120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience

Jenny Romanchuk

Updated: January 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.

best topics for communication skills presentation

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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!

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350+ Presentation Topics That Will Appeal to Any Audience

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Published Date : December 4, 2020

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A presentation can be nerve-wracking, may it be for first-timers or pros, as you must turn a critical issue into a dynamic, persuasive, and informative one. Before you enhance your Oratory skills <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:215"><strong>Oratory skills</strong>, also known as public speaking skills, refer to the ability to effectively communicate with an audience through spoken language. These skills encompass a range of areas, including:</p><br /><ul data-sourcepos="5:1-9:0"> <li data-sourcepos="5:1-5:140"><strong>Delivery:</strong> Clear pronunciation, strong vocal projection, appropriate volume and pacing, engaging body language, and confident presence.</li> <li data-sourcepos="6:1-6:153"><strong>Content:</strong> Well-organized and structured presentations, persuasive arguments, use of storytelling and humor, and tailoring messaging to the audience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:142"><strong>Communication:</strong> Active listening, responding to questions effectively, fostering audience engagement, and adapting to different settings.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-9:0"><strong>Emotional intelligence:</strong> Understanding and managing your own emotions, recognizing and responding to the emotions of your audience, and creating a positive and impactful connection.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="10:1-10:33"><strong>Importance of Oratory Skills:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="12:1-16:0"> <li data-sourcepos="12:1-12:148"><strong>Career advancement:</strong> Strong communication skills are crucial for success in various professions, from leadership roles to client presentations.</li> <li data-sourcepos="13:1-13:128"><strong>Building relationships:</strong> Effective communication strengthens interpersonal connections and fosters trust and understanding.</li> <li data-sourcepos="14:1-14:111"><strong>Persuasion and influence:</strong> Oratory skills allow you to present your ideas convincingly and inspire action.</li> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-16:0"><strong>Confidence and self-esteem:</strong> Mastering public speaking can boost confidence and self-belief in various situations.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="17:1-17:30"><strong>Developing Oratory Skills:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="19:1-24:0"> <li data-sourcepos="19:1-19:116"><strong>Practice and rehearsal:</strong> Regularly practice your speeches and presentations to refine your delivery and timing.</li> <li data-sourcepos="20:1-20:168"><strong>Join a public speaking course:</strong> Structured learning environments like <strong>public speaking courses</strong> provide expert guidance and opportunities for real-time feedback.</li> <li data-sourcepos="21:1-21:132"><strong>Work with a speech coach:</strong> <strong>Speech coaches</strong> offer personalized advice and tailored exercises to address specific skill areas.</li> <li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:112"><strong>Observe effective speakers:</strong> Analyze speeches of admired speakers to learn from their techniques and style.</li> <li data-sourcepos="23:1-24:0"><strong>Seek feedback:</strong> Actively seek constructive feedback from trusted individuals to identify areas for improvement.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="25:1-25:38"><strong>Benefits of Strong Oratory Skills:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="27:1-32:0"> <li data-sourcepos="27:1-27:107"><strong>Increased effectiveness:</strong> Communicate your ideas clearly and persuasively, achieving desired outcomes.</li> <li data-sourcepos="28:1-28:91"><strong>Audience engagement:</strong> Capture and hold attention, leading to a more impactful message.</li> <li data-sourcepos="29:1-29:117"><strong>Greater confidence:</strong> Deliver presentations with poise and self-assurance, projecting credibility and leadership.</li> <li data-sourcepos="30:1-30:116"><strong>Enhanced career opportunities:</strong> Stand out in interviews and presentations, opening doors to career advancement.</li> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-32:0"><strong>Personal growth:</strong> Develop valuable communication skills applicable to various life situations.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="33:1-33:298"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="33:1-33:298"><strong>Oratory skills</strong> are not something you're born with but rather a set of skills that can be honed and developed through dedication and practice. By investing in your communication skills, you can unleash your inner orator and unlock numerous personal and professional opportunities.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/oratory-skills/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">oratory skills and overcome your fear of public speaking , you must brainstorm excellent, fun topics for your presentation.

When doing a presentation, you cannot start a thing without coming up with a presentation topic . It is harder to find the best subject than prepare the lecture, as you need to be specific about the topic you want to present.

Besides Oratory skills <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:215"><strong>Oratory skills</strong>, also known as public speaking skills, refer to the ability to effectively communicate with an audience through spoken language. These skills encompass a range of areas, including:</p><br /><ul data-sourcepos="5:1-9:0"> <li data-sourcepos="5:1-5:140"><strong>Delivery:</strong> Clear pronunciation, strong vocal projection, appropriate volume and pacing, engaging body language, and confident presence.</li> <li data-sourcepos="6:1-6:153"><strong>Content:</strong> Well-organized and structured presentations, persuasive arguments, use of storytelling and humor, and tailoring messaging to the audience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:142"><strong>Communication:</strong> Active listening, responding to questions effectively, fostering audience engagement, and adapting to different settings.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-9:0"><strong>Emotional intelligence:</strong> Understanding and managing your own emotions, recognizing and responding to the emotions of your audience, and creating a positive and impactful connection.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="10:1-10:33"><strong>Importance of Oratory Skills:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="12:1-16:0"> <li data-sourcepos="12:1-12:148"><strong>Career advancement:</strong> Strong communication skills are crucial for success in various professions, from leadership roles to client presentations.</li> <li data-sourcepos="13:1-13:128"><strong>Building relationships:</strong> Effective communication strengthens interpersonal connections and fosters trust and understanding.</li> <li data-sourcepos="14:1-14:111"><strong>Persuasion and influence:</strong> Oratory skills allow you to present your ideas convincingly and inspire action.</li> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-16:0"><strong>Confidence and self-esteem:</strong> Mastering public speaking can boost confidence and self-belief in various situations.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="17:1-17:30"><strong>Developing Oratory Skills:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="19:1-24:0"> <li data-sourcepos="19:1-19:116"><strong>Practice and rehearsal:</strong> Regularly practice your speeches and presentations to refine your delivery and timing.</li> <li data-sourcepos="20:1-20:168"><strong>Join a public speaking course:</strong> Structured learning environments like <strong>public speaking courses</strong> provide expert guidance and opportunities for real-time feedback.</li> <li data-sourcepos="21:1-21:132"><strong>Work with a speech coach:</strong> <strong>Speech coaches</strong> offer personalized advice and tailored exercises to address specific skill areas.</li> <li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:112"><strong>Observe effective speakers:</strong> Analyze speeches of admired speakers to learn from their techniques and style.</li> <li data-sourcepos="23:1-24:0"><strong>Seek feedback:</strong> Actively seek constructive feedback from trusted individuals to identify areas for improvement.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="25:1-25:38"><strong>Benefits of Strong Oratory Skills:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="27:1-32:0"> <li data-sourcepos="27:1-27:107"><strong>Increased effectiveness:</strong> Communicate your ideas clearly and persuasively, achieving desired outcomes.</li> <li data-sourcepos="28:1-28:91"><strong>Audience engagement:</strong> Capture and hold attention, leading to a more impactful message.</li> <li data-sourcepos="29:1-29:117"><strong>Greater confidence:</strong> Deliver presentations with poise and self-assurance, projecting credibility and leadership.</li> <li data-sourcepos="30:1-30:116"><strong>Enhanced career opportunities:</strong> Stand out in interviews and presentations, opening doors to career advancement.</li> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-32:0"><strong>Personal growth:</strong> Develop valuable communication skills applicable to various life situations.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="33:1-33:298"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="33:1-33:298"><strong>Oratory skills</strong> are not something you're born with but rather a set of skills that can be honed and developed through dedication and practice. By investing in your communication skills, you can unleash your inner orator and unlock numerous personal and professional opportunities.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/oratory-skills/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">oratory skills and PowerPoint mastery, you need to have informative and fun topics for presentations that can influence the audience. Watch this and get more ideas about informative topics:

One of the best ways to nail a presentation is to choose the best presentation topics that fit your expertise and target audience.

How to Choose a Good Topic

Choosing the best one out of informative presentation topics can be daunting and confusing if you want to create an Informative Speech <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:401">An <strong>informative speech</strong> aims to educate and enlighten an audience on a specific topic. Unlike persuasive speeches, it does not advocate for a particular opinion or belief but focuses on clearly and impartially presenting information. <strong>Professional speaking</strong> often employs informative speeches to share knowledge, explain processes, or introduce new developments within their field.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:17"><strong>Key Elements:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-12:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:112"><strong>Clear and concise information:</strong> Present complex topics in a way that is easily understood by your audience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:113"><strong>Engaging delivery:</strong> Use storytelling, humor, and multimedia elements to captivate your audience's attention.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:125"><strong>Credible sources:</strong> Support your claims with evidence from reliable sources like research papers, experts, or statistics.</li> <li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:122"><strong>Organized structure:</strong> Clearly define your central topic, present key points logically, and summarize your main ideas.</li> <li data-sourcepos="11:1-12:0"><strong>Tailored approach:</strong> Adapt your language and content to your audience's knowledge level and interests.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="13:1-13:37"><strong>Benefits of Informative Speeches:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="15:1-19:0"> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:120"><strong>Share knowledge and expertise:</strong> By sharing your knowledge on a specific topic, you can become a resource for others.</li> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-16:131"><strong>Build credibility and authority:</strong> Delivering engaging and well-researched speeches establishes you as a subject matter expert.</li> <li data-sourcepos="17:1-17:148">Improve <strong>public speaking skills</strong>: Practice communicating clearly and confidently strengthens your <strong>professional speaking</strong> abilities.</li> <li data-sourcepos="18:1-19:0"><strong>Connect with your audience:</strong> You create a space for shared learning and intellectual connection by informing and engaging others.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="20:1-20:36"><strong>Developing Informative Speeches:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="22:1-27:0"> <li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:129"><strong>Choose a relevant and interesting topic:</strong> Select a subject that aligns with your expertise and resonates with your audience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="23:1-23:98"><strong>Thorough research:</strong> Conduct in-depth research to acquire accurate and up-to-date information.</li> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-24:133"><strong>Outline your content:</strong> Structure your speech with a clear introduction, main points, supporting details, and concluding remarks.</li> <li data-sourcepos="25:1-25:136"><strong>Craft engaging visuals:</strong> Utilize multimedia elements like slides, images, or videos to enhance audience understanding and interest.</li> <li data-sourcepos="26:1-27:0"><strong>Practice and rehearse:</strong> Deliver your speech aloud multiple times to refine your delivery and timing.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="28:1-28:60"><strong>Public speaking tips for effective informative speeches:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="30:1-35:0"> <li data-sourcepos="30:1-30:105"><strong>Vary your vocal tone and pace:</strong> Avoid monotone delivery and engage the audience with vocal dynamics.</li> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-31:126"><strong>Maintain eye contact:</strong> Connect with your audience by making eye contact with different individuals throughout the speech.</li> <li data-sourcepos="32:1-32:111"><strong>Use clear and concise language:</strong> Avoid jargon and technical terms your audience might not understand.</li> <li data-sourcepos="33:1-33:126"><strong>Encourage interaction:</strong> Use open-ended questions or polls to invite audience participation and maintain their engagement.</li> <li data-sourcepos="34:1-35:0"><strong>End with a clear call to action:</strong> Summarize your key points and suggest further exploration or reflection.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="36:1-36:303"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="36:1-36:303">An <strong>informative speech</strong> is valuable for sharing knowledge, educating others, and establishing yourself as a credible expert. By following these tips and honing your <strong>public speaking skills</strong>, you can deliver impactful and memorable speeches that inform and inspire your audience.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/informative-speech/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">informative speech or lecture. Here are some considerations that you must know.

  • Purpose. Deciding your goal determines what your audience will bring after your talk, especially for persuasive presentation topics. Here is a video on various topics about persuasion:
  • Audience. Consider your audience’s demographic profiles and common ground when choosing presentation topics and connect them with their interests, beliefs, and social and cultural backgrounds.
  • Interests. Determine what presentation topic ideas you are most passionate about and what you know the most. Interesting topics for presentation give a head start upon your research phase, ensuring a well-received discussion for the audience. Get useful guides on how to keep your audience interested in this video:
  • Credibility. To convince your audience about the pieces of information that you will discuss, choosing a credible and well-backed lecture is another plus.
  • Conciseness <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:326">In the realm of <strong>public speaking</strong>, <strong>conciseness</strong> refers to the ability to express your message clearly and effectively using the fewest possible words. It's about conveying your ideas precisely, avoiding unnecessary details and rambling while maintaining your message's essence and impact.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:33"><strong>Benefits for Public Speakers:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-11:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:137"><strong>Engaged audience:</strong> A concise speech keeps your audience focused and prevents them from losing interest due to excessive information.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:117"><strong>Increased clarity:</strong> By removing unnecessary clutter, your core message becomes clearer and easier to understand.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:137"><strong>Enhanced credibility:</strong> Concise communication projects professionalism and efficiency, making you appear more confident and prepared.</li> <li data-sourcepos="10:1-11:0"><strong>Reduced anxiety:</strong> Knowing you have a clear and concise message can help manage <strong>public speaking anxiety</strong> by minimizing the pressure to fill time.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="12:1-12:35"><strong>Challenges for Public Speakers:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="14:1-17:0"> <li data-sourcepos="14:1-14:126"><strong>Striking a balance:</strong> Knowing where to draw the line between conciseness and omitting important information can be tricky.</li> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:115"><strong>Avoiding oversimplification:</strong> Complex topics may require elaboration to ensure clarity and understanding.</li> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-17:0"><strong>Overcoming natural tendencies:</strong> Some speakers naturally use more words than others, requiring a conscious effort to be concise.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="18:1-18:41"><strong>Strategies for Achieving Conciseness:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="20:1-25:0"> <li data-sourcepos="20:1-20:92"><strong>Identify your core message:</strong> What is your audience's main point to remember?</li> <li data-sourcepos="21:1-21:128"><strong>Prioritize and eliminate:</strong> Analyze your content and remove any information not directly supporting your core message.</li> <li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:133"><strong>Use strong verbs and active voice:</strong> This makes your sentences more impactful and avoids passive constructions that can be wordy.</li> <li data-sourcepos="23:1-23:109"><strong>Simplify your language:</strong> Avoid jargon and technical terms unless they are essential and clearly defined.</li> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-25:0"><strong>Practice and refine:</strong> Rehearse your speech aloud and identify areas where you can tighten your wording or eliminate redundancies.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="26:1-26:20"><strong>Additional Tips:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="28:1-31:0"> <li data-sourcepos="28:1-28:93"><strong>Use storytelling:</strong> Engaging narratives can convey complex ideas concisely and memorably.</li> <li data-sourcepos="29:1-29:110"><strong>Focus on the visuals:</strong> Powerful visuals can support your message without extensive explanation.</li> <li data-sourcepos="30:1-31:0"><strong>Embrace silence:</strong> Pausing deliberately can emphasize key points and give your audience time to absorb your message.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="32:1-32:404"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="32:1-32:404"><strong>Conciseness</strong> is a powerful tool for <strong>public speakers</strong>. By eliminating unnecessary words and focusing on your core message, you can create a more engaging, impactful, and memorable presentation for your audience. This can also help manage <strong>public speaking anxiety</strong> by reducing the pressure to fill time and enabling you to focus on delivering your message with clarity and confidence.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/conciseness/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">Conciseness . From 12 seconds in 2000, humans’ average attention span decreased to eight seconds in 2017. Thus, being concise is another essential factor in choosing presentation topics, as having a wordy title can confuse or intimidate your potential audience.

Tips on Turning a Boring Topic into an Engaging Presentation

You might have been feeling dejected as you had to prepare for a talk with no fun topics for presentation. It is hard to turn psychology discussions into engaging ones, knowing that this field has jargon and cases that can make your lecture dull.

However, instead of blaming your subject for being boring, avoid being dull instead. Here are some tips on turning a boring topic into an interactive one.

What are the Good Topics to Present in a Speech?

Now that you have skimmed through the tips and ways to choose fun topics for a presentation, making a Speech <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:271">A form of communication involving spoken language, it is used to express ideas, share information, tell stories, persuade, or entertain. Public speaking is a powerful tool used in diverse contexts, ranging from casual conversations to formal presentations.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:27"><strong>Components of a Speech:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-10:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:73"><strong>Content:</strong> The information, message, or story conveyed through words.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:106"><strong>Delivery:</strong> The vocal and physical presentation, including clarity, volume, gestures, and eye contact.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-10:0"><strong>Structure:</strong> The organization of the content, typically following an introduction, body, and conclusion.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="11:1-11:21"><strong>Speech in Action:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="13:1-17:0"> <li data-sourcepos="13:1-13:88"><strong>Informing:</strong> Sharing knowledge and facts, educating an audience on a specific topic.</li> <li data-sourcepos="14:1-14:119"><strong>Persuading:</strong> Advocating for a particular viewpoint, using arguments and evidence to influence thoughts or actions.</li> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:93"><strong>Motivating:</strong> Inspiring and energizing an audience, fostering action and positive change.</li> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-17:0"><strong>Entertaining:</strong> Engaging and delighting an audience through humor, storytelling, or creative language.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="18:1-18:32"><strong>Public Speaking and Anxiety:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="20:1-20:227">Many people experience <strong>public speaking anxiety</strong>, a fear of speaking in front of an audience. While it's common, effective preparation, practice, and breathing techniques can significantly reduce anxiety and improve delivery.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="22:1-22:32"><strong>Different Types of Speeches:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="24:1-28:0"> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-24:81"><strong>Informative speech:</strong> Focuses on conveying information clearly and concisely.</li> <li data-sourcepos="25:1-25:102"><strong>Persuasive speech:</strong> Aims to convince the audience to adopt a particular viewpoint or take action.</li> <li data-sourcepos="26:1-26:99"><strong>Motivational speech:</strong> Inspires and energizes the audience, building enthusiasm and commitment.</li> <li data-sourcepos="27:1-28:0"><strong>Entertaining speech:</strong> Aim to amuse and delight the audience, often using humor, storytelling, or anecdotes.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="29:1-29:33"><strong>Crafting a Compelling Speech:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="31:1-35:0"> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-31:106"><strong>Know your audience:</strong> Tailor your content and delivery to their interests, needs, and prior knowledge.</li> <li data-sourcepos="32:1-32:107"><strong>Have a clear message:</strong> Identify the main point you want to convey and structure your speech around it.</li> <li data-sourcepos="33:1-33:111"><strong>Engage your audience:</strong> Use varied vocal techniques, storytelling, and visual aids to keep them interested.</li> <li data-sourcepos="34:1-35:0"><strong>Practice, practice, practice:</strong> Rehearse your speech out loud to refine your delivery and build confidence.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="36:1-36:13"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="38:1-38:281">Speech is a powerful tool for communication, connection, and influence. By understanding its elements, addressing potential anxieties, and tailoring your delivery to different contexts, you can harness the power of speech to achieve your intended goals and captivate your audience.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/speech/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">speech on time needs a good presentation topic. Out of random presentation topics, here are some prominent ones that might give you some ideas.

Interesting Presentation Topics

  • Ancient Greek Heroes Modern Interpretation
  • Antidepressants and Their Effects on the Human Brain
  • How Bad Nutrition Affects a Person’s Appearance
  • Traces of Romanticism in Well-known English Literature
  • Influences of Music on Mental Health
  • How Religion and Politics Blend Within a State
  • Most Famous and Nerve-wracking Novels, Books, and Plays
  • How Traditional Herbs Get Approved
  • Effects of Being a Polyglot
  • Being Productive During Pandemic

Good Presentation Topics

  • Disney Films’ Most Famous Actresses
  • How Media Affects Gender Stereotypes Portrayal
  • How Beauty Contests Affects Women’s Self-esteem
  • Differences Between Religion and Cult
  • Gambling Effects on Human’s Mental Health
  • Most Authoritative Politicians and Political Parties
  • Ways to Improve the Health Systems
  • Preparation and Prevention Against Natural Disasters
  • Ways to Alleviate Insomnia
  • How to Build Good Relationships Between Children and Pets

5-Minute Presentation Topics

  • Best Apps to Improve Academic Performance
  • Airport First-timers: Step-by-step Instructions
  • Easy-to-make Breakfast Recipes
  • How to Avoid Procrastination
  • Making Money During Holidays
  • How Social Media Lowers Self-esteem
  • Working Remotely: Pros and Cons
  • Best Online Business and Professions
  • Why Trust Your Intuition
  • Reasons to Learn Foreign Languages

Fun Topics for Presentation

  • How Rock ‘n Roll Started
  • Rare and Expensive Coffee Types
  • Best Self-development Books for Teens
  • Choosing a Specialty in College
  • Secrets of a Healthy Relationship
  • Benefits of Art Therapy
  • How do Journalists and Bloggers Differ From Each Other?
  • The Origin of Languages
  • Evolution of Artificial Intelligence
  • Makeup Life Hacks and Tips

Safety Presentation Topics

  • Common Mistakes in General Safety
  • Dealing with Ergonomic and Workplace Stress
  • Coronavirus Precautionary Measures
  • How to Deal with Violence
  • Fire and Electrical Safety
  • Reportage, Prevention, and Liabilities in Workplace Accidents
  • Safety Precautions Against Heat Exhaustion
  • Common Workplace Injuries
  • Communication Issues and Safety
  • Emergency Response Efficiency

Easy Presentation Topics

  • Adverse Effects of GMOs on Health and Life
  • Effective Ways to Improve Old People’s Health System
  • Most Iconic Censorship on Social Media
  • Most Prominent Female Political Leaders of All Time
  • How to Avoid Being Late
  • Globalization and Its Effects on World Population
  • Smiling Therapy Positive Effects on Mental Health
  • Advancement of 3D Printing and Its Benefits
  • How Music Helps in Learning New Languages
  • Dealing with Child Prodigies

Controversial Speech Topics

Controversies are all around us, especially online resources. Finding a controversial topic must fit your passion and knowledge; otherwise, it might negatively impact your discussion.

Controversial Leadership Topics for Presentation

  • LGBTQ Rights
  • Abortion: Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life
  • Benefits of Multiculturalism in a Society
  • Security and Privacy Concerns about Electronic Voting
  • Gun Control Laws and Limits
  • Journalism Ethics and Corruption
  • Euthanasia Vs. Right to Live
  • Death Penalty Pros and Cons
  • How Mandatory Minimum Penalties Impact Federal Sentencing
  • Torture as an Interrogation Tactic
  • Electoral College Abolishment
  • Is World Peace Possible?
  • Same-sex union
  • Lowering Criminal Liability Age
  • Banning Animal Experimentation
  • High Taxation Rates
  • Freedom of Speech <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:271">A form of communication involving spoken language, it is used to express ideas, share information, tell stories, persuade, or entertain. Public speaking is a powerful tool used in diverse contexts, ranging from casual conversations to formal presentations.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:27"><strong>Components of a Speech:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-10:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:73"><strong>Content:</strong> The information, message, or story conveyed through words.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:106"><strong>Delivery:</strong> The vocal and physical presentation, including clarity, volume, gestures, and eye contact.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-10:0"><strong>Structure:</strong> The organization of the content, typically following an introduction, body, and conclusion.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="11:1-11:21"><strong>Speech in Action:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="13:1-17:0"> <li data-sourcepos="13:1-13:88"><strong>Informing:</strong> Sharing knowledge and facts, educating an audience on a specific topic.</li> <li data-sourcepos="14:1-14:119"><strong>Persuading:</strong> Advocating for a particular viewpoint, using arguments and evidence to influence thoughts or actions.</li> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:93"><strong>Motivating:</strong> Inspiring and energizing an audience, fostering action and positive change.</li> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-17:0"><strong>Entertaining:</strong> Engaging and delighting an audience through humor, storytelling, or creative language.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="18:1-18:32"><strong>Public Speaking and Anxiety:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="20:1-20:227">Many people experience <strong>public speaking anxiety</strong>, a fear of speaking in front of an audience. While it's common, effective preparation, practice, and breathing techniques can significantly reduce anxiety and improve delivery.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="22:1-22:32"><strong>Different Types of Speeches:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="24:1-28:0"> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-24:81"><strong>Informative speech:</strong> Focuses on conveying information clearly and concisely.</li> <li data-sourcepos="25:1-25:102"><strong>Persuasive speech:</strong> Aims to convince the audience to adopt a particular viewpoint or take action.</li> <li data-sourcepos="26:1-26:99"><strong>Motivational speech:</strong> Inspires and energizes the audience, building enthusiasm and commitment.</li> <li data-sourcepos="27:1-28:0"><strong>Entertaining speech:</strong> Aim to amuse and delight the audience, often using humor, storytelling, or anecdotes.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="29:1-29:33"><strong>Crafting a Compelling Speech:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="31:1-35:0"> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-31:106"><strong>Know your audience:</strong> Tailor your content and delivery to their interests, needs, and prior knowledge.</li> <li data-sourcepos="32:1-32:107"><strong>Have a clear message:</strong> Identify the main point you want to convey and structure your speech around it.</li> <li data-sourcepos="33:1-33:111"><strong>Engage your audience:</strong> Use varied vocal techniques, storytelling, and visual aids to keep them interested.</li> <li data-sourcepos="34:1-35:0"><strong>Practice, practice, practice:</strong> Rehearse your speech out loud to refine your delivery and build confidence.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="36:1-36:13"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="38:1-38:281">Speech is a powerful tool for communication, connection, and influence. By understanding its elements, addressing potential anxieties, and tailoring your delivery to different contexts, you can harness the power of speech to achieve your intended goals and captivate your audience.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/speech/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">Speech and Its Restrictions
  • Embargo and Censorship: What to be Publicize
  • Insanity Plea as an Excuse
  • Tobacco Regulation

Controversial Topics for Teenagers

  • Hookup Culture and Its Impact on Teens
  • Bullying and Cyberbullying
  • Banning Pornography in E-libraries
  • Causes of Depression and Other Mental Illness in Teens
  • Teen Suicide Liability
  • Prohibition of Gambling for Teens
  • How to Educate Teens About Drugs
  • Dealing with Eating Disorders in Teens
  • When Should Teens Start to Vote
  • How Parents Should Deal with Teens’ Romantic Relationship
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Education
  • Health Impacts of Fast Food for Teens
  • How Being a Fan Impacts Teens
  • Possibility of Living on Mars
  • Why Media Literacy Important for Teenagers
  • How Teenagers Can Fight Top Environmental Problems
  • Dealing with Diversity in School
  • Military Recruitment on Campus
  • Pros and Cons of School Uniforms and Dress Code
  • Plan B Contraception Access for Minors

What are Some Presentation Ideas for School?

For school purposes, you must find informative but fun topics for presentation as students have a lesser attention span than adults. Here are the presentation topics for academic and educational causes.

Science Topics for Presentation

Science presentation topics are among the most in-demand discussions for students and teachers in technical educational institutions. Here are some ideas to help you out.

Physics Topics for Presentation

  • Is Physics Based on Theory or Practice
  • Why We Need to Study Physics
  • Newton’s Third Law as the Universal Formula
  • Why Every Student Needs to Learn Physical Formula
  • Is Physics Dependent on Math and Science or Vice Versa
  • Why Physics Necessary for Knowledge Testing
  • How to Deal with Difficulties in Physics Lesson
  • Most Important Topics in Physics

Chemistry Topics for Presentation

  • Why Alchemists Seeks Philosopher’s Stone
  • Chemists Who Are Nobel Prize Awardees
  • How Chemical Weapons Become Main Threat for War
  • How to Choose Quality Water
  • Making a Kid Interested in Chemistry
  • Hair Biochemistry and Its Process
  • Effects of Lack of Chemical Elements in a Human Body
  • Safety Precautions for Chemical Products

Biology Topics for Presentation

  • How the Future Lies in Crossroads of Biological Sciences
  • How to Avoid Harmful GMO Foods
  • Secrets of Centenarians
  • Allergic Reactions Caused by Dust
  • Can a Person Survive Without Clean Drinking Water
  • How Sports and Nutrition Determine Human Health
  • Vaccination and Its Effect on Genotype
  • Best Houseplants for Air Purification

Geology Topics for Presentation

  • Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions as Causes of Dynamic Geology
  • Geomorphology: Intersection of Geography and Geology
  • Space Geology in the Field of Cosmology and Planetology
  • Geological Timeline from Solid Formation to the Holocene Era
  • Geological Events Absolute and Relative Age
  • Methods and Principles of Geology
  • Geodynamics: The Relationship of the Earth’s Core and Crust Processes  
  • Microstructural Geology: Micro-Level Rock Deformation

Astronomy Topics for Presentation

  • Differences Between Astronomy and Astrology
  • The Possibility of Life on Mars
  • History and Discovery of the Milky Way Galaxy
  • Does Astronomy Only Study Stars?
  • Astronomy as a Separate Subject in School
  • Reasons Why Fewer Entrants ChoAstronomynomy
  • What Happens If the Sun Died?
  • Why Our Future Depends on Astronomical Studies

Technological Science Topics for Presentation

  • How Technology Improves Living Standards
  • Technology and Its Effect on Cancer Treatment
  • How Cybercriminals Use Technology
  • Benefits and Threats of Artificial Intelligence
  • Saving Time on Internet Technology Usage
  • Technological Evolution from the Middle Ages to the Present
  • Diffusion Rate of Technology in Developing Countries
  • Taking a Break from the Internet

Multimedia Science Topics for Presentation

  • Multimedia Features and Classification
  • Creating a Multimedia Presentation
  • Features of Online Multimedia
  • Benefits of Multimedia in Business
  • Usage of Multimedia in Computer Games
  • How to Create Training Courses Using Multimedia
  • Becoming a Multimedia Specialist
  • Multimedia and Its Relation to Science

Cultural and Social Presentation Topic Ideas

This aspect mostly concerns psychology and sociology students. Here are some fun topics for presentations that you can check out.

  • Culture and Traditions of Native Americans
  • How History Connects with Culture
  • How Cultural Knowledge Increases Chances of Success
  • Identifying Emigrants by Cultural Characteristics
  • Why Students Need to Learn About Culture
  • Importance of Cultural Appreciation
  • Pros and Cons of Diversified Culture
  • Best Sociology Books for Starters
  • Sociology and Its Express Research
  • Empirical Research
  • Causes of Social Phenomena
  • Mathematical Methods in Sociology
  • Social Trends Analysis and Development Patterns
  • How to Collect Sociological Information
  • Becoming a School President
  • Why a President Needs Leadership Skills
  • Ways to Raise a Child as a Leader
  • Is Leadership an Innate Skill or a Result of Experiences?
  • Responsibilities of a Leader
  • How Family Relationships Affect One’s Leadership Skills
  • Winning a Leadership Scholarship
  • How Individual Differs from Social Ethics?
  • Politics and International Relations Ethical Principles
  • Ethical Communication Rules in Social Media
  • Business Ethics and Relationships
  • Why Learn Etiquette Knowledge
  • Ethical Issues on Famous Artworks
  • Knowing About Corporate Ethics

What are Some Presentation Ideas for Healthcare?

There are many physical and mental health topics for school and other Conferences <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:279">Large gatherings are organized to bring together individuals from a specific field or industry for professional development, networking, and knowledge sharing. Conferences typically involve presentations, workshops, panel discussions, exhibitions, and social events.</p> <h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:12"><strong>Purpose:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-12:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:107"><strong>Knowledge Dissemination:</strong> Share the latest research, trends, and advancements within a specific field.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:75"><strong>Networking:</strong> Connect with peers, experts, and potential collaborators.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:103"><strong>Professional Development:</strong> Enhance skills and knowledge through workshops, talks, and discussions.</li> <li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:102"><strong>Community Building:</strong> Foster a sense of belonging and shared identity within a professional field.</li> <li data-sourcepos="11:1-12:0"><strong>New Product and Service Exposure:</strong> Discover innovative solutions and technologies through exhibitions and presentations.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="13:1-13:25"><strong>Types of Conferences:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="15:1-19:0"> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:102"><strong>Academic:</strong> Focused on research and scholarly presentations within a specific academic discipline.</li> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-16:109"><strong>Industry:</strong> Catered to professionals within a specific industry, like technology, healthcare, or finance.</li> <li data-sourcepos="17:1-17:108"><strong>Trade Shows:</strong> Feature exhibitions and booths showcasing products and services relevant to the industry.</li> <li data-sourcepos="18:1-19:0"><strong>Professional Development:</strong> Primarily focused on workshops, training sessions, and skill-building activities.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="20:1-20:38"><strong>Benefits of Attending Conferences:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="22:1-27:0"> <li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:116"><strong>Stay informed:</strong> Learn about the latest advancements in your field through expert presentations and discussions.</li> <li data-sourcepos="23:1-23:107"><strong>Network:</strong> Connect with key individuals and potential collaborators to build your professional network.</li> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-24:91"><strong>Develop skills:</strong> Attend workshops and sessions to enhance your knowledge and skill set.</li> <li data-sourcepos="25:1-25:101"><strong>Gain exposure:</strong> Discover new products, services, and innovative solutions relevant to your work.</li> <li data-sourcepos="26:1-27:0"><strong>Boost your career:</strong> Enhance your professional profile and marketability through networking and exposure.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="28:1-28:40"><strong>Challenges of Attending Conferences:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="30:1-34:0"> <li data-sourcepos="30:1-30:74"><strong>Cost:</strong> Registration fees, travel, and accommodation can be expensive.</li> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-31:116"><strong>Time commitment:</strong> Attending conference sessions and events requires dedicating significant time away from work.</li> <li data-sourcepos="32:1-32:112"><strong>Information overload:</strong> Navigating a large conference with numerous sessions and events can be overwhelming.</li> <li data-sourcepos="33:1-34:0"><strong>Networking anxiety:</strong> Connecting with new people can be intimidating, especially for introverts.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="35:1-35:26"><strong>Overcoming Challenges:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="37:1-43:0"> <li data-sourcepos="37:1-37:140"><strong>Research and prioritize:</strong> Choose conferences relevant to your needs and budget. Select specific sessions and events you want to attend.</li> <li data-sourcepos="38:1-38:103"><strong>Set realistic goals:</strong> Aim to connect with a few key individuals rather than overwhelming yourself.</li> <li data-sourcepos="39:1-39:104"><strong>Utilize conference resources:</strong> Leverage conference apps, maps, and schedules to optimize your time.</li> <li data-sourcepos="40:1-40:102"><strong>Practice networking skills:</strong> Prepare conversation starters and practice introductions beforehand.</li> <li data-sourcepos="41:1-41:124"><strong>Consider a speech coach:</strong> Coaching can help refine your delivery and manage anxiety when presenting at a conference.</li> <li data-sourcepos="42:1-43:0">Take <strong>Public speaking courses</strong>: Public speaking skills are important for networking and participating in discussions.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="44:1-44:281"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="44:1-44:281">Conferences offer valuable opportunities for professional development, networking, and knowledge sharing. Planning effectively, overcoming challenges, and utilizing available resources can maximize your conference experience and achieve your desired outcomes.</p> <!-- /wp:list --> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/conferences/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">conferences , but having fun topics for presentations is essential to make your lecture less complicated. Here are some of the presentation topics that might suit your interest.

Psychology Topics for Presentation

  • The Need for Psychologists in Kindergarten
  • Best Universities for Psychology
  • Choosing a Suitable Psychologist
  • Outcasts Children: Psychology Victim
  • Psychological State and Its Effects on Productivity
  • When Do You Need a Psychologist
  • Can a Person with a Mental Disorder Become a Psychologist?

Mental Health Topics for Presentation

  • Mental Fatigue: Causes of Failure
  • Impacts of Social Media on Mental Health
  • Recognizing and Avoiding the Onset of Depression
  • Causes of Mental Health Disorders
  • How Physical Affects Mental Health and Vice Versa
  • Dealing With Mental Breakdowns
  • How Music Improves Mental Health

Health Topics for Presentation

  • Why Do Pharmacies Sell Over-the-counter Medicines?
  • How Allergic Reaction Works
  • Sports that Can Improve Health in a Month
  • Signs of Bad Immunity System
  • Legalization of Marijuana
  • Centenarians’ Secret to Good Health
  • Healthy Habits Before Exams

Nutrition Topics for Presentation

  • The Necessity of Reading a Product’s Composition
  • Nutrition Effects on Skin Condition
  • Determining Necessary Ratio of Proteins, Fats, and Carbohydrates
  • Tips for Restrictive Eating Disorders
  • How Sports Nutrition Can Be Dangerous
  • Why Being a Nutritionist a Good Career Choice
  • Why Quality Nutrition Determines One’s Success

Nursing Presentations

  • Nursing Career and Its Growth
  • Critical Moments on Painkiller Usage
  • Patient Safety During Nursing
  • Patient safety during nursing
  • Career Growth in Nursing
  • The use of painkillers: critical moments
  • Health Assessment: What to Check
  • Features of caring for patients with mental disorders
  • Postoperative patient care
  • Features internships and practices for nurses

Dental Presentations Ideas

  • Teeth Processes for Babies
  • Molar Extraction Process
  • Wisdom Tooth: Necessary or Not?
  • How Chewing Gum Affects Tooth Enamel
  • Causes and Treatment for Oral Cancer
  • Diet for Braces

Medical Presentations

  • How to Call an Ambulance
  • Dealing With Addiction
  • Highly Addictive Medical Drugs that You Don’t Realize
  • Primary Stab Wound Treatment
  • When Surgery Becomes Necessary
  • Traditional, Alternative, and Modern Medicines
  • Preventing Sport Injuries
  • Insomnia Treatment With No Pills
  • Anti-aging Pills: When to Avoid It
  • Why Go or Reject Posthumous Donation
  • Euthanasia and Its Effect on Suicide Rate
  • How to Avoid Child Obesity
  • Pros and Cons of GMOs
  • Diverse Ways to Improve Healthcare
  • The Need for Legal Framework on Plastic Surgery Regulations

What are Some Presentation Ideas for Business and Management?

Finding business presentation topics is more difficult as you must show in-depth knowledge of your chosen idea. Here are some of the presentation topics that you can check out.

How a Good Topic Helps on Public Speaking (SECS Elements)

Having the right choice of presentation topics can help meet the Sincerity, Enthusiasm, Confidence <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:305">In the context of <strong>public speaking</strong>, <strong>confidence</strong> refers to the belief in one's ability to communicate effectively and deliver one's message with clarity and impact. It encompasses various elements, including self-belief, composure, and the ability to manage one's <strong>fear of public speaking</strong>.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:16"><strong>Key Aspects:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-12:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:108"><strong>Self-belief:</strong> A strong conviction in your knowledge, skills, and ability to connect with your audience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:95"><strong>Composure:</strong> Maintaining calmness and poise under pressure, even in challenging situations.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:100"><strong>Assertiveness:</strong> Expressing your ideas clearly and concisely, avoiding hesitation or self-doubt.</li> <li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:104"><strong>Positive self-talk:</strong> Countering negative thoughts with affirmations and focusing on your strengths.</li> <li data-sourcepos="11:1-12:0"><strong>Strong body language:</strong> Using gestures, posture, and eye contact that project confidence and professionalism.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="13:1-13:27"><strong>Benefits of Confidence:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="15:1-19:0"> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:99"><strong>Reduced anxiety:</strong> Feeling confident helps manage <strong>fear of public speaking</strong> and stage fright.</li> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-16:133"><strong>Engaging delivery:</strong> Confident speakers project their voices, hold eye contact, and connect with their audience more effectively.</li> <li data-sourcepos="17:1-17:137"><strong>Increased persuasiveness:</strong> A confident presentation inspires belief and motivates your audience to listen and remember your message.</li> <li data-sourcepos="18:1-19:0"><strong>Greater impact:</strong> Confidently delivered speeches leave a lasting impression and achieve desired outcomes.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="20:1-20:15"><strong>Challenges:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="22:1-26:0"> <li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:112">Overcoming <strong>fear of public speaking</strong>: Many people experience some level of anxiety when speaking publicly.</li> <li data-sourcepos="23:1-23:101"><strong>Imposter syndrome:</strong> Doubting your abilities and qualifications, even when objectively qualified.</li> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-24:92"><strong>Negative self-talk:</strong> Internalized criticism and limiting beliefs can hamper confidence.</li> <li data-sourcepos="25:1-26:0"><strong>Past negative experiences:</strong> Unsuccessful presentations or negative feedback can erode confidence.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="27:1-27:24"><strong>Building Confidence:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="29:1-36:0"> <li data-sourcepos="29:1-29:102"><strong>Practice and preparation:</strong> Thoroughly rehearse your speech to feel comfortable with the material.</li> <li data-sourcepos="30:1-30:101"><strong>Visualization:</strong> Imagine yourself delivering a successful presentation with confidence and poise.</li> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-31:100"><strong>Positive self-talk:</strong> Actively replace negative thoughts with affirmations about your abilities.</li> <li data-sourcepos="32:1-32:106"><strong>Seek feedback:</strong> Ask trusted individuals for constructive criticism and use it to improve your skills.</li> <li data-sourcepos="33:1-33:157">Consider a <strong>speaking coach</strong>: Working with a coach can provide personalized guidance and support to address specific challenges and confidence barriers.</li> <li data-sourcepos="34:1-34:114"><strong>Start small:</strong> Gradually increase the size and complexity of your speaking engagements as you gain experience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="35:1-36:0"><strong>Focus on progress:</strong> Celebrate small successes and acknowledge your improvement over time.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="37:1-37:282"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="37:1-37:282"><strong>Confidence</strong> in public speaking is a journey, not a destination. By actively practicing, embracing feedback, and focusing on your strengths, you can overcome <strong>fear of public speaking</strong> and develop the <strong>confidence</strong> to deliver impactful and memorable presentations.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/confidence/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">Confidence , and Simplicity (SECS) Public Speaking <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Public speaking refers to any live presentation or speech. It can cover a variety of topics on various fields and careers (you can find out more about public speaking careers here: https://orai.com/blog/public-speaking-careers/.  Public speaking can inform, entertain, or educate an audience and sometimes has visual aids.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><br /><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Public speaking is done live, so the speakers need to consider certain factors to deliver a successful speech. No matter how good the speech is, if the audience doesn't connect with the speaker, then it may fall flat. Therefore, speakers have to use a lot more nonverbal communication techniques to deliver their message. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><br /><!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Tips for public speaking</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --><br /><!-- wp:list --> <ul> <li>Have a sense of humor.</li> <li>Tell personal stories that relate to the speech you're giving.</li> <li>Dress appropriately for the event. Formal and business casual outfits work best.</li> <li>Project a confident and expressive voice.</li> <li>Always try to use simple language that everyone can understand.</li> <li>Stick to the time given to you.</li> <li>Maintain eye contact with members of your audience and try to connect with them.</li> </ul> <!-- /wp:list --> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/public-speaking/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">public speaking elements due to these reasons:

  • A good topic can make you sincere in communicating with your audience.
  • Fun topics for presentations can also increase the audience’s enthusiasm.
  • Fun topics for presentations also give you Confidence <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:305">In the context of <strong>public speaking</strong>, <strong>confidence</strong> refers to the belief in one's ability to communicate effectively and deliver one's message with clarity and impact. It encompasses various elements, including self-belief, composure, and the ability to manage one's <strong>fear of public speaking</strong>.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:16"><strong>Key Aspects:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-12:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:108"><strong>Self-belief:</strong> A strong conviction in your knowledge, skills, and ability to connect with your audience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:95"><strong>Composure:</strong> Maintaining calmness and poise under pressure, even in challenging situations.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:100"><strong>Assertiveness:</strong> Expressing your ideas clearly and concisely, avoiding hesitation or self-doubt.</li> <li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:104"><strong>Positive self-talk:</strong> Countering negative thoughts with affirmations and focusing on your strengths.</li> <li data-sourcepos="11:1-12:0"><strong>Strong body language:</strong> Using gestures, posture, and eye contact that project confidence and professionalism.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="13:1-13:27"><strong>Benefits of Confidence:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="15:1-19:0"> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:99"><strong>Reduced anxiety:</strong> Feeling confident helps manage <strong>fear of public speaking</strong> and stage fright.</li> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-16:133"><strong>Engaging delivery:</strong> Confident speakers project their voices, hold eye contact, and connect with their audience more effectively.</li> <li data-sourcepos="17:1-17:137"><strong>Increased persuasiveness:</strong> A confident presentation inspires belief and motivates your audience to listen and remember your message.</li> <li data-sourcepos="18:1-19:0"><strong>Greater impact:</strong> Confidently delivered speeches leave a lasting impression and achieve desired outcomes.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="20:1-20:15"><strong>Challenges:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="22:1-26:0"> <li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:112">Overcoming <strong>fear of public speaking</strong>: Many people experience some level of anxiety when speaking publicly.</li> <li data-sourcepos="23:1-23:101"><strong>Imposter syndrome:</strong> Doubting your abilities and qualifications, even when objectively qualified.</li> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-24:92"><strong>Negative self-talk:</strong> Internalized criticism and limiting beliefs can hamper confidence.</li> <li data-sourcepos="25:1-26:0"><strong>Past negative experiences:</strong> Unsuccessful presentations or negative feedback can erode confidence.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="27:1-27:24"><strong>Building Confidence:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="29:1-36:0"> <li data-sourcepos="29:1-29:102"><strong>Practice and preparation:</strong> Thoroughly rehearse your speech to feel comfortable with the material.</li> <li data-sourcepos="30:1-30:101"><strong>Visualization:</strong> Imagine yourself delivering a successful presentation with confidence and poise.</li> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-31:100"><strong>Positive self-talk:</strong> Actively replace negative thoughts with affirmations about your abilities.</li> <li data-sourcepos="32:1-32:106"><strong>Seek feedback:</strong> Ask trusted individuals for constructive criticism and use it to improve your skills.</li> <li data-sourcepos="33:1-33:157">Consider a <strong>speaking coach</strong>: Working with a coach can provide personalized guidance and support to address specific challenges and confidence barriers.</li> <li data-sourcepos="34:1-34:114"><strong>Start small:</strong> Gradually increase the size and complexity of your speaking engagements as you gain experience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="35:1-36:0"><strong>Focus on progress:</strong> Celebrate small successes and acknowledge your improvement over time.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="37:1-37:282"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="37:1-37:282"><strong>Confidence</strong> in public speaking is a journey, not a destination. By actively practicing, embracing feedback, and focusing on your strengths, you can overcome <strong>fear of public speaking</strong> and develop the <strong>confidence</strong> to deliver impactful and memorable presentations.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/confidence/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">confidence as it lessens awkwardness.
  • The right topic makes your presentation concise, straightforward, and informative at the same time.

What does a perfect day with the family look like?

Imagine a day filled with laughter, shared meals, and playful adventures. Waking up refreshed, a family connects over breakfast, sharing dreams and creating plans. They explore together, be it a museum visit or a quiet picnic, finding joy in nature, or friendly competition. As the sun sets, reflections filled with gratitude paint the evening, solidifying the love and connection that makes the day perfect, not for its grandeur but for the simple treasures of being together.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” children explore a world of possibilities. Each child has unique dreams, from doctors to astronauts, artists to veterinarians. Their dreams may change as they grow, but nurturing their curiosity helps them find their true calling.

What’s one habit you want to eliminate and one you want to keep?

Aiming for personal growth, I’ll axe the time-sucking social media scroll and double down on the mood-boosting, energy-zinging exercise routine. Recognizing habits are key, I’ll actively fight for a more balanced and fulfilling life, one mindful step at a time.

Presentation topics are the key to a successful lecture, bringing more opportunities for your career. Choosing among tons of ideas out there can get confusing , but give it a serious thought as your topic impacts your overall presentation.

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

  • Carmine Gallo

best topics for communication skills presentation

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

best topics for communication skills presentation

  • Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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45 Public Speaking Topics and Ideas

October 4, 2018 - Helen Hooper

Do you enjoy standing up in front of a large audience and making a speech? Or do you get so nervous that you forget what you were going to tell the audience about?

If the answer to the second question is “yes,” then you’re not alone. Many people, including well-known entrepreneurs, politicians, and actors, aren’t fans of public speaking. For example, did you know that Richard Branson is among them? Yes, one of the best entrepreneurs in history has a real far of public speaking!

“I loathe making speeches, and always have,”  Branson admitted  in one of the interviews. “Over the years, however, I have become much more practiced at giving speeches, though it still makes me a bit nervous.”

Richard Branson giving a public speech

“Fortunately, the fear of public speaking shouldn’t be an insurmountable obstacle for you with some learning and practice,” says Gordon Stevens, a motivational coach. “The more you develop your skills, the more confident you’ll feel during your speeches.”

Moreover, having strong public skills can greatly boost your career and improve your position in the labor market.  Warren Buffet stated  “you can improve your value by 50 percent just by learning communication skills – public speaking”

So, whether you’re looking for topics for your next public speech or just for practice, take a look at these 45 ideas, including tips on how to choose the best ones for your purpose.

Public speaking topics

Category: science.

1. Why humans should colonize mars

Let’s be honest here, humans are endangered species because all of us live only on one planet. Colonizing mars increases the chance of long-term survival of humankind and has many other benefits, so it’s definitely a great topic to talk about.

2. When will AI exceed human performance?

It’s one of the most discussed topics in science right now because AI has been developing at an amazing speed in the recent years. So, there are tons of quality materials to retrieve information from, such as  this article from cornell university .

3. What is the future of commercial space flight?

Elon musk has recently announced the name of the first space tourist who will orbit the moon several times on SpaceX’s most advanced spacecraft, the BFR. When do you think this will happen?

4. Should nanotechnology research continue?

With all the risks and ethical issues that nanotechnology research is facing now, it could be an interesting topic to discuss.

5. Should we bring extinct species back from the dead?

Animal cloning is becoming more common, so cloning extinct species appears to be a matter of time. But should we really bring back animals like mammoths? What would we do with them if we succeed?

6. Potential for super greenhouse effect on earth

Global warming is the real thing, and governments around the world are starting to take this issue seriously. But where are we on our way to triggering a runaway greenhouse effect that turned our neighboring planet Venus into a hellish world?

7. What is gene therapy?

For example, could we use it to prevent diseases and conditions?

8. Why whales should not be hunted for food

Also an interesting topic that touches upon one of the most relevant issues in environmental health.

9. Stephen Hawking’s contributions to science

One of the greatest minds in history, Stephen Hawking, passed away recently, so it would be great to share his main contributions to science.

10. When will the next solar superflare hit earth?

The scientists know it’s coming, but can we make some predictions?

Category: self-development and self-help topics

11. How can you improve public speaking skills?

Why not, right?

12. What leadership style is the most suitable for your personality?

There are a number of leadership styles, so finding out which one suits you is an interesting idea.

13. How to get a fresh start after a breakup / divorce?

14. Why you should become a freelancer

15. Why being lazy isn’t always a bad thing

16. What Richard Branson recommends to everyone to make everyday a success

Here are  some materials  for you to start researching.

17. Why you should visit at least 5 countries by the time you’re 30

18. Gluten isn’t bad for health

19. Scientific evidence on why you shouldn’t skip your breakfast

20. Why success if often an extreme tolerance for failure (Jeff Bezos experience)

Jeff Bezos is an excellent example of a person who  thinks of a failure as a chance to learn .

Category: society

21. Do professional athletes make too much money?

22. Why the your country should promote legal immigration

23. Is it possible to eliminate poverty in every country in the world?

24. The internet should be free for everyone

25. Why punishing children for bullying others isn’t a solution

This conversation article  has some good ideas on that for you to explore.

26. The U.S. should encourage the spirit of volunteerism

27. Society should make monopolies illegal

28. Is our society too dependent on technology?

29. Why we need to support local businesses

30. Being gay: choice or nature?

31. Cell phone use while driving should be banned in all U.S. states.

Category: workplace

32. How to spot a toxic employee?

33. Give 5 reasons why we should abolish tipping restaurant servers

This Huffington Post article  will be of great help to you on this topic.

34. Why the minimum wage should be raised?

35. Top reasons why best employees invest in employee wellness programs

36. The best ways to increase employee engagement for better performance

37. Should age discrimination be a criminal offence?

38. All internships should be paid internships

39. The minimum age for unsupervised driving should be raised to 18

40. LGBT workers are protected from workplace discrimination.

Category: controversial

41. Airline passengers should sacrifice their privacy for the sake of flight safety

42. Your government should promote conservation

43. Your government should make animal testing illegal

44. The use of the internet by teens should be limited

45. The internet contributes to media bias

How to choose a public speaking topic?

Check out these quick tips for picking a great topic:

  • Choose a topic that you’re fairly familiar with or have an interest in. This might help you to include some personal experience as a bonus to your speech.
  • Know your audience. Your topic should always resemble the interests of your audience, otherwise they could find it boring. In this case, you’ll be wasting yours and their time.
  • Pick up a hot topic that describes a current event, place, or process.

Read this article for additional information on  choosing a public speaking topic .

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!

Like what you're reading?

Discover over 60 engaging 5-minute presentation topics

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

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Anete Ezera August 21, 2023

Delivering impactful presentations doesn’t always require a marathon of speaking. In fact, condensing your message into a succinct 5-minute presentation can be just as powerful. In this article, we’ll explore a 5-minute presentation topics list that captivate your audience’s attention, spark their curiosity, and leave a lasting impression. Whether looking for 5-minute presentation topics for college students, topics for professionals, or simply looking for a suitable subject to share insights, these categorized topics offer a concise platform to convey your message effectively.

Young businesswoman addressing group of people in meeting. Female executive sharing the new presentation theme with colleagues in the startup office.

Exploring a variety of engaging 5-minute presentation topics

Personal growth and well-being.

  • The Power of Positivity: How cultivating a positive mindset impacts your daily life.
  • The Journey of Mindfulness: Navigating the benefits of mindfulness and meditation.
  • Overcoming Procrastination: Techniques to boost productivity and break the habit.
  • The Science of Happiness: Unraveling the psychology behind happiness.
  • Cultivating Resilience: Techniques to build resilience and bounce back from setbacks.
  • Mastering Mindful Breathing: Introducing the art of mindful breathing to alleviate stress.

Innovations and sustainability

  • The Rise of Renewable Energy: How sustainable resources are shaping our future.
  • Sustainable Fashion Choices: Shedding light on the environmental impact of clothing choices.
  • Impact of Microplastics: Raising awareness about microplastics’ effects on ecosystems and health.
  • Unveiling Virtual Reality: A brief overview of the transformative potential of VR technology.
  • The Future of Mobility: Discussing innovations in transportation, from electric vehicles to autonomous driving.
  • Introduction to Blockchain: Simplifying the concept of blockchain and its applications.

Communication and personal development

  • The Art of Storytelling: Why stories resonate deeply and influence perceptions.
  • Art of Active Listening: Exploring the significance of active listening in communication.
  • Effective Public Speaking: Tips to enhance speaking skills in various settings.
  • Understanding Body Language: Decoding nonverbal cues in effective communication.
  • Cultivating a Growth Mindset: Insights into the power of a growth mindset.
  • Unconventional Careers: Exploring exciting career paths that defy traditional norms.

Technology and insights

  • Digital Privacy Concerns: Exploring the implications of online data security.
  • The Impact of Social Media: Unveiling its effects on mental health and society.
  • Cybersecurity Essentials: Safeguarding personal data in the digital age.
  • Introduction to Cryptocurrency: Simplifying the complex world of cryptocurrency.
  • Exploring Genetic Engineering: A concise overview of genetic engineering’s science and ethics.
  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence: Delving into AI’s transformative potential on industries and life.
  • The Future of Work: Exploring how technology is reshaping the workplace.

Practical skills and techniques

  • Tackling Time Management: Demonstrating efficient strategies for organizing your day.
  • Language Learning Hacks: Quick strategies to accelerate language learning.
  • Effective Time Blocking: Techniques for maximizing productivity through structured time management.
  • The Magic of Minimalism: Exploring the benefits of decluttering and simplifying life.
  • Nutrition Hacks: Quick insights into making healthier food choices.
  • The Art of Negotiation: Tips for successful negotiation in personal and professional settings.
  • Crisis Communication: Strategies for effective communication during challenging times.

Creativity and exploration

  • Unlocking Innovative Solutions: Techniques to foster creative thinking and problem-solving.
  • Exploring Astronomy: A brief journey through the universe’s wonders and celestial bodies.
  • The Art of Photography: Unveiling the secrets to capturing captivating and meaningful images.
  • Music Therapy: How music impacts emotions and well-being, and its potential for healing.
  • The World of Origami: Discovering the ancient art of paper folding and its therapeutic benefits.
  • Inspiring Travel Destinations: Showcasing unique places that offer enriching travel experiences.
  • Exploring Local Cuisine: A tantalizing exploration of regional dishes and their cultural significance.
  • The Beauty of Calligraphy: A glimpse into the world of elegant and expressive handwriting.

Environmental awareness and conservation

  • The Importance of Biodiversity: Exploring the significance of diverse ecosystems and their role in sustaining life.
  • Climate Change Solutions: Highlighting actionable steps individuals and communities can take to combat climate change.
  • Ocean Conservation: Shedding light on the challenges facing marine ecosystems and the need for preservation.
  • Green Initiatives in Cities: Showcasing innovative urban projects that prioritize sustainability and green spaces.
  • Wildlife Protection Efforts: Discussing the importance of safeguarding endangered species and their habitats.
  • Upcycling and Repurposing: Creative ways to reduce waste and repurpose materials for a more sustainable lifestyle.
  • Eco-Friendly Gardening: Tips for cultivating gardens that support local biodiversity and minimize environmental impact.
  • Food Waste Reduction: Strategies to minimize food waste and contribute to a more sustainable food system.

Cultural insights and diversity

  • Cultural Traditions Around the World: Exploring unique customs, festivals, and rituals from different cultures.
  • Language Diversity: Showcasing the richness of languages spoken globally and their importance in preserving heritage.
  • Cross-Cultural Communication: Insights into effective communication across diverse cultural backgrounds.
  • Global Cuisines: A culinary journey through the flavors and dishes that define different regions.
  • Traditional Arts and Crafts: Celebrating the craftsmanship and artistic expressions of various cultures.
  • Celebrating Diversity: Embracing the value of inclusivity and the benefits of diverse perspectives.
  • Traveling Responsibly: Tips for respectful and culturally sensitive travel experiences.
  • International Etiquette: Navigating cultural norms and customs when interacting with people from different backgrounds.

Health and wellness

  • The Benefits of Regular Exercise: Exploring the positive impacts of physical activity on overall well-being.
  • Mind-Body Connection: Unveiling the link between mental health and physical well-being.
  • Balanced Nutrition for Optimal Health: Tips for making nutritious food choices that support wellness.
  • Stress Management Techniques: Strategies to cope with stress and maintain mental and emotional balance.
  • Importance of Hydration: Highlighting the role of proper hydration in maintaining good health.
  • Quality Sleep Habits: Discussing the significance of quality sleep and tips for improving sleep patterns.
  • Mental Health Awareness: Shedding light on the importance of understanding and supporting mental health.
  • Holistic Approaches to Wellness: Exploring holistic practices that address mind, body, and spirit.

Historical perspectives

  • Influential Women in History: Celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of remarkable women.
  • Turning Points in History: Exploring pivotal moments that shaped the course of human history.
  • Ancient Civilizations: A glimpse into the achievements and legacies of civilizations from the past.
  • Revolutionary Inventions: Unveiling inventions that revolutionized industries and daily life.
  • World-Changing Events: Discussing events that had a profound impact on societies and cultures.
  • Great Leaders Throughout Time: Highlighting the leadership styles and achievements of notable figures.
  • Cultural Renaissance Periods: Exploring periods of cultural revival and artistic innovation.
  • Lessons from History: Extracting valuable lessons and insights from historical events and figures.

With these categories and their respective examples, you have a comprehensive palette of engaging 5-minute presentation topics catering to various interests and purposes. Whether you’re sparking conversations, sharing insights, or simply enhancing your presentation skills, these topics offer a platform for concise and impactful communication.

For further inspiration on crafting compelling topics, explore Prezi’s comprehensive guide on good presentation topics and presentation night ideas .

Elevating your short-form presentation skills

Creating and delivering a compelling 5-minute presentation requires a strategic approach to ensure your message is concise, engaging, and impactful. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Define a clear message

Start by defining the core message or main takeaway you want your audience to remember. Keep it focused and concise to ensure your presentation remains on track.

Structure with purpose

Organize your presentation with a clear structure: introduction, main points, and conclusion. Each section should flow logically and contribute to the overall message.

Learn more about how to effectively structure your presentation by watching the following video:

Engaging opening

Begin with an attention-grabbing opening that hooks your audience and sets the tone for the rest of your presentation. This could be a surprising fact, a thought-provoking question, or a captivating anecdote.

Concise content

Keep your content concise and to the point. Avoid information overload and focus on the most relevant and impactful details that support your main message.

Visual aids

Use visuals sparingly to complement your spoken words. Visual aids should be simple, relevant, and easy to understand. They should enhance your message, not distract from it.

Rehearse your presentation multiple times to become comfortable with the content and timing. Practice helps you refine your delivery and identify areas for improvement.

Time management

Keep a close eye on your time during practice and the actual presentation. Aim to stay within the 5-minute limit to ensure your message is delivered effectively.

Engaging delivery

Maintain good eye contact, use appropriate gestures, and vary your vocal tone to keep your audience engaged. A confident and enthusiastic delivery enhances your message’s impact.

Discover more about engaging delivery by mastering the art of storytelling :

Relevance and depth

Prioritize quality over quantity. Instead of covering numerous points superficially, delve deeper into a few key ideas to provide valuable insights.

Transitions

Use smooth transitions between sections to guide your audience through your presentation. These transitions create a seamless flow that keeps listeners engaged.

Call to action

Conclude your presentation with a clear call to action that aligns with your main message. Encourage your audience to take a specific action or reflect on what they’ve learned.

Choose a relevant topic

Perhaps most importantly, select a topic that is relevant to your audience’s interests, needs, and preferences. Make sure it aligns with the purpose of your presentation and resonates with your listeners. For example, if you’re preparing for an interview, be sure to research 5-minute interview presentation topics. Here are a few examples; 

  • My Professional Journey: Share your career path, highlighting key experiences, and accomplishments, and how they align with the role you’re interviewing for. 
  • Strategic Problem-Solving: Present a real-world challenge you’ve encountered and walk through the steps you took to analyze, strategize, and find a solution. 
  • Innovative Ideas for Company Growth: Propose innovative strategies or initiatives that could drive growth, improve efficiency, or enhance the company’s offerings. 
  • Market Trends and Insights: Present your analysis of current market trends, including opportunities and challenges, and discuss how your insights could benefit the company. 
  • Effective Team Leadership: Describe a situation where you successfully led a team to achieve a common goal, emphasizing your leadership style, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.

Discover more presentation ideas that’ll help you craft a compelling presentation:

Using these topics for 5 minute presentations and delivering them effectively 

Crafting and delivering a 5 minute presentation requires finesse in both content creation and delivery. By selecting a focused topic, structuring your presentation effectively, and practicing your delivery, you can make the most of these brief but effective moments in the spotlight. The diverse array of the best 5 minute presentation topics showcased here offers a launchpad for your creative expression, sparking engaging conversations and leaving a lasting impression on your audience. Remember, it’s not about the duration—it’s about the quality and resonance of your message. To create an attention-grabbing presentation that moves your audience, try Prezi today.

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Trending presentation topics for communication skills

59 Trending Presentation Topics for Communication Skills

Presentation could be the best practice to improve one’s communication skills. But, selecting the right topic is equally important. Whether you are about to give a presentation at school, college, or your workplace, if the purpose of the presentation is to improve your communication skills, this post is for you. 

Instead of picking any random topics in mind, better if you refer to some presentation topic ideas for this purpose. And, we hope that this post will provide you with the best topics you can pick to give an effective presentation. With this list of ideas, go for the topics based on the type of presentation you’re giving. 

Best Communication Skills Topics for Students

Best communication skills topics for students

If you are selected for the classroom presentation and in search of good topic ideas, this is the list for you. Here we are sharing the general and good communication topics you can pick for your classroom presentation. Such topics mostly talk about your experience and learning, and it also helps you to improve your speech.

  • My first day at school
  • My dream high school is like
  • Great benefits of reading every day
  • The daily habits you should start now
  • Our world and its continents
  • How to improve your communication with simple tricks? 
  • Side effects of watching too many TV shows 
  • Impact of violent scenes on children
  • Why do you need homework and why you don’t?
  • How does environmental recycling work?
  • What is global warming and what can we do about it? 
  • Traditional schooling vs homeschooling
  • How to make the online education possible? 
  • What is the best time for the school? And some reasons for it.
  • Why education is more important now than before?

Also read:  Trending Non-Technical Presentation Topics

Good Communication Skills Topics for College Students

Good communication skills topics for college students

If you are in college and need to give a presentation as part of your curriculum, here are some communication topic ideas for you. Such topics are mostly around spreading awareness and developing good habits in this age. That would make a helpful presentation for your fellow college students. 

  • Goal setting and practices to achieve them
  • Best career options you have as a college student 
  • What are the harmful habits to stay away from?
  • How to improve and implement creative thinking?
  • How give up your bad habits that hurt you? 
  • Online dating: A few risks you need to know
  • Are speaking English courses worth it? 
  • Health benefits and harmful effects of gaming?
  • How reliable the movie ratings and reviews are?
  • Awareness about blood donation
  • How to have control over your emotions? 
  • Symptoms of depression you should know about

Oral Communication Presentation Topics

Oral communication presentation topics

It might be challenging to give a presentation in front of an audience. That fear is legit. But you can’t overcome that fear without actually presenting, Right? If you want some interesting presentation topics for oral presentation, here are the ideas to consider. 

  • Why your vote is important? 
  • What everyone should know in at least one foreign language?
  • Let’s talk about the purpose of our life
  • The biggest regret I have in my life
  • How you can manage your weight without putting pressure? 
  • The effect of drugs and alcohol on your body
  • How to get over with your habits of the mobile? 
  • What are the different types of jobs? 
  • What was my biggest fear and how did I get over it?
  • The history of the world and the old cities
  • Seven wonders of the world  
  • How you can be a good learner? 
  • Types of pollution and how to make it stop?
  • How to protect our culture and core values

Best Communication Topics For Workplace Presentation

Best communication topics for workplace presentation

The communication skills grow over time and with practice. If you need to give a presentation as part of your work training or internship, you need topics that make sense. And here are the best topics for the presentation at the workplace. 

  • What is crisis communication? And the best practices for it
  • How does persuasion work? And, how you can make the most out of it.
  • Verbal and non-verbal communication at the workplace
  • How to improve and be effective with your workplace communication? 
  • The better approach to connect with your clients or customers. 
  • What are the biggest obstacles in communications ? 
  • How can you use humor in professional communication and make it work?
  • Cross culture communication in business
  • How online advertising works and how to make the most? 
  • The Impact of the globalization on the local Business
  • How businesses could survive in cross-cultural communication? 
  • Best practices of marketing management
  • Top work ethics that no one talks about
  • How to implement AI in work without losing work quality?
  • Why networking is important in business? 
  • How does procrastination affect your overall work performance? 
  • What are the top marketing trends to be ready with? 
  • How to prepare yourself for business meetings? 

For workplace presentation, here are more: Trending Presentation Topics For Employees

Final Thoughts

Indeed, your first presentation will never be the perfect one. You learn how to research data, create the presentation, and present your ideas with practice over time. As part of the oral speech at school or training at work, you need to be careful with the topics you pick for presentation. 

Such kinds of presentations are for training purposes. It allows you to present your thoughts more effectively and clearly. 

As a practice and training purpose, you can pick the right presentation topics that help you improve your communication skills and train you to become a good presenter. With practice and interesting topics, you improve your communication skills which further help in your education, career as well as in life. 

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Home Blog Education Presentation Skills 101: A Guide to Presentation Success

Presentation Skills 101: A Guide to Presentation Success

Getting the perfect presentation design is just a step toward a successful presentation. For the experienced user, building presentation skills is the answer to elevating the power of your message and showing expertise on any subject. Still, one can ask: is it the same set of skills, or are they dependable on the type of presentation?

In this article, we will introduce the different types of presentations accompanied by the skillset required to master them. The purpose, as always, is to retain the audience’s interest for a long-lasting and convincing message.

cover for presentation skills guide

Table of Contents

The Importance of Presentation Skills

Persuasive presentations, instructional presentations, informative presentations, inspirational presentations, basic presentation skills, what are the main difficulties when giving a presentation, recommendations to improve your presentation skills, closing statement.

Effective communication is the answer to reaching business and academic goals. The scenarios in which we can be required to deliver a presentation are as diverse as one can imagine. Still, some core concepts apply to all presentations.

 We define presentation skills as a compendium of soft skills that directly affect your presentation performance and contribute to creating a great presentation. These are not qualities acquired by birth but skills you ought to train and master to delve into professional environments.

You may ask: is it really that evident when a presenter is not prepared? Here are some common signs people can experience during presentations:

  • Evasive body language: Not making eye contact with the audience, arms closed tightly to the body, hands in pockets all the time.
  • Lack of interest in the presenter’s voice: dull tone, not putting an effort to articulate the topics.
  • Doubting when asked to answer a question
  • Irksome mood

The list can go on about common presenter mistakes , and most certainly, it will affect the performance of any presented data if the lack of interest by the presenter is blatantly obvious.  Another element to consider is anxiety, and according to research by the National Institute of Mental Health, 73% of the population in the USA is affected by glossophobia , which is the fear of public speaking, judgment, or negative evaluation by other people.

Therefore, presentation skills training is essential for any business professional who wants to achieve effective communication . It will remove the anxiety from presentation performance and help users effectively deliver their message and connect with the audience.

Archetypes of presentations

Persuasive presentations aim to convince the audience – often in short periods – to acquire a product or service, adhere to a cause, or invest in a company. For business entrepreneurs or politicians, persuasive presentations are their tool for the trade.

Unless you aim to be perceived as an imposter, a proper persuasive presentation has the elements of facts, empathy, and logic, balanced under a well-crafted narrative. The central pillar of these presentations is to identify the single factor that gathered your audience: it could be a market need, a social cause, or a revolutionary concept for today’s society. It has to be something with enough power to gather critiques – both good and bad.

That single factor has to be backed up by facts. Research that builds your hypothesis on how to solve that problem. A deep understanding of the target audience’s needs , concerns, and social position regarding the solution your means can offer. When those elements are in place, building a pitch becomes an easy task. 

Graphics can help you introduce information in a compelling format, lowering the need for lengthy presentations. Good presentation skills for persuasive presentations go by the hand of filtering relevant data and creating the visual cues that resonate with what your audience demands.

One powerful example of a persuasive presentation is the technique known as the elevator pitch . You must introduce your idea or product convincingly to the audience in a timeframe between 30 seconds and less than 2 minutes. You have to expose:

  • What do you do 
  • What’s the problem to solve
  • Why is your solution different from others 
  • Why should the audience care about your expertise

presentation skills an elevator pitch slide

For that very purpose, using engaging graphics with contrasting colors elevates the potential power of your message. It speaks professionalism, care for details, and out-of-the-box thinking. Knowing how to end a presentation is also critical, as your CTAs should be placed with care.

Therefore, let’s resume the requirements of persuasive presentations in terms of good presentation skills:

  • Identifying problems and needs
  • Elaborating “the hook” (the element that grabs the audience’s attention)
  • Knowing how to “tie” your audience (introducing a piece of information related to the hook that causes an emotional impact)
  • Broad knowledge of body language and hand gestures to quickly convey your message
  • Being prepared to argue a defense of your point of view
  • Handling rejection
  • Having a proactive attitude to convert opportunities into new projects
  • Using humor, surprise, or personal anecdotes as elements to sympathize with the audience
  • Having confidence
  • Be able to summarize facts and information in visually appealing ways

skills required for persuasive presentations

You can learn more about persuasive presentation techniques by clicking here .

In the case of instructional presentations, we ought to differentiate two distinctive types:

  • Lecture Presentations : Presentations being held at universities or any other educative institution. Those presentations cover, topic by topic, and the contents of a syllabus and are created by the team of teachers in charge of the course.
  • Training Presentations : These presentations take place during in-company training sessions and usually comprise a good amount of content that is resumed into easy-to-take solutions. They are aimed to coach employees over certain topics relevant to their work performance. The 70-20-10 Model is frequently used to address these training situations.

Lecture presentations appeal to the gradual introduction of complex concepts, following a structure set in the course’s syllabus. These presentations often have a similar aesthetic as a group of professors or researchers created to share their knowledge about a topic. Personal experience does tell that course presentations often rely on factual data, adequately documented, and on the theoretical side.

An example of a presentation that lies under this concept is a Syllabus Presentation, used by the teaching team to introduce the subject to new students, evaluation methods, concepts to be learned, and expectations to pass the course.

using a course syllabus presentation to boost your instructional presentation skills

On the other hand, training presentations are slide decks designed to meet an organization’s specific needs in the formal education of their personnel. Commonly known as “continuous education,” plenty of companies invest resources in coaching their employees to achieve higher performance results. These presentations have the trademark of being concise since their idea is to introduce the concepts that shall be applied in practice sessions. 

Ideally, the training presentations are introduced with little text and easy-to-recognize visual cues. Since the idea is to summarize as much as possible, these are visually appealing for the audience. They must be dynamic enough to allow the presenter to convey the message.

presentation skills example of a training presentation

Those key takeaways remind employees when they revisit their learning resources and allow them to ruminate on questions that fellow workers raise. 

To sum up this point, building presentation skills for instructional presentations requires:

  • Ability to put complex concepts into simpler words
  • Patience and a constant learning mindset
  • Voice training to deliver lengthy speeches without being too dense
  • Ability to summarize points and note the key takeaways
  • Empathizing with the audience to understand their challenges in the learning process

skill requirements for instructional presentations

The informative presentations take place in business situations, such as when to present project reports from different departments to the management. Another potential usage of these presentations is in SCRUM or other Agile methodologies, when a sprint is completed, to discuss the advance of the project with the Product Owner.

As they are presentations heavily dependent on data insights, it’s common to see the usage of infographics and charts to express usually dense data in simpler terms and easy to remember. 

a SCRUM process being shown in an informative slide

Informative presentations don’t just fall into the business category. Ph.D. Dissertation and Thesis presentations are topics that belong to the informative presentations category as they condense countless research hours into manageable reports for the academic jury. 

an example of a thesis dissertation template

Since these informational presentations can be perceived as lengthy and data-filled, it is important to learn the following professional presentation skills:

  • Attention to detail
  • Be able to explain complex information in simpler terms
  • Creative thinking
  • Powerful diction
  • Working on pauses and transitions
  • Pacing the presentation, so not too much information is divulged per slide

skill requirements for informational presentations

The leading inspirational platform, TEDx, comes to mind when talking about inspirational presentations. This presentation format has the peculiarity of maximizing the engagement with the audience to divulge a message, and due to that, it has specific requirements any presenter must meet.

This presentation format usually involves a speaker on a stage, either sitting or better standing, in which the presenter engages with the audience with a storytelling format about a life experience, a job done that provided a remarkable improvement for society, etc.

using a quote slide to boost inspirational presentation skills

Empathizing with the audience is the key ingredient for these inspirational presentations. Still, creativity is what shapes the outcome of your performance as people are constantly looking for different experiences – not the same recipe rephrased with personal touches. The human factor is what matters here, way above data and research. What has your experience to offer to others? How can it motivate another human being to pursue a similar path or discover their true calling?

To achieve success in terms of communication skills presentation, these inspirational presentations have the following requirements:

  • Focus on the audience (engage, consider their interests, and make them a part of your story)
  • Putting ego aside
  • Creative communication skills
  • Storytelling skills
  • Body language knowledge to apply the correct gestures to accompany your story
  • Voice training
  • Using powerful words

skills required for inspirational presentations

After discussing the different kinds of presentations we can come across at any stage of our lives, a group of presentation skills is standard in any type of presentation. See below what makes a good presentation and which skills you must count on to succeed as a presenter.

Punctuality

Punctuality is a crucial aspect of giving an effective presentation. Nothing says more about respect for your audience and the organization you represent than delivering the presentation on time . Arriving last minute puts pressure on the tech team behind audiovisuals, as they don’t have enough preparation to test microphones, stage lights, and projector settings, which can lead to a less powerful presentation Even when discussing presentations hosted in small rooms for a reduced audience, testing the equipment becomes essential for an effective presentation.

A solution for this is to arrive at least 30 minutes early. Ideally, one hour is a sweet spot since the AV crew has time to check the gear and requirements for your presentation. Another benefit of this, for example, in inspirational presentations, is measuring the previous presenter’s impact on the audience. This gives insights about how to resonate with the public, and their interest, and how to accommodate your presentation for maximum impact.

Body Language

Our bodies can make emotions transparent for others, even when we are unaware of such a fact. Proper training for body language skills reduces performance anxiety, giving the audience a sense of expertise about the presented topic. 

Give your presentation and the audience the respect they deserve by watching over these potential mistakes:

  • Turning your back to the audience for extended periods : It’s okay to do so when introducing an important piece of information or explaining a graph, but it is considered rude to give your back to the audience constantly.
  • Fidgeting : We are all nervous in the presence of strangers, even more, if we are the center of attention for that moment. Instead of playing with your hair or making weird hand gestures, take a deep breath to center yourself before the presentation and remember that everything you could do to prepare is already done. Trust your instincts and give your best.
  • Intense eye contact : Have you watched a video where the presenter stared at the camera the entire time? That’s the feeling you transmit to spectators through intense eye contact. It’s a practice often used by politicians to persuade.
  • Swearing : This is a no-brainer. Even when you see influencers swearing on camera or in podcasts or live presentations, it is considered an informal and lousy practice for business and academic situations. If you have a habit to break when it comes to this point, find the humor in these situations and replace your swear words with funny alternatives (if the presentation allows for it). 

Voice Tone plays a crucial role in delivering effective presentations and knowing how to give a good presentation. Your voice is a powerful tool for exposing your ideas and feelings . Your voice can articulate the message you are telling, briefing the audience if you feel excited about what you are sharing or, in contrast, if you feel the presentation is a burden you ought to complete.

Remember, passion is a primary ingredient in convincing people. Therefore, transmitting such passion with a vibrant voice may help gather potential business partners’ interest.  

But what if you feel sick prior to the presentation? If, by chance, your throat is sore minutes before setting foot on the stage, try this: when introducing yourself, mention that you are feeling a bit under the weather. This resonates with the audience to pay more attention to your efforts. In case you don’t feel comfortable about that, ask the organizers for a cup of tea, as it will settle your throat and relax your nerves.

Tech Skills

Believe it or not, people still feel challenged by technology these days. Maybe that’s the reason why presentation giants like Tony Robbins opt not to use PowerPoint presentations . The reality is that there are plenty of elements involved in a presentation that can go wrong from the tech side:

  • A PDF not opening
  • Saving your presentation in a too-recent PowerPoint version
  • A computer not booting up
  • Mac laptops and their never-ending compatibility nightmare
  • Not knowing how to change between slides
  • Not knowing how to use a laser pointer
  • Internet not working
  • Audio not working

We can come up with a pretty long list of potential tech pitfalls, and yet more than half of them fall in presenters not being knowledgeable about technology.

If computers aren’t your thing, let the organization know about this beforehand. There is always a crew member available to help presenters switch between slides or configure the presentation for streaming. This takes the pressure off your shoulders, allowing you to concentrate on the content to present. Remember, even Bill Gates can get a BSOD during a presentation .

Presentations, while valuable for conveying information and ideas, can be daunting for many individuals. Here are some common difficulties people encounter when giving presentations:

Public Speaking Anxiety

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, affects a significant portion of the population. This anxiety can lead to nervousness, trembling, and forgetfulness during a presentation.

Lack of Confidence

Many presenters struggle with self-doubt, fearing that they may not be knowledgeable or skilled enough to engage their audience effectively.

Content Organization

Organizing information in a coherent and engaging manner can be challenging. Presenters often grapple with how to structure their content to make it easily digestible for the audience. Artificial Intelligence can help us significantly reduce the content arrangement time when you work with tools like our AI Presentation Maker (made for presenters by experts in presentation design). 

Audience Engagement

Keeping the audience’s attention and interest throughout the presentation can be difficult. Distractions, disengaged attendees, or lack of interaction can pose challenges.

Technical Issues

Technology glitches, such as malfunctioning equipment, incompatible file formats, or poor internet connectivity, can disrupt presentations and increase stress.

Time Management

Striking the right balance between providing enough information and staying within time limits is a common challenge. Going over or under the allotted time can affect the effectiveness of the presentation.

Handling Questions and Challenges

Responding to unexpected questions, criticism, or challenges from the audience can be difficult, especially when presenters are unprepared or lack confidence in their subject matter.

Visual Aids and Technology

Creating and effectively using visual aids like slides or multimedia can be a struggle for some presenters. Technical competence is essential in this aspect.

Language and Articulation

Poor language skills or unclear articulation can hinder effective communication. Presenters may worry about stumbling over words or failing to convey their message clearly.

Maintaining appropriate and confident body language can be challenging. Avoiding nervous habits, maintaining eye contact, and using gestures effectively requires practice.

Overcoming Impersonal Delivery

In virtual presentations, maintaining a personal connection with the audience can be difficult. The absence of face-to-face interaction can make it challenging to engage and read the audience.

Cultural and Diversity Awareness

Presenting to diverse audiences requires sensitivity to cultural differences and varying levels of familiarity with the topic.

In this section, we gathered some tips on how to improve presentation skills that can certainly make an impact if applied to your presentation skills. We believe these skills can be cultivated to transform into habits for your work routine.

Tip #1: Build a narrative

One memorable way to guarantee presentation success is by writing a story of all the points you desire to cover. This statement is based on the logic behind storytelling and its power to connect with people .

Don’t waste time memorizing slides or reading your presentation to the audience. It feels unnatural, and any question that diverts from the topic in discussion certainly puts you in jeopardy or, worse, exposes you as a fraud in the eyes of the audience. And before you ask, it is really evident when a presenter has a memorized speech. 

Build and rehearse the presentation as if telling a story to a group of interested people. Lower the language barrier by avoiding complex terms that maybe even you aren’t fully aware of their meaning. Consider the ramifications of that story, what it could lead to, and which are the opportunities to explore. Then, visualize yourself giving the presentation in a natural way.

Applying this technique makes the presentation feel like second nature to you. It broadens the spectrum in which you can show expertise over a topic or even build the basis for new interesting points of view about the project.

Tip #2: Don’t talk for more than 3 minutes per slide

It is a common practice of presenters to bombard the audience with facts and information whilst retaining the same slide on the screen. Why can this happen? It could be because the presenter condensed the talk into very few slides and preferred to talk. The reality is that your spectators won’t retain the information you are giving unless you give visual cues to help that process. 

Opt to prepare more slides and pace your speech to match the topics shown on each slide. Don’t spend more than 3 minutes per slide unless you have to introduce a complex piece of data. Use visual cues to direct the spectators about what you talk about, and summarize the principal concepts discussed at the end of each section.

Tip #3: Practice meditation daily

Anxiety is the number one enemy of professional presenters. It slowly builds without you being aware of your doubts and can hinder your performance in multiple ways: making you feel paralyzed, fidgeting, making you forget language skills or concepts, affecting your health, etc.

Meditation is an ancient practice taken from Buddhist teachings that train your mind to be here in the present. We often see the concepts of meditation and mindfulness as synonyms, whereas you should be aware that meditation is a practice that sets the blocks to reach a state of mindfulness. For presenters, being in the here and now is essential to retain focus, but meditation techniques also teach us to control our breathing and be in touch with our body signals when stress builds up. 

The customary practice of meditation has an impact on imagination and creativity but also helps to build patience – a skill much needed for connecting with your audience in instructional presentations.

Having the proper set of presentation skills can be quite subjective. It goes beyond presentation tips and deepens into how flexible we can be in our ability to communicate ideas.

Different presentations and different audiences shape the outcome of our efforts. Therefore, having a basic understanding of how to connect, raise awareness, and empathize with people can be key ingredients for your career as a presenter. A word of advice: success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes dedication and patience to build communication skills . Don’t condition your work to believe you will be ready “someday”; it’s best to practice and experience failure as part of the learning process.

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18 Best Presentation Topics for Business Communication

Table of Contents

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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6 presentation skills and how to improve them

smiling-woman-introducing-her-presentation-to-her-team-at-work-presentation-skills

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What are presentation skills?

The importance of presentation skills, 6 presentation skills examples, how to improve presentation skills.

Tips for dealing with presentation anxiety

Learn how to captivate an audience with ease

Capturing an audience’s attention takes practice. 

Over time, great presenters learn how to organize their speeches and captivate an audience from start to finish. They spark curiosity, know how to read a room , and understand what their audience needs to walk away feeling like they learned something valuable.

Regardless of your profession, you most likely use presentation skills on a monthly or even weekly basis. Maybe you lead brainstorming sessions or host client calls. 

Developing effective presentation skills makes it easier to contribute ideas with confidence and show others you’re someone to trust. Although speaking in front of a crowd sometimes brings nerves and anxiety , it also sparks new opportunities.

Presentation skills are the qualities and abilities you need to communicate ideas effectively and deliver a compelling speech. They influence how you structure a presentation and how an audience receives it. Understanding body language , creating impactful visual aids, and projecting your voice all fall under this umbrella.

A great presentation depends on more than what you say. It’s about how you say it. Storytelling , stage presence, and voice projection all shape how well you express your ideas and connect with the audience. These skills do take practice, but they’re worth developing — especially if public speaking makes you nervous. 

Engaging a crowd isn’t easy. You may feel anxious to step in front of an audience and have all eyes and ears on you.

But feeling that anxiety doesn’t mean your ideas aren’t worth sharing. Whether you’re giving an inspiring speech or delivering a monthly recap at work, your audience is there to listen to you. Harness that nervous energy and turn it into progress.

Strong presentation skills make it easier to convey your thoughts to audiences of all sizes. They can help you tell a compelling story, convince people of a pitch , or teach a group something entirely new to them. And when it comes to the workplace, the strength of your presentation skills could play a part in getting a promotion or contributing to a new initiative.

To fully understand the impact these skills have on creating a successful presentation, it’s helpful to look at each one individually. Here are six valuable skills you can develop:

1. Active listening

Active listening is an excellent communication skill for any professional to hone. When you have strong active listening skills, you can listen to others effectively and observe their nonverbal cues . This helps you assess whether or not your audience members are engaged in and understand what you’re sharing. 

Great public speakers use active listening to assess the audience’s reactions and adjust their speech if they find it lacks impact. Signs like slouching, negative facial expressions, and roaming eye contact are all signs to watch out for when giving a presentation.

2. Body language

If you’re researching presentation skills, chances are you’ve already watched a few notable speeches like TED Talks or industry seminars. And one thing you probably noticed is that speakers can capture attention with their body language. 

A mixture of eye contact, hand gestures , and purposeful pacing makes a presentation more interesting and engaging. If you stand in one spot and don’t move your body, the audience might zone out.

two-women-talking-happily-on-radio-presentation-skills

3. Stage presence

A great stage presence looks different for everyone. A comedian might aim for more movement and excitement, and a conference speaker might focus their energy on the content of their speech. Although neither is better than the other, both understand their strengths and their audience’s needs. 

Developing a stage presence involves finding your own unique communication style . Lean into your strengths, whether that’s adding an injection of humor or asking questions to make it interactive . To give a great presentation, you might even incorporate relevant props or presentation slides.

4. Storytelling

According to Forbes, audiences typically pay attention for about 10 minutes before tuning out . But you can lengthen their attention span by offering a presentation that interests them for longer. Include a narrative they’ll want to listen to, and tell a story as you go along. 

Shaping your content to follow a clear narrative can spark your audience’s curiosity and entice them to pay careful attention. You can use anecdotes from your personal or professional life that take your audience along through relevant moments. If you’re pitching a product, you can start with a problem and lead your audience through the stages of how your product provides a solution.

5. Voice projection

Although this skill may be obvious, you need your audience to hear what you’re saying. This can be challenging if you’re naturally soft-spoken and struggle to project your voice.

Remember to straighten your posture and take deep breaths before speaking, which will help you speak louder and fill the room. If you’re talking into a microphone or participating in a virtual meeting, you can use your regular conversational voice, but you still want to sound confident and self-assured with a strong tone.

If you’re unsure whether everyone can hear you, you can always ask the audience at the beginning of your speech and wait for confirmation. That way, they won’t have to potentially interrupt you later.

Ensuring everyone can hear you also includes your speed and annunciation. It’s easy to speak quickly when nervous, but try to slow down and pronounce every word. Mumbling can make your presentation difficult to understand and pay attention to.

microphone-presentation-skills

6. Verbal communication 

Although verbal communication involves your projection and tone, it also covers the language and pacing you use to get your point across. This includes where you choose to place pauses in your speech or the tone you use to emphasize important ideas.

If you’re giving a presentation on collaboration in the workplace , you might start your speech by saying, “There’s something every workplace needs to succeed: teamwork.” By placing emphasis on the word “ teamwork ,” you give your audience a hint on what ideas will follow.

To further connect with your audience through diction, pay careful attention to who you’re speaking to. The way you talk to your colleagues might be different from how you speak to a group of superiors, even if you’re discussing the same subject. You might use more humor and a conversational tone for the former and more serious, formal diction for the latter.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to presenting. Maybe you’re confident in your use of body language, but your voice projection needs work. Maybe you’re a great storyteller in small group settings, but need to work on your stage presence in front of larger crowds. 

The first step to improving presentation skills is pinpointing your gaps and determining which qualities to build upon first. Here are four tips for enhancing your presentation skills:

1. Build self-confidence

Confident people know how to speak with authority and share their ideas. Although feeling good about your presentation skills is easier said than done, building confidence is key to helping your audience believe in what you’re saying. Try practicing positive self-talk and continuously researching your topic's ins and outs.

If you don’t feel confident on the inside, fake it until you make it. Stand up straight, project your voice, and try your best to appear engaged and excited. Chances are, the audience doesn’t know you’re unsure of your skills — and they don’t need to.

Another tip is to lean into your slideshow, if you’re using one. Create something colorful and interesting so the audience’s eyes fall there instead of on you. And when you feel proud of your slideshow, you’ll be more eager to share it with others, bringing more energy to your presentation.

2. Watch other presentations

Developing the soft skills necessary for a good presentation can be challenging without seeing them in action. Watch as many as possible to become more familiar with public speaking skills and what makes a great presentation. You could attend events with keynote speakers or view past speeches on similar topics online.

Take a close look at how those presenters use verbal communication and body language to engage their audiences. Grab a notebook and jot down what you enjoyed and your main takeaways. Try to recall the techniques they used to emphasize their main points, whether they used pauses effectively, had interesting visual aids, or told a fascinating story.

woman-looking-at-video-from-tablet-while-cooking-dinner-presentation-skills

3. Get in front of a crowd

You don’t need a large auditorium to practice public speaking. There are dozens of other ways to feel confident and develop good presentation skills.

If you’re a natural comedian, consider joining a small stand-up comedy club. If you’re an avid writer, participate in a public poetry reading. Even music and acting can help you feel more comfortable in front of a crowd.

If you’d rather keep it professional, you can still work on your presentation skills in the office. Challenge yourself to participate at least once in every team meeting, or plan and present a project to become more comfortable vocalizing your ideas. You could also speak to your manager about opportunities that flex your public speaking abilities.

4. Overcome fear

Many people experience feelings of fear before presenting in front of an audience, whether those feelings appear as a few butterflies or more severe anxiety. Try grounding yourself to shift your focus to the present moment. If you’re stuck dwelling on previous experiences that didn’t go well, use those mistakes as learning experiences and focus on what you can improve to do better in the future.

Tips for dealing with presentation anxiety 

It’s normal to feel nervous when sharing your ideas. In fact, according to a report from the Journal of Graduate Medical Education, public speaking anxiety is prevalent in 15–30% of the general population .

Even though having a fear of public speaking is common, it doesn’t make it easier. You might feel overwhelmed, become stiff, and forget what you were going to say. But although the moment might scare you, there are ways to overcome the fear and put mind over matter.

Use these tactics to reduce your stress when you have to make a presentation:

1. Practice breathing techniques

If you experience anxiety often, you’re probably familiar with breathing techniques for stress relief . Incorporating these exercises into your daily routine can help you stop worrying and regulate anxious feelings. 

Before a big presentation, take a moment alone to practice breathing techniques, ground yourself, and reduce tension. It’s also a good idea to take breaths throughout the presentation to speak slower and calm yourself down .

2. Get organized

The more organized you are, the more prepared you’ll feel. Carefully outline all of the critical information you want to use in your presentation, including your main talking points and visual aids, so you don’t forget anything. Use bullet points and visuals on each slide to remind you of what you want to talk about, and create handheld notes to help you stay on track.

3. Embrace moments of silence

It’s okay to lose your train of thought. It happens to even the most experienced public speakers once in a while. If your mind goes blank, don’t panic. Take a moment to breathe, gather your thoughts, and refer to your notes to see where you left off. You can drink some water or make a quick joke to ease the silence or regain your footing. And it’s okay to say, “Give me a moment while I find my notes.” Chances are, people understand the position you’re in.

men-giving-conference-sitting-on-a-chair-with-microphone-presentation-skills

4. Practice makes progress

Before presenting, rehearse in front of friends and family members you trust. This gives you the chance to work out any weak spots in your speech and become comfortable communicating out loud. If you want to go the extra mile, ask your makeshift audience to ask a surprise question. This tests your on-the-spot thinking and will prove that you can keep cool when things come up.

Whether you’re new to public speaking or are a seasoned presenter, you’re bound to make a few slip-ups. It happens to everyone. The most important thing is that you try your best, brush things off, and work on improving your skills to do better in your next presentation.

Although your job may require a different level of public speaking than your favorite TED Talk , developing presentation skills is handy in any profession. You can use presentation skills in a wide range of tasks in the workplace, whether you’re sharing your ideas with colleagues, expressing concerns to higher-ups, or pitching strategies to potential clients.

Remember to use active listening to read the room and engage your audience with an interesting narrative. Don’t forget to step outside your comfort zone once in a while and put your skills to practice in front of a crowd. After facing your fears, you’ll feel confident enough to put presentation skills on your resume.

If you’re trying to build your skills and become a better employee overall, try a communications coach with BetterUp. 

Elevate your communication skills

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Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

The 11 tips that will improve your public speaking skills

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Ideas and insights from Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning

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

best topics for communication skills 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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Important Communication Skills and How to Improve Them

Communication skills in the workplace include a mix of verbal and non-verbal abilities. Learn more about the importance of communication skills and how you can improve yours.

[Featured image] Woman giving a presentation in front of whiteboard

Communication involves conveying and receiving information through a range of verbal and non-verbal means. When you deliver a presentation at work, brainstorm with your coworkers, address a problem with your boss, or confirm details with a client about their project, you use communication skills. They're an essential part of developing positive professional relationships.

While it might seem like communication is mostly talking and listening, there’s more to it than that. Everything from your facial expression to your tone of voice feeds into communication. In this article, we'll go over what communication skills at work look like and discuss ways you can improve your skills to become a more effective communicator. 

4 types of communication

Your communication skills will fall under four categories of communication. Let's take a closer look at each area. 

1. Written communication

Writing is one of the more traditional aspects of communication. We often write as part of our job, communicating via email and messenger apps like Slack, as well as in more formal documents, like project reports and white papers.

Conveying information clearly, concisely, and with an accurate tone of voice are all important parts of written communication.

2. Verbal communication

Communicating verbally is how many of us share information in the workplace. This can be informal, such as chatting with coworkers about an upcoming deliverable, or more formal, such as meeting with your manager to discuss your performance.

Taking time to actively listen when someone else is talking is also an important part of verbal communication.

3. Non-verbal communication

The messages you communicate to others can also take place non-verbally—through your body language, eye contact, and overall demeanor. You can cultivate strong non-verbal communication by using appropriate facial expressions, nodding, and making good eye contact. Really, verbal communication and body language must be in sync to convey a message clearly.  

4. Visual communication

Lastly, visual communication means using images, graphs, charts, and other non-written means to share information. Often, visuals may accompany a piece of writing or stand alone. In either case, it's a good idea to make sure your visuals are clear and strengthen what you're sharing.  

Why are communication skills important?  

We use our communication skills in a variety of ways in our professional lives: in conversations, emails and written documents, presentations, and visuals like graphics or charts. Communication skills are essential, especially in the workplace, because they can:

Improve your relationships with your manager and coworkers

Build connections with customers 

Help you convey your point quickly and clearly

Enhance your professional image

Encourage active listening and open-mindedness

Help advance your career

 17 ways to improve your communications skills in the workplace

Communicating effectively in the workplace is a practiced skill. That means, there are steps you can take to strengthen your abilities. We've gathered 17 tips to provide actionable steps you can take to improve all areas of workplace communication. 

1. Put away distractions.

Improving your overall communication abilities means being fully present. Put away anything that can distract you, like your phone. It shows others that you’re respectfully listening and helps you respond thoughtfully to the conversation.  

2. Be respectful. 

Be aware of others' time and space when communicating with them. Thank them for their time, keep presentations to within their set time limits, and deliver written communications, like email, during reasonable hours.  

3. Be receptive to feedback.

As you’re working to improve your communication skills, ask your colleagues for feedback about areas you can further develop. Try incorporating their feedback into your next chat, brainstorming session, or video conference. 

4. Prioritize interpersonal skills. 

Improving interpersonal skills —or your ability to work with others—will feed into the way you communicate with your colleagues, managers, and more. Interpersonal skills have to do with teamwork, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution, and often go hand-in-hand with communicating.  

Written and visual communication tips

Writing and imagery share a lot in common in that you're using external mediums to share information with an audience. Use the tips below to help improve both of these communication types.

5. Be concise and specific.

Staying on message is key. Use the acronym BRIEF (background, reason, information, end, follow-up) to help guide your written or visual communication. It's important to keep your message clear and concise so your audience understands your point, and doesn't get lost in unnecessary details.  

6. Tailor your message to your audience.

Your communication should change based on your audience, similar to how you personalize an email based on who you're addressing it to. In that way, your writing or visuals should reflect your intended audience. Think about what they need to know and the best way to present the information.

7. Tell a story.

When you can, include stories in your written or visual materials. A story helps keep your audience engaged and makes it easier for people to relate to and grasp the topic.

8. Simplify and stay on message.

Proofread and eliminate anything that strays from your message. One of the best ways to improve communication is to work on creating concise and clear conversations, emails, and presentations that are error-free.

Verbal communication tips

Remember that verbal communication goes beyond just what you say to someone else. Use the tips below to improve your speaking and listening abilities.

9. Prepare what you’re going to say.

If you’re presenting an idea or having a meaningful talk with your supervisor, take some time to prepare what you’ll say. By organizing your thoughts, your conversation should be clearer and lead to a more productive interaction. 

10. Get rid of conversation fillers.

To aid in your conversational improvement, work to eliminate fillers like “um,” and “ah.” Start listening for these fillers so you can use them less and convey more confidence when you speak. Often these phrases are used to fill the silence, which is a natural part of conversation, so try to embrace the silence rather than fill it. 

11. Record yourself communicating.

If you need to deliver a presentation, practice it in advance and record yourself. Review the recording and look for places to improve, such as catching the conversational fillers we mentioned above or making better eye contact with your audience.  

12. Ask questions and summarize the other person's main points.

Part of being an active listener is asking relevant questions and repeating pieces of the conversation to show that you understand a point. Listening makes communication a two-way street, and asking questions is a big part of that.  

13. Be ready for different answers.

Listen without judgment. That’s the goal of every conversation, but especially if you hear responses that are unexpected or different than you anticipate. Listen to the person openly, be mindful of your body language, and don’t interrupt. 

14. Make sure you understand.

Before ending a conversation, take a moment to ask a few follow-up questions and then recap the conversation. You can finish by repeating what you've heard them say and confirming that you understand the next actionable steps.

Non-verbal communication

Lastly, your body communicates a lot . Use the tips below to become more mindful about your body language and other important aspects of non-verbal communication.

15. Work on your body language.

Body language comes up in a range of scenarios. When you're listening, try to avoid slouching, nod to show you hear the person, and think about your facial expressions. If you're speaking, make eye contact and use natural hand gestures.  

16. Be aware of your emotions.

How you're feeling can arise non-verbally. During a conversation, meeting, or presentation, stay present with your emotions and reflect on whether your body language—and even the loudness of your voice—are conveying what you want them to.    

17. Use empathy.

Consider the feelings of others as you communicate with them. Part of having a meaningful conversation or developing a meaningful presentation is being aware of others—bein empathetic, in other words. If you try to put yourself in their shoes, you can better understand what they need and communicate more effectively.  

Read more: What Are Job Skills and Why Do They Matter?

Further enhance your communication skills with Improving Communication Skills , part of the Achieving Personal and Professional Success Specialization from the University of Pennsylvania, or the Dynamic Public Speaking Specialization from the University of Washington. 

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How does communication play a role in career development ‎.

One of the most essential workplace skills that a manager looks for when promoting from within is communication. Communication, coupled with problem-solving skills and time management, are the top three qualities hiring managers look for, according to TopResume [ 2 ].  ‎

How can you practice your communication skills?  ‎

Every conversation that you have can serve as practice. You can also ask to take on more communicative roles at work, like offering to lead a meeting or presenting the teams’ findings.  ‎

How does attitude play a role in communication? ‎

People listen and respond to coworkers or supervisors who have a fair, positive attitude. Try to stay upbeat, smile when you talk, and remove yourself from conversations that put others down.  ‎

Keep reading

Coursera staff.

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

best topics for communication skills presentation

14 Practical Tips to Improve Your Presentation Skills

  • The Speaker Lab
  • May 11, 2024

Table of Contents

Ever felt complete dread and fear at the thought of stepping up to deliver a presentation? If so, you’re not alone. The fear of public speaking is more common than you might think, but with the right presentation skills , it’s a hurdle that can be overcome.

In this article, we’ll help you master basic confidence-building techniques and conquer advanced communication strategies for engaging presentations. We’ll explore how body language and eye contact can make or break your connection with your audience; delve into preparation techniques like dealing with filler words and nervous habits; discuss tailoring content for different audiences; and much more.

Whether you’re prepping for job interviews or gearing up for big presentations, being prepared is key. With adequate practice and the proper attitude, you can crush your speech or presentation!

Mastering the Basics of Presentation Skills

Presentation skills are not just about speaking in front of a crowd. It’s also about effective communication, audience engagement, and clarity. Mastering these skills can be transformative for everyone, from students to corporate trainers.

Building Confidence in Presentations

Becoming confident when presenting is no small feat. But fear not. Even those who feel jittery at the mere thought of public speaking can become masters with practice and patience. Just remember: stage fright is common and overcoming it is part of the process towards becoming an effective presenter.

Taking deep breaths before you start helps calm nerves while visualizing success aids in building confidence. Also, know that nobody minds if you take a moment to gather your thoughts during your presentation—everybody minds more if they cannot understand what you’re saying because you’re rushing.

The Role of Practice in Enhancing Presentation Skills

In line with old wisdom, practice indeed makes perfect, especially when improving presentation skills. Consistent rehearsals allow us to fine-tune our delivery methods like maintaining eye contact or controlling body language effectively.

You’ll learn better control over filler words through repeated drills. Plus, the extra practice can help you troubleshoot any technical glitches beforehand, saving you the sudden panic during your actual presentations.

Remember that great presenters were once beginners too. Continuous effort will get you there sooner rather than later.

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Body Language and Eye Contact in Presentations

The effectiveness of your presentation can hinge on more than just the words you say. Just as important is your body language .

Impact of Posture on Presentations

Your posture speaks volumes before you utter a word. Standing tall exudes confidence while slouching could signal nervousness or lack of preparation.

If there’s one lesson to take away from our YouTube channel , it’s this: good presenters know their message but great ones feel it through every fiber (or muscle) of their being. The audience can sense that energy when they see open body language rather than crossed arms.

Maintaining Eye Contact During Your Presentation

Eyes are often called windows to the soul for a reason. They’re communication powerhouses. Making eye contact helps build trust with your audience members and keeps them engaged throughout your speech.

Avoid staring at note cards or visual aids too much as this might give an impression that you’re unprepared or uncertain about your chosen topic. Instead, aim to maintain eye contact between 50% of the time during presentations. This commonly accepted “50/70 rule” will help you exhibit adequate confidence to your audience.

If stage fright has gotten a hold on you, take deep breaths before you start speaking in order to stay calm. Make sure that fear doesn’t disrupt your ability to maintain eye-contact during presentations.

If body language and eye contact still feel like a lot to manage during your big presentation, remember our golden rule: nobody minds small mistakes. It’s how you handle questions or mishaps that truly makes a difference—so stay positive and enthusiastic.

Preparation Techniques for Successful Presentations

Presentation skills are like a craft that requires meticulous preparation and practice. Aspects like visual aids and time management contribute to the overall effectiveness of your delivery.

The first step towards delivering an impactful presentation is research and organization. The content should be well-researched, structured logically, and presented in simple language. This will make sure you deliver clear messages without any room for misinterpretation.

Dealing with Filler Words and Nervous Habits

Nervous habits such as excessive use of filler words can distract from your message. Luckily, there are plenty of strategies that can address these issues. For instance, try taking deep breaths before speaking or using note cards until fluency is achieved. In addition, practice regularly to work on eliminating these verbal stumbling blocks.

Avoiding Distractions During Presentations

In a digital age where distractions abound, maintaining focus during presentations has become an even more crucial part of the preparation process. This video by motivational speaker Brain Tracy provides insights on how one could achieve this level of focus required for effective presentations.

Maintaining Confidence Throughout Your Presentation

Confidence comes from thorough understanding of the chosen topic combined with regular practice sessions before the big day arrives. Make use of note cards or cue cards as needed but avoid reading from them verbatim.

Taking control over stage fright starts by arriving early at the venue so that you familiarize yourself with the surroundings, which generally calms nerves down considerably. So next time you feel nervous before a big presentation, remember—thorough preparation can make all the difference.

Engaging Your Audience During Presentations

Connecting with your audience during presentations is an art, and mastering it can take your presentation skills to the next level. Making the message conveyed reach an emotional level is essential, not just conveying facts.

Understanding Your Target Audience

The first step towards engaging your audience is understanding them. Tailor the content of your presentation to their needs and interests. Speak in their language—whether that be professional jargon or everyday slang—to establish rapport and ensure comprehension.

An effective presenter understands who they’re speaking to, what those individuals care about, and how best to communicate complex ideas understandably.

Making Complex Information Understandable

Dense data or complicated concepts can lose even the most interested listener if presented ineffectively. Breaking your key points down into manageable chunks helps maintain attention while promoting retention. Analogies are especially useful for this purpose as they make unfamiliar topics more relatable.

Audience Participation & Questions: A Two-Way Street

Incorporating opportunities for audience participation encourages engagement at another level. It allows listeners to become active participants rather than passive receivers of knowledge.

Consider techniques like live polls or interactive Q&A sessions where you invite questions from attendees mid-presentation instead of saving all queries until the end.

This gives you a chance not only engage but also address any misunderstandings right on spot.

  • Treat each question asked as an opportunity—it’s evidence someone has been paying attention. Even challenging questions should be welcomed as they demonstrate an engaged, thoughtful audience.
  • Encourage participation. It can be as simple as a show of hands or the use of interactive technologies for live polling during your presentation. This keeps your audience active and invested in the content.

Remember, your presentation isn’t just about putting on a show—it’s about meaningful interaction.

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Presentation Skills in Specific Contexts

Whether you’re nailing your next job interview, presenting an exciting marketing campaign, or delivering insightful educational content, the context matters. Let’s take a look.

The Art of Job Interviews

A successful job interview often hinges on effective communication and confidence. Here, the target audience is usually small but holds significant influence over your future prospects. Body language plays a crucial role; maintain eye contact to show sincerity and interest while open body language communicates approachability.

Bullet points summarizing key experiences are also helpful for quick recall under pressure. This allows you to present your chosen topic with clarity and positive enthusiasm without relying heavily on note or cue cards.

Pitching in Public Relations & Marketing

In public relations (PR) and marketing contexts, presentations need to capture attention quickly yet hold it long enough to deliver key messages effectively. Visual aids are valuable tools here—they help emphasize points while keeping the audience engaged.

Your aim should be highlighting presentation benefits that resonate with potential clients or partners, making them feel as though ignoring such opportunities would mean missing out big time.

Educational Presentations

An educational setting demands its own unique set of presentation skills where deep understanding trumps flashy visuals. You must make complex information understandable without oversimplifying essential details—the use of analogies can be beneficial here.

Keeping the audience’s attention is critical. Encourage questions and participation to foster a more interactive environment, enhancing learning outcomes for all audience members.

Tips for Becoming a Great Presenter

No single method is suitable for everyone when it comes to speaking in public. However, incorporating continuous improvement and practice into your routine can make you an exceptional presenter.

Tailor Your Presentation to Your Audience

Becoming an excellent speaker isn’t just about delivering information; it’s also about making a connection with the audience. So make sure that you’re taking setting, audience, and topic into consideration when crafting your presentation. What works for one audience may not work for another, so be sure to adapt your presentation styles according to the occasion in order to be truly effective.

The Power of Practice

The art of mastering public speaking skills requires practice —and lots of it . To become a great presenter, focus on improving communication skills through practice and feedback from peers or mentors. Try to seek feedback on every speech delivered and incorporate those pointers in your future presentations. Over time, this cycle of delivery-feedback-improvement significantly enhances your ability to connect with audiences and convey ideas effectively.

If you’re looking for examples of good speakers, our speech breakdowns on YouTube provide excellent examples of experienced presenters who masterfully utilize speaking techniques. Analyzing their strategies could give you great ideas for enhancing your own style.

Finding Your Style

A crucial part of captivating any audience lies in how you deliver the message rather than the message itself. Developing a unique presentation style lets you stand out as an engaging speaker who commands attention throughout their talk. Through — you guessed it — practice, you can develop a personal presentation style that resonates with listeners while showcasing your expertise on the chosen topic.

Your body language plays a pivotal role here: open gestures communicate confidence and enthusiasm towards your subject matter, two qualities essential for keeping audiences hooked. Similarly, using vocal variety adds dynamism to speeches by emphasizing points when needed or creating suspense during storytelling parts of your talk.

Cultivating Passion & Enthusiasm

Showcasing genuine passion for the subject helps keep listeners engaged throughout even lengthy presentations. Sharing stories related to the topic or expressing excitement about sharing knowledge tends to draw people in more than mere data recitation ever could.

Recognize that everybody is distinctive; don’t expect identical results from every speaker. The path to becoming a great presenter involves recognizing your strengths and working tirelessly on areas that need improvement.

FAQs on Presentation Skills

What are good presentation skills.

Good presentation skills include a clear message, confident delivery, engaging body language, audience understanding, and interaction. They also involve effective preparation and practice.

What are the 5 steps of presentation skills?

The five steps of presenting include: planning your content, preparing visual aids if needed, practicing the delivery aloud, performing it with confidence, and finally post-presentation reflection for improvements.

What are the 5 P’s of presentation skills?

The five P’s stand for Preparation (researching your topic), Practice (rehearsing your talk), Performance (delivering with confidence), Posture (standing tall), and Projection (using a strong voice).

What are your presentation skills?

Your personal set of abilities to deliver information effectively is what we call your presentation skill. It can encompass public speaking ability, clarity in speech or writing as well as visual communication talent.

Mastering presentation skills isn’t an overnight process, but practice and perseverance will put you well on your way to becoming an effective speaker.

You’ve learned that confidence plays a crucial role in effective presentations, so take deep breaths, make eye contact, and keep your body language open. As always, preparation is key. Tackle filler words head-on and get comfortable with visual aids for impactful storytelling.

Remember the importance of audience engagement — it’s all about understanding their needs and tailoring your content accordingly. This way, complex information turns into digestible insights.

Above all else: practice! After all, nothing beats experience when it comes to improving public speaking abilities.

  • Last Updated: May 9, 2024

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Top 7 Slides on Communication Skills- Free PPT

Top 7 Slides on Communication Skills- Free PPT

Mansi Gawri

author-user

Think of flying back to a time when humans lived in caves and conveyed their thoughts, feelings, and expressions through incredible artwork on the walls of these caves. Since they lacked a written language, they communicated ideas and told tales through these paintings.

But have you noticed one thing? If not, let me tell you.

People's ability to interact has been vital throughout history as they have discovered distinct methods to connect and share from pre-historic cave drawings.

As we think about how important communication is over time, it's essential to think about how we can get better at communicating in today's world.

So, let’s discuss some essential aspects to be kept in mind to enhance communication skills:

  • Clear and concise: It is important to note that while interacting with others, one needs to express their thoughts clearly and in a simple, short way so the listener does not get confused.
  • Body Postures and Facial expression: Despite being transparent, one needs to express their words and non-verbal language, i.e., through gestures.
  • Good Listener: One must be open-minded while hearing others to improve communication skills. Apart from that, one must be open enough to adapt to those new ideas and perspectives.
  • Provide remedies and resolve issues: Despite being a good listener, one needs to be open enough to present their views on the ongoing problems so that they are solved without having any deep impact within a firm or interpersonal relationships.

As we have discussed, certain aspects are required to enhance communication skills; let me share something with you! SlideTeam has prepared a customizable PowerPoint presentation on communication skills to improve the firm's productivity significantly.

Cover Slide

This is the cover slide of the PowerPoint Template, which establishes the tone of the presentation. Begin by adding the name of your company!

Communication Skills

Download this PowerPoint Template now!

# Types of Effective Workplace Communication Skills

This slide demonstrates distinct types of interactive skills needed at work.

Further, the different types of communication proficiency include:

  • Organizational Interaction
  • Representing PPT’s
  • Conferences
  • Interaction with the Clients

Download this PPT, as the distinct kinds of abilities mentioned in the slide assist in building relationships and ultimately accomplishing aims. Further, this leads to improvement in the efficiency and productivity of the firm.

Communication Skills

# Types of Non-Verbal Communication Skills

This slide renders distinct kinds of oral interactive abilities to spread information.

Further, the different non-verbal activities are as follows:

  • Interaction through facial expression
  • Communication through gestures
  • Interacting through eyes
  • Presenting information by showing distinct changes in the body posture
  • Interacting abstractly

Download this PowerPoint Template; as this slide shows, this kind of interaction is more effective than the verbal one as it enables one to express the messages or thoughts concisely, leading to positive outcomes in a firm.

Communication Skills

# Tools for Strategic Business Communication Skills Enhancement

The slide displays tools to enhance skills for Planned business, which covers:

  • Electronic mails
  • Social platforms
  • Chat Services
  • Virtual Meetings
  • Voice communication platforms

Download this PPT, as this slide enables firms to present their information in such a way that improves relationships with others and easily accomplishes aims as planned.

Communication Skills

# Team communication Skills Enhancement Tools

The slide renders improvement tools for group interactive abilities, which are explained below:

Adding this slide to the PowerPoint Template is essential as tools mentioned in the slide enable groups to enhance their interactive abilities, which leads to smoother functioning and, ultimately, improves the firm's productivity.

Communication Skills

# Training to Build Effective Communication Skills

The slide highlights the training required to build efficient interactive abilities, leading to smooth working. Ultimately, increasing the productivity and profits of the firms.

Moreover, the strategies that are taken into consideration so that powerful communication is built are as follows:

  • To give space so that questions can be asked
  • Bring upgradation in the content occasionally
  • Undertake training beyond book learning
  • Activate and boost learning at the end of every section

This slide is essential as it enables the individuals and groups in the firm to present their perspectives properly, be good listeners, and interact effectively with others. Therefore, leading to improved productivity and enhanced relationships both personally and professionally.

Communication Skills

# 7 C’s of Communication Skills Checklist 

The slide describes the Interactive abilities checklist that plays a vital role in the organization and public relations.

Further, the 7 C’s of the Communication Skills Checklist mentioned on the slide are as follows:

Adding this slide to the presentation is essential as this checklist enables individuals and firms to keep the 7 C’s in mind, leading to better and clearer understanding. Ultimately, it improves relationships both at a personal level and at the workplace.

Communication Skills

Possessing powerful communication skills is like having a superpower for smooth organizational teamwork. It is the most effective way to interact with people through online and offline collaborations, influencers, promotions, and social media. Similarly, with SlideTeam's editable PowerPoint, having strong interactive abilities positions you for success by guaranteeing that you engage your audience wherever they are.

With the correct resources, like the editable PowerPoint on Communication Skills from SlideTeam , you can improve your interactive skills and change how you approach things.

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How can I communicate assertively without being aggressive?

Assertive communication involves expressing your thoughts and feelings confidently while respecting the rights of others. To communicate assertively:

  • Use "I" statements to express your perspective without blaming or accusing others.
  • Maintain a calm and respectful tone of voice.
  • Listen actively to others' viewpoints and acknowledge their feelings.
  • Set boundaries and assert your needs without being confrontational.
  • Practice assertive body language, such as maintaining eye contact and standing or sitting upright.

How can I adapt my communication style to different situations?

Adapting your communication style involves understanding the context, audience, and purpose. To adapt effectively:

  • Assess the preferences and communication styles of your audience.
  • Modify your tone, language, and level of formality based on the situation.
  • Pay attention to non-verbal cues and adjust your body language accordingly.
  • Be flexible and open to feedback on your communication style.
  • Practice empathy and consider the perspective of others when communicating in diverse settings.

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100 Best Communication Research Topics For College Students

communication topics

Interesting communication topics are not impossible to find. Communication is the conveyance of meanings through the use of signs and symbols that are mutually understood. Communication can be divided into information theory, communication studies, and biosemiotics. Communication can be verbal, nonverbal, written, business, political, interpersonal, and lots more.

The channels of communication could be visual, auditory, etc., and is unique in that it uses abstract languages extensively. The many innovations in transportation, computing, and telecommunication have necessitated finding means to increase the frequency and ease of communication around the world.

Choose Our Communication Research Topics!

Nowadays, there are many interestingly complex areas that the communication discipline covers. This makes choosing the best communication topics a challenge for students. However, we have prepared 100 communication topics covering many diverse fields of communication. These topics about communication include:

Communication research paper topics Business communication topics for presentation Communication essay topics Communication phenomenon topics Other possible topics for communication research

So, you can explore this list of communication research topics spanning all major communication areas and make your pick! Ready to choose? Let’s roll!

Interpersonal Communication Topics

Every human being communicates one way or the other with other humans. This forms the basis for the field of interpersonal communication. For this, you may need some interpersonal communication research paper topics for your thesis or research. This is why we have made a pick of 10 interpersonal communication research topics for you!

  • The Influence of culture on interpersonal discourse
  • How context impacts the quality of interpersonal dialogue
  • Methods to simulate interpersonal dialogue
  • How effective interpersonal dialogue can promote success both professionally and personally
  • How interaction via computers impacts communication
  • What roles do communication mediums play in interpersonal communication?
  • How to facilitate information exchange and persuasion
  • The concept of dysfunctional interpersonal communication
  • The role and challenges of interpersonal dialogues in mass media campaigns
  • How the concept of competence applies to interpersonal dialogue

Business Communication Topics

To succeed in business, one must be able to communicate effectively! Here are 15 business communication topics for the research paper. You can also take a look at our business ethics topics .

  • How excellent public relations facilitate business success
  • English as the universal language in business communication
  • Effective managerial communication
  • Comparisons between internal and external communication
  • How presentation and oral skills boost business success
  • The impact of public relations on global and local communities
  • How social media use can influence business communication
  • The impact of online interactions on outcomes of business communication
  • How does organizational structure affect business communication
  • How to reach customers via email
  • Best practices for effective business communication
  • Effective business to business (B2B) communication
  • How creative designs can help to communicate business ideas
  • Best practices for email writing in the workplace
  • Creating brand awareness through communication

Intercultural Communication Topics

Sometimes, difficulties arise when people of different cultures try to communicate. Here are five intercultural communication research topics for you!

  • How to facilitate intercultural information exchange
  • How culture affects intercultural communication
  • How to build competence in intercultural dialogue
  • How intercultural students can adapt to American colleges
  • How studying abroad can facilitate better intercultural dialogue competence

Mass Communication Research Topics

The world is a global village connected by the wildfire-like spread of information. Technology continuously spins new ways of reaching and communicating with a large number of people at a time. You may require some research topics in media and communication, and thus we have made this pick. Here are ten excellent mass communication topics for your research.

  • How advertisement influences consumer behavior
  • How social media affects student performance
  • Press freedom: the pro and cons
  • Comparisons of the effect of various mass communication methods on consumer behavior
  • How social media influences the effectiveness of political campaigns
  • Evolving patterns of mass communication over the last three decades
  • How mass communication facilitates rebellious social movements
  • How to effectively communicate ideas to a large audience
  • How Information Communication Technology (ICT) affects modern-day broadcast journalism
  • Social interaction across media

Health Communication Topics

Communication is essential in the field of health, whether it is communication between healthcare providers and patients or caregivers, or among healthcare providers. Here is a list of some excellent health communication research topics.

  • Communication problems between healthcare providers and patients
  • How social media and the spread of health news affect the health of citizens
  • How to effectively pass health-related information to health workers
  • Effective vertical and horizontal health communication techniques among health care providers
  • How to communicate health schemes to the public

Technical Communication Topics

Technical communication is a means of conveying scientific, engineering, law, or other technical information. Only people in these technical fields fully understand what is written and said in technical language. This is why technical communication is vital. Here are ten technical communication topics for you!

  • How cultural expression affects virtual dialogue
  • Virtual Classrooms: Less effective than traditional classroom learning?
  • Virtual reality and interpersonal communication
  • How technology has changed the game in journalism
  • How technical language differs from everyday language in corporate communication
  • How to seek and find information in the Law field
  • How to make technical textbooks more informative and accessible
  • Communicating intellectual property law to the public
  • How to teach technical communication to non-majoring English students
  • How the general public can make sense of technical essays

Organizational Communication Research Topics

Organizational communication refers to communication channels and forms within an organization as well as public-facing communications. Here are 15 great organizational communication research topics for you!

  • How supervisors can communicate better in an organization
  • How to write an effective organizational communique
  • Best organizational communication practices to teach in every organization
  • How to facilitate and enhance better leadership communication in an organization
  • Organizational channels, communication, and systems
  • Removing barriers to effective organizational communication
  • How personality traits and leadership communication styles affect organizational productivity
  • How social media impacts organizational communication
  • How organizational communication can allow for better organizational transition
  • Exploring the types of organizational communication
  • Vital problems in organizational communication
  • How to deal with uncertainties in an organization
  • How to manage communication crises in an organization
  • How organizations can benefit from the press
  • How to effectively change management culture in an organization

Nonverbal Communication Research Topics

Nonverbal communication is a fascinating field of communication. It refers to the use of tone of voice, gestures, facial expressions, posture, body language, eye contact (or lack thereof), and other techniques. Here are ten nonverbal communication topics for you!

  • Nonverbal communication in virtual dialogue environments
  • How nonverbal communication can pass wrong messages
  • How to effectively fine-tune nonverbal communication skills
  • How facial expressions could help close bigger business deals
  • Social media and its effect on nonverbal communication
  • The history and development of nonverbal communication
  • The crucial roles of nonverbal skills in interpersonal communication
  • Comparisons and contrasts between verbal and nonverbal communication
  • How to effectively combine the art of verbal and nonverbal communication
  • Nonverbal communication practices in the workplace

Communication Topics for Research

Here are some communication topics for your research. This list also covers communication research topics for college students and communication thesis topics!

  • How the style of a leader’s communication influences employee satisfaction
  • Leadership outcomes and communication styles
  • How gender affects communication effectiveness
  • Communication in relationships versus friendships
  • Going back in time: The history of communication
  • Analyzing the theories of communication
  • New communication technologies over the past decade
  • Why is radio communication still popular?
  • How international journalism grew
  • How communication determines productivity

Communication Topics for Presentation

You may be required to give a business presentation or speech. To captivate your audience, you must choose communication speech topics and business communication presentation topics that are not only easy to grasp but enjoyable to hear. Here’s our pick of 10 communication topics to serve this purpose!

  • Models of communication
  • Types of communication
  • The importance of communication in life and business
  • The dos and don’ts of nonverbal communication
  • How to grow social and personal relationships
  • Is print media still competitive?
  • The media and terrorism
  • The media and virtual reality
  • How effective communication enhances negotiation
  • The media and wrong information

So here we are! One hundred communication topics just for you! Make your pick and get ready to have an A+! Contact our thesis writers for further help!

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10 Good Communication Skills In The Workplace (Guide 2024)

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Introduction

Effective communication skills are essential in the modern workplace, regardless of your job level or industry. The ability to communicate information clearly, concisely and with impact can make the difference between success and failure.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 10 key communication skills that can help you excel in your career. We’ll also discuss why communication skills are so important, the different types of communication, and how to highlight your communication abilities on your CV and in job interviews.

Why Communication Skills Are Important in the Workplace

Communication is one of the most sought-after skills by employers today. Strong communication abilities allow you to:

  • Convey information, instructions and ideas effectively
  • Build positive relationships with colleagues, managers and clients
  • Collaborate productively on projects and solve problems efficiently
  • Negotiate, persuade and influence others
  • Provide excellent customer service
  • Advance your career through effective self-promotion

When communication breaks down in the workplace, it can lead to misunderstandings, reduced productivity, low morale and even conflict. That’s why honing your communication skills is so crucial, no matter what your role or industry.

The 4 Types of Communication Skills

Effective communication is multi-faceted, involving a range of verbal, nonverbal, written and visual skills. The four main types of communication skills are:

Mastering each of these four communication skill types is essential for thriving in the modern workplace.

10 Good Communication Skills Examples for 2024

Here are 10 key communication skills that can help you excel in your career:

Developing these 10 communication skills takes time and practice, but the payoff can be significant for your career success. Regularly assess your communication strengths and weaknesses, and seek out opportunities to improve.

Which Jobs Require Strong Communication Skills?

Communication skills are crucial in virtually every job and industry. Some roles where excellent communication abilities are particularly important include:

  • Customer service and sales positions
  • Management and leadership roles
  • Consultancy and advisory roles
  • Public relations and marketing roles
  • Teaching, training and coaching roles
  • Creative roles like writing, journalism and public speaking

Even for highly technical or specialized jobs, the ability to communicate complex information in a clear and engaging way is invaluable. Strong communication skills can help you excel in your current role and open doors to new career opportunities.

Emphasizing Communication Skills on Your CV and in Interviews

When applying for jobs, it’s important to highlight your communication skills throughout your CV and in job interviews. Here are some tips:

On Your CV:

  • Include communication-focused achievements and responsibilities in your work history
  • Showcase written communication skills through well-structured, error-free writing
  • List relevant communication-related skills and training (e.g. public speaking, negotiation, active listening)
  • Provide examples of how you’ve used communication skills to benefit your employer

In Interviews:

  • Prepare examples of times you’ve demonstrated strong communication abilities
  • Use confident, clear and friendly body language and tone of voice
  • Listen carefully to questions and respond concisely and directly
  • Ask thoughtful questions that show your engagement and communication skills
  • Emphasize your ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders

By emphasizing your communication prowess, you can demonstrate to employers that you have the essential skills to succeed in the role and contribute to the organization.

Effective communication skills are vital for career success in the modern workplace. By mastering the 10 communication skills outlined in this guide – including emotional intelligence, clarity, friendliness, confidence, empathy and more – you can set yourself up for professional advancement.

Remember that communication is a multi-faceted skill that can always be improved through regular practice and self-reflection. Consider taking a career test or psychometric test to better understand your communication strengths and development areas.

With commitment and the right strategies, you can become an exceptional communicator and unlock new opportunities for growth and success in your career.

Palena R. Neale Ph.D, PCC

10 Tips for a Persuasive Presentation

Powerful presentation is persuasion. here's how to elevate your impact..

Posted May 11, 2024 | Reviewed by Ray Parker

  • Presentations aim to effect change. It's essential to be clear about what change you want to see.
  • Powerful presenters embrace and extend empathy to seek first to understand their audience.
  • Substance and style both matter to create an audience-informed communication experience.
  • Persuasive presentations are relevant, reasoned, real, and resonant.

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How many of us realize that giving a presentation or making a speech is all about persuasion , influence, and emotional intelligence ? Impactful presenters understand the power of empathy to understand and engage their audience, the efficiency and kindness of having a clear objective and message, and the importance of substance and style—all as a way to connect in a way that engages and inspires.

Much has been written on the power and behavioral science of persuasion, not least by expert Robert Cialdini. His bestselling book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion explains seven research-based universal principles of influence .

From my experience as a leadership coach working with thousands of people worldwide, I have compiled a list of ten essentials to elevate our presentation.

1. Maintain an "other" focus. What do you know about your audience and how can you find out more? Ask yourself what kind of a speaker will appeal to your audience, what arguments are likely to resonate with them, and what feelings you want to inspire so the audience will positively respond to your ask.

If your audience is predominantly data-driven, you may want to use more evidence-based arguments. If the audience is mixed, a combination of data, authority, and storytelling may be more appropriate. Extend Daniel Goleman’s three types of empathy to gather intelligence , understand your audience, and tailor your intervention to connect more profoundly.

2. Determine a specific objective. Presentations aim to effect change in some way. What change do you want to see in your audience?

For instance, gaining their approval for a certain investment, soliciting their buy-in for a change, or creating a sense of enthusiasm for an idea or initiative. The purpose of a presentation is to bring about change so make sure you are clear on what kind of change you want to bring about.

3. Design a grabber. Our attention spans have shrunk as we have more and more competing demands on our attention . If you want to get someone’s attention, you need to grab it at the outset and try and hold on.

You can do this in several different ways. Throw out a question that demands a response from the audience. Give a surprising fact or statistic, or quote from a well-known figure. Tell a story or an anecdote. A good grabber captures the attention of everyone there and makes them focus on what you have to say.

4. Crystalize your message and construct your arguments. Your message is the heart of your speech. Craft a brief phrase that clearly defines your proposal in 10-12 words—for example, “This post is about crafting presentations that inspire and engage others to elevate their presentations.”

Make it memorable by choosing inspiring words, symbols, catchy expressions, something that will remain in the audience's mind. As Brené Brown says: “Clear is kind,” and a clear message provides a path to develop your ideas.

When you have a clear and concise message, it helps you formulate your arguments. Think of developing your arguments using the rule of three —three compelling arguments to convince but not overwhelm your audience.

5. Prepare a call to action. Remember, we want to change our audience in some way, so we need to make our ask clearly and concretely. Consider your call to action in terms of what you want your audience to think/feel/do:

  • Think: “I want you to think about how you can improve your presentations.”
  • Feel: “I want you to feel enthusiastic and motivated so that you can elevate your power to persuade.”
  • Do: “I want you to try out some of these tips and tools for yourself.”

6. Craft a memorable closing. Close the speech in an elegant and memorable way. We need people to remember what we've told them, so prepare it well.

best topics for communication skills presentation

This is not the time to improvise. Try to connect your closing to your opening grabber, which makes the presentation more memorable. Good preparation means preparing everything to the very end—finish well.

7. Plan your delivery. A dynamic speaker draws listeners in by using vocal variety (tone, intonation, speed, volume, pace, pauses, silence) and body language (posture, gestures, expression, and movement) to highlight important points and hold the audience’s attention. Be intentional: How will you use your voice and your body to emphasize a thought or idea? Think about it: If you increased the time you spent on style or delivery by 20 percent, what would it mean for the impact you make?

8. Think about how you will engage your audience. You want the audience to feel considered throughout. Include pauses so they can process what’s being said; connect with individuals throughout the room and make deliberate eye contact while speaking, especially when delivering key points. Read and respond to the audience by changing how you deliver as you go based on the audience’s nonverbal communication .

9. Rehearse and practice. Practice is one of the most crucial elements of presenting—and probably the most neglected one. If this is new to you, start by reading your presentation in front of a mirror to get comfortable speaking your presentation.

Next, video yourself and watch out for nervous or distracting habits to eliminate them and identify any areas where you can improve your delivery. If you are feeling brave, practice in front of an audience and ask for feedback.

10. Prepare your success rituals and mantra. Public speaking and/or stage fright can feel debilitating for some. Have your calm-down ritual prepared and ready to go before you start your presentation. This might be a certain gesture, a power pose, breathwork, or a mantra.

Try this tip: Identify three adjectives to describe how you would like to show up during this presentation. This sets an intention and helps focus our cognitive and emotional resources on success.

Powerful presenters embrace and extend empathy to seek first to understand their audience. They use this intelligence to carefully make choices about substance and style to create an audience-informed communication experience that feels relevant, reasoned, real, and resonant and creates a pathway for change.

Palena R. Neale Ph.D, PCC

Palena Neale, Ph.D. , is a women’s leadership coach, lecturer, and founder of unabridged, a boutique leadership development practice.

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At any moment, someone’s aggravating behavior or our own bad luck can set us off on an emotional spiral that threatens to derail our entire day. Here’s how we can face our triggers with less reactivity so that we can get on with our lives.

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From Good to Great: Understanding the Leap in Leadership

A question that often pops up in discussions about leadership is, “What’s the difference between a good leader and a great leader?” Having been involved in movement and sports from the time I was young up to the present, I believe that great leadership is akin to building a solid, well-performing sports team.

I’ve been coached by many “good” coaches. They know all the technical aspects of the game – how to play, when to apply certain strategies or techniques, how to make adjustments to maximize individual and team performance. And, they typically support a group of athletes who meet expectations and produce reliable outcomes year after year. Their players are healthy, the team record is consistent, and the coach both respects and adheres to the cycle of training and competition.

But a “great” coach? A great coach possesses an almost magical touch that transcends the basics of simply knowing how to play the game. They don’t just roster a group of athletes for competition; they cultivate an ecosystem. 

A great coach understands the unique language of each player, the subtle interplay of environment and athlete, and the intricate dance of balancing the needs of the individual with those of the team. As a result, the team is not just productive, but also exciting and innovative – often dazzling spectators with extraordinary plays and unprecedented results. 

Here, the difference between “good” and “great” lies in the depth of connection and understanding the coach has to the game, as well as the coach’s ability to not only achieve results but to inspire, innovate, and leave a lasting impression. Good leaders effectively manage teams and meet targets, but great leaders do more; they inspire, challenge norms, and set a course for lasting impact. Like great athletic coaches, they nurture growth in a way that changes the pitch forever. 

While I pride myself on my involvement as an amateur coach, I always have a lot to learn from great coaches. This got me to thinking. If coaching a sports team is a skill that can be taught, can we teach other types of leaders to be great? What are the behaviors and thought patterns that distinguish “good” leaders from “great” leaders at work? 

Check out  Skillsoft’s Leadercamps to learn from impactful leaders globally.

The 8 Skills That Separate Good Leaders From Great Leaders

Good leaders and great leaders possess many of the same qualities, but great leaders often exhibit these qualities to a higher degree or in a more nuanced way. Here are some key skills that can help you distinguish between good and great:

Vision vs. Visionary Execution

Good leaders often have a clear vision for their organization or team, but great leaders not only have a vision but also possess the ability to execute it effectively. They can inspire others to share and work towards that vision with passion and dedication. Good leaders assign tasks and responsibilities, whereas great leaders define a clear vision, inspire creative solutions, and focus on the result rather than tasks.

Management vs. Leadership

Good leaders are often  effective managers , able to organize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and ensure things get done efficiently. Great leaders, however, go beyond mere management. They inspire and empower their team members, fostering growth, creativity, and innovation. Good leaders focus on protecting the status quo and gradual improvements, while great leaders are game changers who innovate and create new pathways for success.

Communication

Both good and great leaders communicate effectively, but great leaders excel in their communication skills. They can convey their vision, expectations, and feedback clearly and in a way that resonates with others. Great leaders are also adept at listening, understanding, and empathizing with their team members.

Create a safe space for managers to develop communication skills with Skillsoft CAISY TM .

Adaptability

Good leaders can navigate challenges and make necessary adjustments, but great leaders are exceptionally adaptable. They can anticipate change, embrace it, and lead their team through uncertainty with confidence and resilience. Good leaders accept feedback but may not always act on it, whereas great leaders apply feedback, constantly seek self-improvement, and develop themselves to authentically develop others.

Empowerment vs. Micromanagement

Good leaders empower their team members by providing guidance and support while allowing them autonomy to make decisions and take ownership of their work. Great leaders take this a step further by trusting their team completely, avoiding micromanagement, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered. Good leaders impress with their capabilities, while great leaders inspire individuals to realize their own potential and make them feel better about themselves.

Accountability

Good and great leaders hold themselves and others accountable for their actions and results. However, great leaders take responsibility for failures and successes, learning from them and using them as opportunities for growth and improvement. Good leaders command from the top and maintain traditional hierarchies, while great leaders serve from the bottom, putting the needs of their team before their own.

See Skillsoft’s Aspire Journeys for leaders at all levels here .

Emotional Intelligence

Great leaders possess  high emotional intelligence , allowing them to understand and manage their own emotions effectively while also empathizing with others. They can navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, resolve conflicts, and build strong, cohesive teams.

Long-term Impact

While good leaders may achieve short-term success, great leaders leave a lasting impact that extends beyond their tenure. They develop future leaders, cultivate a culture of continuous improvement, and leave behind a legacy of positive change and growth.

Ultimately, I believe that the transformative elements of leadership can be learned. It’s about starting early, embracing a growth mindset, and helping your leaders understand the subtle distinctions that can take their leadership from proficient to profound.

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6 Negotiation Skills All Professionals Can Benefit From

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  • 11 May 2023

As a business professional, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll need to participate in negotiations, regardless of your job title or industry. Chances are you already participate in them more often than you realize.

Negotiating a job offer, asking for a raise , making the case for a budget increase, buying and selling property , and closing a sale are just a few examples of the deals you might be involved in.

You likely flex your negotiation skills in your personal life, too, making it crucial to become a skilled negotiator in all areas of life.

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If you want to strike effective deals and improve the outcomes of future negotiations, you need an arsenal of skills. Investing time and energy into developing them and learning the negotiation process can prepare you to maximize value at the bargaining table.

“Enhancing your negotiation skills has an enormous payoff,” says Harvard Business School Professor Michael Wheeler in the online course Negotiation Mastery . “It allows you to reach agreements that might otherwise slip through your fingers. It allows you to expand the pie—create value—so you get more benefits from the agreements that you do reach. It also, in some cases, allows you to resolve small differences before they escalate into big conflicts.”

Here are six essential negotiation skills and ways to develop your knowledge and confidence.

Check out our video on negotiation skills below, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more explainer content!

Negotiation Skills

1. communication.

To achieve your ideal outcome at the bargaining table, it’s essential to clearly communicate what you’re hoping to walk away with and where your boundaries lie.

Effective negotiators develop communication skills that allow them to engage in civil discussion and work toward an agreeable solution.

Deal-making requires give and take; it’s critical to articulate your thoughts and actively listen to others’ ideas and needs. Not doing so can cause you to overlook key components of negotiations and leave them dissatisfied.

2. Emotional Intelligence

For better or worse, emotions play a role in negotiation, and you can use them to your advantage.

For example, positive emotions can increase feelings of trust at the bargaining table. Similarly, you can channel anxiety or nervousness into excitement.

You need a high degree of emotional intelligence to read other parties’ emotions. This can enable you to pick up on what they’re implying rather than explicitly stating and advantageously manage and use your emotions.

Related: The Impact of Emotions in Negotiation

3. Planning

Planning ahead with a clear idea of what you hope to achieve and where your boundaries lie is essential to any negotiation. Without adequate preparation, you can overlook important terms of your deal or alternative solutions.

First, consider the zone of possible agreement (ZOPA) . Sometimes called the bargaining zone, ZOPA is the range in which you and other parties can find common ground. A positive bargaining zone exists when the terms you’re willing to agree to overlap. A negative one exists when they don’t.

Next, it’s beneficial to understand your best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA). If your discussion lands in a negative bargaining zone, your BATNA is the course of action you’ll take if the negotiation is unsuccessful. Knowing your BATNA can ensure you have a backup plan if you can’t reach an agreement. It can also help you avoid leaving the table empty-handed.

Negotiation Mastery | Earn your seat at the negotiation table | Learn More

4. Value Creation

Value creation is one of the key skills you should add to your negotiation toolkit.

To illustrate its importance, consider this analogy: When participating in a negotiation, you and the other parties typically try to obtain the biggest “slice of the pie” possible. Vying to maximize your slice inherently means someone will get a smaller piece.

To avoid this, shift your goals from growing your slice to expanding the whole pie. The benefits of doing so are twofold: First, you can realize greater value; second, you can establish a sense of rapport and trust that benefits future discussions.

5. Strategy

In addition to thorough preparation and the ability to create value, you need a clear understanding of effective negotiation tactics . By knowing what works and what doesn’t, you can tailor your strategy for every negotiation.

To develop a strong negotiation strategy , take the following steps:

  • Define your role
  • Understand your value
  • Consider your counterpart’s vantage point
  • Check in with yourself

Graphic showing the four steps to develop a negotiation strategy: define your role, understand your value, consider your counterpart's vantage point, and check in with yourself

Following this process can enable you to formulate a clear plan for the bargaining table. By understanding the roles of those involved, the value they offer, and their advantages, you can work toward a common goal. Checking in with yourself throughout the negotiation can also ensure you stay on the path to success.

6. Reflection

Finally, to round out your negotiation skills and develop your proficiency, reflect on past negotiations and identify areas for improvement.

After each negotiation—successful or not—think about what went well and what could have gone better. Doing so can allow you to evaluate the tactics that worked in your favor and those that fell short.

Next, identify areas you want to work on and create a plan of action. For example, if you had trouble aligning your goals with your counterpart’s, review concepts like ZOPA and BATNA. If your negotiations often leave you dissatisfied, learn new ways to create value.

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How to Negotiate Professionally

No matter your strengths and weaknesses, practice is a surefire way to develop your skills. The more you negotiate, the more prepared you’ll be in the future.

Structured learning opportunities can be highly beneficial. Negotiation books and articles are effective starting points for learning deal-making basics. Those that explore real-life examples of successful negotiations can provide perspective on how others navigated difficult discussions and approached conflict resolution.

Another option is to take an online course, such as Negotiation Mastery . In addition to learning from real experts—including public officials, executives, and military officers—you can participate in interactive negotiation simulations that allow you to apply your knowledge and develop your skills. You can also gain insight into negotiation’s emotional aspects and learn how to conduct an after-action review to inform future dealings.

Do you want to hone your bargaining skills? Explore our online course Negotiation Mastery and download our free leadership e-book to discover how you can become a more effective deal-maker.

This post was updated and republished on May 11, 2023. It was originally published on Sept. 2, 2021.

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COMMENTS

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  6. 180+ Presentation Topic Ideas [Plus Templates]

    Some of the best presentation topic ideas for students center around topics such as current events, education, general culture, health, life skills, literature, media and science. When picking presentation topics, consider these things: your hobbies, the books you read, the kind of TV shows you watch, what topics you're good at and what you ...

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    A powerful presentation begins with a compelling topic that sparks your interest and hooks the audience. But you also need to discuss something you feel excited to research and discuss. This guide contains 333 informative speech topics for your next presentation, plus pro tips for delivering the best presentation possible.

  8. 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.

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    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.

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    To fully understand the impact these skills have on creating a successful presentation, it's helpful to look at each one individually. Here are six valuable skills you can develop: 1. Active listening. Active listening is an excellent communication skill for any professional to hone.

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    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 ...

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    Try incorporating their feedback into your next chat, brainstorming session, or video conference. 4. Prioritize interpersonal skills. Improving interpersonal skills —or your ability to work with others—will feed into the way you communicate with your colleagues, managers, and more.

  19. 14 Practical Tips to Improve Your Presentation Skills

    What are your presentation skills? Your personal set of abilities to deliver information effectively is what we call your presentation skill. It can encompass public speaking ability, clarity in speech or writing as well as visual communication talent. Conclusion. Mastering presentation skills isn't an overnight process, but practice and ...

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    Body Postures and Facial expression: Despite being transparent, one needs to express their words and non-verbal language, i.e., through gestures. Good Listener: One must be open-minded while hearing others to improve communication skills. Apart from that, one must be open enough to adapt to those new ideas and perspectives.

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  23. 100 Best Communication Research Topics For College Students

    This makes choosing the best communication topics a challenge for students. However, we have prepared 100 communication topics covering many diverse fields of communication. These topics about communication include: ... How presentation and oral skills boost business success; The impact of public relations on global and local communities;

  24. 10 Good Communication Skills In The Workplace (Guide 2024)

    Verbal Communication Skills: The ability to speak clearly, confidently and appropriately in conversations, presentations, negotiations and other interactions. Nonverbal Communication Skills : The use of body language, facial expressions, eye contact and tone of voice to complement and enhance verbal messages.

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    3. Design a grabber. Our attention spans have shrunk as we have more and more competing demands on our attention. If you want to get someone's attention, you need to grab it at the outset and ...

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    English Communication Presentation Topics - Free download as Word Doc (.doc / .docx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. This document lists 60 potential topics for an English communication presentation, including effects of media and communication modes, barriers to communication like cultural differences or lack of trust, verbal and nonverbal communication skills, and ...

  27. From Good to Great: Understanding the Leap in Leadership

    Create a safe space for managers to develop communication skills with Skillsoft CAISY TM. Adaptability. Good leaders can navigate challenges and make necessary adjustments, but great leaders are exceptionally adaptable. They can anticipate change, embrace it, and lead their team through uncertainty with confidence and resilience.

  28. 6 Negotiation Skills All Professionals Can Benefit From

    Negotiation Skills 1. Communication. To achieve your ideal outcome at the bargaining table, it's essential to clearly communicate what you're hoping to walk away with and where your boundaries lie. Effective negotiators develop communication skills that allow them to engage in civil discussion and work toward an agreeable solution.