What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

by Carmine Gallo

report writing presentation skills

Summary .   

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.

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10 Easy Steps to Better Report Writing

on 05 Feb 2024

How you write creates an impression, for good or bad. Persuasive writing generates engagement, motivation and drives action.

report writing

If your writing is 'sticky', then at the very least, it keeps the audience reading.

Did it work? If you are still reading, then it did! To help you keep your readers engaged and entertained, we've collated some easy steps to help improve your report writing.

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10 steps to improve your report writing

1. find a good role model or mentor.

To be a good writer, you should surround yourself with good writing. Learn from the best and regularly read a good mix of writing in books, newspapers, trade magazines and online articles. Your colleagues' reports may also provide inspiration and creative muse and give you an idea of what's been done before.

2. Decide what you're going to say

Don't start writing too soon. Consider what you'll say and why (your aim, purpose and objectives in writing). Identify who your typical reader is (e.g. novice or expert, what they need to get from your report, whether colleagues or outside your company, etc.). This information helps you pitch your writing at the right level.

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3. Plan the structure of your report

Decide what heading and/or key sections to include. Use internal templates (if available), mind-mapping software, or document outline tools to plan the flow and structure.

4. Gather & sift any source information

Only use data, statistics and background information from reliable and established sources to maintain credibility. Sense check any data you use by looking out for a second source for validation.

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5. Respect intellectual property rights

Uphold the principles of good writing by respecting others' IP; acknowledge sources and references to improve credibility and allow reader follow-up. When quoting from a source, be mindful of any republication limitations.

6. Create a draft report

Don't expect to produce a masterpiece straight off. Most writing goes through several edits before final approval. It is a good opportunity to spot anything you may have missed, too.

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7. Engage readers by using writing techniques

Use real-world examples, anecdotes, and storytelling to bring your report to life. A picture really can be a thousand words. Sometimes, your message is clearer and stronger when presented in visual form. So add data tables, charts and images to add interest and improve understanding.

8. Assess & review your draft

Once you have a draft, assess and review what you've written. Is it too long or too short? Are sections missing? Should you remove anything? Can you improve readability? Enlist the help of your peers to offer further insight and identify improvements.

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9. Final proofing of the report

Pay attention to detail. Focus on spelling, grammar, punctuation, format, spacing, professionalism, logic, look and feel. It's worth taking more time here so your writing isn't remembered for all the wrong reasons.

10. Peer review & sign-off

Once your report is complete, it is worth getting a colleague to proofread it. If they are happy with the report, it is time to get managerial approval before distribution.

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

report writing presentation skills

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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How to Write a Report

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Some academic assignments ask for a ‘report’, rather than an essay, and students are often confused about what that really means.

Likewise, in business, confronted with a request for a ‘report’ to a senior manager, many people struggle to know what to write.

Confusion often arises about the writing style, what to include, the language to use, the length of the document and other factors.

This page aims to disentangle some of these elements, and provide you with some advice designed to help you to write a good report.

What is a Report?

In academia there is some overlap between reports and essays, and the two words are sometimes used interchangeably, but reports are more likely to be needed for business, scientific and technical subjects, and in the workplace.

Whereas an essay presents arguments and reasoning, a report concentrates on facts.

Essentially, a report is a short, sharp, concise document which is written for a particular purpose and audience. It generally sets outs and analyses a situation or problem, often making recommendations for future action. It is a factual paper, and needs to be clear and well-structured.

Requirements for the precise form and content of a report will vary between organisation and departments and in study between courses, from tutor to tutor, as well as between subjects, so it’s worth finding out if there are any specific guidelines before you start.

Reports may contain some or all of the following elements:

  • A description of a sequence of events or a situation;
  • Some interpretation of the significance of these events or situation, whether solely your own analysis or informed by the views of others, always carefully referenced of course (see our page on Academic Referencing for more information);
  • An evaluation of the facts or the results of your research;
  • Discussion of the likely outcomes of future courses of action;
  • Your recommendations as to a course of action; and
  • Conclusions.

Not all of these elements will be essential in every report.

If you’re writing a report in the workplace, check whether there are any standard guidelines or structure that you need to use.

For example, in the UK many government departments have outline structures for reports to ministers that must be followed exactly.

Sections and Numbering

A report is designed to lead people through the information in a structured way, but also to enable them to find the information that they want quickly and easily.

Reports usually, therefore, have numbered sections and subsections, and a clear and full contents page listing each heading. It follows that page numbering is important.

Modern word processors have features to add tables of contents (ToC) and page numbers as well as styled headings; you should take advantage of these as they update automatically as you edit your report, moving, adding or deleting sections.

Report Writing

Getting started: prior preparation and planning.

The structure of a report is very important to lead the reader through your thinking to a course of action and/or decision. It’s worth taking a bit of time to plan it out beforehand.

Step 1: Know your brief

You will usually receive a clear brief for a report, including what you are studying and for whom the report should be prepared.

First of all, consider your brief very carefully and make sure that you are clear who the report is for (if you're a student then not just your tutor, but who it is supposed to be written for), and why you are writing it, as well as what you want the reader to do at the end of reading: make a decision or agree a recommendation, perhaps.

Step 2: Keep your brief in mind at all times

During your planning and writing, make sure that you keep your brief in mind: who are you writing for, and why are you writing?

All your thinking needs to be focused on that, which may require you to be ruthless in your reading and thinking. Anything irrelevant should be discarded.

As you read and research, try to organise your work into sections by theme, a bit like writing a Literature Review .

Make sure that you keep track of your references, especially for academic work. Although referencing is perhaps less important in the workplace, it’s also important that you can substantiate any assertions that you make so it’s helpful to keep track of your sources of information.

The Structure of a Report

Like the precise content, requirements for structure vary, so do check what’s set out in any guidance.

However, as a rough guide, you should plan to include at the very least an executive summary, introduction, the main body of your report, and a section containing your conclusions and any recommendations.

Executive Summary

The executive summary or abstract , for a scientific report, is a brief summary of the contents. It’s worth writing this last, when you know the key points to draw out. It should be no more than half a page to a page in length.

Remember the executive summary is designed to give busy 'executives' a quick summary of the contents of the report.

Introduction

The introduction sets out what you plan to say and provides a brief summary of the problem under discussion. It should also touch briefly on your conclusions.

Report Main Body

The main body of the report should be carefully structured in a way that leads the reader through the issue.

You should split it into sections using numbered sub-headings relating to themes or areas for consideration. For each theme, you should aim to set out clearly and concisely the main issue under discussion and any areas of difficulty or disagreement. It may also include experimental results. All the information that you present should be related back to the brief and the precise subject under discussion.

If it’s not relevant, leave it out.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The conclusion sets out what inferences you draw from the information, including any experimental results. It may include recommendations, or these may be included in a separate section.

Recommendations suggest how you think the situation could be improved, and should be specific, achievable and measurable. If your recommendations have financial implications, you should set these out clearly, with estimated costs if possible.

A Word on Writing Style

When writing a report, your aim should be to be absolutely clear. Above all, it should be easy to read and understand, even to someone with little knowledge of the subject area.

You should therefore aim for crisp, precise text, using plain English, and shorter words rather than longer, with short sentences.

You should also avoid jargon. If you have to use specialist language, you should explain each word as you use it. If you find that you’ve had to explain more than about five words, you’re probably using too much jargon, and need to replace some of it with simpler words.

Consider your audience. If the report is designed to be written for a particular person, check whether you should be writing it to ‘you’ or perhaps in the third person to a job role: ‘The Chief Executive may like to consider…’, or ‘The minister is recommended to agree…’, for example.

A Final Warning

As with any academic assignment or formal piece of writing, your work will benefit from being read over again and edited ruthlessly for sense and style.

Pay particular attention to whether all the information that you have included is relevant. Also remember to check tenses, which person you have written in, grammar and spelling. It’s also worth one last check against any requirements on structure.

For an academic assignment, make sure that you have referenced fully and correctly. As always, check that you have not inadvertently or deliberately plagiarised or copied anything without acknowledging it.

Finally, ask yourself:

“Does my report fulfil its purpose?”

Only if the answer is a resounding ‘yes’ should you send it off to its intended recipient.

Continue to: How to Write a Business Case Planning an Essay

See also: Business Writing Tips Study Skills Writing a Dissertation or Thesis

Mastering the Art of Report Writing: Essential Skills for Business and Management Success

report writing presentation skills

By Kirill Koniayev , Lecturer in Business, LSST Aston 

In the dynamic world of business and management, the ability to write compelling Reports is not just a skill, it's an essential tool for success. Reports are the bedrock of strategic decision-making, offering insights, guiding policies, and influencing critical business outcomes.  Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a business student, or a budding manager, mastering the art of Report writing can significantly impact your career trajectory. In this blog, we delve into Professional Report Writing, providing tailored advice to enhance your Report writing skills in the business and management contexts.  By honing these skills, you can effectively communicate complex information, persuade stakeholders, and contribute to your organization's success.

Understanding Report Types and Purposes: Every Report has a purpose.  Whether it’s a lab Report, a business plan, or a research summary, knowing its type helps you tailor your content and approach.  For example, a lab report needs precise data representation, while a business plan focuses more on strategic insights.

Mastering Structure: A well-structured Report has three key components: an introduction that outlines your Report’s aim, a body that delves into the details, and a conclusion that summarizes your findings.  Don’t forget appendices for supplementary data.  This structure helps maintain clarity and focus.

Word Choice and Audience Consideration: Your Report isn’t just for you; it’s for your readers.  Use language that resonates with your audience.  Avoid jargon when addressing non-specialists and always clarify technical terms.  Remember, simplicity doesn’t compromise sophistication.

Style and Editing: A consistent style and thorough editing reflect professionalism.  Pay attention to the flow of your Report and ensure it’s free from grammatical errors.  This enhances readability and credibility.

Being Concise and Effective in Summaries: Brevity is key.  An executive summary is a skill you need to master.  It should encapsulate your Report’s essence, offering a snapshot for those who won’t delve into every detail.

Utilizing Visual Illustrations: Graphs, charts, and diagrams can transform your Report.  They provide visual breaks and can explain complex data more effectively than text.  Use them wisely to complement your narrative.

Preparing Your Report: Preparation is half the battle won.  Plan your Report, conduct thorough research, and structure your content logically.  This ensures your Report is comprehensive and cohesive.

Physical Presentation Matters: The look of your Report is as important as its content.  A neat layout, readable font, and quality paper make a significant difference.  They make your Report inviting and easier to navigate.

In summary:  Effective Report writing is a blend of clarity, precision, and understanding of your audience. It’s an essential skill that you will use throughout your academic and professional life.  Remember, a well-written Report can speak volumes about your analytical and communication skills.  Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to refer to expert resources.

Remember: Writing is a journey. Each Report is a step towards refining your skills. Happy writing!

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2 thoughts on “Mastering the Art of Report Writing: Essential Skills for Business and Management Success”

Thank you for such professionalism and brevity. Very useful information. Best Regards Yehudit Levina

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excellent layout of the how to write an excellent and effective report

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Mastering Report Writing Skills: A Guide to Communicating Complex Information

By Jody Bruner

May 22, 2023

Writing Skills

Mastering Report Writing Skills: A Guide to Communicating Complex Information - Mastering-report-writing

It’s a reality that business writers often need to create reports that serve the needs of more than one group of readers. For business writers communicating highly technical information, the challenge intensifies: satisfying both technical and non-technical audiences with the same document is no small feat. Here’s how to boost your report-writing skills.

Know who you’re writing for and why

Take time to understand the answers to the questions who and why before you begin to draft. Readers come to your reports seeking the information they need to do their jobs. Keep these questions in your sightlines to help you write technical reports that are useful.

First, analyze your audience:

  • Who are your readers?
  • Where are the potential gaps in their knowledge?
  • What are their needs?
  • How will they use the information you’re presenting in your report?
  • What will they be looking for?

Next, define your own reason for writing that report:

  • What’s your main purpose?
  • Do you want to inform or persuade?
  • What’s your desired outcome?
  • Should anything change as a result of the report being out in the world? If so, what?

Wait until you have clear answers or your reader won’t have them either.

Use plain language

Plain language, aka plain English, is writing that can be read and understood in a single pass. Let that be your standard. Don’t make your readers work harder than necessary.

Consider the level of formality in your report writing. Does it mirror the way you speak to those readers? Compare these pairs:

  • Advise / Say, tell
  • Endeavour / Try
  • Utilize / Use

If you write with words from the formal column but speak to those same readers with words from the conversational column, ask yourself why. Does it help the reader?

Remember Einstein’s maxim: Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Break information into sections

Business readers skim technical reports to find sections of interest to them. Structure your report with that in mind: think in terms of sections instead of long narrative passages that act as discouraging walls of text. Short paragraphs in logical groupings allow readers to find the information they need to do their own work quickly and easily.

To meet the needs of technical and non-technical readers alike, structure the report so that the main body isn’t bogged down with extensive technical details, such as spreadsheets or functional specifications. Instead, refer interested technical readers to appendices organized by data type and write a detailed table of contents so they can easily find what they’re looking for.

Use subheadings to highlight important concepts

Use a system of headings and subheadings to help readers skim (they’re going to do it anyway) as I’ve done with this article. Load your headings and subheadings with a distilled version of that section. A well-written set of headings and subheadings provides some readers with enough information to do their jobs—and they value the effort you made to make that possible.

Information-rich headings also help the reader navigate a report to quickly find a section of interest. Use verbs in your headings to energize them and make them concise.

  • Recommendation to Upgrade Existing Laptops
  • Committee Approved Pay Raise
  • How to Prepare for Meetings

Steer clear of unnecessary jargon

Jargon is industry- and discipline-specific shorthand that saves time among members of that industry or discipline, but it can leave non-technical readers confused.

Acronyms are one kind of jargon. They can be handy space savers for readers who can crack the code. If you’re unsure if all readers of your report know an acronym you want to use, define it with the first use.

The AML (anti-money laundering) department is being relocated to Halifax.

Sensitize yourself to your own industry or discipline jargon. Try the neighbourhood cocktail party test: would you use that term or phrase with friends? If not, it’s probably jargon. Share the secret handshake in context. For example:

Heavy water, which contains significantly more hydrogen and is 10% denser than ordinary water, is used as a moderator in some reactors.

Practicing empathy for your reader’s needs results in technical reports that meet their needs, and that means improved information flows through the organization. Skilled report writers know it’s time well spent.

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Art of Presentations

Presentation vs Report Writing: What’s the Difference?

By: Author Shrot Katewa

Presentation vs Report Writing: What’s the Difference?

I was sitting at my desk today while I stumbled upon a question by one of our patrons. It got me thinking if there was ever a difference between a Presentation and Report Writing? So, I did some research, and here’s what I found out!

The main difference between a Presentation and Report Writing is that a report is usually fairly extensive and gives a detailed account of the information on a particular topic. Whereas, a presentation is mostly a synopsis which highlights the key points that are important for the audience.

Since one of the key objectives of both – a presentation and a report is to give information to its intended audience, people often tend to confuse between the two. So, let’s understand the nuances in further detail.

Key Differences between Presentation and Report Writing

In order to make sure that we don’t end up creating an incorrect document the next we are tasked with an assignment, it is important for us to understand the differences between a presentation and report writing.

As I mentioned earlier, one of the purposes of both a presentation and a report is typically to provide insights or useful information about a certain topic.

However, the purpose of creating a presentation is to share information in a short period of time; usually not more than 15-20 minutes. Thus, it ends up being a synopsis of a topic rather than giving a detailed account on a particular topic.

Report Writing on the other hand goes into the intricacies involved within a particular topic.

For a research oriented report writing, the purpose of the report is often to capture the detailed account for the research conducted including (but not limited to) purpose of the research, methodology adopted for conducting research, observations and findings, discrepancies (if any), and the conclusion.

Writing a report often scientific approach and requires a technical understand of the subject.

2. Depth of Information

Another difference between a report and a presentation is the depth of information that is shared in the two types of documents.

As mentioned in the previous point, a report goes in great depth capturing the thought behind almost every single action taken by the researcher; thereby giving an in-depth understanding on the topic.

A presentation on the other hand picks up key pieces of information and aims to provide very specific details usually in the interest of the available time of the audience.

A typical example of a report would be a corporate annual report which explains the details of actions taken by the organisation and how it performed. This information is shared across multiple paragraphs usually accompanied by a table giving the performance details. Whereas, a presentation of the annual report only summarizes the key points on the performance of the company throughout the year.

3. Information Delivery

A person giving a presentation to a large audience

Another major difference between a presentation and report writing is the mode of information delivery.

Since a presentation is a piece of summarized information, it requires a person to share additional information while delivering the presentation. A presentation mostly contains visual cues along with a few points on each slide, which is accompanied with a talk given by an individual giving the presentation.

A presentation can be given in-person to a small group of people or even to a few hundred individuals in a large auditorium. Alternatively, a presentation can also be delivered online to several thousands of people across the globe using different softwares.

A report on the other hand doesn’t necessarily require to be presented. Since it contains detailed information, it can be independently read by people at their comfort.

Reading a report can take time as it is often spread across several hundreds of pages.

4. Method of Engaging the Audience

Yet another difference between a presentation and report writing is the manner in which it engages its audience.

A presentation depends upon the skill of the presenter to engage the audience. A person giving a presentation not only needs to make the presentation visually appealing, it also requires the presenter to entertain the audience by means of story-telling and humor (as deemed necessary) while delivering the presentation.

A report on the other hand depends on the capability of an individual to command a language to engage its readers. It needs the person writing a report to have a good grasp of the language in order to describe the information accurately and as briefly as possible while holding the interest of the audience.

In a research study done in order to compare the understanding capability of science students based information consumed in the two formats – Presentation versus Report format , it was observed that students understood the topic better when it was explained through a presentation rather than a report.

Perhaps, one can conclude that presentation is usually more engaging than a detailed report.

5. Skills Needed

A cropped image of a person holding a pen while writing with a coffee mug in the background

Lastly, another difference between a presentation and report writing is the skills needed for each of the two activities.

Creating an effective presentation requires not only design skills, but also mastering the art of giving presentations! While the task of designing a presentation can often be outsourced, the knack of picking the correct topics to be covered in the presentation can’t be outsourced and is dependent on the presenter.

As a presenter, you don’t necessarily need to have great writing skills, but you surely need to know the art of story-telling, and leverage this for giving a presentation.

On the other hand, report writing requires creative (sometimes technical) writing skills. One also needs to be analytical.

How to Choose between a Presentation and a Report? Which is Better?

Choosing between creating a presentation or writing a report can be a difficult task for some. But, not being able to do so correctly can often lead to drastic (sometimes even embarrassing) circumstances.

Here are a few questions that you should ask yourself before starting creating a presentation or writing a report –

  • How much time do I have with my audience? If you have only about 20 to 30 minutes with you audience to share the required information, it is perhaps better to give a presentation than to write a report. A report (unless written in less than 10 pages), will usually take more than this much time to be completely understood.
  • Does your intended audience prefer to read or to hear/watch? People have their own preferences when it comes to consuming information. Some people like to read, while others prefer hearing or visual comprehension to gain knowledge. Be sure to ask them their preference, and make your decision accordingly.
  • What are you good at – Presentation or Report Writing? If the above two questions are not important or if your audience doesn’t have a preference, a good way to start would be to focus on your strengths. Ask yourself – what are you more comfortable with? Is a creating and delivering a presentation? Or, is it writing a report? Make a decision based on your capability. A little introspection can definitely go a long way in helping you choose the right direction.

How to Create an Attractive Presentation?

If you end up deciding to go down the presentation route, then we’ve got you covered.

The main objective of this site is to help you create better presentations!

Thus, be sure to check out a few other posts on this website that provide little ninja tips on how you can make your presentations attractive in a few easy steps!

A good place to start would be by reading this post –

7 EASY tips that ALWAYS make your PPT presentation attractive (even for beginners)

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any specific questions. We would love to help you create better presentations!

Final Thoughts

As we understood in this article, even though delivering a presentation and report writing have a similar objective of sharing interesting information, they both have their differences.

Knowing what mode of information sharing to choose can often be critical. Thus, I hope this post has helped you understand some of the key differences between the two and how to choose whether to create a presentation or write a report.

London Management Centre

Open Courses

Influential presentation skills and report writing.

(2 Reviews)

Introduction

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, effective communication is crucial. This course is tailored to equip professionals with the ability to deliver compelling presentations and write impactful reports. Over five days, participants will master the art of public speaking, learn to craft reports with clarity and precision, and develop strategies to engage diverse audiences effectively. The course blends practical tools with interactive elements, ensuring that every delegate can communicate confidently across various platforms and contexts, making an immediate difference in their professional environment.

Who should attend

This course is ideal for individuals at all professional levels who aspire to refine their presentation and report writing skills. It is particularly beneficial for those new to management roles or aiming for such positions. Participants will gain not only foundational knowledge but also advanced techniques in public speaking, presentation delivery, and professional report writing. This course serves anyone looking to enhance their influence and effectiveness in communicating within and beyond their organisation.

London | £4950 Dubai | £4950 Barcelona | £4950 Istanbul | £4950 Kuala Lumpur | £4950

Foundations of Effective Presentations

  • Understanding the essentials of presentation
  • Recognising effective and ineffective presentation habits
  • Overcoming public speaking fears
  • Establishing a clear structure for presentations
  • Building self-confidence and managing nervousness

Advanced Presentation Skills

  • Mastering confident body language and eye contact
  • Engaging the audience with clear, concise messaging
  • Utilising feedback to refine presentation skills
  • Exploring various presentation tools and their effective use
  • Crafting visually engaging PowerPoint, video, flipchart presentations and more

Mastery in Public Speaking

  • Delving into the dynamics of impactful public speaking
  • Differentiating between presentations and public speeches
  • Employing rhetorical techniques for persuasion
  • Managing spontaneous speaking challenges
  • Handling difficult questions and audience interactions

Effective Meeting Management

  • Defining roles and responsibilities within meetings
  • Structuring meetings for maximum productivity
  • Ensuring actionable outcomes from meetings
  • Utilising meeting time effectively
  • Engaging all participants in the meeting process

Expert Report Writing

  • Initiating report development with clear objectives
  • Structuring reports for readability and impact
  • Tailoring reports to diverse audiences
  • Incorporating innovative data presentation techniques
  • Reviewing and refining reports based on feedback

At the end of the course participants will be able to:

  • Deliver presentations with clarity and confidence.
  • Utilise advanced public speaking techniques to engage and persuade.
  • Create structured and impactful reports tailored to specific audiences.
  • Manage meetings effectively, ensuring productive outcomes.
  • Use presentation tools effectively to enhance communication.
  • Handle audience questions and interactions with poise.
  • Respond to feedback constructively to improve their professional skills.
  • Apply innovative techniques in data presentation and report layout.
  • Presentation Skills
  • Public Speaking
  • Report Writing

“Everything was fantastic! the instructors, location, training centre and coordination! Your efforts are highly appreciated.”

“This is my first time at LMC, I must commend the team for their efforts and professionalism. Thank you!”

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  1. TIPS FOR REPORTING || Marvin Cabañero

  2. Knowledge Session on Writing & Presentation Skills

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  5. Chapter 3: The Report Structure (Part 1) الهيكل التنظيمي لمحتوي التقرير

  6. Writing & Presentation Skills

COMMENTS

  1. Report Writing Skills: Definition and Examples

    Writing skills is the ability to communicate effectively with words. This is an essential skill for reports since creating the document requires writing. This ability also refers to how well you can write. A report with impressive writing may mean that the language is professional and clear.

  2. How to Write a Report: A Guide to Report Formats with Examples

    1 Choose a topic based on the assignment. Before you start writing, you need to pick the topic of your report. Often, the topic is assigned for you, as with most business reports, or predetermined by the nature of your work, as with scientific reports. If that's the case, you can ignore this step and move on.

  3. What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

    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 ...

  4. 10 Easy Steps to Better Report Writing

    10 steps to improve your report writing. 1. Find a good role model or mentor. To be a good writer, you should surround yourself with good writing. Learn from the best and regularly read a good mix of writing in books, newspapers, trade magazines and online articles. Your colleagues' reports may also provide inspiration and creative muse and ...

  5. Powerful and Effective Presentation Skills

    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 ...

  6. Report writing: A step-by-step guide for professionals

    Report writing involves creating concise documents to inform readers about a specific topic and often includes recommendations for future actions. A well-structured report typically consists of a title page, introduction, main body, conclusion, and sometimes a table of contents and abstract. Effective report writing requires clear, professional ...

  7. Report Writing

    Essentially, a report is a short, sharp, concise document which is written for a particular purpose and audience. It generally sets outs and analyses a situation or problem, often making recommendations for future action. It is a factual paper, and needs to be clear and well-structured. Requirements for the precise form and content of a report ...

  8. Mastering the Art of Report Writing: Essential Skills for Business and

    Preparing Your Report: Preparation is half the battle won. Plan your Report, conduct thorough research, and structure your content logically. This ensures your Report is comprehensive and cohesive. Physical Presentation Matters: The look of your Report is as important as its content. A neat layout, readable font, and quality paper make a ...

  9. Effective Report Writing Techniques

    By the end of the course, participants will be able to: Plan and create effective business reports by f ollowing the report-writing process. Achieve reporting objectives utilizing a proven structuring methodology. Research, analyze, and organize information into meaningful conclusions. Support the presentation of information using appropriate ...

  10. Mastering Report Writing Skills: A Guide to Communicating Complex

    May 22, 2023. Writing Skills. It's a reality that business writers often need to create reports that serve the needs of more than one group of readers. For business writers communicating highly technical information, the challenge intensifies: satisfying both technical and non-technical audiences with the same document is no small feat.

  11. Presentation vs Report Writing: What's the Difference?

    The main difference between a Presentation and Report Writing is that a report is usually fairly extensive and gives a detailed account of the information on a particular topic. Whereas, a presentation is mostly a synopsis which highlights the key points that are important for the audience. Since one of the key objectives of both - a ...

  12. 8.2 Developing Presentation Skills

    Body Text: written text on the slide, often in the form of bullet points or key terms. This text should be kept to a minimum (key words/phrases; quotations you want to read out loud). Don't write your "script" in the slide's body text. Exhibits: illustrative graphics on the slides that are glossed in the presentation.

  13. Effective Report Writing and Presentation Skills

    On the other hand presentation skills are also essential if one is to get the message across, convince management/the board or even persuade or influence others. Many people find report writing to be a difficult chore, particularly in making reports readable and presentation to be challenging. This course has been designed to equip participants ...

  14. Advanced Report Writing and Presentation Skills

    This Advanced Report Writing and Presentation Skills training course will focus on the development of successful communication skills that add value to the organisation in which they work. This will include: Techniques for achieving successful technical reports and presentations. Empowering others with powerful communication skills.

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    REPORT WRITING _____ What is report writing? This form of writing is used in the general and social sciences, as well as business, so to be able to compile a good report is a very transferable academic skill. A report is written with a clear purpose and for a specific audience and, as with all types of academic writing, clarity and conciseness ...

  16. Influential Presentation Skills and Report Writing

    Advanced Presentation Skills. Mastering confident body language and eye contact. Engaging the audience with clear, concise messaging. Utilising feedback to refine presentation skills. Exploring various presentation tools and their effective use. Crafting visually engaging PowerPoint, video, flipchart presentations and more.