One of the best books I’ve read on presentations was Nancy Duarte’s Resonate. She recommended we always create S.T.A.R moments in presentations - Something, They’ll Always Remember. It’s a great piece of advice. Throughout our careers, we sit through and deliver many presentations. But how many are truly memorable? Here are a few suggestions on how to ensure your presentation stands the test of time.

1 The repeatable sound bite

‘Yes we can’, ‘I have a dream’. ‘One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind’.

It is important to ensure your message lands. Choose a key phrase. Make it a theme throughout your presentation and keep coming back to it. It will help keep your presentation clear and focused too.

Choose phrases that are short, powerful and easy to remember. Use them at the beginning and at end of the presentation to aid memorability.

2 Compelling slides

Make the slides look beautiful. Focus on evocative visuals vs words. People find it hard to recall lines of text, but powerful visuals will always stay with them. Remember the Five Golden Rules I highlighted previously. There are many free resources for you to choose high-quality, copyright-free images. Unsplash is my favourite. Choosing photographs that you’ve taken yourself is very effective

3 Props and demos

Use objects to create intrigue and humour. Most importantly, use them to drive your point home. Hans Rosling uses a washing machine to support his anecdote here. Bill Gates famously released a jar of mosquitoes into an audience. He did it during his talk on the impact of malaria. Steve Jobs revealed the MacBook Air using a manila envelope during his launch presentation. Ask yourself: What else can I bring to add value to my presentation? I mean, beyond just speaking from a screen.

4 Memorable statistics

Don’t overload people with data. They won’t recall them. Provide people with a few key statistics that will stop them in their tracks. Ask yourself, what will cause the audience to really listen? They could be shocking, awe-inspiring, intriguing, or amusing. They must be relevant to your presentation, but make sure you’re selective. Ensure you also explain the impact or implications of the data you’re showing. Make it easy for your audience to understand.

5 Audience engagement

Don’t force people to sit still for too long. Engage them as part of your presentation. For example, do a warm-up exercise, run a short team exercise, take part in a quiz, and fill out a questionnaire. It breaks up the listening time, creates energy, and helps to reinforce your points. Make them laugh, make them cry. Activate their emotions.

So to summarise

When you’re planning your next presentation, think about what you can do to ensure it lives long in the memory. There are lots of ways you can do this. These memorable moments won’t happen by chance. Make sure you practice. Even if they’re meant to appear spontaneous, rehearse them carefully. We listen to many presentations during our business careers. Make sure yours stands out.