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Communication, facilitation, ​powerspeaking blog: tips and strategies for crafting presentations, how to present to senior executives [23 proven strategies].

by Carrie Beckstrom     Jun 4, 2021 10:45:46 AM

If you’re preparing to make a pitch to senior executives, you can throw most of what you’ve learned about making presentations in the trash.

Why? Because this is an entirely different audience. An executive presentation is not about inspiring and persuading, but is instead about presenting meaningful data to top decision-makers as quickly and concisely as possible. As a matter of fact, you should start with your bottom line (what you need from them). And work your way from there.

As a company that lives and breathes communication, we are dedicated to transforming your organization's communication skills, so you can watch people succeed at engaging and influencing others, achieving results, and driving business to new heights.

And today, we are going to reveal our favorite tips for a powerful executive presentation to decision-making leaders to help you get your point across efficiently, earn your audience’s attention, and know when and how to go in for the "ask."

So if you want more success from your business presentations, then you'll love this list of tips, techniques, and strategies.

Keep reading to get started with our tried and true tips!

Don't have time to read the whole checklist right now? 

Save the PDF version to your desktop and read when it's convenient for you.

Tip 1 Understand the executive mindset

Tip 2 Consider executives’ personality styles

Tip 3 Give yourself enough time to gather data

Tip 4 Find and leverage a sponsor

Tip 5 Prepare for possible questions or objections

Tip 6 Follow the 10/30 Rule

Tip 7 Set the context and confirm the time slot

Tip 8 Use the PREP model if your time gets cut

Tip 9 State the outcome you want early

Tip 10 Always use a valid business reason

Tip 11 Follow with the essential data—and do a deep dive only if asked

Tip 12 Focus on analytical proof

Tip 13 Be proactive and transparent when delivering unpleasant news

Tip 14 Remember that executives want a dialogue—not a data dump

Tip 15 Read the room

Tip 16 Use the Headline + Evidence model

Tip 17 Paraphrase complex questions to gain clarity

Tip 18 Address heated feedback and challenging questions in the moment

Tip 19 Answer the question-behind-the-question (before it is even asked)

Tip 20 Rely on the “notice and ask” strategy to refocus the discussion

Tip 21 Be personal to re-engage a disengaged executive

Tip 22 Acknowledge disagreements between top executives, but don't intervene

Tip 23 Conclude with a quick summary and resolve any noteworthy issues before your final ask

Let's dive right in.

Before you try to deliver your next presentation to executives, keep this in mind...

Most people fail with their first attempt to wow the top executives for one simple reason:

C-level executives demand an entirely different approach from presenters than does a general business audience. SVP of Strategy and Business Development at Workato , Markus Zirn says,  

“You have to throw out everything you learned from traditional presentation training. It’s not about making a speech that educates, persuades, inspires, or leads. It’s about raw decision-making.”

With that little caveat out of the way, it’s time for our first strategy…

Understand the Executive Mindset

Executives are impatient, bottom-line-focused leaders who don't care about the minutiae of your project or expertise. They want you to get to the point, step away from your slide deck, and be ready for a dynamic dialogue.

During your presentation, they might multitask and switch topics quickly, make calculations in their heads at lightning speed, and they may be challenging when analyzing data. Be ready for this.  

Understanding the executive's mindset as you are going in for the pitch will help you succeed. Watch the video below on Audience Analysis and getting started.

Here's just one executive you'll hear from...

"If it is a C-suite presentation and you’re actually asking for an outcome, you need to know what are the hot points of the CFO, or the treasurer’s office, or the VP of finance."

Consider executives’ personality styles

Think of each executive who will be in the room.

How do they prefer to have information presented to them?  Where are they on the risk profile?  Are they highly conservative, or are they innovative and open to experimentation?  How will your proposal affect their areas of responsibility? 

Starting with your audience in mind helps you strategize how to present your information.

Give yourself enough time to gather data

Weeks ahead of your presentation to executives, you may need to: meet with people in various functional areas for input and/or buy-in; check in with your manager; research executives’ hot buttons; and prepare slides or documents to send ahead. Don’t underestimate the time it will take to do all of this.

And speaking of being prepared, make sure you’ve considered the environment in which you’ll likely be with them—namely, virtual. If presenting to executives weren’t challenging enough, today’s digital interactions present another layer of things to consider.

Check out this great article, “ Digital Communication Skills: Is Your Message Getting Across? ,” by digital presenting and training guru Cindy Huggett. Great suggestions not only for putting your best digital self forward with senior executives, but also tips you can use in any virtual-meeting situation.

Find and leverage a sponsor

Find someone who knows the group you’re presenting to who is willing to not only help you prepare as your guide, but can also advocate for you during the meeting. Use your sponsor to check the validity of your logic ahead of time, rehearse with and get feedback from, and agree on when you should look to them for help during the executive meeting. 

Debrief with your sponsor after the meeting to gain insights and lessons you can use in the future.

Prepare for possible questions or objections

Consider including a slide that states the answers to anticipated questions or concerns rather than waiting for them to be brought up. This is a great way to demonstrate that you’ve kept your audience in mind when preparing your presentation.

Follow the 10/30 Rule

If you have 30 minutes on the executives’ meeting agenda, plan to present 10 minutes of material. The remainder of the time will likely be devoted to discussion and interaction and not necessarily in sequence.

R emember that your role is to facilitate a conversation, not just deliver a presentation.

Set the context and confirm the time slot

You don’t need an entertaining, attention-getting opening, but you do need to set the context as you start and get an agreement on timing. Thirty minutes originally may have been planned, but the meeting timeline can change. 

Start by saying, “I understand we have scheduled 30 minutes. Does that timing still work?”

Rajeev Goel, Co-Founder and CEO at PubMatic, and Monica Poindexter, Vice President, Inclusion & Diversity/Employee Relations at Lyft, will give you tips on overcoming the presentation challenges in regards to context.

Use the PREP model if your time gets cut

Don’t be surprised if what you thought would be a 30-minute meeting is cut to 10 minutes because the executives have another more urgent matter to discuss. Use the “PREP” model to craft your abbreviated pitch before the meeting:

State the outcome you want early

State the outcome you want from your presentation early. What do you want the executives to say “yes” to?

Be specific. For example, “I want your support” is vague. “I want you to approve a $500,000 investment in new centrifuge equipment this quarter” is specific.

Get that key message out first...

Always use a valid business reason

Clearly state what value or ROI your ask will bring in terms of revenue increase, cost reduction, protection from risk, competitive advantage, or other business drivers. It can’t be just a “nice to have” proposal. 

For example...

“The bottom line is, we’re seeking your approval for five new FTEs in account management roles for an investment of $750,000. The reason is that we have a $2M revenue opportunity with the launch of [XYZ project]. These account managers will focus on the top 20% of our customer base to ensure we maximize the sales opportunity.”

Follow with the essential data—and do a deep dive only if asked

Instead of drowning listeners in data, lead with the top two to three key points and supporting evidence that best support your ask and business reason. The key points should be answers to the primary questions you think the executives will have about your proposal. 

Keep in mind that execs want the 10,000-foot view and how it affects the organization's bottom line.  

Focus on analytical proof

Senior decision-makers don’t need to be entertained. So while your logic may follow a “storyline,” hard data is what will be more convincing.

If you have a customer success story or a brief anecdote that supports your point, use it. But remember, unlike a general audience, the C-level executives in the room will grow impatient with stories unless they’re succinct and tie directly to your proposal.

Be proactive and transparent when delivering unpleasant news

There are four steps to presenting bad news:

• Get it out at the beginning
• Be candid about what happened
• Explain how you will fix it
• Offer options and recommendations. 

You can use this 4-step framework to present bad news in a way that speaks to executives.

Let's take a look at a hypothetical example. You have to explain to them why a consultant they hired quit, and you need to rectify the situation...

1. G et it out at the beginning

The consultant you approved quit unexpectedly.  A response to the audit she was supposed to help us with is due next week. Today I want to talk about the path forward. 

2. Be candid and explain how you will fix the situation

By the end of this meeting, I’d like your approval to:

Respond to the audit in a generic way with help from the audit team

Collaborate with the internal process improvement team to assess our local processes 

Collaborate with my counterpart to create one agreement that combines the best aspects of our process and theirs 

3. Offer options on why it makes business sense 

No additional cost of hiring a consultant

We’ll be able to leverage the existing processes to create a process that is consistent across the globe

4. Offer final recommendations   

With all of that in mind, today I’d like to talk about how we should change our audit process and why I’m confident this plan will receive regulatory approval.

Is there anything else you’d like me to add?

If you have bad news, don’t try to gloss over it. Use the framework to present it in a way that speaks to executives.

Remember that executives want a dialogue—not a data dump

Expect questions and energetic discussions to occur before you have presented all of your material.

(Remember the 10/30 Rule: If you have 30 minutes, prepare only 10 minutes’ worth of “presentation.”) Respond to questions when they come up.

Use facilitation skills to refocus the discussion after a topic change.

Here are a few more tips to enhance your facilitation skills:

Read the room

Notice the process of the discussion as well as the content. When there is cross-talk, interruptions, or rapid-fire questions, you can observe first and then choose an appropriate intervention.

Reading the room can be especially challenging in virtual meetings. You want to encourage everyone to turn on their webcam. Solicit feedback via chat. Stop the presentation and do a quick “reality check” if you notice disengagement or tension.

Use the Headline + Evidence model

Again, this is a time-pressed audience that wants brief, focused answers to their questions. Use the “Headline Response” model to help you do just that.

Paraphrase complex questions to gain clarity

Instead of restating an executive’s question verbatim, use synonyms when you paraphrase.

Remember, you don’t know what is on someone’s mind. So, always check for accuracy after paraphrasing. “Did I get that right?” or just “Right?” gives the questioner a chance to agree or disagree. If your understanding wasn’t accurate, try again.

Address heated feedback and challenging questions in the moment

Especially if someone is upset, a deeper level of listening is required. Reflect on both the content and the feeling you noticed (skeptical, concerned, frustrated, etc.) and answer the question as best you can.

Always check to see if you got it right. Never say, “I know how you feel,” because you don’t, actually. 

Answer the question-behind-the-question (before it is even asked)

If you get resistance or objections to your ideas, often executives are concerned with key business drivers such as top-line and bottom-line impact, competitive positioning, and risk management.

When you paraphrase their questions, check for these concerns and be ready to address them directly.

Listen for the question-behind-the-question.

Rely on the “notice and ask” strategy to refocus the discussion

You are not in a position to tell the executives what to do.

But if the discussion goes in a different direction, you can say, “I notice our discussion is now focused on X. May I get your guidance? Would you like to keep going in this direction, or would you like to go back to our topic?” 

Be personal to re-engage a disengaged executive

You don’t want to catch anyone off guard, so give a little context when you ask someone directly for their thoughts (as a re-engagement strategy).

For example, “Jaime, given that what we are trying to do here is to reduce response time, in your experience, will this new approach work in the field?” 

Acknowledge disagreements between top executives, but don't intervene

You may look to your sponsor to help calm things down, but don’t intervene.

Conclude with a quick summary and resolve any noteworthy issues before your final ask

As you end your presentation, summarize and check to be sure you are clear on what decisions or agreements have been made and what your next steps will be. 

“I explained x and y; you also brought up a and b. Do I have your go-ahead now to purchase the new equipment for $500,000 this quarter?”

Presenting to senior executives is often a nerve-wracking, high-stakes situation. But as these leaders will tell you, it can be a great opportunity to grow, and to increase your value to the organization.

I hope you’ve found these tips enlightening and helpful. L earning to think like senior executives and present to them means learning new habits—and breaking old ones. But wow, I know it’s hard. And we present a lot of information to take in with our 23 Tips.

So, here’s one final piece of advice: start small. Pick one or two tips to apply to your next presentation. And check out this quick-read article, “ 4 Steps to Making New Habits Stick ,” by Cindy Solomon, founder, and CEO of the Courageous Leadership Institute. It will help you learn how to make the most of small steps toward new habits.

But before you get started using them for your next presentation, I’d like to hear from you.

Which presentation tip from this list was your favorite?

...Or maybe you have a suggestion that I didn't cover here?

Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below.

Join Us in Conversation . . .

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Carrie Beckstrom

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

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.

• 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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Ideas and insights from Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning

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

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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• Aug 21, 2023

Executive Presentations: How to Improve Presentation Skills

Executives are storytellers. They present recommendations, updates, and vision. They reveal new strategies with the expectation that people will take action and drive them forward. These messages must touch hearts and minds, or the listeners will not take action. That is why storytelling is necessary.

Effective executive presentations must be clear. They must be well-organized, concise, and delivered with confidence. Whether presenting to investors, board members, or employees, executive presentations play a critical role in shaping the future of the organization.

Executive Presentations

Executives who can deliver compelling presentations are better equipped to inspire and motivate their teams, build trust with investors, and make strategic decisions that drive business growth. Start with focusing on the 3 S's - Style, Structure, and Strategy.

Style includes starting with the right mindset, so you present as the best version of yourself. Believe that you have valuable information to share and the audience needs to hear it. Nonverbal cues also play a key role in establishing trust and connecting with your audience. Stand straight, sit upright, and keep a still frame to demonstrate physical poise. Support your message with intentional gestures like the karate chop, pincer, and open palm. Look directly at your listeners and hold eye contact for at least three to five seconds. Your voice is also critical to convey confidence. If you are mumbling, using filler words, or speaking too fast, you lose your audience. Project your voice to the most distant part of the room and take time to pause and allow your listeners hear every word you say.

Structure is important to make sure the most critical messages are heard and remembered. Begin with a governing thought and share only the most important information. Avoid the tendency to share too many details up front before getting to the headline. As an executive, your organization is looking to you to lead others through change. You can motivate and inspire an entire team by the way you tell stories. Make sure there is a hero and a villain. Clearly describe the situation, explain the challenge, and then pivot to a crescendo. Create a clear picture of the future so others know exactly where you want to go, how to get there, and what is expected of them.

Strategy ensures that you are positioning your information for acceptance. Include the right balance between positive and negative news. If you disagree, be diplomatic about it. Communicate early and often. Be willing to put a stake in the ground if others are looking to you to make the hard decisions.

Effective executive presentations can help establish credibility and build a positive reputation for both the individual and the organization they represent. By investing time in learning how to deliver impactful executive presentations, leaders can enhance their communication skills and elevate their performance in their roles.

Presentation Skills for Executives

When you go to prepare for a presentation, consider all aspects of what can make it great. Follow a checklist. Here are ten presentation skills that are critical for executives who must communicate complex ideas, strategies, and visions to diverse audiences.

1. Know your audience. What do they know, what do they need, what is their current opinion, and what do they want?

2. understand the purpose and objective, 3. connect with your listeners on a personal level, 4. engage the room with a strong start, 5. tailor the content and delivery to the audience, 6. build credibility and trust with your knowledge and expertise, 7. deliver a memorable message, 8. use visuals and other aids to support the message, 9. handle questions and challenges with ease, 10. be creative.

Investing in presentation skills coaching can help executives build confidence, communicate their vision and goals more effectively, and create meaningful connections with their stakeholders. By continuously honing their presentation skills, executives can elevate their performance and drive success in their organizations.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Developing communication skills is easy when you work with Speak by Design. We work with clients from around the world to help them master the art of public speaking and strengthen their presentation skills. We work with individuals, groups, and entire organizations. Schedule a call to discuss a program for your team or company.

For individuals, join us this September for our newest course on "Articulating a Vision". Enroll by August 31 .

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21 Ways To Improve Your Presentation Skills

Published: April 07, 2023

You know the feeling of sitting through a boring presentation. A text distracts you. A noise outside pulls your gaze. Your dog begs for attention. By the time the presentation ends, you question why you needed to sit and listen in the first place.

Effective presentation skills can stop you from boring an audience to oblivion. Delivering strong presentations can help you stand out as a leader, showcase your expertise, and build confidence.

Table of contents:

• Presentation skills definition
• Importance of presentation skills
• How to improve presentation skills
• Effective presentation skills
• Presentation skills for executives

Presentation Skills Definition

Presentation skills include anything you need to create and deliver clear, effective presentations to an audience. This includes creating a compelling set of slides , ensuring the information flows, and keeping your audience engaged.

Speakers with strong presentation skills can perform the following tasks:

• Bring together different sources of information to form a compelling narrative
• Hook audiences with a strong beginning and end
• Ensure audiences engage with their content through questions or surveys
• Understand what their audience wants and needs from their presentation

Importance of Presentation Skills

At some point in your career, you will present something. You might pitch a startup to a group of investors or show your research findings to your manager at work. Those in leading or executive roles often deliver presentations on a weekly or monthly basis.

Improving your presentation skills betters different aspects of your working life, including the following:

Communication: Improving your presentation skills can make you a better communicator with your co-workers and friends.

Confidence: 75% of people fear public speaking. By working on your presentation skills, you can gain confidence when speaking in front of a crowd.

Creativity: You learn to understand how to use imagery and examples to engage an audience.

Management: Presentations involve pulling together information to form a succinct summary, helping you build project and time management skills.

How To Improve Presentation Skills

1. create an outline.

Before designing slides and writing a script, outline your presentation. Start with your introduction, segue into key points you want to make, and finish with a conclusion.

2. Practice, Practice, Practice

Almost 8 in 10 professionals practice their presentations for at least an hour. So, practice your presentation in the mirror or to a close friend.

3. Start With a Hook

When presenting, grab your audience with a hook. Consider starting with a surprising statistic or a thoughtful question before diving into the core information.

4. Stay Focused on Your Topic

You might want to cover everything under the sun, but information overload can overwhelm your audience. Instead, stay focused on what you want to cover. Aim for key points and avoid including unnecessary details.

5. Remember To Introduce Yourself

At the beginning of the presentation, introduce yourself. Kill any tension in the room by mentioning your name, your role, and any other helpful details. You could even mention a fun fact about yourself, putting the audience at ease.

6. Work on Your Body Language

55% of people look to nonverbal communication when judging a presentation. Straighten your back, minimize unnecessary gestures, and keep your voice confident and calm. Remember to work on these aspects when practicing.

7. Memorize Structure, Not Words

You might feel better knowing exactly what you want to say. But skip the script and stick to memorizing the key points of your presentation. For example, consider picking three to four phrases or insights you want to mention for each part of your presentation rather than line-by-line memorization.

8. Learn Your Audience

Before crafting a killer outline and slide deck, research your audience. Find out what they likely already know, such as industry jargon, and where they might need additional information. Remember: You're presenting for them, not you.

9. Reframe Your Anxiety as Excitement

A study conducted by Harvard Business School demonstrates that reframing your anxiety as excitement can improve performance. For example, by saying simple phrases out loud, such as “I’m excited,” you then adopt an opportunity-oriented mentality.

10. Get Comfortable With the Setting

If you plan to present in person, explore the room. Find where you’re going to stand and deliver your presentation. Practice looking into the seats. By decreasing the number of unknowns, you can clear your head and focus on the job.

11. Get Familiar With Technology

Presenting online has unique challenges, such as microphone problems and background noise. Before a Zoom presentation, ensure your microphone works, clean up your background, test your slides, and consider any background noise.

12. Think Positively

Optimistic workers enjoy faster promotions and happier lives. By reminding yourself of the positives — for example, your manager found your last presentation impressive — you can shake off nerves and find joy in the process.

13. Tell a Story

To engage your audience, weave storytelling into your presentation — more than 5 in 10 people believe stories hold their focus during a presentation. Consider ways to connect different parts of your slides into a compelling narrative.

14. Prepare for Questions

At the end of your presentation, your audience will likely have questions. Brainstorm different questions and potential answers so you’re prepared.

15. Maintain Eye Contact

Eye contact signals honesty. When possible, maintain eye contact with your audience. For in-person presentations, pay attention to each audience member. For online ones, stare at your camera lens as you deliver.

16. Condense Your Presentation

After you finish the first draft of your outline, think about ways to condense it. Short and sweet often keeps people interested instead of checking their phones.

17. Use Videos

Keep your audience’s attention by incorporating video clips when relevant. For example, videos can help demonstrate examples or explain difficult concepts.

18. Engage With Your Audience

Almost 8 in 10 professionals view presentations as boring. Turn the tide by engaging with your audience. Encourage audience participation by asking questions or conducting a live survey.

19. Present Slowly and Pause Frequently

When you get nervous, you talk faster. To combat this, remember to slow yourself down when practicing. Place deep pauses throughout your presentation, especially when transitioning between slides, as it gives you time to breathe and your audience time to absorb.

20. Start and End With a Summary

A summary at the start of a presentation can pique your audience’s interest. One at the end brings everything together, highlighting key points your audience should take with them.

21. Ask for Feedback

You will never deliver the perfect presentation, so ask for feedback. Talk to your managers about where you could improve. Consider surveying your audience for an unbiased look into your presentation skills.

Effective Presentation Skills

Effective presentation skills include communicating clearly, presenting with structure, and engaging with the audience.

As an example, say a content manager is presenting a quarterly review to their team. They start off with a summary. Their introduction mentions an unprecedented 233% growth in organic traffic — numbers their team has not seen in years. Immediately, the presenter grabs their team’s attention. Now, everyone wants to know how they achieved that in one quarter.

Alternatively, think of an entrepreneur delivering their pitch to a group of investors. They start with a question: How many of you struggle to stay awake at work? They then segue into an exciting product designed to improve the sleep quality of working professionals. Their presentation includes videos demonstrating the science behind sleep and surprising statistics about the demand for their product.

Both examples demonstrate effective presentation skills. They incorporate strong attention grabbers, summaries, and attempts to engage the audience.

Think back to strong presentations you viewed as an audience member. Ask yourself: What made them so memorable, and how can I incorporate those elements into my presentations?

Presentation Skills for Executives

Presentations take up a significant portion of an executive’s workload. Executives regularly showcase key company initiatives, team changes, quarterly and annual reviews, and more. Improving your presentation skills as a leader can help with different parts of your job, such as:

Trust: Delivering great, effective presentations can build trust between you and your team.

Confidence: Most people dread presentations — so a strong presenter projects the confidence needed by a leader.

Emotional intelligence: A great presentation taps into the audience’s perspectives, helping executives improve their emotional intelligence .

Expertise: Presentations help executives display their subject-matter expertise, making employees safe in their hands.

Delegation: At times, executives might need to pull information from different sources for a presentation — improving their ability to delegate as managers.

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10 Tips For Impressive Presentations To Senior Leadership And Executives

10 PRESENTATION TIPS TO IMPRESS SENIOR LEADERS

Tip 1: prepare, tip 2: begin with the end in mind.

• What do you want this audience to feel when they’re done?
• What do you want them to know when you’re done?
• What do you want them to do, when you’re done?

TIP 3: BE CLEAR AND CONCISE

Tip 4: tell stories, tip 5: keep slides minimal.

Provide extra information in your slide notes

TIP 6: CHANNEL NERVOUS ENERGY INTO USABLE ENERGY

The best way to feel confident is to practice.

5 to 7 full rehearsals

TIP 7: PRE-PRESENTATION WARM UP

Breathe low and slow.

WARM UP YOUR BODY

Warm up your mouth, tip 8: have vocal executive presence, tip 9: commanding the space.

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TIP 10: AUTHENTIC SPEAKER PERSONA

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Develop Your Presentation Skills To Become An Effective Manager

What are presentation skills, why presentation skill is important, how to improve your presentation skills.

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Use tools effectively, presentation skills examples for managers, extempore presentations, impromptu presentations, outline presentations, talk-walk presentations, manuscript presentations, persuasion & negotiation, explanation.

• Practice, practice, practice! This is the most important step in improving presentation skills. Practicing makes you familiar with the material and develops your presentation skills progressively.
• Pay attention to the details – every little detail makes a difference in a presentation. It is essential to focus on the people listening to you and your ideas, not only on the main points of your presentation. As a team member, you should be able to grasp the content quickly and be entertained by the presentation.
• Keep abreast of developments in making good presentations and use them to enhance your presentations further. Besides, use visual aids such as charts, graphs, and infographics to make your points more impactful.
• Use metaphors, stories, and examples to make your points more impactful. These techniques can add meaning and context to your ideas and make them easier to understand for your team.
• Learn about all the top communication skills managers need .

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Top Executive Management Skills Needed to Succeed in the C-Suite

Managers who aspire to a senior leadership role in the C-suite need a combination of management skills and leadership capabilities. However, not every workplace is able to facilitate the type of learning and growth required for success, which can make career advancement challenging. For many people, being involved in a philanthropic organization or advancing your education are good ways to gain the necessary knowledge, tools, and perspectives needed to prepare for the C-suite.

The guide below identifies what makes a good executive and highlights a list of executive skills required for senior-level leadership. Use this guide to see which skills you already have under your belt, and which ones need to be developed or improved.

1. Senior Leadership Skills

Leadership capabilities are the most important factor when advancing into an executive position. Organizations want leaders who can understand and encourage people. They seek leaders who can learn from past experiences, take on new challenges, and make decisions under uncertainty. Think about your past leadership roles. What did you do well? What could you have improved?

There is always room for improvement, but effective leadership takes practice. Can you take on more projects at work to refine your skills? If that isn’t an option, can you volunteer for leadership roles at a not-for-profit? Another route is to take a leadership-centric course.

2. C-Suite Communication & Presentation Skills

Effective senior managers need C-suite level communication skills. They need to be able to converse with people at every level of an organization. This includes presentation skills beyond a slide deck. Persuasion and influence are powerful skills for any executives and should be reflected in all aspects of communication.

To improve your communication skills, ask for feedback from colleagues. Observe other leaders you admire and note what makes them effective communicators. You also can take a class on communication and influence.

3. Change Management Skills

Change management is an increasingly important skill among senior leaders. They need the capability to identify opportunities for change and then lead their organization to execute a new path forward. An often overlooked part of the executive skillset, learning about change management can be an important differentiator for leaders.

4. Subject Matter Expertise

Don’t underestimate the importance of subject-matter expertise. At this point, you’ve likely built up knowledge in a particular area of your organization. But how much do you know about the other areas of the business? If you manage a department, how much do you understand about how other departments impact organizational decisions? If you’ve managed smaller teams, do you know what it takes to lead a broader unit?

Think about the knowledge and skills that you’ve accumulated in your career so far. Can you identify any gaps that might be keeping you from achieving your C-level goals? What knowledge and skills do you need to acquire and improve to make your goal a reality? An EMBA program can help advance your business knowledge without disrupting your career.

5. Strategic Thinking & Foresight

Being able to develop strategic, forward-looking plans is a key skill for senior leaders. This helps ensure future success for the business and is paramount to success in the C-suite. Leaders must be able to factor in the needs of every part of an organization — not just the areas in which they have the most knowledge and experience. If you don’t understand the organization as a whole, you won’t be able to implement change initiatives to move it forward.

6. Decision Making

Leaders have to make quick, informed decisions — even when they don’t have all of the necessary information. There are many opportunities to learn from other leaders in history how they made these types of decisions for better or worse. Developing effective decision-making skills now will benefit you as you move into senior leadership roles.

7. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is generally considered an executive leadership quality, which can be developed. This is the ability to manage your own emotions as well as the emotions of those around you. Important aspects of emotional intelligence include empathy, relationship management, self-awareness, and social awareness. You can grow your emotional intelligence by practicing listening skills, being open to constructive criticism, and staying self-aware.

8. Employee Development

Good managers aren’t solely focused on their own career trajectories. They also focus on building up their team to strengthen the organization as a whole. A senior manager is only as good as their team.

When you identify opportunities for growth, consider how they might benefit your team members. Ensure that teams are comprised of people with diverse strengths and perspectives. Offer to help members showcase strengths and improve weaknesses.

9. Delegation

Finally, understand that delegation doesn’t mean offloading work. Delegation should be seen as an opportunity to teach and develop your peers. Effective delegation is a hallmark of a good leader.

Learning Top Management Skills at Wharton

When you come to Wharton’s EMBA program, you won’t just learn about management, you’ll learn how to become an effective senior leader. These skills are built into the first-year curriculum in courses such as Foundations of Teamwork and Leadership, Management Communication, and Responsibility in Global Management. In the second year, students can further explore management and leadership topics with electives.

EMBA students who want to dive deeper into this topic can also participate in: Global Modular Courses on management themes Leadership Venture Expeditions The Executive Coaching and Feedback Program (ECFP), which supports MBA students in the pursuit of deeper self-awareness and improved leadership skills

After graduation, EMBA students join an alumni network comprised of business leaders around the world.

Josh Kanter, WG’15- How this Alum Advanced to the C-Suite

Jeff Hedges, WG’15 – Why this CFO Calls Wharton a Powerful Credential

Joan Lau, WG’08 – How Wharton Helped this Alum Transition from Scientist to CEO

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Master the Art of Exceptional Presentations

For decades, Speakeasy has been at the forefront of transforming leaders into captivating speakers. Our executive presentation training programs are meticulously crafted to give professionals the tools they need to create compelling narratives, design powerful presentations, and deliver them with unmatched conviction.

With a focus on storytelling techniques, impactful slide design, executive presence , and assertive delivery, we bring out the unique speaker in every leader. We go beyond just technique – we help you find your voice, and ensure it resonates in any boardroom.

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of employed Americans believe presentation skills are critical for workplace success. - Prezi

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At Speakeasy, we understand that life is filled with diverse commitments and schedules can vary greatly. That’s why we offer a comprehensive array of programs to accommodate every professional’s unique circumstances. Whether you prefer the traditional in-person classroom experience, the convenience of live online virtual sessions, or the autonomy of self-administered digital courses, we have the perfect fit for you.

What to Expect From Executive Presentation Training

A commanding presentation can be the defining factor in clinching deals, influencing stakeholders, and propelling your career forward. Here are five compelling reasons to invest in executive presentation training:

• Enhanced Presentation Skills: Our training polishes your ability to design striking slides, narrate compelling stories, and deliver with a clear, confident voice.
• Masterful Storytelling: Learn the techniques to weave stories that engage, captivate, and drive your message home.
• Robust Audience Engagement: Grasp how to read and respond to your audience, ensuring active participation and lasting impact.
• Strategic Slide Design: Make every slide count. Learn the art of creating visual aids that complement and amplify your message.
• Preparedness for Varied Scenarios : Be it boardrooms, webinars, or international

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13 Executive Skills & Competencies for Leaders

By: Angela Robinson | Updated: July 21, 2022

You found our list of top executive skills and competencies for leaders.

Executive skills and competencies are traits high-level leaders need to oversee organizations. For example, adaptability, decision making, and change management. The purpose of these qualifications is to identify professionals who would excel in upper management from the general workforce. These traits are also known as “senior leadership skills.”

Many of these traits overlap with leadership skills , HR skills and team management skills . Executives with these skills may show the signs of a good manager , good leadership qualities , and succeed at leadership exercises .

This post includes:

• executive leadership skills
• executive management skills
• business executive skills
• executive competencies
• CEO qualifications and skills
• senior leadership skills

Here we go!

Executive skills list

Here is a list of the most important skills for C-suite positions, founders, and company heads.

1. Big Picture Thinking

The responsibility of an executive is to shape and guide the entire organization. CEOs and presidents must have an understanding of each individual area of the company, as well as how those parts fit and work together. Since executive-level decisions tend to affect the entire enterprise, every role within the C-suite must have a holistic view of the organization and consider the impacts on all departments when implementing change.

Beyond internal operations, executives must also be able to envision the organization’s relationship to the industry and market at large, and the global climate. Not to mention, high level leaders need not only consider the present, but also plan for 5, 10, 20 years down the road.

Narrow perspectives do not make for effective decision-making. It is absolutely essential for executives to have big picture thinking and be able to factor in many variables when analyzing situations.

2. Decision-Making

Researchers estimate that the average adult makes around 35,000 decisions per day . Chances are, executives skew on the higher end of that figure. Undoubtedly, the choices executives make are more high stakes and hold more weight than the typical on-the-job judgment call.

The choices that the C-suite makes have the farthest reaching and longest lasting consequences. Executives need the confidence to make important decisions, and the smarts to make them wisely.

High level leaders also need to have good judgment about the timing of choices. In an ideal world, leaders would have all relevant data before making a final call. In the real world, executives rarely have the luxury of perfect insight. Time is a factor in every decision. Waiting for a complete, detailed report on every possibility often means delays, missed opportunities, and ceding advantages to competitors. The best executives tend to act not when they possess all possible information, but when there is enough data to accurately project outcomes. Knowing when to wait for more info and when to move forward is one of the most important abilities for executives.

Also, it is important for company leaders to seek counsel on decisions. Contrary to popular belief, great executives are not alpha types who refuse to listen to advice and call the shots based entirely on their own opinions. Even the most egocentric icons, such as Steve Jobs, surrounded themselves with smart people and sought out expert advice. Having a sense of who to ask for answers and new angles is a critical step in the decision-making process for execs.

For tips on how to make high-level decisions, check out this list of business strategy books and decision-making books .

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3. Strategic Forecasting

Beyond picking out the day’s outfit or ordering lunch, few executive decisions are without consequence for the rest of the organization. Executive actions do not occur in a vacuum, and the choices that these leaders make often have ripple effects. It is not enough for executives to consider decisions as singular events. The smarter approach is to treat options as interconnected and imagine the chain reactions that might follow.

Executives must also predict how conditions may change and affect agreements. Being able to project into the future and imagine how deals may play out is one of the key executive competencies. The ideal C-suite elite is like a chess master, never simply making one move at a time, but plotting out different versions of the game within their heads. This ability is one of the main qualities that set executives apart from average employees.

4. Impartiality

No professional begins in the boardroom. Even heirs often start within a certain department of the family company and work their way up to the top. While this process can breed work ethic, it can also narrow the scope and create a bias that needs to be shed to excel as an executive. An exec’s job is to make decisions that benefit the organization as a whole. High level leaders cannot favor a certain department based on their own experiences or preferences. Nor should leaders pamper a team they deem more valuable, as this can breed resentment and poor morale among the workforce.

Even more specific members of the C-Suite, for instance, CFOs and CTOs need to have the wellbeing of all teams in mind, and not just the folks they work with most. One of the least mentioned executive skills is the ability to put personal feelings and relationships aside and act on logic instead of loyalty.

5. Information Processing

In the age of the internet, the average person gets bombarded with information constantly. Executives are even more susceptible to large dumps of data. Upper management receives internal reports and communications, as well as industry insights, global and local news, expert opinions, not to mention social media and the online ecosphere. Great execs keep a pulse on conditions within and outside of the company. This information is often conflicting and quickly changing. The sheer volume of knowledge produced and presented every day can be overwhelming, and filtering intel through executive assistants can only go so far.

Executives need the ability to distinguish reliable references from dubious sources, as well as the judgment to know which pieces of knowledge are relevant and which are ignorable. High level leaders do not have the time to read through articles and reports all day, and must know how to quickly absorb the main points of the material. Speed-reading and summarizing are valuable skills for executives.

Having the ability to delegate research to team members who can present the information succinctly is also a helpful and efficient high level leader skill.

6. Negotiation

Negotiation is a critical skill for executives. Upper management positions often find themselves in rooms with professionals of the same stature. Internal and external executives have comparable levels of education, experience, and influence and who aim to achieve the best possible outcomes for their departments or organizations.

To broker deals, executives need to be masters at persuasion, compromise, and diplomacy.

Executives need to know when to concede and when to stay firm. These leaders must present their cases in manners that highlight the benefits of the agreement to the other party. When accepting terms outright may not be in the best interests of the company, savvy C-suite team members know how to offer creative alternatives.

Beyond negotiating with peers, executives need to know how to persuade their own people. For instance, retaining top talent within the organization, or convincing team members to be on board with the company mission or large-scale changes. The ability to influence opinions and coax agreement is thus one of the most essential C-suite competencies.

7. Cultural Awareness

In an interconnected world, an executive may only be one ill-advised tweet or smartphone photo away from causing a scandal. Behaviors or statements that were acceptable years ago may now be taboo, and it is important for executives to keep tabs on shifting cultural norms to avoid seeming tone deaf for alienating customers.

Also, keeping a pulse on trends and paradigm shifts helps executives run modern, progressive organizations that keep up with the times. For instance, by adopting employee wellness initiatives, responding to demands for more diverse and inclusive workplaces, and opting for more authentic and relatable advertising over peddling polished fantasies. Knowing how the target audience feels about issues helps executives make decisions that benefit customers, team members, and the brand.

In an increasingly global economy, it is important for higher management to not only understand the rules of their own country’s society, but also have an awareness of other culture’s norms. This knowledge is especially important when companies expand internationally, as consumer behaviors and widespread beliefs can differ greatly from nation to nation and region to region. Miscalculating culture’s impact on business can lead to wasted time, effort, and money, as well as possible reputation damage.

8. Stress Management

Stress management is one of the most important upper management skills. Being an executive is a high-pressure job, and it is important for high level leaders to know how to handle stressful situations. Employees look to leaders for social cues and assurance. Showing extreme emotion can cause the workforce to panic, which in turn causes more problems for executives to solve. Not to mention, unregulated emotions might register as weakness to competitors or the general public.

On a more personal note, prolonged stress can cause issues like burnout, cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety, back pain, and a slew of similar health problems. Plus, these negative emotions can cause leaders to lose passion and drive.

Simply suppressing the stress is not a long term solution. Instead, executives need to process the sensation in healthy ways. Positive habits like exercise, meditation, nutritious diets, and regular relaxation can equip execs to tackle challenges. Practicing coping mechanisms like counting backwards from ten, deep breathing, and pausing before reacting can also be helpful and effective. Staying calm in the face of adversity gives executives an advantage and a headstart to solving problems.

High level leaders cannot control every circumstance. Crises, downturns, disappointments, and conflicts are inevitable, especially in the modern business climate. It is crucial for executives to be able to endure obstacles and show composure in the midst of crises. Since challenges are unlikely to stop, it is important that leaders are ready to handle the pressure.

9. Change Management

The C-suite is responsible for large-scale organizational shifts, and its members need well-developed change management skills. The fate of an organization often depends not only on what changes are made, but rather by how those changes are made. Great leaders can get buy-in from stakeholders and transform concerns into confidence. These upper managers know how to allocate resources and build the proper scaffolding to make a smooth transition. Savvy executives know when and how to announce the change to employees, clients, and the media. They put training and new procedures into place well ahead of launch time, and make staff feel supported throughout the process.

For more information check out this list of books on change management .

10. Adaptability

In an age of industry disruption, fierce competition, and ever-shifting global environment, the C-suite needs to be more nimble than ever. Modern executives must lead through challenges like global health crises, cultural revolutions, natural disasters, and technological shifts. The companies that outlast the chaos are the ones willing to innovate and evolve. The willingness and ability to pivot are often crucial in the quick-moving business landscape. Great leaders are willing to abandon what worked in the past and, “the way things have always been done,” in favor of strategies most likely to produce favorable results in the now. These execs tailor their vision to the world instead of trying to bend the world to fit their vision.

Higher management should also be flexible on an individual level. Much of the executive job description revolves around putting out fires. Daily plans can easily be derailed by unexpected developments and urgent issues. High level leaders need to ensure that critical work gets done even when their energy and attention get pulled in opposite directions.

11. Interpersonal Skills

One cannot descend to the level of C-suite without possessing people skills. Rising to the top of a company is not just about technical competence, but also about relationships. Executives are the face of an organization and must know how to present themselves well and win approval from the masses. Upper managers come into contact with powerful stakeholders like key clients, investors, board members, regulatory parties, and the media, not to mention high-level employees. To achieve the business’ goals, it is important for executives to know how to impress and get along with a wide range of personalities.

This skill is not merely a matter of charm and charisma, but also about building and maintaining positive working relationships.

12. Presenting

According to a study published in the MIT Sloan Management Review , the average executive spends around 23 hours per week in meetings. A significant portion of that time is spent presenting. Executives often give presentations to board members, stakeholders, the media, and the public.

Presenters need to know the format that will be most appropriate for the audience. For instance, complex topics may benefit from figures and demonstrations,

while data-driven meetings may be more effective if each attendee has access to a printed report.

Speaking skills are vital, as is the ability to distill ideas down into main points without omitting too much information. When presenting, executives should be confident without being cocky, persuasive without being pushy. Storytelling takes skill that involves reading the audience, figuring out what listeners want to hear, and making the crowd care about the message. While practicing and preparation can help with delivery, presenters also need to be good improv artists and react to questions, comments, and concerns in real time without getting flustered. Many folks judge an executive’s competence by performance in presentations.

13. Team Building

Since a large part of modern work revolves around collaboration, teamwork abilities are desirable for all members of an organization. However, team building skills are important for executives for a different reason.

A company’s culture flows from the top down, and executives choose the other team members at the top. The best leaders fill their closest teams with smart, talented, and driven employees who embody and exemplify the company’s core values. Smart executives do not surround themselves with yes men, but hand-pick individuals who are not afraid to disagree and speak up in the best interests of the company.

At the same time, it is important to have a level of harmony among higher leaders. Company heads need to be able to encourage teamwork and settle conflict among the executive teams for any hope of synergy among the rest of the organization. Fostering a spirit of cooperation among upper leaders sets the tone for the rest of the staff.

Check out the full list of team building skills .

Final Thoughts

The laundry list of skills for successful C-suite executives is extensive. There are many qualifications needed to run successful enterprises, which is why the job search for executives tends to be longer than the average recruitment cycle. High level leaders need to be at the top of their fields, be knowledgeable, have an arsenal of skills and experience, along with many other criteria. The entries on this list are not the definitive list of requirements, but merely the traits that distinguish high level leaders from the average employee.

Note that it is important for executives to have the foundations of these skills and abilities, however, presidents and chiefs do not need to be perfect. Learning is a constant process, even for execs. C-suite candidates do not need to be masters of these skills. A willingness to work on and develop these competencies can take a leader far in the quest to be successful.

Next, check out this list of executive team building ideas and this list of books for CEOs .

We also have a guide to good leadership .

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FAQ: Executive skills

Here are answers to common questions about executive skills.

What are C-suite skills?

C-suite skills are abilities that professionals need to be effective executives. For example, adaptability and large-scale decision making. These abilities distinguish high level leaders from average workers and help executives navigate the high stakes and high-pressure circumstances of running a company.

What skills do executives need to succeed?

The skills executives need to succeed and lead thriving organizations include cultural awareness, strategic forecasting, interpersonal skills, and active listening.

What are the most important skills for executives?

The most important skills for executives include big picture thinking, negotiation, stress management, and information processing.

How do you improve your executive skills?

One of the best ways to improve executive skills is to seek out a high-level mentor who can coach you on the traits you most need to develop to attain and excel in a position in the C-Suite. Other methods of improvement include reading executive books and blogs and taking leadership training courses. You can also gain first hand experience by taking on more responsibilities and higher level projects within your current role, or starting and leading committees and clubs within your organization.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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• Executive Coaching
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• Presentation Skills for Executives

Craft and Deliver Messages That Connect with Your Audience

You may have the best product or service on the market. You may know your subject inside out. But if you can’t structure and deliver your message with the confidence to electrify a skeptical audience, you won’t go far.

In Presentation Skills For Executives, you’ll learn the shortcuts and techniques to help you connect with all kinds of audiences, whether you need to:

• Make a high-stakes presentation or pitch an idea
• Defend your course of action
• Handle tough questions
• Persuade audiences to take action

Our multidisciplinary team of professionals draws from theater and performance to the latest scientific research on perception, values, belief systems and human behavior to help you get results with powerhouse presentation skills.

You’ll confidently craft and deliver messages that make your audience think and take action. You’ll develop the skills to use PowerPoint and other presentation software to drive home your points. Video practice sessions help you master both substance and style.

• Build confidence and project personal magnetism
• Structure presentations for maximum impact
• Translate complex information into simple and powerful messages
• Get your major points across fast
• Read an audience and adjust content and style while you are speaking
• Present persuasively in pressure-cooker situations
• Create powerful openings and closingsConnect emotionally and intellectually
• Master voice projection, inflection and using body language effectively

Our programs can be designed to meet the needs of any type of executive or management team, intact or cross-functional work teams, or to individuals (including individual contributors) gathered from different parts of an organization.

This programs can address small groups of 10 – 25 or larger populations of up to 200 leaders of the organization, split into smaller cohorts of people, with each cohort working with one of our expert coaches. Customization around specific development and leadership needs is part of every workshop. (Can also be conducted as a 1-on-1 private coaching program.)

Depending on your needs, our programs can be delivered over the course of an intensive half-day, 1-day, 2-day or 3-day session, as well as over longer periods for spaced learning and special project work between modules.

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Schedule a free consultation with us today to learn how our executive coaching programs can help your leaders grow and succeed at any level.

Unleash the power of your own storytelling skills

Schedule a free consultation with us today to learn about Effective Communication service or to explore our programs.

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Leadership Communication  

Live 1:1 Zoom video coaching for executives worldwide.

Transform your virtual and in-person speaking.

Today, in-person and virtual communication skills are equally vital to your success. It's a new world now, and chances are you need to up your game in both live and virtual environments. If you're serious about speaking for leadership, you should work with one of the world's leading performance coaches.   (Click on the link to the right to learn about my new book, Speak for Leadership . ) 

My online Leadership Communication Course will transform your in-person and virtual speaking skills. As an actor, communications professor, and speech coach, my Method has been helping top professionals worldwide since 2001. Gain the confidence, skills, and hands-on training you need to reach the next level of communication excellence.  

You'll be joining leaders in business, finance, healthcare and bio-pharma, government, high-tech, at the United Nations, and the U.S. Congress and State Department that have taken my training. (Read more here in my bio .) Your personal program will be customized to your needs and goals. Work with the executive coach Global Gurus calls for the seventh consecutive year in 2020  "One of the World's Top 30 Communication   Professionals ," and whose Method has been voted as one of the Top 10 Speech Training Programs in the World . Be the speaker—virtually and otherwise—that people believe in.

Michael Murray, General Manager of Industrial Sensing, Analog Devices

Boost Your Skills via Virtual Training

My Leadership Communication Course is delivered through 1:1 live Zoom sessions with me . Wherever you are located worldwide, we'll work together seamlessly, conveniently, and at great cost savings to you. Coaching consists of 10 one-hour online sessions.  

The Leadership Communication Course

Module 1: maximizing your presence.

• Owning a room, stage, or virtual environment 
• Speaking with power and presence for leadership
• Developing a 'speaking persona' that represents you at your best
• Engaging listeners and effortlessly connecting with audiences
• Personalizing a webcam to achieve warmth in virtual engagements

Module 2: Developing Your Message

• How to speak from notes, a manuscript, or a slide deck
• Impromptu speaking and organizing your thoughts quickly
• Using logic and language to strengthen your message
• Achieving clarity and conciseness

Module 3: Breathing, Focus, and Calming Nerves

• Diaphragmatic breathing for vocal power and projection
• How to calm your nerves: from months before to on-the-spot
• My Fearless Speaking TM techniques for overcoming anxiety

Module 4: How to Start and End a Speech

• The Grabber: Hook Your Audience Within 30 Seconds
• The Body: Using a slide deck and other visuals effectively
• The Clincher: How to End Vividly and Memorably

Module 5: Voice and Speech Improvement

• Vocal expressiveness: energy, pitch, pacing, and pauses
• Using your voice to influence others
• Bringing your content to life
• Eliminating fillers: "uh," "um," "like," and "you know."
• Controlling your pace and sounding confident

Module 6: Body Language

• Body language techniques for live and virtual speaking
• Owning a performance space and commanding a stage
• How to be a relaxed and dynamic speaker in a "virtual room"
• Achieving physical expression of your ideas

Module 7: Storytelling, Poise, and Presence

• Becoming a passionate speaker
• Storytelling to move listeners emotionally
• Speaking with maximum focus and discipline
• Using metaphors, comparisons and anecdotes
• How to make PowerPoint or other media serve you, not the other way around

Module 8: Handling Q & A and Challenges

• The 7 Danger Zones of Q & A you need to be aware of
• Thinking on your feet while staying focused
• Dealing with resistance, challenges, and tough questions
• How to handle hostility

Final Assessment and Follow-Up

Based on our work together, you'll be prepared for continued growth after you've completed the course. You can also choose continuing training and practice through our extended coaching programs. Other learning resources include my Speak for Success! blog, monthly newsletter, videos, and free resources on this website and publications. I'm also available to review and critique you or your team's videotaped or screen-recorded presentations or speeches.

Call (617) 993-3410 or contact us to learn more.

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Presentation Skills Workshops

Presentation skills for executives and leaders, speak to lead.

Executive presentation training is a must for leaders. No matter if you're looking for ways to improve your presentation skills or want to overcome a fear of public speaking, Laurie Brown can help.

Working with Laurie to strengthen your presentation skills will dramatically impact how you appear as a leader and persuade people to take action. Her proven presentation skills coaching helps you build confidence, feel more comfortable and communicate with greater ease.

Contact Laurie now at (248) 761-7510 for Presentations Skills for Executives Training.

This course is ideal for leaders who want to communicate persuasively.

Learning Outcomes

Along with mastering executive presentation skills training, you will also learn more about how to create dynamic leadership presentations. This includes how to choose leadership topics for a presentation and more.

• Understand how your body language can impact your message
• Recognize the importance of a vocal tone that shows you are credible
• Distinguish how to be perceived as credible and trustworthy
• Identify attributes that describe your personal style
• Discuss which type of communication is most effective
• Demonstrate specific ways to move people to action
• Create dynamic presentations
• Develop ways to use your natural strengths

We will customize this program or coaching session to address your wants and needs. This includes everything from feeling more confident as a public speaker and connecting with your audience to mastering effective communication styles.

Presentation Skills Training Outline

What will you learn during an executive presentation skills workshop? Here are some of the topics we cover in our presentation skills training program.

Listening Skills for Leaders. Being able to listen productively is a needed skill set for those in leadership roles Outcome: You will learn a listening model to help you listen more effectively.

Building trust.  In their book The Trusted Advisor, Maister, Green and Galford wrote about this simple formula for building trust:

[C+R+I] + [Self Interest] = Trust

We will work with this formula as a basis for trust building, which is essential for all leadership styles. Outcome: Skills to build your credibility, reliability and intimacy (rapport) can help keep your audience engaged.

Vocal Techniques. Your voice is an important part of your presentation. The proper use of tone, range, articulation, power, pace and pausing has a huge impact on how you are perceived. Outcome: Through public speaking coaching , you will learn how to use body language and gestures to create the impression of credibility. Additionally, you will learn about other communication skills and the importance of things like deep breaths and breathing techniques while you speak.

Leading a Dynamic Meeting. Your ability to lead a productive and dynamic meeting is key to your leadership. In this segment we will look at rules and ideas for making your meetings more productive. Outcome: Your team meetings will be something people will really want to attend, regardless of if it's face-to-face or a virtual presentation.

Tech Talk Translation.  Making sure that your communication is understood means that you may have to translate your message depending on your audience. Outcome: Your communication will be effective no matter what level of understanding of the person to whom you are speaking.

Develop EI. Leaders need to have a high Emotional Intelligence. Learn how to increase your self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy and social skills through our tailored training courses. Outcome:  Your Emotional Intelligence will increase along with your ability to lead.

Communication Channels.  Whether you are speaking in person, on the phone or through email, you want to make sure that you are communicating in a way that inspires and creates action. Outcome: You will discover tips and techniques to communicate in each medium. This is an especially important skill in the modern hybrid workforce.

Presentation Skills.  Learn how to be a dynamic presenter and move your team to action. Body language, tonality, PowerPoint creation and delivery will be covered. Outcome:  You will have a comprehensive knowledge of presentation creation and delivery.

Contact Laurie now at (248) 761-7510 for Presentations Skills for Executives Training.

" Laurie has been a great coach and tremendous help in improving the quality of my presentations. The use of practice sessions / video tools as well as current best practice training were well balanced and supported the learning process. Her openness and honesty as well as willingness to assist in many complementary areas (effective video / teleconferencing, tone, posture, stress management etc.) made her a real pleasure to work with. She has made herself available to support and provide feedback on day-to-day issues/questions during our time together. I fully recommend and endorse her services. "

—JOE DIZAZZO, Regional Chief Executive, Latin America Crafts at Coats

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