How To Improve Presentation Skills – 13 Top Tips
July 08, 2023
Updated 1st November 2025
How do you improve presentation skills? Do you want tips to improve your presentation skills? How can you improve presentation skills for business quickly?
Meet the Author: Benjamin Ball
Ben is the founder of Benjamin Ball Associates and leads the presentation coaching and pitch deck creation teams. Formerly a corporate financier in the City of London, for 20+ years he’s helped businesses win with better pitches and presentations, particularly investor pitches. He is a regular speaker and a guest lecturer at Columbia Business School and UCL London. Follow Ben on LinkedIn or visit the contact page.
If you’ve ever stood at the front of an audience wishing you could sound more confident or hold your audience’s attention for longer, you’re not alone.
Even the most seasoned public speaker once felt nervous and unsure. The good news is that good presentation skills can be learned.
Whether you’re preparing for a public speaking engagement, pitching investors or speaking at a company meeting, these best tips will help you deliver better presentations that make a positive impact.
In this guide you’ll find 13 proven ways to improve your presentation skills — used by great speakers around the world — plus advice on how to manage nerves, use visual aids effectively, and become a better public speaker.
Why Improving Your Presentation Skills Matters
Every time you present — to colleagues, clients or investors — you’re influencing decisions. Strong speaking skills can transform how people see you.
When you learn effective presentation skills, you’ll:
- Communicate important points clearly
- Build lasting confidence and credibility
- Use your presentation style to engage and inspire
- Deliver a successful presentation within your allotted time
It’s the first step towards becoming a more experienced presenter who connects naturally with any room.
How to Improve Presentation Skills: 13 Proven Tips
1. Plan Your Message Before You Open PowerPoint
Most people start with a PowerPoint presentation. That’s the wrong order. Never waste time playing with PowerPoint (or Canva, Prezi or Beautiful.ai)
The first step to improve presentation skills is to clarify your main points and understand what you want your audience members to do afterwards.
Ask yourself:
- What’s the most important thing I want them to remember?
- What do I want them to do after I’ve finished?
- What’s the best way to explain it?
Once you’ve done that, you can write your talk, and only at the last stage build any visual aids to support your message — not replace it. That’s how great speakers plan in the most effective manner.
2. Make Your Audience Feel Comfortable
When your audience feels at ease, they listen. A good way to do this is to make early eye contact and use humour in subtle ways.
One of the simplest way to improve presentation skills is to use personal pronouns throughout. See how many YOU, WE and US you can incorporate. As a rule of thumb, the more the better. And Smile. Imagine you’re talking to a family member you like — it immediately softens your tone. Even if you are standing in front of 50 people.
Never read from slides. It will kill your credibility. Instead, use note cards so you can speak freely. That small change can transform the energy in the room.
3. Balance Logic, Credibility and Emotion
Facts alone don’t hold an audience’s attention.
To persuade effectively, combine logic (your evidence), credibility (why you’re worth listening to) and emotion (why it matters).
BEFORE: “In this presentation today I’ll cover the changes to the process being made.”
AFTER: “So what’s this all about? I’m sure you are interested. I want to show you the changes we are making that should make all our lives easier.”
Watch a few TED Talks — the best examples of this balance. The content of your presentation needs structure, but your stories bring it to life.
4. Keep It Simple: Tell a Clear Story
A great presentation is never complex.
The best way to improve presentation skills is to make your message memorable is to keep it simple and structured. Focus on one clear takeaway, use short sentences and reinforce your main points throughout.
BEFORE: “I’ll run through the 15 reasons this is a good idea”
AFTER: “There are three ways that this change will benefit us all”
Simplicity isn’t dumbing down — it’s smart communication. When your story is clear, your audience stays with you from the beginning to the end.
5. Speak the Language of Your Audience
Tailor your words to the people in front of you.
Cut any jargon, and choose everyday language your audience members use. As a rule of thumb, if a 17-year old will understand, then you have pitched it at the right level.
BEFORE: “corporate strategy”.
AFTER: “where the company’s heading”
It’s not just a good idea to adapt your tone for different audiences, it’s essential.
The most powerful words are always the simplest.
6. Think Like a Teacher, Not a Presenter
Audiences want to learn, not be lectured.
A simple way to improve presentation skills is to approach your talk as a mini-lesson. Share examples, demonstrate ideas, and invite reactions. If you are presenting data, explain what that data means for the audience.
People love learning new things. If you can explain, teach and help people understand, then you will demonstrate great presentation skills and will give effective presentations.
Personal talk
Sheryl Sandberg is the COO of Facebook. She gives a highly personal and compelling talk explaining why few women get to the top. She has practical advice about how to change this.
Add interactive elements like short questions or a quick show of hands. These are great ways to keep people engaged and make your talk feel personal.
The most experienced presenters have learned that thinking like a teacher is a winning approach.
7. Acknowledge Weaknesses and Prepare a Backup Plan
Strong presenters don’t pretend everything is perfect.
If there’s a challenge, name it, and show how you’re handling it.
Also, have a backup plan: what if your slides fail or your video won’t play? Being ready for the unexpected shows composure and professionalism.
8. Use Stories, Examples and Anecdotes
A personal story is a great way to connect with any audience. Learn more about how to use storytelling in business presentations.
Stories make your important points stick long after the presentation ends.
Talk about a client success, a mistake that taught you something or an insight from your own experience. The most seasoned public speakers rely on short, relevant stories to illustrate ideas. They help turn information into emotion.
9. Structure Your Presentation for Maximum Impact
A clear structure helps you stay within your allotted time and makes it easier for people to follow.
The best way to build a successful presentation is to follow this flow:
- Strong start – grab attention early
- Main points – make them simple and memorable
- Next point – use transitions (“the next point builds on this…”)
- Clear close – remind them of the takeaway and action
How do you get your men fired up to risk their lives and still remain disciplined under pressure? This re-enactment by Kenneth Branagh of a reported off-the-cuff speech is a perfect example.
Inspirational speech
When your presentation style feels smooth, the audience relaxes and listens.
10. Make It Easy for Your Audience
Your job is to make your ideas effortless to follow.
That means fewer slides, clean visuals and clear explanations.
If people at the back of the room can grasp your main points without squinting, you’re doing well.
Not every firm has an annual shareholders meeting as big as this. Chief Financial Officer Charles Holley of Walmart shows how you can speak to analysts, shareholders and employees and keep them all engaged.
CFO of Walmart – shareholders meeting
If you use charts or numbers, explain why they matter. And if you need to show lots of information, provide a handout rather than cramming it all onto one slide.
11. Improve Eye Contact, Body Language and Hand Gestures
If you want to improve your presentation skills, you must realise that your non-verbal communication speaks volumes.
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart,
- Shoulders back, chest out, posture open
- Make eye contact for a few seconds with one person at a time.
- Use hand gestures to highlight your important points
- Let your facial expressions match your message.
These are subtle ways to project confidence, even if you feel nervous.
Good confident body language helps you look calm and credible — the hallmark of good presentation skills.
12. Manage Nerves and Overcome Stage Fright
Stage fright and presentation anxiety are normal. Everyone experiences them — even great speakers.
- Do some physical activity before you present. Perhaps jump up & down in the loo.
- If your mind races, look at one friendly face at the front of the audience and start speaking to them as if it’s a chat.
- Practise in front of a colleague, a family member or rehearse at the front of a mirror. This helps you notice when you are boring, filler words and other bad habits.
The most important thing is to keep practising until confidence becomes muscle memory.
13. Practise, Get Feedback and Keep Improving
You only get better with repetition.
A practice session in front of a trusted friend, colleague or coach will reveal what works and what doesn’t. Ask for constructive criticism on your content, voice, pace and clarity.
If you can, record yourself. You’ll spot things you miss in the moment — tone, posture, overuse of slides.
Even the most seasoned public speaker continues to refine through feedback.
Presenting is a skill like any other. The more your practice the better you’ll improve presentation skills.
Common Presentation Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
Even experienced presenters fall into traps that undermine their impact. What are the most frequent mistakes?
| Mistake | Fix |
| Too much text on slides | Simplify and use visual aids sparingly |
| Monotone voice | Add energy, vary tone, emphasis and pauses |
| Rambling | Rehearse and time your delivery |
| Poor eye contact | Look at individuals, not the floor |
| Overuse of jargon | Swap for plain English |
| Speaking too fast | Add a pause every 5-10 words. |
A presentation coach can pinpoint these quirks and help you replace them with stronger content and more powerful delivery. Avoid these errors, and you’ll transform shaky performances into compelling, polished deliveries.
How Coaching Helps You Improve Faster
You can develop better public speaking skills on your own, but expert guidance speeds everything up.
A coach helps you master the content of your presentation, polish your presentation style,and manage nerves.
At Benjamin Ball Associates, we’ve spent more than 15 years helping professionals across the UK improve presentation skills. Through group or one-to-one coaching, you’ll learn how to:
- Clarify your main points
- Use visual aids effectively
- Control nerves and project confident body language
- Speak with impact in any setting
“I honestly thought it was the most valuable three hours I’ve spent with anyone in a long time.”
— Mick May, CEO, Blue Sky
Ready to Build Better Presentation Skills
If you’d like to make after progress towards improved presentation skills, get in touch.
Our team of expert presentation coaches has been helping business executives polish their presentation skills for over 15 years. We are trusted by some of the world’s largest businesses. Click on the link below or phone Louise Angus on +44 20 7018 0922 to discuss your needs.
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Why Choose Us:
Transform your pitches and presentations with tailored coaching
We can help you present brilliantly. Thousands of people have benefitted from our tailored in-house coaching and advice – and we can help you too.
“I honestly thought it was the most valuable 3 hours I’ve spent with anyone in a long time.”
Mick May, CEO, Blue Sky
For 15+ years we’ve been the trusted choice for leading businesses and executives throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East. We’ll help you improve corporate presentations through presentation coaching, public speaking training and expert advice on pitching to investors.
Some recent clients
Unlock your full potential and take your presentations to the next level.
Speak to Louise on +44 20 7018 0922 or email info@benjaminball.com to transform your speeches, pitches and presentations.
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FAQ: How to Improve Presentation Skills
How can I improve my presentation skills quickly?
Work on improving your content first, then structure, clarity and rehearsal. Practise aloud and get feedback from a colleague or family member.
What are the top presentation skills?
You want to be sure your audience hears – and takes away what you want. That means you need to be clear, confident and connect with your audience.
Many people say communication skills are the most important skills a leader should possess.
How do I stop feeling nervous?
Two things: Preparation and practice. Rehearse in front of a mirror and remind yourself that even great speakers started somewhere. Read this article about becoming a confident presenter.
Do I need presentation coaching?
If you present in business, coaching is a great way to progress quickly and learn the most effective manner to deliver your ideas. Call Louise Angus, our client services director today to learn how we can help you.
How do you build lasting business presentation skills?
If you want to learn more about acquiring brilliant business presentation skills, speak to us. We have been coaching business presenters for the last 15 years, transforming them into great confident speakers.
Contact us now for free consultation
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