I was having a conversation with an executive recently, and they admitted something many of us can relate to: "I’m terrible at giving presentations." They were a seasoned professional, but when presenting in front of others, the nerves would kick in, and their message would get lost in the process. As we talked, I realized how many people—especially those just starting—struggle with the same issue. They want to share their ideas confidently but don’t know where to begin. That’s why I decided to break down the steps to acquiring presentation skills as a total beginner. Whether you're looking to overcome stage fright or refine your delivery, these tips will get you started on the right path.
Look at what’s happening around you,
The learning & development departments want to train employees in presentation skills.
Top executives are registering for one-on-one presentation skills training.
Founders stay obsessed with how to create their pitch decks & craft stories.
Considering these examples, it’s safe to say that presentation & presentation skills are vital. Not just for top executives & founders, but for everybody.
Note: When I say presentation skills, I don’t mean you should be able to create dazzling presentations like a presentation design agency. Let’s face it, if you’re not a presentation designer by trade, you shouldn’t work so hard in perfecting the art. You should absolutely focus on your actual job. So, in this article, we’re referring to basic skills & not advanced ones.
Before we get into why presentation skills are important, let’s look at the formal definition
What are presentation skills?
Presentation skills are the abilities one needs in order to deliver compelling, engaging, informative, transformative, educational, enlightening, and/or instructive presentations. Central to effective presentation skills are public speaking, tone of voice, body language, creativity, and delivery.
What are the types of presentation skills?
In our opinion, great presentations have 3 things — a good design, a brilliant narrative & a confident presenter.
So we can categorize presentation skills into 3 types as well.
(a) Presentation Design Skills
The ability to design decent & presentable PowerPoint slides.
If you can design PowerPoint slides that are properly aligned, on-brand & consistent-looking, you have basic presentation design skills.
(b) Storytelling Skills
The ability to craft a storyline & presentation narrative.
If you can put together how to start a presentation, what to say in between & end it like a pro, you have basic storytelling skills.
(c) Public Speaking skills
The ability to speak confidently in front of friendly or tough audiences.
If you can manage your anxiety, body language & tonal variation, you have basic public speaking skills.
Why are presentation skills important?
1. Good presentations elevate brand image
It’s no secret that well-designed & well-delivered presentations win over audiences. They bring you influence & engagement. When done well, great presentations uplift your brand.
If you think that presentations have no brand association, think again.
Let’s take Airbnb for an example, their pitch deck is one of the most talked about presentations in the entire world. It became so famous that every day people search for its template on Google. Presentation design agencies are making videos & articles talking about its breakdown.
The point is, if you’re a founder, presentation skills help a lot with how you get your points across. It helps you become a known face with investors, potential partners, and stakeholders.
2. Polished presentation skills save time
A recent study showed that professionals spend 5 hours a week designing presentations. Even with design guidelines, there’s no denying the fact that presentation design is frustrating.
Now imagine if your team was well trained in designing slides, how much time they would save? Of course, there are other alternatives to this problem, like outsourcing your presentation design. But, if you’ve decided to keep it in-house, presentation design skills help. It saves time & avoids design burnout as well.
How can you save time with storytelling?
You can keep yourself acquainted with some famous narrative structures like “The Hero’s Journey” or “The Three Act Structure”. With this knowledge, you can put together last-minute stories without professional help.
3. There’s always a presentation emergency
I’m sure you’ve faced an emergency where you’ve had to prepare & deliver within 24 hours or 48 hours. What would you do? Even if you have a go-to presentation design agency, they can’t deliver slide content + slide design on such short notice.
Hence, presentation skills are important. Even if you can’t design like a professional agency, you should at least be able to design presentable slides.
4. Bare minimum skills are essential
Have you met people who are the absolute worst when it comes to presentations? Their slide design is creepy. When they talk, the audience appears confused & loses focus. After a while, everybody prays to god that they never have to sit through their presentations again.
I’m sure you know this person. Or is that you? These are the symptoms of bad presentation skills.
Why should professionals work on their presentation skills?
Even though there’s a lot of debate around this topic, presentation skills are business skills. A professional should know the bare minimum about presentations.
What’s the bare minimum? Under worst situations, you should know how to align slide elements, change themes in PowerPoint, put together a story that’s clear if not compelling, and speak anxiety free.
These things may not bring the most dazzling results. But they do produce a decent output. Sometimes the average output is better than embarrassment.
5. Practice helps with anxiety
The more you work on your presentation skills, the less anxious you’ll be. With every presentation, you’ll become better, and you’ll speak with a better tone.
There are only a few people who can hold the audience with just the tone of their voice. That doesn’t work for everybody. Hence, presentation skills are helpful. You can train yourself with a slide deck as a visual friend. If you add good visuals to support your narrative, the audience will love you.
I never met a person who doesn’t get stressed by the idea of public speaking. So presentation skills help you calm your nerves and boost your confidence. But this happens over time.
When will you need good presentation skills
You’ll need good presentation skills in more situations than you might think. In the professional world, whether you're pitching a business idea to investors, leading a critical team meeting, or delivering a sales presentation to potential clients, the ability to present well can make the difference between success and missed opportunities. Effective presentation skills allow you to communicate your message clearly, persuade your audience, and build trust. But it doesn't stop there—strong presentation skills are equally valuable outside the workplace. Whether you're speaking at a community event, presenting at a conference, or even explaining a complex idea to friends or colleagues, knowing how to engage your audience and keep their attention is key. It's not just about sharing information—it's about connecting, inspiring, and making your message stick. Investing in good presentation skills can set you apart and open doors in both personal and professional settings.
How Can You Acquire Presentation Skills as a Total Beginner?
Learning presentation skills from scratch might feel overwhelming, but with the right steps and practice, you can become a confident speaker. Here’s how to get started:
1. Practice Speaking Alone
Present to yourself in front of a mirror to analyze your body language and expressions.
Record yourself speaking and play it back to observe your tone, pace, and clarity.
Example: Start by summarizing a news article or explaining a concept to yourself. Focus on improving your posture and reducing filler words.
2. Get Feedback from Others
Practice with friends or colleagues who can give you constructive criticism.
Ask for feedback on areas like voice projection, clarity, and content flow.
Example: Give a short presentation on a topic you're familiar with and ask your peers what they liked and what you can improve.
3. Take a Course or Join a Group
Enroll in public speaking courses or attend workshops.
Join organizations like Toastmasters to get regular practice in a supportive environment.
Example: Online platforms like Udemy or Coursera offer courses in presentation skills. Alternatively, join a local Toastmasters club to gain real-time experience and feedback.
4. Learn by Watching Great Presenters
Watch TED Talks and other public speakers to study their techniques.
Observe how they use pauses, humor, and storytelling to engage their audience.
Example: Watch Simon Sinek's TED Talk on "Start with Why." Notice how he uses a simple structure and relatable examples to make his message clear.
5. Start Small and Build Confidence
Present in low-pressure environments, like small group settings or team meetings.
Gradually increase your audience size as you build confidence.
Example: Start by presenting to just one person or a small group at work. Once you feel more comfortable, aim for larger meetings or networking events.
Work with us
We’re a presentation design agency and come across many “deck emergencies”. Even though we can help with design, it’s impossible to craft a story within critical deadlines. Hence, in our opinion, every professional should work on basic presentation skills. If not advanced skills, then basic skills will save you from extreme embarrassment. Hope this article was helpful!
Ink Narrates is a Presentation Design Agency.
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