Building and Delivering Talks That Don't Suck

Format: Originally delivered as an in-service presentation, then as self-paced e-learning with optional practice activities (25–30 minutes)

Audience: Varied, but always to those who regularly deliver presentations

Context & Need: I'd noticed that presentations routinely were text-heavy, rushed, unclear, and failed to produce actionable results. The training department wanted a concise module that would give busy professionals practical strategies for structuring a presentation, designing cleaner slides, and delivering with more confidence—without requiring a full-day workshop. The end result was an hour-long presentation.

Team & Collaboration: I worked with the Training Director, a communications specialist, and two frequent presenters (one on staff and one outside the team). During our design sessions, we reviewed samples of actual presentations and identified common pain points: unclear purpose, cluttered slides, and lack of stories or examples. Together, we prioritized a small set of “presentation rules” that would have the biggest impact. I shared early outlines and slide mockups with the group; their feedback helped refine examples to feel authentic to the organization’s culture.

Design Approach: I structured the module around three core messages: Knowing the audience and their needs, designing clear slides, and engaging the audience. Each section included short explainer content, before/after slide makeovers, and practice opportunities where learners revised a sample slide or chose a better opening. Interactive elements let learners toggle between “Original” and “Improved” slide versions, with brief commentary explaining the rationale (e.g., reducing bullet points, using visuals, emphasizing key numbers). Optional downloadable templates and a one-page planning worksheet supported immediate application to real upcoming presentations.

Outcomes: Post-module survey comments indicated that learners appreciated the concrete examples and templates they could adapt. The Training Director reported that several departments began using the provided slide templates as informal standards, and the module was added as a recommended prerequisite for staff presenting at quarterly meetings.