How to Give A Persuasive Presentation in Business

How can you give persuasive presentations in business? What makes a persuasive presentation? How do you create a convincing presentation?

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. 

Be More Persuasive in Business Presentations

In business, we all need to persuade with presentations.

What is the best way to make a persuasive presentation? Here are some examples of persuasive presentations: You may want approval for a new project; you may want clients to buy from you; or you may want investors to back your new business. Or you may just want to persuade your boss that you are doing a good job.

All of these require presentations that persuade.  We all need to learn how to give more persuasive presentations.

Creating really persuasive business presentations is both an art and a science. 

Because persuasive business presentations take more than just a few well-chosen words…..

• Persuasion isn’t about emotive language and pleading looks.
• Persuasion isn’t at about better PowerPoint
• Persuasion isn’t about how you stand or how you hold your hands

While each situation is different, you can use tried and tested persuasion techniques in all of them. These techniques are from the BBA Persuasion Presentation Toolkit that we share with clients in our pitch presentation coaching courses:

Let’s look at each of these tips in more detail:

1. Do plenty of research and know your audience

When you’re presenting to people at work, it’s important to know who you’re talking to. Think about what they care about and what’s important to them. Ask yourself:

• What do they want to hear?
• How can I help them?
• What language will resonate?

For example, if you’re talking to your team, you might ask, “What challenges are they facing, and how can my ideas make their work easier?” Knowing your audience helps you speak in a way that matters to them, making your message more persuasive and interesting.

So, before you prepare your presentation, take a moment to understand who your audience is and what they need. Ask yourself, “How can I make my message matter to them?” This simple step can make a big difference in how persuasive you are.

2. Offer a simple message for a persuasive presentation

Keep your ideas clear and to the point. The simpler your message, the better. (Usually, this is not easy)

For a persuasive presentations, simplicity is your friend. Business audiences are inundated with information. You need to cut through the noise and deliver a clear, straightforward message. When you offer a simple message you make what you say easier to understand and easier to remember.

If the topic of your presentation contains complex ideas then its your job to distil those into easily digestible concepts, supported by compelling evidence. Cut any unnecessary details. Less is More.

Simplicity does not imply a lack of depth; rather, it reflects your mastery in communicating ideas with precision.

Use the power of simplicity in your persuasive presentation to captivate your business audience and drive your message home effectively.

3. Tell them a story

When you’re presenting persuasively, use stories. People love stories because they’re easy to understand and remember. For example, instead of just saying sales went up, you can tell a story about a team member who worked hard and came up with a creative idea. You can talk about the challenges they faced and how they overcame them.

Sharing a story makes your message more relatable and persuasive, and it helps people connect with what you’re saying. So, next time you’re trying to persuade your team or colleagues, use a story – it’s a simple but effective way to get your point across.

“facts get forgotten, stories get repeated” Use business storytelling.

Why Pick Benjamin Ball Associates for Your Coaching

At Benjamin Ball Associates, we’ve been coaching business people to improve their business communication skills for over 15 years.  Our coaching is fast and effective.  We work with individuals and with companies, one-to-one and in groups.  Call us today to learn more.

“I honestly thought it was the most valuable 3 hours I’ve spent with anyone in a long time.”

Mick May, CEO, Blue Sky

Our most popular training courses include:

• Presentation Coaching
• Public Speaking Coaching
• Investor Pitch Support and Coaching

Trusted by some of the most successful companies globally

Speak to Louise on +44 20 7018 0922 or email info@benjaminball.com to transform your speeches, pitches and presentations.

Speak to an expert. Get a free consultation

4. Be enthusiastic in your presenting

“It’s not just what you say that counts, it’s also how you say it.
The success of your argument critically depends on your
manner of presenting it.”

Alain de Botton

How do you deliver a persuasive presentation? Your performance is as important as your words. Energy and passion get results. When you’re presenting about work, be excited and show that you really care.

Showing your enthusiasm means you’re happy and passionate about what you’re talking about. And passion sells.

For instance, if you’re introducing a new project, smile and talk about how awesome it’s going to be for everyone involved. If you’re not excited, why should others be? Enthusiasm is like a contagious good feeling, and it helps people pay more attention to what you’re saying. So, next time you want to be persuasive, let your excitement shine through – it makes your message more interesting and convincing.

5. Be consistent throughout your presentation

Make every part of your persuasive presentation work:

• Personal interaction
• Visual aids
• Handouts

When you’re trying to make people understand or agree with you, it’s not just about what you say; it’s also about how you do it. Consistency means everything you do and say matches up. It’s making sure your words, your style, and how you connect with your audience all fit together.

Imagine you’re introducing a new idea to your business. If you’re excited, make sure your face and voice show that excitement too. Make sure any visual aids look as good as you sound. People pay attention to all these things, not just the words.

When you are consistent in how you talk, look, and connect with your audience it helps your message stick and makes people more likely to believe and remember what you’re saying.

6. Ask questions to be persuasive

The more questions you ask (and the better those questions) the more you will know about those you are trying to persuade. And of course along with asking good questions, you need to listen carefully.

• What are they saying?
• What are they not saying?
• What words are they using?

You will learn from their answers how to pitch yourself.

7. Acknowledge their doubts

When you understand your audience and where they are coming from, you will have a better idea of what may prevent them from agreeing with your idea. A powerful persuasive technique is to talk about their doubts, agree with them, and then show how these doubts are not the main issue in making a decision.

8. Solve their problems and you’ll persuade better

Everyone has problems. To be very persuasive you need to find their problems. And these may not be obvious ones. They could be problems of recognition, of status, of uncertainty. When you understand their issues (because you have asked the right questions, and listened to them carefully) you will have a much better idea of how to solve them.

9. Regularly check your position

The least persuasive presentation pitch is when you do all the speaking. Show how well you are listening by regularly checking back to show you understand what the other person is thinking.

Ask them questions, repeat back what they say, and test your understanding of their concerns. And then ask more questions. That will help push you forward.

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Start your journey to persuasive presentations now

Do you want to be more persuasive? Do you want to increase your chances of winning a pitch or bit of business? If so, talk to us.

Over the last 15 years we’ve coached thousands of business executives to give persuasive presentations. Our pitch presentation coaching is fast and effective.

Speak to Louise on 020 7018 0922 or email info@benjaminball.com to discuss how we can help you become more a more persuasive presenter.

Speak to an expert. Get a free consultation

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.

Speak to an expert. Get a free consultation