art of negotiation in every interaction
  • The science of happiness: Unlocking the secrets to a more fulfilling life
  • The power of mindfulness for a more present and peaceful YOU
  • Understanding cybersecurity threats and protecting yourself online
  • Exploring the potential of virtual reality for a more immersive future

Author: Andrew Davis

How to create a good presentation 

If you know what you want to present on, it’s time to create an impactful presentation that grabs everyone’s attention. Presentation design plays a crucial role in how your presentation is received and remembered. To stand out and leave a memorable impact on your audience, create a Prezi presentation. Instead of a linear, slide-based presentation, offer an engaging and dynamic storytelling experience to your audience. Breathe life into your presentation with motion, zoom, and spatial relationships. When creating your presentation, consider the following three essential elements: 

Visuals play a significant part in presentation design. They evoke emotions, make a memorable impact, and give more context to the story. Not to mention, 65% of people are visual learners , so visual aids are helpful when explaining a complex topic. 

In your presentation, include different types of visuals, such as images, videos, GIFs, and stickers, all of which you can find in Prezi’s content library. When selecting your visuals, consider what’s relevant and brings additional value to the story. Only add what’s meaningful and necessary. A video or image at the right place and time will enrich the viewing experience and make your presentation more memorable. 

The layout of your presentation is the structure of your story. It’ll help you introduce the topic, intrigue your audience, and unfold the layers of your topic one by one until you disclose your main arguments and summarize the presentation. A good presentation layout has a hierarchical, chronological, or logical flow that leads the viewer from start to finish. 

If you’re creating a Prezi presentation, you can create a dynamic storytelling experience by experimenting with your layout. Instead of going from slide to slide, you can zoom in and out of topics and experiment with different shapes, animations, and effects that draw the viewer into your story world. Here’s an example of a Prezi presentation with a great storytelling layout:

Author: Lydia Antonatos

Data visualizations can elevate your presentation from being a good one to a great one. By providing data behind your arguments, you’ll appear more trustworthy and confident in your audience’s eyes. 

Add charts, graphs, interactive maps, and more to your presentations with Prezi Design. You can choose from a wide selection of charts and maps to illustrate your data. With interactive elements, you’ll be able to engage your audience and make a memorable impact. 

Engaging visuals, a well-structured layout, and relevant data visualizations will provide a great starting base to create a memorable presentation. Discover other tips and tricks that make your presentation effective and capture people’s attention. 

Prezi AI for presentation success

If you already have a clear presentation style in mind or plenty of time for creation, fantastic! But what if you only have a day or less or you don’t know where to start? Enter Prezi AI . It’s your assistant for streamlining the presentation creation process. Here’s how Prezi AI leverages the power of artificial intelligence to turn you into a presentation pro:

Effortless design from scratch

Ditch the blank page anxiety with the AI presentation maker . Simply provide a title or outline, and Prezi AI will generate a visually appealing draft presentation in seconds. It’s like having a built-in design assistant ready to brainstorm with you.

Smarter text, stronger impact

Prezi’s AI text-editing tool helps you perfect your message in seconds. It analyzes your content, suggesting improvements for readability and conciseness.

From bullet points to animations

Let’s face it, static bullet points can put even the most dynamic presenter to sleep. Prezi’s AI animated slides maker transforms your text into captivating visual stories. Choose from formats like flowcharts, animated lists, or zoom reveals to keep your audience engaged.

Perfect for busy presenters

We all know the struggle – a million tasks on your plate, and a looming presentation deadline. Prezi AI can help you save valuable time! With AI assistance, you can generate presentations faster, focus on refining your content, and present with the confidence that comes from knowing your presentation looks polished and professional.

Design help

Don’t worry if you don’t have an eye for design. Prezi AI provides the tools and guidance to create presentations that impress visually.

With Prezi AI, crafting presentations is easy, allowing you to focus on delivering your message with impact and leaving your audience engaged and inspired. Explore what’s possible with Prezi A I today!

Learn more on how to turn your presentation topic into a stunning presentation with AI:

Final thoughts on selecting good presentation topics

Choosing a topic for a presentation isn’t easy. When selecting a topic, think about the goal of your presentation, your interests, and knowledge about the topic, and whether or not your audience will find it relevant and interesting for them. Also, get inspired by other topics that’ll help you figure out what you want to talk about. Lastly, when creating your presentation, consider the impact of visuals, layout, and data visualizations. To simplify the creation process, try Prezi AI or follow the step-by-step process of making a presentation with helpful tips and resources.

business communication topics for presentation

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Business Communication Presentation Topics

by Karenna Cochrane

Published on 28 Nov 2018

Presentations are an essential part of a business communication course. Students must learn about business communication, a required skill used to convey messages. Of course, a student of business communication doesn't have to be a college or university student. Many business development institutes offer business communication courses as a method of professional development for senior management and executives.

Using Social Media

Social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are newer forms of business communication. Business communication professionals once used solely traditional techniques, such as magazines and press releases, for communication with stakeholders. However, given the advent and success of social media, techniques vary depending on the need of the business. Tailor your presentation for the appropriate use of social media in business communication. Knowing when to use each method of social media interaction is a must for anyone in business.

Business Etiquette

One perennial favorite topic is business etiquette, as it's always an important concept in the business world. Prepare a presentation on business etiquette when conducting business across international borders. Decide whether you will focus on etiquette in a particular region of the world, in a select country or in a variety of countries. Include tips on dress codes, business card expectations and gift-giving rules. Incorporate how the expectations vary depending on if you are a male or a female in particular parts of the world.

Promotions for Small Business

In a growing business environment, marketing and promotions are a popular topic. Prepare a presentation on developing promotions for small business entities. Share ideas on online promotions, grass-roots promotions and effective trade show networking. Bring props, such as examples of an effective trade show booth, or samples of a promotional product, like iPod cases or branded martini glasses. Talk about the logistics of working with vendors, such as suppliers, and provide information on contract law related to promotional contracts.

Nonverbal Communication

In a world where companies are increasingly inclusive, employing people from a wide variety of cultures, nonverbal communication is a crucial topic to learn. A presentation focused on how people communicate with body language, environment and tone can inform your audience about how their actions may alter their message.

Prepare specific examples for your conversation. In a more controlled setting, demonstrate how frequent pauses or a low speaking voice display a lack of confidence or how a bombastic tone can make a good idea sound like a scheme. If you can use props, bring in a chair and show how leaning in conveys interest while crossing your arms can create a barrier in a conversation. Consider bringing in pictures of professionals dressed in business attire and traditional office spaces to assess audience perceptions on environment.

Business Presentation Skills

It may seem a bit meta, but for businesses that suffer through meetings filled with boring presentations, learning how to do a great presentation can be the key. Develop a presentation on the topic of presentation skills. Discuss speaking abilities and developing PowerPoint decks. Offer tips for incorporating engaging images into presentation. Having strong presentation skills is an important part of communicating to stakeholders, especially clients and customers.

10 effective presentation topics for business communications

You’re a company owner who has a presentation to make, but you don’t know how to find interesting business topics? Will you want your next presentation to make a good impression? You may have to impress investors or others. Interesting topics for presentation coupled with competent templates will aid.

Why should a professional template be used?

You save time with a skilled presentation template. Only add your details and you will be ready to go. A prototype also guarantees the professional and impressive look of your presentation. Dias that are professional and unprofessional distract what you want to show and poorly reflect on your business. We’ll help you find some useful ideas for a business presentation in this post. You would want your presentation to look nice once you’ve identified your specific speech topics.

The company presentation ideas are as follows:

  • The Marketing Plan :  It’s important to the market. You can represent your organization as both professional and desirable through your marketing campaign. A marketing strategy should be in place for any company. And, for presentations to customers, employees, and other executives, the marketing strategy is an important business topic. The public is told by a marketing presentation about your company. This design is great for those interested in submitting their marketing plan.
  • Business Plan :  Corporate plans record the long-term and short-term goals. A business plan will help you come up with ideas about how to solve small business issues. A strategic plan also lets the customers realize that the organization in which they invest has a sophisticated strategy. It allows people to understand that you are serious about your business and it helps you plan what you will be doing.
  • Data Analysis :  Do you have a lot of data to present? A good business presentation idea will go through your data analysis. You will provide current knowledge about how your company works in a data analysis presentation. It is usually presented in different ways when data is presented. The tool for doing this is included in this template kit. You and your audience can understand current and future issues by analyzing your results. It is easier for people to visualize the data in charts.
  • New Products :  Is there a new product for your company? This is an excellent management topic for a PowerPoint presentation. It is important to know what it is like and how it works when you present a new product. They cannot efficiently use, illustrate, show or sell the product because they do not know the product. Knowledge is a competent way to introduce new products in a presentation. You can also include maps, diagrams, and table slides for this presentation. This helps you to visually attract your details to the presentation.
  • Pitch Deck :  Perhaps you’re just beginning and putting your company into motion with partners or investors. A pitch deck pattern is a great way for professional presentation of your business information. You can present all your information in one place with the Pitch Deck presentation. The graphs and diagrams help your investors to understand and remember the information they provide. This template helps you to demonstrate everything that your potential investors need to know about the new company.
  • Finance :  Presenting finances constitutes a good business topic for lectures. You can represent your financial presentation in many types. You may offer a quarterly financial report to show how great your company is. Or you can show ways to improve your company. Financial presentations may also be useful if a new business concept or product is to be sponsored.
  • Newsletter :  It is necessary for businesses to meet in the city hall where they update their employees. It is also essential to maintain employees up to date with a well-written graphical newsletter. Why don’t they mix both? A good way to introduce key new issues for staff, sellers, or stakeholders in this newsletter presentation template with a modern and designed style.

diversity

  • Sales Data :  A significant part of an organization is this fascinating presentation subject. Sales reflect how many businesses make money, so it’s good to let your stakeholders know how you market your product/services. A knowledge presentation on a new product may also be used to display. In the presentation make sure you include sales data that can be used to display future sales or how a product is being marketed. The prototype could also be used to pursue financing or investors for a new project. You will show your audience with the template that you take your product seriously.
  • Business Organization and the Processes :  Maintaining the company is a big challenge facing many organizations. If a business is disorganized, it creates problems, which can eventually cost the organization a lot of money. Having a demonstration of the value of planning your business will persuade the workers to act. Organizer is a multifunctional prototype presentation.

The 70 Best Business Topic Ideas for Presentations and Research Papers for College Students

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research topic presentation ideas

Education is not just about listening to instructors expound on theories and learning from their lectures. A good part of life for college students also revolves around doing presentations and writing research papers; therefore, you will need to acquire an excellent research topic about business.

Business topics for presentations and research papers range from traditional ideas, such as business management and economics, to more modern topics, such as digital transformation and e-commerce. In any case, a good research paper and presentation topic will be meaningful, timely, and interesting to an audience.

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A research paper is a good measure of a student’s understanding of the topic. It allows them to apply what they learned by tackling certain subjects relevant to their course. By developing their ability to communicate through oral and written exercises, research papers shape the accuracy and integrity of your thoughts. Let us help you find the right research topic about business!

Why Choose the Right Business Topic Ideas?

research topic about business

A great business research paper requires a topic that is relevant and one that will distinguish it from other papers. While business is prevalent in society and the global stage in general, it is still not that easy to frame a topic that will be fresh and applicable to today’s world.

After all, thousands of research have already been done when it comes to business. It can be a real challenge to find something that has not been studied yet or add anything new and valuable to those that already exist. But it is indeed possible to look into the present situations and developments and identify new angles from existing research to make it applicable in the modern age.

Choosing the right business topic ideas will give you an easier time when you need to do research and start writing it. A good topic considers your field of interest and your subject, leading you to a research paper that will not only help you acquire the best grades but also expand and test your knowledge and research skills. And because writing a research paper should factor in social impact, it requires extensive and consistent study as opposed to sporadic and casual reading.

Tips for Picking the Best Business Topic Ideas

Research topic about business

When starting a research paper or class presentation, the most challenging part is always getting started. It is ideal for students to develop the skill of producing a good research topic. These tips might help.

  • Brainstorm for ideas on your field of study. You can do this by asking the right questions, such as “ What problems do businesses face these days?” You can also get inspiration from the news regarding business, finance, and economics.
  • Prepare a list of keywords and concepts to choose from. Use this to form a more focused research topic as well.
  • Read up on the chosen keyword or concept. When you’ve decided, start to learn more about it by reading the background information for a good overview.
  • Give the topic a greater focus but be careful not to make it too broad or too narrow. To be sure, keep the subject limited in the areas of geography, culture, time frame, or discipline.

Business Topic Ideas for the Different Fields of Business

Business communication.

business communications

It is common for information to be shared between the company and its employees or the company and its customers. Effective communication within or outside of the business is vital for a company to function. Business communication is a continuous process that can be done in many ways and various channels.

When a business has good communication with its internal and external affairs, it can run smoothly. It is vital in transmitting information that can impact the industry and its success. For business communication students, finding a topic that can best suit their research papers is not that hard when they understand its importance and how it can affect the running of a business.

Here is a list of topic ideas that can help business communication students:

  • The different ways men and women communicate in the business environment
  • The effects of good business communication on business development and growth
  • Communication and its relation to marketing effectiveness
  • How effective communication can help in dealing with global companies
  • The theories of communication and their different roles in the corporate world
  • How communication influence decision-making within the company
  • The effect of communication in overcoming business challenges
  • Effective communication skills in the management sector
  • Convincing customers to buy products through good communication
  • How business communication and effective marketing go hand in hand

Business Administration

research topic about business administration

When it comes to business administration programs, students are required to think of research topics that resolve a particular subject in an area of specialization. The issues are not expected to be broad or new; instead, they must be able to get the message across regarding the areas covered by the degree program. It can be ideas on business management, leadership skills, communication methodologies, business policies, trade, and commerce, or financial management.

Here are some of the relevant and exciting topics for business administration:

  • How does management affect an organization’s performance?
  • The effects of advertisement on consumer behavior
  • In what ways can human resources promote industrial harmony?
  • The Impact of staff motivation incentives on productivity
  • The everyday challenges of small and medium enterprises at the start of trade
  • Short-term management and its risks
  • How does corporate sustainability affect the organizational process?
  • Weighing the pros and cons of startup and established companies
  • The strategy of corporate sustainability
  • The roles of budget analysis and budgetary controls on an organization’s operation

Business Ethics

research topic about business ethics

There is a connection between ethics and global business. Two of the essential foundations of global commerce are business ethics and corporate responsibility. Studying Business Ethics is vital for many Business majors. This is where they learn how businesses should treat their employees and other organizations in global and local contexts.

Today, the business environment has changed drastically, owing mostly to government policies and political stability. To keep up with the current dynamics, ethical principles and moral-ethical problems must be advanced.

Courses related to business ethics must carefully choose topics that address common issues and improve businesses in terms of ethical practices. Some of the ideas students can explore for Business Ethics research and presentation include:

  • The impact of gender discrimination on employees’ performance
  • The effects of a company’s environmental practices on consumer trust
  • Examine the repercussions of abuse of laborers in the construction industry
  • The connection between profit-seeking and product quality
  • Misleading advertisements and their impact on consumers’ trust levels
  • The importance of trust in modern economics
  • How do companies make a difference to global problems?
  • Are companies accountable when consumers misuse their products?
  • The ways a company can create a healthy and more balanced work environment
  • Does workplace diversity play an important role in productivity?

Small Business

research topic about small business

he evolution of small businesses in the digital era is an interesting study for many Business major students. It is true that big companies and organizations can shell out massive amounts for advertising and brand enhancement, but they can still lose out to small businesses, especially in niches like flower shops, coffee houses, and bakeries.

That is only one aspect of small businesses. There are many more areas that students can explore to understand the issues and ideas that surround small companies and their ability to compete with their giant counterparts. Take a look at some of these research topics:

  • What struggles do small business owners encounter in marketing?
  • Digital marketing and its impact on small businesses
  • How should small companies deal with a crisis?
  • Is relationship building important for small businesses?
  • The common products that consumers purchase from small companies
  • The impact of online marketing strategy on conversion and revenue growth
  • The challenges of starting a small company
  • How can small companies contribute to global change?
  • The effect of a business plan on small business growth
  • Finance models for different spheres of small business

Business Management

research topic about business management

As one of the most significant tasks for many businesses and organizations, business management focuses on planning and organizing. Like the Business Administration programs, Business Management includes marketing, accounting, economics, and finance as its core subjects.

Professors often give research assignments to business students to measure their analytical skills and understanding of supervising a business or managing people.

We’ve gathered some of the most interesting research topics for Business Management courses:

  • How did the rapid technological developments revolutionize marketing?
  • What is sustainable development and what is its impact on modern businesses
  • Frugal innovations to help small to medium businesses create value for profits and return?
  • Why companies should enshrine corporate social responsibility
  • Keeping the balance between employee expectations and the organization’s profit
  • The role of financial managers in maintaining records of business expenses
  • How does employee motivation increase the earnings of organizations?
  • The importance of a digital marketing strategy to small businesses
  • Understanding the process of taxation and its relation to the profit of the business
  • How to handle a crisis in an organization

Global Business

research topic about global business

The age of globalization has dawned, and businesses must adapt to the changes and repercussions it brings. Globalization has a way of influencing the trends in the market and how companies should approach consumers. It can also determine the emerging marketing methods that can contribute to the success of an organization.

Students who study global business aim to understand how companies around the world are connected. When they look at the industry from an international perspective, they will be able to navigate the impact of boundaries and cultures on the operation and management of global companies. Developing a global mindset is essential.

Keep these ideas in mind when exploring topics for their research paper:

  • The challenges of company expansions to different countries
  • Examining world markets and how they benefit from globalization
  • How does globalization affect consumer behavior
  • The rise of the foreign exchange market in the era of globalization
  • Going digital and its effects on international business
  • The influence of culture on marketing and branding
  • The advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing the business
  • The many ways for foreign companies to handle scam
  • How can war impact company profits around the world?
  • The different structures suitable for international business

Business Law

business law

Also known as mercantile law or commercial law, business law governs the dealings between people and commercial matters. It can be divided into two areas. One is the regulation of commercial entities with a basis on laws of partnership, company, and bankruptcy.

The other is the regulation of commercial transactions through the laws of contract. Students who are in the field of business law must know how to stop problems before they can hurt the organization or bring about legal repercussions.

Searching for topics in this field can be daunting but doable. To inspire students, we have listed down some ideas that can help them with their research and presentation:

  • The various ways a company can curtail harmful human behaviors in the workplace
  • Examining the effectiveness of penalties on serious work infractions
  • How companies offer treatment in cases of workplace accidents
  • When are data confidentiality policies applicable in a business?
  • The lawful ways to regulate online gambling websites
  • The importance of copyright and trademark on businesses
  • A comparative analysis of business laws in the Western and Eastern World
  • How do laws impact e-Commerce?
  • The implications of data privacy on businesses and consumers
  • Looking at data privacy laws from an international perspective

When the most viable picks for research topics have been provided, it is time to choose the most suitable one for a specific area of specialization and field of interest. A careful study of the issue at hand and selecting a topic that encompasses the academic course or specialization will do the trick.

Business Research Topics 5

While you are at it, it is vital to find the balance between a relevant and original topic and an interesting one. Remember, a presentation and research paper do not have to be uninteresting to be effective. Your selected research topic about business is important, so choose wisely. Pick something that you are interested in, and the rest will follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the basic things to know about delivering a successful presentation.

  • Have Effective Content: Make sure the content of your presentation is relevant, organized, accurate, and concise. Use visuals and examples to support your points.
  • Practice: Take the time to practice your presentation. Practicing out loud may help you identify any issues in the presentation, as well as anticipate how your audience may respond.
  • Engage your Audience: Establish a connection with your audience by using eye contact, gestures, and speaking clearly.
  • Use Visual Aids: Incorporate visuals like PowerPoint slides, posters, and other props to make your presentation more dynamic.
  • Be Positive: Present your material with enthusiasm and confidence. Even if you don’t feel confident in what you’re presenting, practice your material until you feel more comfortable.

What are the top components of a business presentation?

  • Visuals: Visuals such as slides, graphs, diagrams and videos help draw and keep the audience’s attention and ensure that the message is clear.
  • Content: Content is the main part of a business presentation and is made up of talking points, summaries, facts and figures.
  • Delivery: Delivery refers to the style and method used to present the content and visuals. This includes the presenter’s body language and vocal delivery.

What must be avoided in any presentation?

  • Rambling or becoming distracted
  • Being overly verbose or using unduly complicated language
  • Reading from written notes most of the time
  • Not rehearsing and/or not knowing the material
  • Not engaging with the audience
  • Glancing at the slides too often
  • Focusing on slides with too many words or too much detail
  • Apologizing for the presentation
  • Failing to make connections and summarize key points
  • Talking too quickly or loudly

Watch this YouTube video for examples of do’s and dont’s:

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200 Business Discussion Topics

business communication topics for presentation

Exploring new ideas in the business world can spark innovation and growth. Let’s dive into 200 engaging business discussion topics that can help entrepreneurs and professionals exchange knowledge and drive success.

  • The Impact of Globalization on Small Businesses.
  • The Role of Innovation in Sustaining Business Growth.
  • Ethical Decision-Making in Business Management.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility: Luxury or Necessity?
  • Balancing Profit with Purpose: The Rise of Social Entrepreneurship.
  • The Gig Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for Workers and Businesses.
  • Cryptocurrency: Disruptor or Distraction for Businesses?
  • The Evolution of Marketing Strategies in the Digital Age.
  • Artificial Intelligence and Its Implications for Job Markets.
  • Big Data Analytics and Its Influence on Business Decisions.
  • Building an Inclusive Workplace Culture.
  • Effective Leadership in Dynamic and Uncertain Business Environments.
  • Managing Intergenerational Teams in the Workplace.
  • Work-Life Balance: Myth or Achievable Reality?
  • The Rise of Remote Work: Benefits and Challenges.
  • Sustainable Business Practices and Green Initiatives.
  • The Economics of Climate Change on Industry Sectors.
  • The Future of Retail: Online versus Brick-and-Mortar.
  • Strategies for Effective Business Communication.
  • The Role of Mentorship in Career and Business Success.
  • Security and Privacy Concerns in the Era of Big Data.
  • The Significance of Intellectual Property Rights in the Digital World.
  • Negotiation Techniques for Successful Business Deals.
  • The Influence of Cultural Differences on International Business.
  • Strategies for Overcoming Adversity and Failure in Business.
  • Project Management Methodologies for Successful Outcomes.
  • The Effects of Minimum Wage Laws on Business and the Economy.
  • Consumer Behavior Changes Post-Pandemic and Their Impact on Businesses.
  • The Future of E-commerce and Mobile Shopping.
  • Outsourcing vs. Insourcing Business Processes: Costs and Benefits.
  • Overcoming Gender Bias in Business Leadership.
  • The Importance of Financial Literacy for Entrepreneurs.
  • Investment in Employee Training and Its ROI for Companies.
  • Brand Loyalty in the Age of Information Overload.
  • The Business Implications of Renewable Energy Adoption.
  • Influence of Language Barriers on Global Business.
  • The Role of Government in Supporting Startup Ecosystems.
  • The Surge of Subscription-Based Business Models.
  • Competitive Strategies for Small Businesses.
  • Personal Branding for Business Owners and Professionals.
  • The Relationship Between Customer Service and Business Success.
  • Business Ethics: The Role of Corporate Culture.
  • The Effect of Taxation on Business Decisions.
  • Cybersecurity Threats and How Businesses Can Protect Themselves.
  • The Landscape of Venture Capital and Startup Funding.
  • The Paradigm Shift in the Advertising Industry Due to Ad-Blocking Technologies.
  • Strategies for Customer Retention and Loyalty.
  • The Influence of Social Media on Consumer Preferences.
  • Pricing Strategies and Their Psychological Impacts.
  • The Necessity of Business Agility in a Rapidly Changing Market.
  • The Role of Strategic Planning in Business Success.
  • Crowdfunding as a Financing Option for Businesses.
  • The Value of Diversity and Inclusion in Business Teams.
  • The Future of Business Travel in a Digital World.
  • Business Networking: Tips and Techniques for Success.
  • The Challenge of Sustaining an Eco-Friendly Business Practice.
  • Balancing Entrepreneurial Passion with Practicality.
  • How Businesses Should Prepare for Economic Recessions.
  • The Effect of Technological Obsolescence on Businesses.
  • The Impact of Trade Policies on Local and Global Economies.
  • The Psychology of Sales: Techniques and Challenges.
  • The Significance of Supply Chain Management.
  • The Rise of Freelancing and Its Effect on the Traditional Job Market.
  • Business Transformation Through Digitalization.
  • Opportunities and Threats in International Trade.
  • The Role of Startups in Driving Technological Innovation.
  • The Impact of the Sharing Economy on Traditional Business Models.
  • Corporate Governance and Its Importance for Stakeholders.
  • The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Customer Experiences.
  • Coaching and Mentorship Within Organizations.
  • Mitigating Business Risks Through Insurance.
  • The Importance of R&D for Long-Term Business Growth.
  • Case Studies of Successful Company Turnarounds.
  • Developing Sustainable Urban Economies.
  • Trends in Consumer Goods and Their Impact on Manufacturing.
  • Employee Engagement Strategies and Productivity.
  • Navigating the Challenges of Patent Law for Innovators.
  • The Relevance of Business Exhibitions and Trade Fairs.
  • Exploring the Concept of a Living Wage in Different Economies.
  • Merger and Acquisition Strategies for Business Expansion.
  • The Impact of Political Instability on Business Operations.
  • How Companies Adapt to Changing Consumer Habits.
  • The Influence of Mobile Technology on Business Models.
  • Business Negotiation Across Different Cultures.
  • The Challenges of Maintaining Privacy in the Age of Data.
  • Brand Crisis Management: Case Studies and Strategies.
  • The Evolution of Customer Service in the Digital Era.
  • Embracing Digital Transformation: Risks and Rewards.
  • The Changing Landscape of Commercial Banking.
  • The Role of SMEs in Driving Economic Development.
  • Impact of Automation on Workforce Management.
  • Business Laws and Regulations: Navigating Through Complexities.
  • Strategies for Effective Inventory Management.
  • Importance of Business Analytics in Strategy Formulation.
  • Is Business Education Keeping Up with the Pace of Innovation?
  • How Businesses Capitalize on Viral Marketing Trends.
  • The Changing Paradigm of Leadership in the 21st Century.
  • Social Media as a Tool for Market Research.
  • The Challenges of Starting a Business in a New Country.
  • Strategies for Managing Organizational Change.
  • The Importance of Succession Planning in Family Businesses.
  • The Ever-Changing Tax Landscape and Its Implications on Businesses.
  • Health and Wellness Programs as Part of Employee Benefits.
  • The Power of Micro-Moments in Consumer-Brand Interactions.
  • The Gig Economy’s Influence on Long-Term Career Prospects.
  • The Importance of a Robust IT Infrastructure for Businesses.
  • Ethical Concerns Surrounding the Use of AI in Business.
  • How Mobile Payments Are Transforming the Financial Landscape.
  • The Rising Importance of User Experience (UX) in Product Design.
  • Marketing to Generation Z: What Businesses Need to Know.
  • The Role of Tradeshows in Global Business Expansion.
  • Peer-to-Peer Lending and Its Role in Business Financing.
  • The Impact of Brexit on European Businesses.
  • The Challenges and Opportunities of Aging Populations for Businesses.
  • The Relevance of Business Incubators in Nurturing Startups.
  • E-Waste and Its Implications for Corporate Responsibility.
  • Crafting Compelling Storytelling in Business Communication.
  • The Impact of Digital Nomadism on the Traditional Workplace.
  • The Balance Between Security and Ease of Use in Online Transactions.
  • How Businesses Are Combating Counterfeit Goods.
  • The Influence of Podcasts on Modern Marketing Strategies.
  • Innovative Ways Businesses Are Using Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.
  • The Risks and Benefits of Open-Source Software for Businesses.
  • How Technology Is Reshaping the Logistics and Transportation Industry.
  • Business Etiquette in the Digital Age: Do’s and Don’ts.
  • Franchise Businesses: Prospects and Pitfalls.
  • Strategies for Managing a Multilingual and Multicultural Workforce.
  • The Role of User-Generated Content in Brand Marketing.
  • The Impact of Net Neutrality on Businesses.
  • The Rise of Zero-Waste Policies in Business Operations.
  • The Future of the Automotive Industry with the Advent of Self-Driving Cars.
  • How Technology Is Impacting the Hospitality and Travel Sectors.
  • The Psychology Behind Consumer Impulse Purchases.
  • The Future of Work: Job Roles That Will Dominate the Business Landscape.
  • Leveraging the Power of Influencer Marketing.
  • The Effects of Online Reviews on Businesses and Consumer Trust.
  • Enhancing Productivity with Project Management Tools.
  • The Dynamics of Buyer-Supplier Relationships in the Modern Economy.
  • The Pursuit of a Circular Economy and Its Business Ramifications.
  • Financial Technologies (FinTech) Disrupting Traditional Banking.
  • How Businesses Can Foster a Culture of Innovation.
  • The Challenge of Building a Sustainable Fashion Industry.
  • Consumer Privacy in the Shopping Experience: Brick-and-Mortar vs. Online.
  • The Rapid Growth of eSports and Its Business Implications.
  • Business Lessons from the World’s Top CEOs and Founders.
  • The Role of Microfinance in Empowering Entrepreneurs.
  • Overcoming Language and Cultural Barriers in Customer Service.
  • The Impact of Millennials on the Workplace and Business Culture.
  • Strategies for Creating an Omnichannel Retail Experience.
  • The Emerging Role of Chief Sustainability Officers in Businesses.
  • The Ethics of Advertising to Children.
  • Personalization: The Key to Customer Retention in eCommerce.
  • The Role of Non-Profit Organizations in the Business Ecosystem.
  • Tapping into Niche Markets: Strategies and Challenges.
  • The Importance of Cross-Functional Teams in Business Innovation.
  • The Future of the Pharmaceutical Industry with Personalized Medicine.
  • The Impact of Health Pandemics on Global Supply Chains and Commerce.
  • Business Process Re-engineering for Efficiency and Competitiveness.
  • Combating Misinformation: The Responsibility of Businesses.
  • The Role of Digital Marketing in Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
  • The Link Between Economic Policies and Entrepreneurship.
  • Addressing Ethical Dilemmas in the Technology Sector.
  • Advantages and Risks of Adopting a Remote Work Business Model.
  • How to Create a Business Culture That Supports Mental Health.
  • The Evolving Role of Women in Business Leadership.
  • Social Enterprise as a Business Model for Positive Impact.
  • Strategies for Creating Delighted and Loyal Customers.
  • Challenges Facing the Renewable Energy Industry.
  • Achieving Business Growth Through Strategic Alliances and Partnerships.
  • Competing on Quality vs. Competing on Price.
  • The Role of Third-Party Endorsements in Consumer Trust.
  • Strategies for Managing Business During Political Uncertainty.
  • The Rapid Adaptation of Telemedicine in Healthcare Business Models.
  • The Role of National Culture in Shaping Business Practices.
  • Ethics in Marketing: Knowing Where to Draw the Line.
  • The Changing Face of Customer Support with AI and Chatbots.
  • Tackling Workplace Burnout: Strategies for Businesses.
  • Implications of the Gig Economy for Traditional Employment Models.
  • The Potential of Blockchain Technology Beyond Cryptocurrencies.
  • How Subscription Models Are Revolutionizing Traditional Businesses.
  • The Influence of Environmental Sustainability on Consumer Choices.
  • The Potential and Challenges of 3D Printing in Manufacturing.
  • The Significance of Design Thinking in Business Development.
  • Data Breaches: Preventive Measures and Crisis Response.
  • Strategies for Small Businesses to Compete with Large Corporations.
  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Industries and Job Roles.
  • The Role of Business Incubator Programs in the Success of Startups.
  • The Impact of Online Censorship on Global Businesses.
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15 Expert Tips for Giving a Powerful Business Presentation

15 Expert Tips for Giving a Powerful Business Presentation

Written by: Mahnoor Sheikh

business presentation - header wide

A powerful business presentation is much more than just a bunch of nice-looking slides.

Whether you’re presenting to venture capitalists, senior management or potential customers, you need to make a great first impression and stand out from the dozens of other speakers they’ll encounter.

For some people, presenting in front of even a handful of listeners can be a nightmare. And when it's a room full of important business folks, like investors or your boss, things get even worse.

If that sounds like you, don't worry. We have a way to calm your nerves and bring back your confidence.

In this post, you'll find 15 expert tips to help you deliver an unforgettable business presentation.

Ready to create your business presentation? Our presentation maker can help you create a professional slide deck quickly and easily using ready-made templates.

1 Know your material.

Before you can convince anyone else, you need to be completely sold on your idea or product. It’s important that you know the points you are making, inside and out.

When you present before an audience, you’ll likely be using visual aids, notes and/or slides. While these tools can help, make sure they aren’t the sum of your expertise.

These are only tools to aid you in your ability to communicate.

Don't rely on them too much or you’ll come across as unsure and boring. Your knowledge of your subject should be beyond your cue-cards so that you can effectively answer any questions that crop up.

You need to inspire confidence. If you bring up a point that is on your slide, back it up with statistics that you’ve encountered or quotes that relate to your topic.

2 Be enthusiastic.

Believe me, vibes matter.

No one wants to hear you drone on about a subject you don’t care for. If you’re tired and bored of your own presentation, your audience is probably feeling the same way.

Anyone listening to you should know how passionate you are about the subject. This will be very apparent in your body language , like the way you speak, make eye contact and walk around on the stage.

Harvard professor Amy Cuddy studies how body postures can communicate power.

Before her highly successful TED talk, she spent time striding, standing tall and extending her body. These movements got her into the zone of feeling powerful and passionate.

It’s also important that you properly energize yourself before a business presentation.

Do some warm-up exercises, like stretching or vocal exercises.

Check out this video on vocal exercises to practice before an important speech or presentation:

You can also do other things that get you focused and energized. Go through inspirational quotes or listen to music. Make sure you’ve drunk enough water and keep a bottle with you during your presentation.

3 Arrive early to set up.

One of the things that can mess up your business presentation is not being familiar with the space you’ll be speaking in. Make sure you arrive at your venue at least an hour in advance.

Set up anything you’ll need , like a projector, laptop or speakers.

If the venue already has all the equipment set up, make sure everything is compatible and working fine. Transfer any files from your USB or download them off of your email or cloud.

Next, check if there are any impediments to your being heard or seen.

Sit at different locations in the audience area to make sure the stage is visible, and the speaker can be heard at the very back. This will help you assess how loud you should be.

Check to see if the projection is visible in the lighting you have, and adjust the lights accordingly.

Another big advantage of arriving early is that you get to meet and greet some of your audience members. This will help you feel more confident on stage as you’ve already broken some of the ice .

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4 Be comfortable with your own self.

You’ve prepped well, you know your stuff inside-out and your visual aids are ready. The next big questions are: What should you wear? How should you act?

It can be tricky deciding what to wear to give a killer business presentation, but your look will likely depend upon your comfort and who your audience is.

Lauren McGoodwin, founder and CEO of Career Contessa, recommends :

“When dressing for a presentation, it’s important to wear something you’re comfortable in, and something that makes you feel confident.”

She also says that you should wear something that allows you to move and gesture freely.

But regardless of what you wear, it’s important to be your best self.

Many people are nervous speaking in front of an audience, so rehearse beforehand and have a friend, colleague or any objective observer monitor you.

If you come across as jittery—always shifting your weight from one leg to another, moving your hands too much, shaking, etc—it’s a good idea to take a note of all that and work at establishing a firm presence on stage before your big day.

How you act also depends upon your personality.

Adopt your natural position. If you’re comfortable standing in place, don’t force yourself to stride across the stage. If your voice is gentle, no need to yell, just get a microphone.

Keep your everyday demeanor and bring out the best you.

5 Open strong.

We live in an era where audiences have low attention spans and expect to be entertained. Start your business presentation with a bang so as to set the tone for the rest of your presentation.

You could start off with a statistic that shocks the audience into sitting up and taking note or with a quote that instantly makes them listen.

Don’t forget to put them at ease by reassuring them: “I know you may be wondering…”, “…that fact may seem shocking, but research backs it up because…” etc.

You could also start with an interesting image , an attention-grabbing video or a touching personal story.

Remember, first impressions are everything.

You need to convey to your audience that your business presentation will be worth their while and not just a run-of-the-mill lecture where you dispiritedly talk at them.

6 Set goals for your business presentation.

At the very beginning of your presentation, lay out the goals you hope to meet during your time on stage. This tells the audience why they should listen to you and what they have to gain from paying attention.

As these goals are met, both you and your audience will feel a sense of purpose and achievement at effective communication. Here's a customizable presentation slide template in Visme for goals.

business presentation - set goals slide visme template

Ready to create your own business presentation?

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Your audience will be more likely to remain tuned in if they can see the objectives of the presentation being fulfilled and this in turn will make them more likely to deem your talk a ‘success’.

These goals will also help your audience remember crucial points of your business presentation, which will ensure that you have a productive Q&A session.

7 Tell a story.

Stories connect with people much more than statistics, academic points or even quotations do.

A story can be personal, of course, but it can also be the story of a brand or even a story about consumers.

Steve Jobs was a great corporate storyteller and he shone at every Apple product launch presentation. Check out this video of Jobs presenting at the launch of the iPhone in 2007.

Steve Jobs framed his company’s new innovations in terms of stories of revolution. Macintosh “changed the whole computer industry” and the iPod “changed the whole music industry”.

These were stories of change that brought the product, the consumer, and the exciting time they were living in all together—it made the audience go on a journey.

You can work in a similar way by highlighting the problems (the villain) and how your product, business or idea (the hero) will lead your audience closer to a solution. Telling stories can make your business seem like part of a grand narrative that your audience wants to become a part of.

Then, of course, there are personal stories. These usually appear at the beginning, but a good presentation makes effective use of them throughout.

Tell your audience how you got to where you are, and what makes you believe in your business.

Remember to keep it short, but interesting.

The goal is to establish an emotional connection with your audience so your message hits home. Don’t overdo it or deviate from your actual point.

If you’re looking for more storytelling techniques to incorporate into your presentation, check out this Visme video on presentation structures used by top TED speakers:

8 Interact with your audience.

A business presentation can get boring and sleep-inducing real fast if you just talk “at” your audience instead of talking to them.

Turn your presentation into a conversation by involving your audience in the discussion. Ask them questions, take their feedback and connect with them via anecdotes (“I know we’ve all felt this way”.)

You can also get them to sit up and work with you. For example, they could be asked to raise their hands if they agree during certain points of the presentation.

Interacting with your audience during your business presentation will help prevent the dreaded “ death by PowerPoint ” and keep them wide awake and attentive.

9 Use visual aids.

Visuals help people retain information for longer periods of time, so use them generously throughout your presentation to make sure your message hits home.

And no, visual aids don’t necessarily mean boring PowerPoint slides.

Pictures, videos and art are also great mediums to get your points across and intrigue the audience. Visual flowcharts can help summarize complex topics.

And if you really do want to use presentation slides, use a tool like Visme to create ones that look professional and stand out from the rest. Check out these editable business presentation templates .

Use data visualization, like bar graphs, pie charts and more to make numbers look interesting.

Visme lets you create over 15 different types of graphs and tons of data widgets, like progress bars and radials, for your business presentation. You can also tap into the flowchart maker, array maker, map engine and other tools to help you visualize information. Here's a sneak peek at how it works:

As for the slides, make sure you don’t stuff them with text.

If you put bullets up on the screen, make sure they are visible and condensed. No one wants to see entire paragraphs up there when you’re talking to them at the same time.

A quote or two is fine, but don’t overdo it.

10 Add some business-friendly humor.

During long presentations, there is nothing more relaxing than a speaker who can make you laugh.

If you just keep talking in a serious tone, it’ll seem like you’re droning on. A friendly, conversational style and light jokes can make sure that you retain your audience’s attention.

But remember, this is a business presentation. Don’t go overboard with comedy or your audience won’t take you or your presentation seriously.

We recommend using humor only if you’re naturally good at. If not, don’t force it.

11 Make startling statements.

Every once in a while, shock your audience into sitting up and focusing.

Challenge their existing beliefs with solid knowledge and statistics. While a startling fact or statistic can be a great way to begin a presentation, it is also important to use these statements throughout.

Don't overdo it so it loses its appeal, but around thrice during an hour-long presentation should be good.

12 Remember the 10-20-30 rule.

Venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki came up with this handy presentation rule in 2005 .

Here’s an infographic that sums it up:

business presentation - infographic 10 20 30 rule guy kawasaki

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Kawasaki sat through many, many bad presentations and figured out this rule to make sure presentations stop being so repetitive and boring.

10 slides give presenters an ample amount of space to summarize their argument. Any more information and the audience is likely to lose focus and doze off.

20 minutes is how long the average person can pay attention without losing his mind wandering. Kawasaki says that, in an ideal world, the last 40 minutes of the presenter’s hour will be utilized in a Q&A session.

A font size of 30 points means that everyone can read a presentation, even from the back of the room, and the presenter is forced to put minimal text up on the screen.

Keep in mind that Kawasaki is talking about a specific situation, a pitch for a room full of venture capitalists.

While his points can be generalized, a business owner may also find themselves in a situation where they aren’t perfectly applicable. It would be good to revise them slightly in different situations.

13 Make eye contact and smile.

You don’t have to stand there and speak like a machine. Your audience will respond better to the presentation if you personalize your interactions with them.

Make sure you meet the eyes of multiple members of the audience so that they feel like you are paying attention to them individually.

Eye contact can reassure your audience that you value their time and are grateful for their presence and it can also drive home the message that you are confident in your pitch.

Smile at audience members when you meet their eyes! If you’re nervous, locate five or six friendly faces in the crowd and keep coming back to them for encouragement.

14 Be prepared for tough questions.

Don’t underestimate the power of the Q&A session!

Your answers can make or break your business presentation. A good presenter knows their material completely and is ready to face difficult questions.

Here's an editable presentation slide template in Visme for Q&A sessions:

business presentation - question answer qa session slide visme template

Remember, people will trust in you and your business venture if they are sure you know what you’re doing.

If you’ve ended your presentation on an awkward silence, ask some questions yourself and use language that makes it apparent that you know the concerns of your audience.

Start with phrases like “Now, you may be wondering if…”. This sets the crowd at ease and allows them to comfortably voice their concerns.

15 Close on a high.

It is very important to have a closing note after the Q&A session. You shouldn’t need a slide for this part, but you can use one if you want.

The way you conclude your presentation should be powerful and ensure that the audience remembers you. Like your opening, you can end with a personal story or quotation. Or remind them about the goals and summarize the main points quickly.

Make sure the end is euphoric and shows that your ideas can achieve success. This will ensure that your listeners place their confidence in you and leave feeling satisfied and uplifted.

Make Your Business Presentation a Success

The secret to giving a successful business presentation is putting your heart and soul into connecting with your audience and truly showing them the value in your ideas.

This list of professional tips can empower you in small ways, leading to big outcomes.

If you’re already feeling pumped about your next business presentation, create one that doubles your impact using Visme’s presentation maker .

Sign up for a free account today and take it for a test drive!

What do you struggle with the most when it comes to giving business presentations? Let us know your thoughts, questions and feedback in the comments below.

Create beautiful presentations faster with Visme.

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About the Author

Mahnoor Sheikh is the content marketing manager at Visme. She has years of experience in content strategy and execution, SEO copywriting and graphic design. She is also the founder of MASH Content and is passionate about tea, kittens and traveling with her husband. Get in touch with her on LinkedIn .

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Home Blog Business Business Presentation: The Ultimate Guide to Making Powerful Presentations (+ Examples)

Business Presentation: The Ultimate Guide to Making Powerful Presentations (+ Examples)

Business Presentation Ultimate Guide plus examples

A business presentation is a purpose-led summary of key information about your company’s plans, products, or practices, designed for either internal or external audiences. Project proposals, HR policy presentations, investors briefings are among the few common types of presentations. 

Compelling business presentations are key to communicating important ideas, persuading others, and introducing new offerings to the world. Hence, why business presentation design is one of the most universal skills for any professional. 

This guide teaches you how to design and deliver excellent business presentations. Plus, breaks down some best practices from business presentation examples by popular companies like Google, Pinterest, and Amazon among others! 

3 General Types of Business Presentations

A business presentation can be given for a number of reasons. Respectively, they differ a lot in terms of content and purpose. 

But overall, all types of business presentations can be classified as:

  • Informative
  • Persuasive 
  • Supporting 

Informative Business Presentation 

As the name suggests, the purpose of an informative presentation is to discern the knowledge you have — explain what you know. It’s the most common type of business presentation out there. So you have probably prepared such at least several times. 

Examples of informative presentations:

  • Team briefings presentation 
  • Annual stakeholder report 
  • Quarterly business reviews
  • Business portfolio presentation
  • Business plan presentation
  • Project presentation

Helpful templates from SlideModel:

  • Business plan PowerPoint template
  • Business review PowerPoint template
  • Project proposal PowerPoint template
  • Corporate annual report template

Persuasive Business Presentation 

The goal of this type of presentation is to persuade your audience of your point of view — convince them of what you believe is right. Developing business presentations of this caliber requires a bit more copywriting mastery, as well as expertise in public speaking . Unlike an informative business presentation, your goal here is to sway the audience’s opinions and prompt them towards the desired action. 

Examples of persuasive presentations:

  • Pitch deck/investor presentations
  • Sales presentation  
  • Business case presentation 
  • Free business proposal presentation
  • Business proposal PowerPoint template
  • Pitch deck PowerPoint template
  • Account Plan PowerPoint template

Supporting Business Presentation 

This category of business PowerPoint presentations is meant to facilitate decision-making — explain how we can get something done. The underlying purpose here is to communicate the general “action plan”. Then break down the necessary next steps for bringing it to life. 

Examples of supporting presentations:

  • Roadmap presentation
  • Project vision presentation 
  • After Action Review presentation 
  • Standard operating procedure (SOP) PowerPoint template 
  • Strategy map PowerPoint template 
  • After action review (ARR) PowerPoint template 

What Should Be Included in a Business Presentation?

Overall, the content of your business presentation will differ depending on its purpose and type. However, at the very minimum, all business presentations should include:

  • Introductory slide 
  • Agenda/purpose slide
  • Main information or Content slides
  • Key Takeaways slides
  • Call-to-action/next steps slides

We further distill business presentation design and writing best practices in the next section (plus, provide several actionable business PowerPoint presentation examples !). 

How to Make a Business Presentation: Actionable Tips

A business presentation consists of two parts — a slide deck and a verbal speech. In this section, we provide tips and strategies for nailing your deck design. 

1. Get Your Presentation Opening Right 

The first slides of your presentation make or break your success. Why? By failing to frame the narrative and set the scene for the audience from the very beginning, you will struggle to keep their interest throughout the presentation. 

You have several ways of how to start a business presentation:

  • Use a general informative opening — a summative slide, sharing the agenda and main points of the discussion. 
  • Go for a story opening — a more creative, personal opening, aimed at pulling the audience into your story. 
  • Try a dramatic opening — a less apparent and attention-grabbing opening technique, meant to pique the audience’s interest. 

Standard Informative Opening 

Most business presentation examples you see start with a general, informative slide such as an Agenda, Problem Statement, or Company Introduction. That’s the “classic” approach. 

To manage the audience’s expectations and prepare them for what’s coming next, you can open your presentation with one or two slides stating:

  • The topic of your presentation — a one-sentence overview is enough. 
  • Persuasive hook, suggesting what’s in it for the audience and why they should pay attention. 
  • Your authority — the best technique to establish your credibility in a business presentation is to share your qualifications and experience upfront to highlight why you are worth listening to. 

Opening best suited for: Formal business presentations such as annual reports and supporting presentations to your team/business stakeholders. 

Story Opening 

Did you ever notice that most TED talks start with a quick personal story? The benefit of this presenting technique is that it enables speakers to establish quick rapport and hold the listener’s attention. 

Here’s how Nancy Duarte, author of “Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations” book and TED presenter, recommends opening a presentation: 

You know, here’s the status quo, here’s what’s going on. And then you need to compare that to what could be. You need to make that gap as big as possible, because there is this commonplace of the status quo, and you need to contrast that with the loftiness of your idea. 

Storytelling , like no other tool, helps transpose the audience into the right mindset and get concentrated on the subject you are about to discuss. A story also elicits emotions, which can be a powerful ally when giving persuasive presentations. In the article how to start a presentation , we explore this in more detail.

Opening best suited for: Personal and business pitches, sales presentations, other types of persuasive presentations. 

Dramatic Opening 

Another common technique is opening your presentation with a major statement, sometimes of controversial nature. This can be a shocking statistic, complex rhetoric question, or even a provocative, contrarian statement, challenging the audience’s beliefs. 

Using a dramatic opening helps secure the people’s attention and capture their interest. You can then use storytelling to further drill down your main ideas. 

If you are an experienced public speaker, you can also strengthen your speech with some unexpected actions. That’s what Bill Gates does when giving presentations. In a now-iconic 2009 TED talk about malaria, mid-presentation Gates suddenly reveals that he actually brought a bunch of mosquitoes with him. He cracks open a jar with non-malaria-infected critters to the audience’s surprise. His dramatic actions, paired with a passionate speech made a mighty impression. 

Opening best suited for: Marketing presentations, customer demos, training presentations, public speeches. 

Further reading: How to start a presentation: tips and examples. 

2. Get Your PowerPoint Design Right

Surely, using professional business PowerPoint templates already helps immensely with presentation deck design since you don’t need to fuss over slide layout, font selection, or iconography. 

Even so, you’ll still need to customize your template(s) to make them on brand and better suited to the presentation you’re about to deliver. Below are our best presentation design tips to give your deck an extra oomph. 

Use Images, Instead of Bullet Points 

If you have ever watched Steve Jobs’s presentations, you may have noticed that he never used bullet-point lists. Weird right? Because using bullet points is the most universal advice in presentation design. 

business communication topics for presentation

But there’s a valid scientific reason why Jobs favored images over bullet-point texts. Researchers found that information delivered in visuals is better retained than words alone. This is called the “ pictorial superiority effect ”. As John Medina, a molecular biologist, further explains :

“Hear a piece of information, and three days later you’ll remember 10% of it. Add a picture and you’ll remember 65%.”

So if your goal is to improve the memorability of your presentation, always replace texts with images and visualizations when it makes sense. 

Fewer Slides is Better

No matter the value, a long PowerPoint presentation becomes tiring at some point. People lose focus and stop retaining the information. Thus, always take some extra time to trim the fluff and consolidate some repetitive ideas within your presentation. 

For instance, at McKinsey new management consultants are trained to cut down the number of slides in client presentations. In fact, one senior partner insists on replacing every 20 slides with only two slides . Doing so prompts you to focus on the gist — the main business presentation ideas you need to communicate and drop filler statements. 

Here are several quick tips to shorten your slides:

  • Use a three-arc structure featuring a clear beginning (setup), main narrative (confrontation), ending (resolution). Drop the ideas that don’t fit into either of these. 
  • Write as you tweet. Create short, on-point text blurbs of under 156 symbols, similar to what you’d share on Twitter. 
  • Contextualize your numbers. Present any relevant statistics in a context, relevant to the listeners. Turn longer stats into data visualizations for easier cognition. 

Consistency is Key 

In a solid business presentation, each slide feels like part of the connecting story. To achieve such consistency apply the same visual style and retain the same underlying message throughout your entire presentation.

Use the same typography, color scheme, and visual styles across the deck. But when you need to accentuate a transition to a new topic (e.g. move from a setup to articulating the main ideas), add some new visual element to signify the slight change in the narrative. 

Further reading: 23 PowerPoint Presentation Tips for Creating Engaging and Interactive Presentations

3. Make Your Closure Memorable 

We best remember the information shared last. So make those business presentation takeaways stick in the audience’s memory. We have three strategies for that. 

Use the Rule of Three 

The Rule of Three is a literary concept, suggesting that we best remember and like ideas and concepts when they are presented in threes. 

Many famous authors and speakers use this technique:

  • “Duty – Honor – Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, and what you will be” . Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
  • “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” are the unalienable rights of all humans that governments are meant to protect.” Thomas Jefferson 

The Rule of Three works because three is the maximum number of items most people can remember on their first attempt. Likewise, such pairings create a short, familiar structure that is easy to remember for our brains. 

Try the Title Close Technique

Another popular presentation closing technique is “Title Close” — going back to the beginning of your narrative and reiterating your main idea (title) in a form of a takeaway. Doing so helps the audience better retain your core message since it’s repeated at least two times. Plus, it brings a sense of closure — a feel-good state our brains love. Also, a brief one-line closure is more memorable than a lengthy summary and thus better retained. 

Ask a Question 

If you want to keep the conversation going once you are done presenting, you can conclude your presentation with a general question you’d like the audience to answer.

Alternatively, you can also encourage the members to pose questions to you. The latter is better suited for informational presentations where you’d like to further discuss some of the matters and secure immediate feedback. 

Try adding an interactive element like a QR code closing your presentation with a QR code and having a clear CTA helps you leverage the power of sharing anything you would like to share with your clients. QR codes can be customized to look alike your brand.

If you are looking for a smoother experience creating presentations on the fly, check out the AI PowerPoint maker —it offers everything you can ask forfrom presentation design in a couple of clicks.

12 Business Presentation Examples and What Makes Them Great 

Now that we equipped you with the general knowledge on how to make a presentation for business, let’s take a look at how other presenters are coping with this job and what lessons you can take away from them. 

1. N26 Digital Bank Pitch Deck 

The Future of Banking by N26. An example of a Business Presentation with a nice cover image.

This is a fine business pitch presentation example, hitting all the best practices. The deck opens with a big shocking statement that most Millennials would rather go to the dentist than step into a bank branch. 

Then it proceeds to discuss the company’s solution to the above — a fully digital bank with a paperless account opening process, done in 8 minutes. After communicating the main product features and value proposition, the deck further conceptualizes what traction the product got so far using data visualizations. The only thing it lacks is a solid call-to-action for closing slides as the current ending feels a bit abrupt. 

2. WeWork Pitch Deck

Business Presentation Example by WeWork

For a Series D round, WeWork went with a more formal business presentation. It starts with laying down the general company information and then transitions to explaining their business model, current market conditions, and the company’s position on the market.

The good thing about this deck is that they quantify their business growth prospects and value proposition. The likely gains for investors are shown in concrete numbers. However, those charts go one after another in a row, so it gets a bit challenging to retain all data points. 

The last part of their presentation is focused on a new offering, “We Live”. It explains why the team seeks funds to bring it to life. Likewise, they back their reasoning with market size statistics, sample projects, and a five-year revenue forecast. 

3. Redfin Investor Presentation 

Redfin Investor Presentation for Business. A Technology-Powered Real Estate Company.

If you are looking for a “text-light” business presentation example, Redfin’s investor deck is up to your alley. This simple deck expertly uses iconography, charts, and graphs to break down the company’s business model, value proposition, market share, and competitive advantages over similar startups. For number-oriented investors, this is a great deck design to use. 

4. Google Ready Together Presentation 

This isn’t quite the standard business presentation example per se. But rather an innovative way to create engaging, interactive presentations of customer case studies .

Interactive Online Presentation example by Google, from Customer Insights.  Google Ready Together Presentation.

The short deck features a short video clip from a Google client, 7-11, explaining how they used the company’s marketing technology to digitally transform their operations and introduce a greater degree of marketing automation . The narrated video parts are interrupted by slides featuring catchy stats, contextualizing issues other businesses are facing. Then transitions to explaining through the words of 7-11 CMO, how Google’s technology is helping them overcome the stated shortcomings.

5. Salesforce Business Presentation Example 

This is a great example of an informational presentation, made by the Salesforce team to share their research on customer experience (CX) with prospects and existing customers.

Business Presentation Example by Service Salesforce on How to Know Your Customer. A look into the Future of Customer Experience.

The slide deck errs on the lengthier side with 58 slides total. But bigger topics are broken down and reinforced through bite-sized statistics and quotes from the company leadership. They are also packaging the main tips into memorable formulas, itemized lists, and tables. Overall, this deck is a great example of how you can build a compelling narrative using different statistics. 

6. Mastercard Business Presentation

This slide deck from Mastercard instantly captures the audience’s attention with unusual background images and major data points on the growth of populations, POS systems, and payment methods used in the upcoming decade.

Business Presentation by MasterCard on Technology and Payment solutions. The Unfinished Revolution.

Perhaps to offset the complexity of the subject, Mastercard chose to sprinkle in some humor in presentation texts and used comic-style visuals to supplement that. However, all their animations are made in a similar style, creating a good sense of continuity in design. They are also using colors to signify the transition from one part of the presentation to another. 

In the second part, the slide deck focuses on distilling the core message of what businesses need to do to remain competitive in the new payments landscape. The team presents what they have been working on to expand the payment ecosystem. Then concludes with a “title close” styled call-to-action, mirroring the presentation title.

7. McKinsey Diversity & Inclusion Presentation 

This fresh business slide deck from McKinsey is a great reference point for making persuasive business presentations on complex topics such as D&I. First, it recaps the main definitions of the discussed concepts — diversity, equity, and inclusion — to ensure alignment with the audience members. 

Business Presentation Example by McKinsey Company on Diversity Wins: How inclusion matters.

Next, the business presentation deck focuses on the severity and importance of the issue for businesses, represented through a series of graphs and charts. After articulating the “why”, the narrative switches to “how” — how leaders can benefit from investment in D&I. The main points are further backed with data and illustrated via examples. 

8. Accenture Presentation for the Energy Sector

Similar to McKinsey, Accenture keeps its slide deck on a short. Yet the team packs a punch within each slide through using a mix of fonts, graphical elements, and color for highlighting the core information. The presentation copy is on a longer side, prompting the audience to dwell on reading the slides. But perhaps this was meant by design as the presentation was also distributed online — via the company blog and social media. 

Business Presentation Example by Accenture on Accelerating Innovation in Energy.

The last several slides of the presentation deck focus on articulating the value Accenture can deliver for their clients in the Energy sector. They expertly break down their main value proposition and key service lines, plus quantify the benefits. 

9. Amazon Web Services (AWS) Technical Presentation 

Giving an engaging technical presentation isn’t an easy task. You have to balance the number of details you reveal on your slides to prevent overwhelm, while also making sure that you don’t leave out any crucial deets. This technical presentation from AWS does great in both departments. 

Business Presentation created by AWS explaining how to build forecasting using ML/DL algorithms.

First, you get entertained with a quick overview of Amazon’s progress in machine learning (ML) forecasting capabilities over the last decade. Then introduced to the main tech offering. The deck further explains what you need to get started with Amazon Forecast — e.g. dataset requirements, supported forecasting scenarios, available forecasting models, etc. 

The second half of the presentation provides a quick training snippet on configuring Amazon SageMaker to start your first project. The step-by-step instructions are coherent and well-organized, making the reader excited to test-drive the product. 

10. Snapchat Company Presentation

Snapchat’s business model presentation is on a funkier, more casual side, reflective of the company’s overall brand and positioning. After briefly recapping what they do, the slide deck switches to discussing the company’s financials and revenue streams.

business communication topics for presentation

This business slide deck by Snap Inc. itself is rather simplistic and lacks fancy design elements. But it has a strong unified theme of showing the audience Snapchat’s position on the market and projected vector of business development. 

11. Visa Business Acquisition Presentation 

VISA Acquisition of Plaid Business presentation.

If you are working on a business plan or M&A presentation for stakeholders of your own, this example from Visa will be helpful. The presentation deck expertly breaks down the company’s rationale for purchasing Plaid and subsequent plans for integrating the startup into their business ecosystem. 

The business deck recaps why the Plaid acquisition is a solid strategic decision by highlighting the total addressable market they could dive into post-deal. Then it details Plaid’s competitive strengths. The slide deck then sums up all the monetary and indirect gains Visa could reap as an acquirer. 

12. Pinterest Earnings Report Presentation 

Pinterest Business Presentation Example with Annual Report

Annual reports and especially earnings presentations might not be the most exciting types of documents to work on, but they have immense strategic value. Hence, there’s little room for ambiguities or mistakes. 

In twelve slides, this business presentation from Pinterest clearly communicates the big picture of the company’s finance in 2021. All the key numbers are represented as featured quotes in the sidebar with diagrams further showcasing the earning and spending dynamics. Overall, the data is easy to interpret even for non-finance folks. 

To Conclude 

With these business presentation design tips, presentation templates , and examples, you can go from overwhelmed to confident about your next presentation design in a matter of hours. Focus on creating a rough draft first using a template. Then work on nailing your opening slide sequence and shortening the texts in the main part of your presentation when needed. Make sure that each slide serves a clear purpose and communicates important details. To make your business presentation deck more concise, remove anything that does not pertain to the topic. 

Finally, once you are done, share your business presentation with other team members to get their feedback and reiterate the final design.

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Business Presentations, Corporate Presentations, Design, Design Inspiration, Examples, Executive Reports, Inspiration, Presentation Ideas Filed under Business

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Powerful and Effective Presentation Skills: More in Demand Now Than Ever

business communication topics for presentation

When we talk with our L&D colleagues from around the globe, we often hear that presentation skills training is one of the top opportunities they’re looking to provide their learners. And this holds true whether their learners are individual contributors, people managers, or senior leaders. This is not surprising.

Effective communications skills are a powerful career activator, and most of us are called upon to communicate in some type of formal presentation mode at some point along the way.

For instance, you might be asked to brief management on market research results, walk your team through a new process, lay out the new budget, or explain a new product to a client or prospect. Or you may want to build support for a new idea, bring a new employee into the fold, or even just present your achievements to your manager during your performance review.

And now, with so many employees working from home or in hybrid mode, and business travel in decline, there’s a growing need to find new ways to make effective presentations when the audience may be fully virtual or a combination of in person and remote attendees.

Whether you’re making a standup presentation to a large live audience, or a sit-down one-on-one, whether you’re delivering your presentation face to face or virtually, solid presentation skills matter.

Even the most seasoned and accomplished presenters may need to fine-tune or update their skills. Expectations have changed over the last decade or so. Yesterday’s PowerPoint which primarily relied on bulleted points, broken up by the occasional clip-art image, won’t cut it with today’s audience.

The digital revolution has revolutionized the way people want to receive information. People expect presentations that are more visually interesting. They expect to see data, metrics that support assertions. And now, with so many previously in-person meetings occurring virtually, there’s an entirely new level of technical preparedness required.

The leadership development tools and the individual learning opportunities you’re providing should include presentation skills training that covers both the evergreen fundamentals and the up-to-date capabilities that can make or break a presentation.

So, just what should be included in solid presentation skills training? Here’s what I think.

The fundamentals will always apply When it comes to making a powerful and effective presentation, the fundamentals will always apply. You need to understand your objective. Is it strictly to convey information, so that your audience’s knowledge is increased? Is it to persuade your audience to take some action? Is it to convince people to support your idea? Once you understand what your objective is, you need to define your central message. There may be a lot of things you want to share with your audience during your presentation, but find – and stick with – the core, the most important point you want them to walk away with. And make sure that your message is clear and compelling.

You also need to tailor your presentation to your audience. Who are they and what might they be expecting? Say you’re giving a product pitch to a client. A technical team may be interested in a lot of nitty-gritty product detail. The business side will no doubt be more interested in what returns they can expect on their investment.

Another consideration is the setting: is this a formal presentation to a large audience with questions reserved for the end, or a presentation in a smaller setting where there’s the possibility for conversation throughout? Is your presentation virtual or in-person? To be delivered individually or as a group? What time of the day will you be speaking? Will there be others speaking before you and might that impact how your message will be received?

Once these fundamentals are established, you’re in building mode. What are the specific points you want to share that will help you best meet your objective and get across your core message? Now figure out how to convey those points in the clearest, most straightforward, and succinct way. This doesn’t mean that your presentation has to be a series of clipped bullet points. No one wants to sit through a presentation in which the presenter reads through what’s on the slide. You can get your points across using stories, fact, diagrams, videos, props, and other types of media.

Visual design matters While you don’t want to clutter up your presentation with too many visual elements that don’t serve your objective and can be distracting, using a variety of visual formats to convey your core message will make your presentation more memorable than slides filled with text. A couple of tips: avoid images that are cliched and overdone. Be careful not to mix up too many different types of images. If you’re using photos, stick with photos. If you’re using drawn images, keep the style consistent. When data are presented, stay consistent with colors and fonts from one type of chart to the next. Keep things clear and simple, using data to support key points without overwhelming your audience with too much information. And don’t assume that your audience is composed of statisticians (unless, of course, it is).

When presenting qualitative data, brief videos provide a way to engage your audience and create emotional connection and impact. Word clouds are another way to get qualitative data across.

Practice makes perfect You’ve pulled together a perfect presentation. But it likely won’t be perfect unless it’s well delivered. So don’t forget to practice your presentation ahead of time. Pro tip: record yourself as you practice out loud. This will force you to think through what you’re going to say for each element of your presentation. And watching your recording will help you identify your mistakes—such as fidgeting, using too many fillers (such as “umm,” or “like”), or speaking too fast.

A key element of your preparation should involve anticipating any technical difficulties. If you’ve embedded videos, make sure they work. If you’re presenting virtually, make sure that the lighting is good, and that your speaker and camera are working. Whether presenting in person or virtually, get there early enough to work out any technical glitches before your presentation is scheduled to begin. Few things are a bigger audience turn-off than sitting there watching the presenter struggle with the delivery mechanisms!

Finally, be kind to yourself. Despite thorough preparation and practice, sometimes, things go wrong, and you need to recover in the moment, adapt, and carry on. It’s unlikely that you’ll have caused any lasting damage and the important thing is to learn from your experience, so your next presentation is stronger.

How are you providing presentation skills training for your learners?

Manika Gandhi is Senior Learning Design Manager at Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning. Email her at [email protected] .

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Chapter 18: Business Presentations

Venecia Williams and Olds College

Learning Objectives

  • Understand how to use effective interpersonal communication skills in professional presentations
  • Learn how to organize a presentation
  • Examine how to use visual aids effectively
  • Discuss the effective integration of communication and presentation techniques in the delivery of professional presentations

Along with good writing skills, the ability to communicate verbally is vital to many employers today. It is an integral part of the modern business world. People in the workplace spend the majority of their time communicating. Verbal communication in the workplace takes many forms such as staff meetings, discussions, speeches, presentations, informal conversations, and telephone and video conferences. Communicating verbally is more personal and flexible than writing. It allows workers to exchange ideas, information, and feedback more quickly. Verbal communication tends to occur in person, making it easier to negotiate, express emotions, outline expectations, and build trust, all of which are important in today’s workplace. Communication can also occur between people who are not together in person. In these situations, unique skills are necessary to achieve success. Simple conversation skills are also valued in the workplace, but this does not mean using casual or informal language. Rather, what is prized by many employers is the ability to communicate important information professionally but in a meaningful and understandable way. This can be important when making spontaneous presentations as well as more elaborate formal group presentations, which are a part of many work roles today.

What Makes a Successful Speaker?

According to longtime Toastmasters member Bob Kienzle, there are a few key elements that tend to make a successful speaker:

  • Voice : Can the person be easily understood?
  • Body Language : Does their body support what they’re saying? Are they confident?
  • Coherent Structure: Does what they’re presenting make sense? Is it logical?
  • Enthusiasm : Do they care about what they’re presenting?
  • Expertise: Do they know what they’re talking about? Are they credible?
  • Practice : If they haven’t practised or sufficiently prepared, it will likely show up in one or more of the above.

A successful speaker can be inspired by other speeches or speakers but may fall flat if they try to copy someone else. Authenticity and passion can resonate so much with an audience that it can outweigh elements otherwise considered pitfalls. The techniques, tools, and best practices are a guideline, and it’s important to note there is no such thing as “perfection” in public speaking. “Failure” can happen in myriad ways, but it’s more helpful to see them as learning opportunities, or opportunities to make a stronger connection to your audience. The biggest failure, according to Kienzle, is to pass up opportunities to practise your skills in presenting or public speaking.

Preparing a Presentation

Develop your message while keeping in mind the format, audience, style , and tone . First, you’ll need to think about the format of your presentation. This is a choice between presentation types. In your professional life, you’ll encounter the verbal communication channels in Figure 18.1. The purpose column labels each channel with a purpose (I=Inform, P=Persuade, or E=Entertain) depending on that channel’s most likely purpose.

One-to-many Formal Low. One-sided I, P, E
One/ Few-to-many Formal Variable. Often includes Q&A I, P, E
Few-to-many Formal High. Q&A-based. I, P
Group Informal High. I, P
Group Informal High. I, P
One-to-many Informal High. Collaborative. I (Educate)
One-to-many Formal Low. I
One-to-many Formal Low. Recorded I, P, E

Figure 18.1 | Presentation Communication Channels

There are some other considerations to make when you are selecting a format. For example, the number of speakers may influence the format you choose. Panels and Presentations may have more than one speaker. In Meetings and Teleconferences, multiple people will converse. In a Workshop setting, one person will usually lead the event, but there is often a high-level of collaboration between participants. The location of participants will also influence your decision. For example, if participants cannot all be in the same room, you might choose a teleconference or webinar. If asynchronous delivery is important, you might record a podcast. When choosing a technology-reliant channel, such as a teleconference or webinar, be sure to test your equipment and make sure each participant has access to any materials they need before you begin.

Once you have chosen a format, make sure your message is right for your audience. You’ll need to think about issues such as the following:

  • What expectations will the audience have?
  • What is the context of your communication?
  • What does the audience already know about the topic?
  • How is the audience likely to react to you and your message?

Next, you’ll consider the style of your presentation. Analyze your specific presentation styles. Perhaps you prefer to present formally, limiting your interaction with the audience, or perhaps you prefer a more conversational, informal style, where discussion is a key element. You may prefer to cover serious subjects, or perhaps you enjoy delivering humorous speeches. Style is all about your personality!

Finally, you’ll select a tone for your presentation. Your voice, body language, level of self-confidence, dress, and use of space all contribute to the mood that your message takes on. Consider how you want your audience to feel when they leave your presentation and approach it with that mood in mind.

Presentation Purpose

Your presentation will have a general and specific purpose. Your general purpose may be to inform, persuade, or entertain. It’s likely that any speech you develop will have a combination of these goals. Most presentations have a little bit of entertainment value, even if they are primarily attempting to inform or persuade. For example, the speaker might begin with a joke or dramatic opening, even though their speech is primarily informational. Your specific purpose addresses what you are going to inform, persuade, or entertain your audience with the main topic of your speech.

Incorporating Backchannels

Technology has given speakers new ways to engage with an audience in real-time, and these can be particularly useful when it isn’t practical for the audience to share their thoughts verbally—for example, when the audience is very large, or when they are not all in the same location. These secondary or additional means of interacting with your audience are called backchannels, and you might decide to incorporate one into your presentation, depending on your aims. They can be helpful for engaging more introverted members of the audience who may not be comfortable speaking out verbally in a large group. Using publicly accessible social networks, such as a Facebook Page or Twitter feed, can also help to spread your message to a wider audience, as audience members share posts related to your speech with their networks. Because of this, backchannels are often incorporated into conferences; they are helpful in marketing the conference and its speakers both during and after the event.

Developing the Content

As with any type of messaging, it helps if you create an outline of your speech or presentation before you create it fully. This ensures that each element is in the right place and gives you a place to start to avoid the dreaded blank page. Figure 18.2 is an outline template that you can adapt for your purpose. Replace the placeholders in the Content column with your ideas or points.

Introduction
 

 

Body

 

 

Conclusion

Figure `18.2 | Presentation Outline

Introduction

The beginning of your speech needs an attention-grabber to get your audience interested right away. Choose your attention-grabbing device based on what works best for your topic. Your entire introduction should only be around 10 to 15 percent of your total speech, so be sure to keep this section short. Here are some devices that you could try:

– to the point, but not the most interesting choice.
– highlights something common to the audience that will make them interested in the topic.
– wise words of another person. You can find quotations online that cover just about any topic.
– refer to a current event in the news that demonstrates the relevance of your topic to the audience.
– Compare or contrast your topic with an occasion in history.
– An anecdote is a brief account or story of an interesting or humorous event, while a parable or fable is a symbolic tale designed to teach a life lesson.
– A strange fact or statistic related to your topic that startles your audience.
– You could ask either a question that asks for a response from your audience, or a rhetorical question, which does not need a response but is designed to get them thinking about the topic.
– A joke or humorous quotation can work well, but to use humour you need to be sure that your audience will find the comment funny. You run the risk of insulting members of the audience, or leaving them puzzled if they don’t get the joke, so test it out on someone else first!
– Refer to a story about yourself that is relevant to the topic.

After the attention-getter comes the rest of your introduction. It needs to do the following:

  • Capture the audience’s interest
  • State the purpose of your speech
  • Establish credibility
  • Give the audience a reason to listen
  • Signpost the main ideas

Once you have identified an attention-getting, it is time to develop the body of your presentation or speech. In your body, you will focus on the specific points you would like to communicate to your audience.

Rhetoric and Argument:  Your audience will think to themselves, Why should I listen to this speech? What’s in it for me? One of the best things you can do as a speaker is to answer these questions early in your body, if you haven’t already done so in your introduction. This will serve to gain their support early and will fill in the blanks of who, what, when, where, why, and how in their minds.

Organization: An organized body helps your audience to follow your speech and recall your points later. When developing the body of your speech, recall the specific purpose you decided on, then choose main points to support it. Just two or three main points are usually sufficient, depending on the length of your speech. Anticipate one main point per two to three minutes of speaking.

Concluding on a High Note

You’ll need to keep your energy up until the very end of your speech. In your conclusion, your job is to let the audience know you are finished, help them remember what you’ve told them, and leave them with a final thought or call-to-action, depending on the general purpose of your message.

Presentation Aids

Presentations can be enhanced by the effective use of visual aids. These include handouts, overhead transparencies, drawings on the whiteboard, PowerPoint slides, and many other types of props. Once you have chosen a topic, consider how you are going to show your audience what you are talking about. Visuals can provide a reference, illustration, or image to help the audience to understand and remember your point.

Visual aids accomplish several goals:

  • Make your speech more interesting
  • Enhance your credibility as a speaker
  • Guide transitions, helping the audience stay on track
  • Communicate complex information in a short time
  • Reinforce your message
  • Encourage retention

Methods and Materials

There are many different presentation aids available. Before you decide on a presentation aid, think carefully about how you plan on using it and how it will enhance your presentation.

The most common visual aid used in presentations, slide decks may be developed using software such as PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi, or Google Slides. These tools allow you to show text, images, and charts and even to play audio or video files. They are an excellent enhancement to your presentation,

Flip charts and whiteboards are a good choice when you don’t have access to a computer and projector. Alternatively, you can print some visual aids like charts and graphs in large sizes and show them during your presentation. If you plan to get a lot of audience input and want to write or draw things out, then a whiteboard is an ideal choice.

If it will be helpful for your audience to refer to the information you’re sharing at a later date, they’ll appreciate it if you leave them with a handout. But never give handouts to the audience at the beginning of your speech. They will be distracted by reading and tune you out.

If your presentation is about how to do something, for example, how to cook a particular dish or how to use a tool, you will want to show the audience a demonstration. Sometimes it is helpful to pass around a tactile aid, for example, a model. These can be very helpful if you want your audience to learn by doing

Using Visual Aids

Visual aids can be a powerful tool when used effectively but can run the risk of dominating your presentation. Consider your audience and how the portrayal of images, text, graphic, animated sequences, or sound files will contribute or detract from your presentation. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you prepare yours.

Designing Slide Decks

When you design your slide decks, you might be overwhelmed by the possibilities, and you might be tempted to use all the bells, whistles, and sounds, not to mention the flying, and animated graphics. If used wisely, a simple transition can be effective, but if used indiscriminately, it can annoy the audience to the point where they cringe in anticipation of the sound effect at the start of each slide.

Stick to one main idea per slide. The presentation is for the audience’s benefit, not yours. Pictures and images can be understood more quickly and easily than text, so you can use this to your advantage as you present.

If you develop a slide deck for your presentation, test these out in the location beforehand, not just on your own computer screen, as different computers and software versions can make your slides look different than you expected. Allow time for revision based on what you learn.

Your visual aids should meet the following criteria:

  • Big: legible for everyone, even the back row
  • Clear: easy for audience to understand
  • Simple: simplify concepts rather than complicating them
  • Consistent: use the same visual style throughout

business communication topics for presentation

In Figure 18.3 the slide deck on the left has a colour combination which makes the information difficult to understand. The list is not parallel and the slide contains a grammatical error. The slide deck on the right is an improved and more professional version.

Another consideration that you’ll need to make when designing your slide decks is font. As previously mentioned, think about the people at the back of the room when choosing the size of your text, to make sure it can be read by everyone. A common mistake that presenters make is to use decorative fonts or to incorporate many different fonts in their slides. This not only creates a mixed message for the audience but also makes your message difficult to read. Choose legible, common fonts that do not have thin elements that may be difficult to see.

When considering your choice of colours to use, legibility must be your priority. Contrast can help the audience read your key terms more easily. Make sure the background colour and the images you plan to use complement each other. Repeat colours, from your graphics to your text, to help unify each slide. To reduce visual noise, try not to use more than two or three colours. Blue-green colour blindness, and red-green colour blindness are fairly common, so avoid using these colour combinations if it is important for the audience to differentiate between them. If you are using a pie chart, for example, avoid putting a blue segment next to a green one. Use labelling so that even if someone is colour blind, they will be able to tell the relative sizes of the pie segments and what they signify.

Colour is also a matter of culture. Some colours may be perceived as formal or informal, or masculine or feminine. Certain colours have understood meanings; for example, red is usually associated with danger, while green signals “go.” Make sure the colours you use align with your message. If you are discussing climate change or the natural world, for example, you’d be more likely to use blues and greens rather than metallic colours to avoid confusing the audience.

Once you have prepared your visual aid, do not forget to revise. There is nothing more uncomfortable than seeing a typo or grammatical error on your screen in the middle of your presentation. These errors can create a bad impression and affect your credibility with the audience. You want your audience to focus on your message so be sure to revise to maintain the audience’s attention and keep your credibility.

Preparing to Present

You are almost ready to deliver your presentation. What are some final elements you can focus on to ensure a smooth delivery?

To deliver your presentation to the best of your ability, and to reduce your nerves once you take the stage, you need to practise by rehearsing. As you do, try to identify the weaknesses in your delivery to improve on them. For example, do you often misspeak the same words (e.g., pacific for specific; ax for ask) or do your hands or feet fidget? Use your practice time to focus on correcting these issues. These sessions should help you get comfortable and help you remember what you want to say without having to constantly refer to notes. Try practising in front of a mirror, or even recording yourself speaking to a camera and playing it back. It’s also helpful to get feedback from a supportive audience at this stage. Perhaps a few family members or friends could watch you give your presentation and provide some feedback.

Dress for Success

While there are no definitive guidelines for how you should dress for your presentation, your appearance is an important part of your audience’s first impression. If you want them to take you seriously, you’ll need to look the part. While you don’t have to wear a suit each time you present, there are some scenarios where this would be expected; for example, if you are presenting to a corporate audience who wear suits to work, you should do the same. You should dress one step above your audience. If your audience is going to be dressed casually in shorts and jeans, then wear nice casual clothing such as a pair of pressed slacks and a collared shirt or blouse. If your audience is going to be wearing business casual attire, then you should wear a dress or a suit. The general rule is to avoid any distractions in your appearance that can distract your audience’s attention from your message.

Set Up Your Environment

Depending on the circumstances of your speech or presentation, you may have some choices to make about the environment. Perhaps you have a choice of meeting rooms that you can use, or, perhaps you have only one option. If you have some flexibility, it is helpful to think about what sort of environment would best help you get your message across. For example, if you are running a workshop, you might want to assemble participants in a circle to encourage collaboration and discussion. If you are holding a webinar, you’ll need a quiet location with a strong Internet connection and a computer system. It is imperative that you think about what facilities you need well before the day of your presentation arrives. Arriving to find that the equipment you expected isn’t available is not a nice surprise for even the most experienced speaker!

If you have access to the location beforehand, you may need to move tables or chairs around to get things just the way you want them. You might choose to have a podium brought in, if you are aiming for a formal feel, for example, or you may need to position your flip chart. Double-check that you have all the equipment you need, from whiteboard markers to speakers. It is far better if you can get comfortable with the room before your audience arrives, as this will make you feel more prepared and less nervous.

If you are using technology to support your presentation (i.e., PowerPoint slides or a projector), test everything before you begin. Do a microphone check and test its volume, view your slides on the computer you will be using, check any weblinks, play videos to test their sound, or make a call to test the phone connection prior to your teleconference. Your audience will get restless quickly if they arrive and are expected to wait while you fix a technical problem. This will also make you seem disorganized and hurt your credibility as an authoritative speaker.

During the Presentation

You’ve organized your presentation with great visuals and you are ready to present. You now have to deliver your presentation. How do you effectively deliver your presentation calmly and clearly?

Managing Anxiety

Studies have been done to assess how nervous or stressful people typically get during presentations, by examining people’s physiological responses at three intervals: one minute before the presentation, the first minute of the speech, and the last minute of the speech. They discovered that nervousness usually peaked at the anticipation stage that occurs one minute before the presentation. They further found that as the speech progresses, nervousness tends to go down. Here are some things you can do to help you manage your anxiety before the presentation:

  • Practice/rehearse in similar conditions/setting as your speech
  • Be organized
  • Think positively
  • Analyze your audience
  • Adapt your language to speaking style

During the presentation, there are four main areas where you can focus attention in order to manage your anxiety:

  • Your body’s reaction
  • Attention to the audience
  • Keeping a sense of humour
  • Common stress management techniques

Your Body’s Reaction

Physical movement helps to channel some of the excess energy that your body produces in response to anxiety. If at all possible, move around the front of the room rather than remaining behind the lectern or gripping it for dear life (avoid pacing nervously from side to side, however). Move closer to the audience and then stop for a moment. If you are afraid that moving away from the lectern will reveal your shaking hands, use note cards rather than a sheet of paper for your outline. Note cards do not quiver like paper, and they provide you with something to do with your hands. Other options include vocal warm-ups right before your speech, having water (preferably in a non-spillable bottle with a spout) nearby for dry mouth, and doing a few stretches before going on stage. Deep breathing will help to counteract the effects of excess adrenaline. You can place cues or symbols in your notes, such as “slow down” or “smile”, that remind you to pause and breathe during points in your speech. It is also a good idea to pause a moment before you get started to set an appropriate pace from the onset. Look at your audience and smile. It is a reflex for some of your audience members to smile back. Those smiles will reassure you that your audience members are friendly.

Attention to the Audience

During your speech, make a point of establishing direct eye contact with your audience members. By looking at individuals, you establish a series of one-to-one contacts similar to interpersonal communication. An audience becomes much less threatening when you think of them not as an anonymous mass but as a collection of individuals.

Keeping a Sense of Humour

No matter how well we plan, unexpected things happen. That fact is what makes the public speaking situation so interesting. If things go wrong, try to have a sense of humour and stay calm. The audience will respond better if you stay calm than if you get upset or have a breakdown.

Stress Management Techniques

Even when we use positive thinking and are well prepared, some of us still feel a great deal of anxiety about public speaking. When that is the case, it can be more helpful to use stress management than to try to make the anxiety go away. Here are two main tools that can help:

  • Visualization: imagining the details of what a successful speech would look and sound like from beginning to end; a way of hypnotizing yourself into positive thinking by using your mind’s eye to make success real.
  • Systematic desensitization: Gradual exposure to the thing that causes fear—in this case, giving a speech—can ultimately lead to decreased anxiety. Basically, the more practice you get speaking in front of people, the less fear and anxiety you’ll have about public speaking. Organizations like Toastmasters that help people confront their fears by providing a supportive environment to learn and practise is a good option if you have a true phobia around presenting or public speaking.

Focus on Verbal Communication Techniques

  • Pitch : Use pitch inflections to make your delivery more interesting and emphatic. If you don’t change pitch at all, your delivery will be monotone, which gets boring for the audience very quickly.
  • Volume : Adjust the volume of your voice to your environment and audience. If you’re in a large auditorium, speak up so that people in the back row can hear you. But if you’re in a small room with only a few people, you don’t want to alarm them by shouting!
  • Emphasis : Stress certain words in your speech to add emphasis to them, that is, to indicate that they are particularly important.
  • Pronunciation : Make sure that you know the appropriate pronunciation of the words you choose. If you mispronounce a word, it could hurt your credibility or confuse your audience. Your pronunciation is also influenced by your accent. If your accent is quite different from the accent you expect most members of your audience to have, practise your speech in front of someone with the same accent that your audience members will have, to ensure you are pronouncing words in a clear, understandable way.
  • Fillers : Avoid the use of “fillers” as placeholders for actual words (like, er, um, uh, etc.). If you have a habit of using fillers, practise your speech thoroughly so that you remember what you want to say. This way, you are less likely to lose your place and let a filler word slip out.
  • Rate : The pace that you speak at will influence how well the audience can understand you. Many people speak quickly when they are nervous. If this is a habit of yours, practice will help you here, too. Pause for breath naturally during your speech. Your speaking rate should be appropriate for your topic. A rapid, lively rate communicates enthusiasm, urgency, or humour. A slower, moderated rate conveys respect and seriousness.

Focus on Non-verbal Communication Techniques

  • Gestures : You can use your hands or head to help you express an idea or meaning, or reinforce important points, but they can be distracting if overused. If the audience is busy watching your hands fly around, they will not be able to concentrate on your words.
  • Facial Expression : Rehearse your speech in front of a mirror to see what facial expressions come across. If you are speaking about an upbeat topic, smile! Conversely, if your topic is serious or solemn, avoid facial expressions that are overtly cheerful, because the audience will be confused by the mixed message. In North American culture, the most important facial expression you can use is eye contact. Briefly catch the eye of audience members as you move through your speech. If you can’t look your audience members in the eye, they may view you as untrustworthy. You’ll want to avoid holding eye contact for too long with any one person, as too much can be unnerving.
  • Posture : Try to stay conscious of your posture and stand up straight. This gives the audience the perception that you are authoritative and take your position seriously. If you are slouching, hunched over, or leaning on something, this gives the impression that you are anxious, lacking in credibility, or not serious about your message.
  • Silence : Silence is a powerful technique if used well. Pauses are useful for emphasis and dramatic effect when you are speaking. Some speakers are reluctant to pause or use silence because they become uncomfortable with the dead air, but sometimes your audience needs a moment to process information and respond to you.
  • Movement : You can use your body movements to communicate positively with the audience. Leaning in or moving closer to the audience helps to bridge the space of separation. Moving from one side of the room to the other in a purposeful way that supports your content is a useful way to keep your audience engaged; their eyes will track your movements. However, pacing rapidly with no purpose and no support to your message may quickly distract from your message.

Coping with Mistakes and Surprises

Even the most prepared speaker will encounter unexpected challenges from time to time. Here are a few strategies for combating the unexpected in your own presentations.

Speech Content Issues

What if a notecard goes missing or you skip important information from the beginning of your speech? Pause for a moment to think about what to do. Is it important to include the missing information, or can it be omitted without hindering the audience’s ability to understand your speech? If it needs to be included, does the information fit better now or in a later segment? If you can move on without the missing element, that is often the best choice, but pausing for a few seconds to decide will be less distracting to the audience than sputtering through a few “ums” and “uhs.” Situations like these demonstrate why it’s a good idea to have a glass of water with you when you speak. Pausing for a moment to take a sip of water is a perfectly natural movement, so the audience may not even notice that anything is amiss.

Technical Difficulties

Technology has become a very useful aid in public speaking, allowing us to use audio or video clips, presentation software, or direct links to websites. But it does break down occasionally! Web servers go offline, files will not download, or media contents are incompatible with the computer in the presentation room. Always have a backup plan in case of technical difficulties. As you develop your speech and visual aids, think through what you will do if you cannot show a particular graph or if your presentation slides are garbled. Your beautifully prepared chart may be superior to the verbal description you can provide. However, your ability to provide a succinct verbal description when technology fails will give your audience the information they need and keep your speech moving forward.

External Distractions

Unfortunately, one thing that you can’t control during your speech is audience etiquette, but you can decide how to react to it. Inevitably, an audience member will walk in late, a cell phone will ring, or a car alarm will go off outside. If you are interrupted by external events like these, it is often useful and sometimes necessary to pause and wait so that you can regain the audience’s attention. Whatever the event, maintain your composure. Do not get upset or angry about these glitches. If you keep your cool and quickly implement a “plan B” for moving forward, your audience will be impressed.

Reading Your Audience

Recognizing your audience’s mood by observing their body language can help you adjust your message and see who agrees with you, who doesn’t, and who is still deciding. With this information, you can direct your attention—including eye contact and questions—to the areas of the room where they can have the most impact. As the speaker, you are conscious that you are being observed. But your audience members probably don’t think of themselves as being observed, so their body language will be easy to read.

Handling Q&A

Question-and-answer sessions can be trickier to manage than the presentation itself. You can prepare for and rehearse the presentation, but audience members could ask a question you hadn’t considered or don’t know how to answer. There are three important elements to think about when incorporating Q&As as part of your presentation:

1. Audience Expectations

At the beginning of your speech, give the audience a little bit of information about who you are and what your expertise on the subject is. Once they know what you do (and what you know), it will be easier for the audience to align their questions with your area of expertise—and for you to bow out of answering questions that are outside of your area.

2. Timing of Q&As

Questions are easier to manage when you are expecting them. Unless you are part of a panel, meeting, or teleconference, it is probably easier to let the audience know that you will take questions at the end of your presentation. This way you can avoid interruptions to your speech that can distract you and cause you to lose time. If audience members interrupt during your talk, you can then ask them politely to hold on to their questions until the Q&A session at the end.

3. Knowing How to Respond

Never pretend that you know the answer to a question if you don’t. The audience will pick up on it! Instead, calmly apologize and say that the question is outside of the scope of your knowledge but that you’d be happy to find out after the presentation (or, suggest some resources where the person could find out for themselves). If you are uncertain about how to answer a question, say something like “That’s really interesting. Could you elaborate on that?” This will make the audience member feel good because they have asked an interesting question, and it will give you a moment to comprehend what they are asking. Sometimes presenters rush to answer a question because they are nervous or want to impress. Pause for a moment, before you begin your answer, to think about what you want to say. This will help you to avoid misinterpreting the question or taking offense to a question that is not intended that way.

A final tip is to be cautious about how you answer so that you don’t offend your audience. You are presenting on a topic because you are knowledgeable about it, but your audience is not. It is important not to make the audience feel inferior because there are things that they don’t know. Avoid comments such as “Oh, yes, it’s really easy to do that…” Instead, say something like “Yes, that can be tricky. I would recommend…” Also, avoid a bossy tone. For example, phrase your response with “What I find helpful is…” rather than “What you should do is…”

Good presentation skills are important to successfully communicate ideas in business. Make sure your presentation has a clear topic with relevant supporting details. Use verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to make your presentation engaging, and don’t forget to practice!

End of Chapter Activities

18a. thinking about the content.

What are your key takeaways from this chapter? What is something you have learned or something you would like to add from your experience?

18b. Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions

  • How can a speaker prepare a presentation for a diverse audience? Explain and give some specific examples.
  • How can an audience’s prior knowledge affect a presentation?
  • Think of someone you have met but do not know very well. What kinds of conversations have you had with this person? How might you expect your conversations to change if you have more opportunities to get better acquainted? Discuss your thoughts with a classmate.
  • While managing a Q&A session following a presentation, if you find yourself unable to answer a question posed by one of the audience members which tactics can you use to maintain control of the session?

18c. Applying chapter concepts to a situation

Presenting for success

Akhil works at a software development company in White Rock called Blackball Technologies. It is a medium-sized company that allows its employees to dress casually and occasionally work from home. Akhil likes this because his preference is to wear t-shirts and jeans to the office or work from home in his pyjamas.

Blackball recently created a new software program that has the potential to make a huge profit. However, they need investors to fund their latest innovation. The new software was developed using one of Akhil’s ideas; therefore, the company chooses him to present their proposal to a diverse group of investors from several countries.

Some of the investors are not fluent in English as it is their second language. Additionally, they each have a busy day ahead as they have to listen to proposals from multiple companies. Akhil fears that the investors will not understand him. He is also nervous about the presentation due to its significance to his career. If he is successful, he will get the promotion that he has wanted for the past two years and a pay raise.

What are some of the things that Akhil should consider when presenting to the investors? 

18d. Writing Activity

Watch this video from TED.com on The Secret Structure of Great Talks . Summarize the video. What is the most interesting point made by Nancy Duarte in your opinion?

Attribution

Content attribution.

This chapter contains information from Professional Communications OER by the Olds College OER Development Team used under a CC-BY 4.0 international license.

This chapter contains information from Business Communication for Success  which is adapted from a work produced and distributed under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-SA) in 2010 by a publisher who has requested that they and the original author not receive attribution. This adapted edition is produced by the  University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing  through the  eLearning Support Initiative .

Media Attribution

Presentation icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com .

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Chapter 18: Business Presentations Copyright © 2020 by Venecia Williams and Olds College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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More From Forbes

A guide for mastering the art of business communication.

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President & Founder at APS Global Partners Inc. | President & Founder at Medias Health Inc.| Forbes Business Council Influencer.

Effective communication is crucial for success in today's dynamic business landscape—enabling idea conveyance, collaboration and relationship-building with clients and colleagues. Here are some strategies and best practices to empower your entrepreneurship journey.

The Pillars Of Business Communication

Business communication encompasses various activities, from written and verbal exchanges to nonverbal cues and interpersonal interactions. Effective business communication is about delivering messages and promoting understanding, trust and cooperation.

• Clarity and precision: One of the fundamental principles of effective business communication is clarity. Ambiguity can lead to misunderstandings and errors that can be costly in business. Whether it's a simple email or an important presentation, strive for clear and concise communication. One trick that I like to use is to revisit my first draft of a message the next day, gaining a fresh perspective to make necessary clarity improvements. Another technique is to ask for feedback from a colleague or trusted peer.

• Active listening: Communication is a two-way street; listening is just as important as speaking. As an entrepreneur, you must be an active listener to truly understand the needs and concerns of your clients, employees and partners.

• Tailoring your message: Different audiences require different approaches. Whether you're speaking with employees, investors, customers or partners, adapt your communication style to cater to their specific needs and preferences. This demonstrates your ability to empathize and connect with your audience. For example, I recently presented to potential partners about the Canadian startup visa program. Rather than diving into details right away, I focused on building trust by sharing success stories of startups launched with my company's help. This allowed me to connect with the audience on a personal level.

• Nonverbal communication: It's not just what you say but also how you say it. Nonverbal cues like body language, facial expressions and tone of voice can convey as much information as words. Pay attention to your nonverbal communication so you can make sure it matches up with your desired message.

Selecting The Right Communication Channels

In today's interconnected world, there are numerous communication channels. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and selecting the appropriate channel for a particular situation is crucial for successful communication.

• Email: Email remains a cornerstone of business communication for sending documents and written updates. Be mindful of email etiquette , respond promptly and use subject lines that convey the essence of the message.

• Meetings and presentations: Face-to-face meetings, whether in person or via video conferencing, provide an opportunity for more personal and interactive communication. They are essential for discussing complex topics, brainstorming and building relationships. When presenting, use visual aids and engage your audience to maintain their interest and drive home key points.

• Instant messaging and collaboration tools: Instant messaging and collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams are indispensable for quick exchanges and collaboration. They allow real-time communication, file sharing and project management.

• Social media: Social media platforms are increasingly vital for businesses to connect with customers and promote their brands. They provide a channel for engagement and feedback, helping you stay relevant and build a loyal customer base. However, it's crucial to maintain a professional image and tone on these platforms. One way I like to ensure a professional tone is to establish clear brand guidelines and ensure that everyone who posts on your behalf follows the guidelines closely. Additionally, reviewing your content before publishing it can help you catch any mistakes or tone issues.

• In-person communication: Don't underestimate the power of in-person communication. Networking events, conferences and business dinners offer opportunities to forge strong personal connections and partnerships.

Common Challenges

Effective communication is not always straightforward. Recognizing the potential challenges is the first step in overcoming them.

• Language barriers: These days, businesses often interact with people from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Language barriers can lead to misunderstandings. To address this, consider offering language training for your team and using translation services when necessary. Personally, I have experienced challenges related to language barriers, especially when communicating with individuals whose primary language is not English. To address this, I have tried to use simple language, avoid idioms and jargon and speak slowly and clearly.

• Cultural differences: Cultural nuances can significantly impact how messages are received. What's acceptable in one culture might be offensive in another. It's essential to be culturally aware and sensitive to the cultural backgrounds of your audience to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.

• Overcommunication: Ironically, overcommunication can be as detrimental as undercommunication. Bombarding people with excessive messages and information can lead to confusion and frustration. Aim to strike the right balance, ensuring the information you convey is relevant and timely.

• Technology overload: While technology has revolutionized communication, it can also be overwhelming. Notifications, emails and messages from various platforms can overload information. Implement strategies to manage and prioritize communication effectively, such as setting designated communication times or using task management tools.

• Lack of feedback: Feedback is crucial for improving communication. Without feedback, you may not be aware of any issues or areas for improvement. Encourage an open feedback culture within your organization, where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns.

The Impact Of Effective Communication

Now, let's explore the profound impact effective business communication can have on your entrepreneurial journey and your business' success.

• Increased productivity: When everyone is on the same page, tasks can be completed more efficiently and with fewer errors.

• Enhanced collaboration: Effective communication fosters teamwork, ensuring that employees work harmoniously towards common goals. Collaboration is essential for innovation and growth, whether within your team or in partnerships with other businesses.

• Improved decision making: When leaders and teams communicate effectively, they can assess situations accurately, identify opportunities and make strategic decisions that benefit the business.

• Customer satisfaction: Effective communication builds trust with your clients. They appreciate timely responses to their inquiries and concerns, making them more likely to remain loyal and recommend your services to others.

Clear and efficient communication drives company growth. Prioritize clarity, active listening and the appropriate communication channels. After all, in business, it's not just about what you know but how you communicate it.

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Top 10 Business Communication Training Presentations

Top 10 Business Communication Training Presentations

Communication refers to the process of sending and receiving information. Business communication training is akin to an applied science of the broad principles of putting your word in. It concerns itself with the key question of how do you operate in different work environments, and what are the challenges and opportunities that your organization faces?

Business communication is categorized into internal, external, verbal, or non-verbal. It is integral to have an effective communication plan in business as it fosters competent management in all the key management disciplines of planning, organizing, directing, etc.

“Effective communication requires more than an exchange of information. When done right, communication fosters understanding, strengthens relationships, improves teamwork and build trust.”

— Kirk Hazlett

WHAT IS BUSINESS COMMUNICATION?

Business communication is more than just sending an email or making a phone call. It's about sharing information with the right people in the right manner. It enables collaboration and improves efficiency of business operations. At an internal or organizational level, it can help in conveying messages clearly, resulting in improved practices, reduced errors, or any other confusion.

A survey by Fierce Inc shows that 86% of employees and executives blame workplace failures on a lack of effective collaboration and communication. Teams that communicate effectively, on the other hand, can increase productivity by up to 25%. Effectiveness business communication, therefore, is a huge need of the business world today.

In this blog, we take you through the A-Z of business communication in a comprehensive, but concise manner. We also explain how business communication training needs to be on the calendar of all organizations.

The top 10 PPT templates that we showcase on business communication training are an integral part of harnessing the power that the discipline gives you.

For starters, the singular goal that any business communication training must achieve is help trainees internalize the ability to understand, adapt, and use language in a purposeful way. This encompasses skills such as verbal and nonverbal communication, listening, perception, persuasion, and negotiation.

The objectives of business communication varies depending on who you're talking to. Effective business communication enables people to work together, irrespective of department or any other siloes, thereby allowing the company to accomplish its goals and objectives.

BASIC ELEMENTS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Some basic preconditions are to be met before business communication actually happens. These are:

  • Business Information

Types of Business Communication

Internal business communication.

When people within an organization communicate with each other, it is known as internal business communication . It includes memos, reports, office orders, circulars, fax, video conferencing, meetings, etc. It is further categorized into three types:

Upward Communication

In upward communication, information flows from lower level to higher level. This bottom-to-top approach in business communication is beneficial in obtaining feedback on organizational functions. It also enables subordinates to convey their concerns and performance to superiors. This method facilitates participatory decision-making. Some examples of upward communication are Grievance Redressal System, Complaint and Suggestion Box, Job Satisfaction surveys, manager feedback surveys, etc.

Downward Communication

In downward communication, information trickles from top to bottom. It is often used in the context of the chain of command, where the message is passed from seniors to subordinates. The message is such communication is work-related information for employees to receive and move towards meeting their objectives. It can also be deployed to provide performance feedback, share vision and mission, etc. Examples of downward communication are organizational publications, circulars, letter to employees, group meetings, etc.

Lateral Communication

Lateral communication occurs at the same level of hierarchy. This approach aids in task coordination and can act as a means of social and emotional assistance.

External Business Communication

When people of an organization communicate with anyone outside the organization, it is known as external communication . It is what and how you reach out to your clients, customers, dealers, distributors, media, etc.

Models of Business Communication

There are a number of models of business communication that are used in workplaces today. These are backed by extensive research; below we have curated a few of these business communication models. Let us have brief idea of each:

  • Aristotle Model: One of the most well-known models is the Aristotle model, which the Greek philosopher proposed in his work "Rhetoric." This model describes three essential elements of communication: The source, the message, and the receiver. The source is the individual who starts the communication; the message is the information that is being communicated; and the receiver is the individual who receives and interprets the message. This model remains relevant for businesses as it helps choose the audience.
  • ABC Model: The ABC model is one of the simplest and most popular models. It focuses on accuracy, brevity, and clarity, making it ideal for straightforward communications such as memos or emails. However, the ABC model is not applicable in more complex situations; especially when multiple stakeholders are involved.
  • AIDA Model: Another popular model of business communication is the AIDA model. AIDA stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action. The model argues that effective communication must get the attention of the audience, generate interest in the message, create a desire for the product or service, and finally prompt the audience to take action. The AIDA model is the favorite of advertisers and sales personnel, as it provides a framework for creating messages that are designed to prompt the audience to take action.
  • PAS Model: The PAS model translates into Problem, Agitate, and Solve. It works by first defining the problem that needs to be solved, then creating an escalating need for that problem to be solved (giving rise to a sense of urgency), and finally offering a solution. The model is effective, but has to be applied with caution, as the target audience could feel manipulated.

BARRIERS IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Barriers in business communication refer to any hindrance or entity that distorts the effectiveness of the messaging. It can be at the either end of the spectrum, i.e., the sender or the receiver. Let’s explore some major barriers to business communication:

  • Physical barriers: Physical barriers are obstacles that prevent people from hearing or seeing each other.
  • Semantic barriers: Semantic barriers is confusion over the meaning of words or symbols.
  • Organizational barriers: Organizational barriers can arise when there is little clarity on goals.
  • Individual barriers: Individual barriers can result from personal factors, such as someone’s beliefs or attitudes.

NUMBERS THAT MATTER: WHY IS BUSINESS COMMUNICATION NEEDED

The need for effective communication is obvious, but even when people believe this, it does not translate into action. 89% of people accept that effective communication is critical; eight of 10 people rate their company's communication as average or poor. 78% of workers feel the need to prioritize communication in their organization.

Realizing the importance of effective communication in business, it is essential to take adequate measures. Providing proper business communication training to your employees is a good way to ensure the same. It will give your employees a boost of confidence and your organization streamlined productivity, efficiency, and consistency.

If only designing the training curriculum was a piece of cake! But our predesigned deck on Business Communication will help you cover every aspect of effective communication with ease. Our hallmark of well-researched content, aesthetic appeal, and interactive design is all there. Let’s begin our quest for the perfect business communication training program here!

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Get off to a flying start to your Business Communication training presentation with this engaging, PPT cover slide. It helps you introduce the topic in an effective manner and arouses curiosity in the audience about what to expect. The image shown compliments the text provided. The holistic image conveys the message that we are on to something important, the deep world of business communication training. Download it now!

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FAQs on Business Communication

What are the 7 Cs of business communication?

The 7 Cs of business communication are Clarity, Conciseness, Consideration, Consistency, Courtesy, Courage, and Correctness. Clarity means that the message communicated is clear and easy to understand. Being brief and to-the-point defines Concise. When you are considerate, you make the effort to match your message to the needs of the receiver of the message. Consistency focuses on using the same style and format throughout your communication. Courtesy means that you maintain a polite and professional tone. Dealing with the Courage component can be tricky as it means communicating honestly, even if it is difficult news. Correctness ensures accurate grammar and staying clear of spelling mistakes. Any piece of effective business communication must have these seven Cs.

What is the importance of business communication?

Good communication is essential for any business to run smoothly. When done properly, business communication helps businesses develop and maintain better relationships with their employees, customers, and other stakeholders. With everyone on the same page, it is easier to make decisions and take action. Good communication also helps to build trust and foster a positive working environment. Customers who feel listened to and understood are more likely to remain loyal to a business. In short, effective communication is vital for businesses of all sizes.

Why is communication important?

Communication refers to the process of conveying information, ideas, and feelings between people. Without communication, we would be unable to express our needs or share our knowledge. We would also be unable to interact, build relationships, or work together to solve problems. In other words, communication is essential for our social and economic development. Good communication skills help us form better relationships, resolve conflicts, and make accurate decisions. When we communicate effectively, we are able to express ourselves clearly and understand others better.

What is effective business communication?

Effective business communication is goal-oriented exchange of information between two or more persons. It involves understanding the needs of the audience and conveying information in a way that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Business communication can take many forms, including face-to-face meetings, teleconferences, memos, and emails. For communication to be effective, it must be timely, accurate, and free from any distractions or confusing jargon. Effective business communication facilitates better collaboration, solves problems, and increase productivity. Ignoring the principles of business communication can lead to miscommunication, misunderstandings, and frustration. Therefore, it is important to take time to plan and execute business communication with due diligence.

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  1. 18 Best Presentation Topics for Business Communication

    Here are some examples of topics related to business communication skills: Sales Communication: Techniques for Persuasive and Effective Sales Communication. Business Etiquette: Best Practices for Professional Behavior in the Workplace. Networking: Building Professional Relationships through Effective Communication.

  2. 15 Useful Presentation Topics for Business Communication

    3. Townhall and its benefits. This is often a forgotten mode of communication in many organisations. In today's modern day of social media and other platforms, it is easy to forget the impact that a townhall can have on the employees of an organisation. An interesting presentation topic for business communication. 4.

  3. 120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience

    Step 3: Be novel. Make sure you either select a new topic or bring an entirely new and unique perspective to an already covered issue. For instance, don't make a presentation on the "best lead generation strategies.". Your audience has probably heard those dozens of times already. Corny.

  4. 15 Unique & Interesting Presentation Topics for Business in 2024

    Here are five quick business presentation topic tips on designing and writing presentations: 1. Tailor the Template to the Topic. Pick a template that was designed with your presentation topic in mind. For example, for a business presentation, choose a business-themed template.

  5. 12 Unique Business Presentation Topics

    Here are 12 exciting business presentation topics to consider: 1. Products. Products, especially newly released products, serve as great presentation topics. A business presentation on products focuses on one particular product or several similar products. New and updated products are fascinating to many people and a presentation is a useful ...

  6. Need a good presentation topic? Here are hundreds of them

    Data. Data visualizations can elevate your presentation from being a good one to a great one. By providing data behind your arguments, you'll appear more trustworthy and confident in your audience's eyes. Add charts, graphs, interactive maps, and more to your presentations with Prezi Design. You can choose from a wide selection of charts ...

  7. What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

    Read more on Business communication or related topics Power and influence, Presentation skills and Public speaking Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of ...

  8. 12 Business Presentation Topics to Explore (With Tips)

    Business communication is a process that employees can perform through various channels, such as e-mails and phone calls. A presentation highlighting various communication channels can help a target audience understand ways to exchange information with others. You can consider the following presentation topics on business communication:

  9. How to Make a "Good" Presentation "Great"

    Read more on Business communication or related topics Presentation skills and Early career Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple.

  10. Business Communication Presentation Topics

    In a growing business environment, marketing and promotions are a popular topic. Prepare a presentation on developing promotions for small business entities. Share ideas on online promotions, grass-roots promotions and effective trade show networking. Bring props, such as examples of an effective trade show booth, or samples of a promotional ...

  11. 10 effective presentation topics for business communications

    And, for presentations to customers, employees, and other executives, the marketing strategy is an important business topic. The public is told by a marketing presentation about your company. This design is great for those interested in submitting their marketing plan. Business Plan : Corporate plans record the long-term and short-term goals. A ...

  12. 105+ Creative Presentation Ideas to Engage Your Audience

    2 Be Minimal. Using a minimal design composition is one of the unique presentation ideas. The trick is to have just enough information and visual details for the viewer to feel comfortable seeing the slides. A minimal design can instill calm and awe in your audience when done right.

  13. The 70 Best Business Topic Ideas for Presentations and Research Papers

    Some of the ideas students can explore for Business Ethics research and presentation include: The impact of gender discrimination on employees' performance. The effects of a company's environmental practices on consumer trust. Examine the repercussions of abuse of laborers in the construction industry.

  14. 200 Business Discussion Topics

    Let's dive into 200 engaging business discussion topics that can help entrepreneurs and professionals exchange knowledge and drive success. The Impact of Globalization on Small Businesses. The Role of Innovation in Sustaining Business Growth. Ethical Decision-Making in Business Management.

  15. 15 Expert Tips for Giving a Powerful Business Presentation

    2 Be enthusiastic. Believe me, vibes matter. No one wants to hear you drone on about a subject you don't care for. If you're tired and bored of your own presentation, your audience is probably feeling the same way. Anyone listening to you should know how passionate you are about the subject.

  16. Guide to Making Great Business Presentations (with Examples)

    Examples of informative presentations: Team briefings presentation. Annual stakeholder report. Quarterly business reviews. Business portfolio presentation. Business plan presentation. Project presentation. Helpful templates from SlideModel: Business plan PowerPoint template.

  17. Powerful and Effective Presentation Skills

    This is not surprising. Effective communications skills are a powerful career activator, and most of us are called upon to communicate in some type of formal presentation mode at some point along the way. For instance, you might be asked to brief management on market research results, walk your team through a new process, lay out the new budget ...

  18. Chapter 18: Business Presentations

    Preparing a Presentation. Develop your message while keeping in mind the format, audience, style, and tone. First, you'll need to think about the format of your presentation. This is a choice between presentation types. In your professional life, you'll encounter the verbal communication channels in Figure 18.1.

  19. How to Make a Compelling Pitch

    It comes down to completing four simple sentence starters: 1) What if you could…. 2) So that…. 3) For example…. 4) And that's not all…. You may not have "marketing" or "sales" in ...

  20. A Guide For Mastering The Art Of Business Communication

    Business communication encompasses various activities, from written and verbal exchanges to nonverbal cues and interpersonal interactions. Effective business communication is about delivering ...

  21. Top 10 Business Communication Training Presentations

    Template 1: Start with the best: business communication training cover slide. Get off to a flying start to your Business Communication training presentation with this engaging, PPT cover slide. It helps you introduce the topic in an effective manner and arouses curiosity in the audience about what to expect.

  22. Business communication

    A new model explains the mental calculations people make before choosing to trust someone. From the September 2006 Issue. Handwritten Notes Are a Rare Commodity. They're Also More Important Than ...

  23. Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation

    You'll learn to write well-organized, clear business documents; to design elegant presentation slides, reports, and posters; and to present and speak with confidence and power. In the final Capstone Project, you'll develop a portfolio of work—including a memo, a slide deck, and a presentation—to showcase your communication skills and ...