what kind of presentations are timed in a specific sequence

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8 Time Tested Patterns For presentation organization

A good presentation  structure makes or breaks a presentation.

In this article, I’ll explore several of my favorite structures you can use to organize your presentations for maximum impact.

Presentation Organization With 8 Patterns

One of the most important factors that contribute to a successful presentation is the pattern of organization that you use to structure and arrange your ideas.

1. Chronological pattern

This model is best suitable for historical, timeline and process or procedure topics that can be split into different segments according to the time sequence. Structuring your presentation chronologically means your information will be arranged according to the order of time in which each event occurred. Chronologically structured presentations often contain segments like dates, flash-backs, future-present-past, before-during-after, flash-forwards, etc.

2. Sequential pattern

Just like the Chronological pattern, a sequential pattern also involves organizing information in a particular order over given period. The information is arranged systematically in a step-by-step sequence that essentially describes a particular process. Under this pattern, the main sections, further divided into sub-sections, represent each primary step while its sub-sections represent the sub-steps that the targeted audience will follow in the real-life application of what is being described. A sequential pattern is best suitable for presentations like a report, project rollout, etc., that describe a process that occurs in a series of step over a period.

3. Spatial pattern

A spatial pattern of presentation organization is the arrangement of information depending on how things fit within a physical space. It involves creating a mental picture of the parts of something so that they can be analyzed in their physical position. Spatial pattern is mostly used in descriptions, but can also work well for classifications, narrations, examples, and other forms of exposition. For instance, while describing a building, I might begin with the description of the entrance, what I see at the door, the color of the building, what I see as I walk towards the middle of the room, etc..

4. Climatic pattern

A climatic presentation pattern is the arrangement of information from the least important to the most important. You essentially save the best and the most important part of the presentation for the last to hold the attention of your audience. Words commonly used under this category include most difficult, better still, worse yet, more important, etc.

5. Problem-Solution pattern

Problem-Solution Pattern is mostly applied in a persuasive presentation, where you describe the causes and effects of a problem with high clarity and then point out a solution that either control or eliminate the effects. It involves the arrangement of your presentation information into two main segments. The first segment discusses the nature of a problem while the second segment discusses the solution. This pattern is best suited for a presentation where your aim is to convince and compel your audience to take action.

6. Compare-Contrast pattern

This pattern involves organizing information depending on how two or more things are related to or different from one another. This presentation works well in a situation where your audience can better understand a particular topic when it is discussed in a relationship to another topic.

7. Cause-effect pattern

This pattern is best suitable for persuasive and expository presentations in which you advocate your audience to take action that will result in a solution to a problem. In this pattern, information is arranged to show the reasons why something happened or the effects of something.

8. Advantage-disadvantage pattern

In this pattern, information is organized into “good” or “bad” categories, or pros and cons. It gives your audience the opportunity to weigh and consider all options before deciding which is best for them with minimal outside influence.

Conclusion:

These were my top 8 time tested patterns for structuring your presentations. If I missed some or if you think of one that could be useful, please leave it in the comment. I would love to add the knowledge to the community.

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Blog Beginner Guides 8 Types of Presentations You Should Know [+Examples & Tips]

8 Types of Presentations You Should Know [+Examples & Tips]

Written by: Krystle Wong Aug 11, 2023

From persuasive pitches that influence opinions to instructional demonstrations that teach skills, the different types of presentations serve a unique purpose, tailored to specific objectives and audiences.

Presentations that are tailored to its objectives and audiences are more engaging and memorable. They capture attention, maintain interest and leave a lasting impression. 

Don’t worry if you’re no designer —  Whether you need data-driven visuals, persuasive graphics or engaging design elements, Venngage can empower you to craft presentations that stand out and effectively convey your message.

Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface, extensive presentation template library and customizable design options make it a valuable tool for creating slides that align with your specific goals and target audience. 

Click to jump ahead:

8 Different types of presentations every presenter must know

How do i choose the right type of presentation for my topic or audience, types of presentation faq, 5 steps to create a presentation with venngage .

When it comes to presentations, versatility is the name of the game. Having a variety of presentation styles up your sleeve can make a world of difference in keeping your audience engaged. Here are 8 essential presentation types that every presenter should be well-acquainted with:

1. Informative presentation

Ever sat through a presentation that left you feeling enlightened? That’s the power of an informative presentation. 

This presentation style is all about sharing knowledge and shedding light on a particular topic. Whether you’re diving into the depths of quantum physics or explaining the intricacies of the latest social media trends, informative presentations aim to increase the audience’s understanding.

When delivering an informative presentation, simplify complex topics with clear visuals and relatable examples. Organize your content logically, starting with the basics and gradually delving deeper and always remember to keep jargon to a minimum and encourage questions for clarity.

Academic presentations and research presentations are great examples of informative presentations. An effective academic presentation involves having clear structure, credible evidence, engaging delivery and supporting visuals. Provide context to emphasize the topic’s significance, practice to perfect timing, and be ready to address anticipated questions. 

2. Persuasive presentation

If you’ve ever been swayed by a passionate speaker armed with compelling arguments, you’ve experienced a persuasive presentation . 

This type of presentation is like a verbal tug-of-war, aiming to convince the audience to see things from a specific perspective. Expect to encounter solid evidence, logical reasoning and a dash of emotional appeal.

With persuasive presentations, it’s important to know your audience inside out and tailor your message to their interests and concerns. Craft a compelling narrative with a strong opening, a solid argument and a memorable closing. Additionally, use visuals strategically to enhance your points.

Examples of persuasive presentations include presentations for environmental conservations, policy change, social issues and more. Here are some engaging presentation templates you can use to get started with: 

3. Demonstration or how-to presentation

A Demonstration or How-To Presentation is a type of presentation where the speaker showcases a process, technique, or procedure step by step, providing the audience with clear instructions on how to replicate the demonstrated action. 

A demonstrative presentation is particularly useful when teaching practical skills or showing how something is done in a hands-on manner.

These presentations are commonly used in various settings, including educational workshops, training sessions, cooking classes, DIY tutorials, technology demonstrations and more. Designing creative slides for your how-to presentations can heighten engagement and foster better information retention. 

Speakers can also consider breaking down the process into manageable steps, using visual aids, props and sometimes even live demonstrations to illustrate each step. The key is to provide clear and concise instructions, engage the audience with interactive elements and address any questions that may arise during the presentation.

4. Training or instructional presentation

Training presentations are geared towards imparting practical skills, procedures or concepts — think of this as the more focused cousin of the demonstration presentation. 

Whether you’re teaching a group of new employees the ins and outs of a software or enlightening budding chefs on the art of soufflé-making, training presentations are all about turning novices into experts.

To maximize the impact of your training or instructional presentation, break down complex concepts into digestible segments. Consider using real-life examples to illustrate each point and create a connection. 

You can also create an interactive presentation by incorporating elements like quizzes or group activities to reinforce understanding.

5. Sales presentation

Sales presentations are one of the many types of business presentations and the bread and butter of businesses looking to woo potential clients or customers. With a sprinkle of charm and a dash of persuasion, these presentations showcase products, services or ideas with one end goal in mind: sealing the deal.

A successful sales presentation often has key characteristics such as a clear value proposition, strong storytelling, confidence and a compelling call to action. Hence, when presenting to your clients or stakeholders, focus on benefits rather than just features. 

Anticipate and address potential objections before they arise and use storytelling to showcase how your offering solves a specific problem for your audience. Utilizing visual aids is also a great way to make your points stand out and stay memorable.

A sales presentation can be used to promote service offerings, product launches or even consultancy proposals that outline the expertise and industry experience of a business. Here are some template examples you can use for your next sales presentation:

6. Pitch presentation

Pitch presentations are your ticket to garnering the interest and support of potential investors, partners or stakeholders. Think of your pitch deck as your chance to paint a vivid picture of your business idea or proposal and secure the resources you need to bring it to life. 

Business presentations aside, individuals can also create a portfolio presentation to showcase their skills, experience and achievements to potential clients, employers or investors. 

Craft a concise and compelling narrative. Clearly define the problem your idea solves and how it stands out in the market. Anticipate questions and practice your answers. Project confidence and passion for your idea.

7. Motivational or inspirational presentation

Feeling the need for a morale boost? That’s where motivational presentations step in. These talks are designed to uplift and inspire, often featuring personal anecdotes, heartwarming stories and a generous serving of encouragement.

Form a connection with your audience by sharing personal stories that resonate with your message. Use a storytelling style with relatable anecdotes and powerful metaphors to create an emotional connection. Keep the energy high and wrap up your inspirational presentations with a clear call to action.

Inspirational talks and leadership presentations aside, a motivational or inspirational presentation can also be a simple presentation aimed at boosting confidence, a motivational speech focused on embracing change and more.

8. Status or progress report presentation

Projects and businesses are like living organisms, constantly evolving and changing. Status or progress report presentations keep everyone in the loop by providing updates on achievements, challenges and future plans. It’s like a GPS for your team, ensuring everyone stays on track.

Be transparent about achievements, challenges and future plans. Utilize infographics, charts and diagrams to present your data visually and simplify information. By visually representing data, it becomes easier to identify trends, make predictions and strategize based on evidence.

Now that you’ve learned about the different types of presentation methods and how to use them, you’re on the right track to creating a good presentation that can boost your confidence and enhance your presentation skills . 

Selecting the most suitable presentation style is akin to choosing the right outfit for an occasion – it greatly influences how your message is perceived. Here’s a more detailed guide to help you make that crucial decision:

1. Define your objectives

Begin by clarifying your presentation’s goals. Are you aiming to educate, persuade, motivate, train or perhaps sell a concept? Your objectives will guide you to the most suitable presentation type. 

For instance, if you’re aiming to inform, an informative presentation would be a natural fit. On the other hand, a persuasive presentation suits the goal of swaying opinions.

2. Know your audience

Regardless if you’re giving an in-person or a virtual presentation — delve into the characteristics of your audience. Consider factors like their expertise level, familiarity with the topic, interests and expectations. 

If your audience consists of professionals in your field, a more technical presentation might be suitable. However, if your audience is diverse and includes newcomers, an approachable and engaging style might work better.

3. Analyze your content

Reflect on the content you intend to present. Is it data-heavy, rich in personal stories or focused on practical skills? Different presentation styles serve different content types. 

For data-driven content, an informative or instructional presentation might work best. For emotional stories, a motivational presentation could be a compelling choice.

4. Consider time constraints

Evaluate the time you have at your disposal. If your presentation needs to be concise due to time limitations, opt for a presentation style that allows you to convey your key points effectively within the available timeframe. A pitch presentation, for example, often requires delivering impactful information within a short span.

5. Leverage visuals

Visual aids are powerful tools in presentations. Consider whether your content would benefit from visual representation. If your PowerPoint presentations involve step-by-step instructions or demonstrations, a how-to presentation with clear visuals would be advantageous. Conversely, if your content is more conceptual, a motivational presentation could rely more on spoken words.

6. Align with the setting

Take the presentation environment into account. Are you presenting in a formal business setting, a casual workshop or a conference? Your setting can influence the level of formality and interactivity in your presentation. For instance, a demonstration presentation might be ideal for a hands-on workshop, while a persuasive presentation is great for conferences.

7. Gauge audience interaction

Determine the level of audience engagement you want. Interactive presentations work well for training sessions, workshops and small group settings, while informative or persuasive presentations might be more one-sided.

8. Flexibility

Stay open to adjusting your presentation style on the fly. Sometimes, unexpected factors might require a change of presentation style. Be prepared to adjust on the spot if audience engagement or reactions indicate that a different approach would be more effective.

Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and the best type of presentation may vary depending on the specific situation and your unique communication goals. By carefully considering these factors, you can choose the most effective presentation type to successfully engage and communicate with your audience.

To save time, use a presentation software or check out these presentation design and presentation background guides to create a presentation that stands out.    

What are some effective ways to begin and end a presentation?

Capture your audience’s attention from the start of your presentation by using a surprising statistic, a compelling story or a thought-provoking question related to your topic. 

To conclude your presentation , summarize your main points, reinforce your key message and leave a lasting impression with a powerful call to action or a memorable quote that resonates with your presentation’s theme.

How can I make my presentation more engaging and interactive?

To create an engaging and interactive presentation for your audience, incorporate visual elements such as images, graphs and videos to illustrate your points visually. Share relatable anecdotes or real-life examples to create a connection with your audience. 

You can also integrate interactive elements like live polls, open-ended questions or small group discussions to encourage participation and keep your audience actively engaged throughout your presentation.

Which types of presentations require special markings

Some presentation types require special markings such as how sales presentations require persuasive techniques like emphasizing benefits, addressing objections and using compelling visuals to showcase products or services. 

Demonstrations and how-to presentations on the other hand require clear markings for each step, ensuring the audience can follow along seamlessly. 

That aside, pitch presentations require highlighting unique selling points, market potential and the competitive edge of your idea, making it stand out to potential investors or partners.

Need some inspiration on how to make a presentation that will captivate an audience? Here are 120+ presentation ideas to help you get started. 

Creating a stunning and impactful presentation with Venngage is a breeze. Whether you’re crafting a business pitch, a training presentation or any other type of presentation, follow these five steps to create a professional presentation that stands out:

• Sign up and log in to Venngage to access the editor.
• Choose a presentation template that matches your topic or style.
• Customize content, colors, fonts, and background to personalize your presentation.
• Add images, icons, and charts to enhancevisual style and clarity.
• Save, export, and share your presentation as PDF or PNG files, or use Venngage’s Presentation Mode for online showcasing.

In the realm of presentations, understanding the different types of presentation formats is like having a versatile set of tools that empower you to craft compelling narratives for every occasion.

Remember, the key to a successful presentation lies not only in the content you deliver but also in the way you connect with your audience. Whether you’re informing, persuading or entertaining, tailoring your approach to the specific type of presentation you’re delivering can make all the difference.

Presentations are a powerful tool, and with practice and dedication (and a little help from Venngage), you’ll find yourself becoming a presentation pro in no time. Now, let’s get started and customize your next presentation!

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11 Beautiful Timeline Presentation Templates to Make Your Own

Written by: Christopher Jan Benitez

Are you tired of creating boring, cookie-cutter presentations for your team or clients?

Do you struggle to find unique and visually appealing ways to display information on a timeline?

Look no further! In this article, we present 11 beautiful timeline presentation templates from Visme that will help you craft professional and eye-catching presentations with ease.

But before we do, we’ll first look at what a timeline presentation is, its different types and additional design tips to make your presentation stand out.

At the end of this article, you can say goodbye to the pain of struggling to create visually appealing presentations and hello to a more compelling documentation of your timeline!

Here’s a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit timeline presentation templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:

Table of Contents

What is a timeline presentation, 11 types of timelines used in presentations, 11 timeline presentation templates you can use, how to create a timeline presentation with visme, 5 design tips for a more beautiful timeline presentation.

A timeline presentation is a visual representation of a sequence of events or a process in chronological order from left to right or top to bottom. It’s an essential tool for organizing and presenting information to reflect the timelines of different products.

A typical timeline presentation includes a series of points or milestones. And each milestone represents a specific event or moment in time. It may also include images, text, or other multimedia elements to provide more context or detail about the events. You can connect the lines or arrows to show the order of occurrence.

There are different types of timelines because people use timelines differently.

Below are 11 types of timelines used in presentations.

1. Chronological timeline - Shows events or milestones in the order of occurrence. It shows the progression of events over time.

2. Linear timeline - A chronological representation of events. And each event corresponds to a point on the timeline.

3. Gantt chart - Represents the progress of a project over time. It shows the start and end dates of each task in the project (and the dependencies between them).

4. Roadmap timeline - A visual representation of a plan or strategy. It details the steps needed to achieve a goal.

5. Historical timeline - Narrates events that occurred in the past.

6. Biographical timeline - Represents notable events in a person's life.

7. Process timeline - Represents the steps involved in a specific process.

8. Milestone timeline - Embodies the events that occurred over time.

9. Product timeline - Visualizes the development and evolution of a product over time.

10. Event timeline - Takes viewers through the key events and activities in chronological order.

11. Career timeline - Showcases the events and accomplishments in a person's professional career.

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Whenever you’re ready to create a timeline presentation, make sure to create one using Visme.

It’s an all-in-one platform for creating beautiful presentations even if you don’t have any design experience. You can use its drag-and-drop builder to feature elements and make your project even more appealing.

Visme has other features you can use to get the most out of your timeline presentation, which we’ll discuss later.

Below are 11 templates you can use on the platform so you don’t have to start from scratch:

1. Crystal Diner Company Timeline Infographic Template

Use this template to display a vibrant infographic timeline of a product. It features bright colors and well-structured formatting and can help you convey a lively message.

2. History of Email Timeline Infographic Template

Highlight essential dates and notable milestones with this template. By default, it shows an informative history of email. And if you want to present something ripe with details, use this template and input your custom data.

3. Social Media Timeline Infographic Template

This social media timeline infographic template is ideal for presentations involving a set of relevant products. It features a white background and bold colors that can help you show a clear timeline of events.

4. Ice Cream Timeline Infographic Template

Use this ice cream timeline infographic template to strike an elegant appeal in your presentation. It’s great to use if you want to feature a sweet subject.

5. Company History Timeline Infographic Template

This timeline infographic template can help you present your company history. It’s perfect for you if you’re going for a professional vibe.

6. History of Solar Technology Timeline Template

The History of Solar Technology Timeline Template is ideal to use if you want to impress your audience with a colorful and information-rich presentation. It looks great regardless of the nature of your presentation.

7. Purple and Black Business Presentation Template

Use this eye-catching template to deliver a business-related presentation. Of course, it can still work wonders even if you won’t feature business-related topics.

8. BuffIT Pitch Deck Presentation Template

This BuffIT Pitch Deck Presentation Template can help you present an unforgettable professional presentation. It has a modern and edgy vibe and it can help you convey a friendly and professional message.

9. Product Design Process Timeline Infographic Template

Use this product design process timeline infographic template to show your design process. If you want to elaborate on certain aspects of your process, you can make it happen.

10. The Story of Your Company Timeline Infographic Template

Let the story of your company stand out if you use this template. Grab the attention of audiences and flesh out the points you want them to remember.

11. Interactive Biographical Timeline Template

Use this template to create a one-of-a-kind biographical timeline. The interactive feature of this template can help you get through to a hard-to-reach audience.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to create a timeline presentation.

Step 1: Launch Visme’s Free Timeline Maker + Online Templates

Go to Visme’s homepage can click on the “Sign Up Free” button to create an account. If you already have one, click the Login link on the homepage to sign in.

Step 2: Click Create Your Timeline

Once logged in, go to the Timeline Maker page and click on the “Create Your Timeline” button

Step 3: Choose a Timeline Presentation Template

On the next screen, choose from any of the templates that catch your eyes and capture the vision you have for your timeline. Click “Edit” on your chosen template to start working on the timeline.

Step 4: Review and Edit

On the editor page, you can make changes to everything on the timeline template. That includes the header and text, font pairs and colors, stats and figures and more.

Let’s say you want to add your brand’s text, color and logo automatically. In this case, Visme’s Brand Wizard extracts these from your URL and allows you to add them to the timeline in a few clicks!

You can also make your timeline more interactive and dynamic by adding clickable elements that link to a page or another presentation you’ve published.

Finally, you can add team members to work on the timeline simultaneously. Collaborating on the design  allows your team to finish the project ahead of time. Use our analytics tool to see who has viewed your proposal or taken action.

Step 5: Prepare to Present

Once you’re done with the timeline, click “Share” on the upper right part of the screen. Doing so opens a new window that lets you publish the timeline online.

Write a suitable title and description before clicking the “Share” button. Once published, you can embed the timeline on a web page, preferably on your website. This allows you to showcase your ideas to people while maintaining your branding at the same time.

It’s one thing to create a timeline presentation using Visme. It’s another to put your personal touch on the project that reflects your personality and brand.

As mentioned, Visme offers an array of design features to achieve your desired look and feel for your presentation. And to help you put those features to good use, below are tips you must follow:

1. Choose Your Fonts Wisely

Choose a font that is legible and easy to read, especially if you will be presenting the timeline to a large group or projecting it on a screen.

Below are additional tips to help you choose fonts:

• Consider the purpose of the text - Different fonts are more suitable for different purposes. For example, a formal invitation may be best suited to a traditional serif font like Times New Roman, while a children's book may be better suited to a playful, sans-serif font like Comic Sans.
• Keep readability in mind - An essential aspect of any font is that it is easy to read. Choose a clear and legible font — if you use text in a document or on a screen.
• Use contrast wisely - Pairing two fonts that are too similar can make the text difficult to read. Instead, try pairing a sans-serif font with a serif font or a script font with a sans-serif font to create contrast and make the text more visually appealing.

2. Be Strategic with Colors

Use colors to help differentiate different elements of the timeline. For example, you might use different colors for each period, event, or category of information.

Below are tips that can help you with colors.

• Consider the purpose and audience of the design - Different colors can convey different moods and emotions, so it's essential to choose colors that align with the purpose and audience. For example, bright, energetic colors may be more suitable for children's toy packaging, while calming, neutral colors may be better for a spa website.
• Use color psychology - Different colors are associated with different emotions and psychological responses. For example, red can be associated with passion and excitement, while blue can be associated with trust and calmness.
• Limit the number of colors - Using too many colors can make a design look cluttered and unprofessional. It's generally best to limit the number of colors to three or four — and use shades and tints of these colors to create variety.

3. Create a Visually Appealing Presentation

Use images or graphics to help illustrate the events on your timeline. It can help make the timeline more visually appealing and help your audience better understand the events and their significance.

Below are tips that can help you create visual appeal.

• Use a timeline legend - Explain any symbols or abbreviations used on the timeline. It can help your audience better understand the timeline and the information presented.
• Feature media - Add Visme’s icons , stock photos and videos . Also, include charts, graphs, maps, widgets and other data visualization tools .
• Make your presentation interactive - Use quizzes, surveys and polls to make your content more engaging. It can help to hold your audience's attention and make the content more memorable.

4. Use a Timeline Scale

Use a clear and legible timeline scale. Make sure the scale is easy to understand. It should also reflect the periods on the timeline.

Below are tips that can help you with a timeline scale.

• Determine the purpose of the timeline - Before creating a timeline, it's essential to consider what you want to achieve with the timeline. Are you trying to show the progression of events over a long period, or do you want to focus on a specific project or event? Understanding the purpose of your timeline will help you choose the appropriate scale and level of detail to include.
• Choose the right level of detail - A timeline should include enough information to convey the key events or milestones — and not so much detail that it becomes cluttered or difficult to read. Consider the audience for the timeline and how much information they need to understand the story you are trying to tell.
• Leverage visual cues - Timelines can be more effective when they include eye-catching elements like images, charts, or graphics. These elements can help convey information in a more engaging and easy-to-understand way. Consider using icons or color coding to communicate different types of events. You can also do it to highlight important milestones

5. Pick a Relevant Title

Use a timeline title that clearly and concisely explains it. It can help your audience understand the context and significance of the events.

Below are tips that can help you pick a title.

• Make it descriptive - Accurately and concisely describe the content and focus of the timeline. It will help audiences understand your intention and what they can expect to learn.
• Keep it short and sweet - A long, convoluted title may be difficult to understand or remember. Aim for a title that is short and to the point. It also has to be descriptive enough to give your audience an idea of your timeline's topic.
• Consider your audience - Learn who will be viewing your timeline. A title that resonates with your audiences will be more effective in drawing them in and engaging them with the content of your timeline.

Create Timeline Presentations & More in Minutes with Visme

If time is of the essence in your business, then creating timelines for it is just what you need.

Whether it’s to showcase your history to your audience or present a campaign timeline for your pitch deck , you need a timeline maker that will help present your ideas in a clear and visually appealing manner.

But, with Visme, you can achieve this without any design knowledge! Just choose any of the templates above and make the necessary edits using its drag-and-drop builder and advanced features.

And just like that, you’ll be able to design a professional timeline presentation that will wow your audience! Sign up for Visme and use it to create a timeline presentation template.

Design eye-catching timeline presentations in minutes using Visme

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About the Author

Christopher Jan Benitez is a freelance writer who specializes in digital marketing. His work has been published on SEO and affiliate marketing-specific niches like Monitor Backlinks, Niche Pursuits, Nichehacks, Web Hosting Secret Revealed, and others.

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How to Structure your Presentation, with Examples

August 3, 2018 - Dom Barnard

For many people the thought of delivering a presentation is a daunting task and brings about a  great deal of nerves . However, if you take some time to understand how effective presentations are structured and then apply this structure to your own presentation, you’ll appear much more confident and relaxed.

Here is our complete guide for structuring your presentation, with examples at the end of the article to demonstrate these points.

Why is structuring a presentation so important?

If you’ve ever sat through a great presentation, you’ll have left feeling either inspired or informed on a given topic. This isn’t because the speaker was the most knowledgeable or motivating person in the world. Instead, it’s because they know how to structure presentations – they have crafted their message in a logical and simple way that has allowed the audience can keep up with them and take away key messages.

Research has supported this, with studies showing that audiences retain structured information  40% more accurately  than unstructured information.

In fact, not only is structuring a presentation important for the benefit of the audience’s understanding, it’s also important for you as the speaker. A good structure helps you remain calm, stay on topic, and avoid any awkward silences.

What will affect your presentation structure?

Generally speaking, there is a natural flow that any decent presentation will follow which we will go into shortly. However, you should be aware that all presentation structures will be different in their own unique way and this will be due to a number of factors, including:

• Whether you need to deliver any demonstrations
• How  knowledgeable the audience  already is on the given subject
• How much interaction you want from the audience
• Any time constraints there are for your talk
• What setting you are in
• Your ability to use any kinds of visual assistance

Before choosing the presentation’s structure answer these questions first:

• What is your presentation’s aim?
• Who are the audience?
• What are the main points your audience should remember afterwards?

When reading the points below, think critically about what things may cause your presentation structure to be slightly different. You can add in certain elements and add more focus to certain moments if that works better for your speech.

What is the typical presentation structure?

This is the usual flow of a presentation, which covers all the vital sections and is a good starting point for yours. It allows your audience to easily follow along and sets out a solid structure you can add your content to.

1. Greet the audience and introduce yourself

Before you start delivering your talk, introduce yourself to the audience and clarify who you are and your relevant expertise. This does not need to be long or incredibly detailed, but will help build an immediate relationship between you and the audience. It gives you the chance to briefly clarify your expertise and why you are worth listening to. This will help establish your ethos so the audience will trust you more and think you’re credible.

Read our tips on  How to Start a Presentation Effectively

2. Introduction

In the introduction you need to explain the subject and purpose of your presentation whilst gaining the audience’s interest and confidence. It’s sometimes helpful to think of your introduction as funnel-shaped to help filter down your topic:

• Introduce your general topic
• Explain your topic area
• State the issues/challenges in this area you will be exploring
• State your presentation’s purpose – this is the basis of your presentation so ensure that you provide a statement explaining how the topic will be treated, for example, “I will argue that…” or maybe you will “compare”, “analyse”, “evaluate”, “describe” etc.
• Provide a statement of what you’re hoping the outcome of the presentation will be, for example, “I’m hoping this will be provide you with…”
• Show a preview of the organisation of your presentation

In this section also explain:

• The length of the talk.
• Signal whether you want audience interaction – some presenters prefer the audience to ask questions throughout whereas others allocate a specific section for this.
• If it applies, inform the audience whether to take notes or whether you will be providing handouts.

The way you structure your introduction can depend on the amount of time you have been given to present: a  sales pitch  may consist of a quick presentation so you may begin with your conclusion and then provide the evidence. Conversely, a speaker presenting their idea for change in the world would be better suited to start with the evidence and then conclude what this means for the audience.

Keep in mind that the main aim of the introduction is to grab the audience’s attention and connect with them.

3. The main body of your talk

The main body of your talk needs to meet the promises you made in the introduction. Depending on the nature of your presentation, clearly segment the different topics you will be discussing, and then work your way through them one at a time – it’s important for everything to be organised logically for the audience to fully understand. There are many different ways to organise your main points, such as, by priority, theme, chronologically etc.

• Main points should be addressed one by one with supporting evidence and examples.
• Before moving on to the next point you should provide a mini-summary.
• Links should be clearly stated between ideas and you must make it clear when you’re moving onto the next point.
• Allow time for people to take relevant notes and stick to the topics you have prepared beforehand rather than straying too far off topic.

When planning your presentation write a list of main points you want to make and ask yourself “What I am telling the audience? What should they understand from this?” refining your answers this way will help you produce clear messages.

4. Conclusion

In presentations the conclusion is frequently underdeveloped and lacks purpose which is a shame as it’s the best place to reinforce your messages. Typically, your presentation has a specific goal – that could be to convert a number of the audience members into customers, lead to a certain number of enquiries to make people knowledgeable on specific key points, or to motivate them towards a shared goal.

Regardless of what that goal is, be sure to summarise your main points and their implications. This clarifies the overall purpose of your talk and reinforces your reason for being there.

Follow these steps:

• Signal that it’s nearly the end of your presentation, for example, “As we wrap up/as we wind down the talk…”
• Restate the topic and purpose of your presentation – “In this speech I wanted to compare…”
• Summarise the main points, including their implications and conclusions
• Indicate what is next/a call to action/a thought-provoking takeaway
• Move on to the last section

5. Thank the audience and invite questions

Conclude your talk by thanking the audience for their time and invite them to  ask any questions  they may have. As mentioned earlier, personal circumstances will affect the structure of your presentation.

Many presenters prefer to make the Q&A session the key part of their talk and try to speed through the main body of the presentation. This is totally fine, but it is still best to focus on delivering some sort of initial presentation to set the tone and topics for discussion in the Q&A.

Other common presentation structures

The above was a description of a basic presentation, here are some more specific presentation layouts:

Demonstration

Use the demonstration structure when you have something useful to show. This is usually used when you want to show how a product works. Steve Jobs frequently used this technique in his presentations.

• Explain why the product is valuable.
• Describe why the product is necessary.
• Explain what problems it can solve for the audience.
• Demonstrate the product  to support what you’ve been saying.
• Make suggestions of other things it can do to make the audience curious.

Problem-solution

This structure is particularly useful in persuading the audience.

• Briefly frame the issue.
• Go into the issue in detail showing why it ‘s such a problem. Use logos and pathos for this – the logical and emotional appeals.
• Provide the solution and explain why this would also help the audience.
• Call to action – something you want the audience to do which is straightforward and pertinent to the solution.

Storytelling

As well as incorporating  stories in your presentation , you can organise your whole presentation as a story. There are lots of different type of story structures you can use – a popular choice is the monomyth – the hero’s journey. In a monomyth, a hero goes on a difficult journey or takes on a challenge – they move from the familiar into the unknown. After facing obstacles and ultimately succeeding the hero returns home, transformed and with newfound wisdom.

Storytelling for Business Success  webinar , where well-know storyteller Javier Bernad shares strategies for crafting compelling narratives.

Another popular choice for using a story to structure your presentation is in media ras (in the middle of thing). In this type of story you launch right into the action by providing a snippet/teaser of what’s happening and then you start explaining the events that led to that event. This is engaging because you’re starting your story at the most exciting part which will make the audience curious – they’ll want to know how you got there.

• Great storytelling: Examples from Alibaba Founder, Jack Ma

Remaining method

The remaining method structure is good for situations where you’re presenting your perspective on a controversial topic which has split people’s opinions.

• Go into the issue in detail showing why it’s such a problem – use logos and pathos.
• Rebut your opponents’ solutions  – explain why their solutions could be useful because the audience will see this as fair and will therefore think you’re trustworthy, and then explain why you think these solutions are not valid.
• After you’ve presented all the alternatives provide your solution, the remaining solution. This is very persuasive because it looks like the winning idea, especially with the audience believing that you’re fair and trustworthy.

Transitions

When delivering presentations it’s important for your words and ideas to flow so your audience can understand how everything links together and why it’s all relevant. This can be done  using speech transitions  which are words and phrases that allow you to smoothly move from one point to another so that your speech flows and your presentation is unified.

Transitions can be one word, a phrase or a full sentence – there are many different forms, here are some examples:

Moving from the introduction to the first point

Signify to the audience that you will now begin discussing the first main point:

• Now that you’re aware of the overview, let’s begin with…
• First, let’s begin with…
• I will first cover…
• My first point covers…
• To get started, let’s look at…

Shifting between similar points

Move from one point to a similar one:

• In the same way…
• Likewise…
• Equally…
• This is similar to…
• Similarly…

Internal summaries

Internal summarising consists of summarising before moving on to the next point. You must inform the audience:

• What part of the presentation you covered – “In the first part of this speech we’ve covered…”
• What the key points were – “Precisely how…”
• How this links in with the overall presentation – “So that’s the context…”
• What you’re moving on to – “Now I’d like to move on to the second part of presentation which looks at…”

Physical movement

You can move your body and your standing location when you transition to another point. The audience find it easier to follow your presentation and movement will increase their interest.

A common technique for incorporating movement into your presentation is to:

• Start your introduction by standing in the centre of the stage.
• For your first point you stand on the left side of the stage.
• You discuss your second point from the centre again.
• You stand on the right side of the stage for your third point.
• The conclusion occurs in the centre.

Key slides for your presentation

Slides are a useful tool for most presentations: they can greatly assist in the delivery of your message and help the audience follow along with what you are saying. Key slides include:

• An intro slide outlining your ideas
• A  summary slide  with core points to remember
• High quality image slides to supplement what you are saying

There are some presenters who choose not to use slides at all, though this is more of a rarity. Slides can be a powerful tool if used properly, but the problem is that many fail to do just that. Here are some golden rules to follow when using slides in a presentation:

• Don’t over fill them  – your slides are there to assist your speech, rather than be the focal point. They should have as little information as possible, to avoid distracting people from your talk.
• A picture says a thousand words  – instead of filling a slide with text, instead, focus on one or two images or diagrams to help support and explain the point you are discussing at that time.
• Make them readable  – depending on the size of your audience, some may not be able to see small text or images, so make everything large enough to fill the space.
• Don’t rush through slides  – give the audience enough time to digest each slide.

Guy Kawasaki, an entrepreneur and author, suggests that slideshows should follow a  10-20-30 rule :

• There should be a maximum of 10 slides – people rarely remember more than one concept afterwards so there’s no point overwhelming them with unnecessary information.
• The presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes as this will leave time for questions and discussion.
• The font size should be a minimum of 30pt because the audience reads faster than you talk so less information on the slides means that there is less chance of the audience being distracted.

Here are some additional resources for slide design:

• 7 design tips for effective, beautiful PowerPoint presentations
• 11 design tips for beautiful presentations
• 10 tips on how to make slides that communicate your idea

Group Presentations

Group presentations are structured in the same way as presentations with one speaker but usually require more rehearsal and practices.  Clean transitioning between speakers  is very important in producing a presentation that flows well. One way of doing this consists of:

• Briefly recap on what you covered in your section: “So that was a brief introduction on what health anxiety is and how it can affect somebody”
• Introduce the next speaker in the team and explain what they will discuss: “Now Elnaz will talk about the prevalence of health anxiety.”
• Then end by looking at the next speaker, gesturing towards them and saying their name: “Elnaz”.
• The next speaker should acknowledge this with a quick: “Thank you Joe.”

From this example you can see how the different sections of the presentations link which makes it easier for the audience to follow and remain engaged.

Example of great presentation structure and delivery

Having examples of great presentations will help inspire your own structures, here are a few such examples, each unique and inspiring in their own way.

How Google Works – by Eric Schmidt

This presentation by ex-Google CEO  Eric Schmidt  demonstrates some of the most important lessons he and his team have learnt with regards to working with some of the most talented individuals they hired. The simplistic yet cohesive style of all of the slides is something to be appreciated. They are relatively straightforward, yet add power and clarity to the narrative of the presentation.

Start with why – by Simon Sinek

Since being released in 2009, this presentation has been viewed almost four million times all around the world. The message itself is very powerful, however, it’s not an idea that hasn’t been heard before. What makes this presentation so powerful is the simple message he is getting across, and the straightforward and understandable manner in which he delivers it. Also note that he doesn’t use any slides, just a whiteboard where he creates a simple diagram of his opinion.

The Wisdom of a Third Grade Dropout – by Rick Rigsby

Here’s an example of a presentation given by a relatively unknown individual looking to inspire the next generation of graduates. Rick’s presentation is unique in many ways compared to the two above. Notably, he uses no visual prompts and includes a great deal of humour.

However, what is similar is the structure he uses. He first introduces his message that the wisest man he knew was a third-grade dropout. He then proceeds to deliver his main body of argument, and in the end, concludes with his message. This powerful speech keeps the viewer engaged throughout, through a mixture of heart-warming sentiment, powerful life advice and engaging humour.

As you can see from the examples above, and as it has been expressed throughout, a great presentation structure means analysing the core message of your presentation. Decide on a key message you want to impart the audience with, and then craft an engaging way of delivering it.

By preparing a solid structure, and  practising your talk  beforehand, you can walk into the presentation with confidence and deliver a meaningful message to an interested audience.

It’s important for a presentation to be well-structured so it can have the most impact on your audience. An unstructured presentation can be difficult to follow and even frustrating to listen to. The heart of your speech are your main points supported by evidence and your transitions should assist the movement between points and clarify how everything is linked.

Research suggests that the audience remember the first and last things you say so your introduction and conclusion are vital for reinforcing your points. Essentially, ensure you spend the time structuring your presentation and addressing all of the sections.

What Are the Five Organizational Patterns for Public Speaking?

by Michael Brent

Published on 21 Nov 2018

Some people may find giving a presentation to a group of people nerve-wracking, while others enjoy the opportunity to communicate their messages to others. For both professional and novice public speakers, however, there are five organizational patterns that can be used when developing a speech or presentation you'll deliver to a group of people, to give the speech structure and flow.

Logical or Topical Pattern

If you are giving a speech or presentation that contains several ideas that are interrelated in such a way that one flows naturally to the next, the logical pattern of organization can be used. As the name implies, you'll be organizing the information in a logical manner according to topic. This organizational pattern can also be used in a speech that discusses several sub-topics under the banner of a primary topic – just attack them all in a logical sequence.

Chronological or Time-Sequence Pattern

When information in a speech follows a chronological sequence, then the information should likewise be organized chronologically. For example, a speech on the development of a new technology should begin with its origin, then continue along the same time-line as events occurred. This organizational pattern is typically used in any speech addressing a subject from an historical perspective.

Spatial or Geographical Pattern

If you wish to evoke an image of something that has various parts, and those parts are distinguished by geography, then organize your speech using a spatial pattern. Spatial patterns are suited for speeches about a country or city, or even a building or organization, provided that the organization occupies a specific geographical location, such as a hospital or university.

Causal or Cause-and-Effect Pattern

Another way of organizing a speech on a particular topic is to look at the subject in terms of cause and effect. For example, a speech about providing foreign aid to victims of a natural disaster in another country would discuss the disaster itself (the cause) and the impact the disaster had on the nation's people (the effect). In this particular example, a further effect would be found in discussing the details of how foreign aid can help the victims.

Problem-Solution Pattern

The problem-solution organizational pattern is similar to the cause-and-effect pattern, but is typically used when the speaker is trying to persuade the audience to take a particular viewpoint. In essence, the speaker introduces a problem, and then outlines how this problem can be solved. For example, a speech on leaving a smaller carbon footprint could begin by detailing the problems associated with climate change. These points could then be followed by information on how these problems have been or are being addressed, with a summation indicating a plan of action the audience can take.

Whichever organizational structure you use, it should be clear to the audience how all the topics you are covering are related. Slides and images are a great way of showing how the various speech elements fit together, and you should be sure to practice your speech so you're confident that all of the elements follow a logical pattern.

An Ultimate Guide on How to Create a Timeline in PowerPoint

Table of Contents

Timelines visually represent the chronological sequence of events along a drawn line that helps viewers understand historical events or time relationships. They are helpful for planning, organizing, and tracking progress for special projects or regular business operations

Many professionals use timelines to enable people to identify patterns and be aware of old and upcoming events. Timelines are widely used in presentations to represent and structure data in a streamlined format that helps readers understand a process’s flow and track its progress.

In this blog, we will show how to create a timeline in PowerPoint Presentation and provide you with effective tips for creating a PowerPoint timeline.

What is a Timeline?

A timeline is a graphical representation or visual display of events, milestones, or significant moments arranged in chronological order. It provides a clear and linear depiction of the passage of time, allowing for a visual understanding of the sequence and duration of events.

Timelines can be presented in various formats, including linear horizontal or vertical layouts and interactive digital formats. They are commonly used to illustrate historical events, project schedules, personal or business milestones, and any other context where a chronological overview is necessary.

Timelines are useful tools for organizing information, tracking progress, and concisely summarizing a series of events over time.

Why Should You Use Timelines in Your Powerpoint Presentation?

Using timelines in your PowerPoint presentation offers several benefits:

1. Organized Visual

Timelines provide a clear and organized visual representation of events or processes over time. They help your audience grasp the chronological order and sequence of events quickly, enhancing comprehension and retention of information.

2. Concise Overview

Timelines condense complex information into a simplified format, allowing you to present a summary of events or milestones concisely. This helps streamline your presentation and ensures that critical points are effectively communicated.

3. Time Management

Timelines provide a visual framework that helps you manage time during your presentation. By allocating specific time slots for each event or milestone on the timeline, you can ensure that you cover all relevant information within the allotted time and maintain a smooth flow.

4. Highlighting Key Events

Timelines allow you to emphasize important events or milestones by visually showcasing them. You can use different colors, icons, or callouts to draw attention to significant moments, making them more memorable for your audience.

5. Contextual Understanding

Timelines provide a contextual understanding of events by showing their relationship to each other. This helps your audience see the bigger picture, identify patterns, and understand the evolution or progression of a particular topic or subject.

6. Professional Appearance

Incorporating timelines in your PowerPoint presentation adds a professional and polished touch. It demonstrates your ability to organize information effectively and present it in a visually appealing manner, enhancing the overall quality and professionalism of your presentation.

Utilizing timelines in your PowerPoint presentation can enhance clarity, engage your audience, and effectively communicate the chronological aspects of your topic or subject matter.

Who Uses Timelines In Presentations?

Various individuals and professionals across different industries can use presentation timelines. Here are some examples:

1. Historians and Researchers: Historians and researchers often use timelines to present historical events, timelines of civilizations, or the progression of a particular field of study.

2. Project Managers: Project managers use timelines to showcase project schedules, key milestones, and task dependencies. Timelines help in communicating project progress and identifying potential delays or bottlenecks.

3. Educators and Teachers: Educators and teachers use timelines to present historical timelines, biographies, or the sequencing of events in literature or scientific discoveries. Timelines aid in visualizing and understanding the chronological order of events.

4. Business Professionals: Professionals in various business fields utilize timelines to illustrate company milestones, product development timelines, marketing campaigns, and sales projections.

5. Event Planners: Event planners use timelines to map out the schedule of events, including setup, activities, and presentations. Timelines ensure that all components of an event are well-coordinated and executed in a timely manner.

6. Consultants and Presenters: Consultants and presenters across industries use timelines to present research findings, case studies, or strategic plans. Timelines help in showcasing the timeline of events or project implementation.

7. Trainers and Coaches: Trainers and coaches use timelines to outline training programs, session schedules, and learning objectives. Timelines aid in organizing training sessions and ensuring effective time management.

Overall, anyone who needs to present a series of events, milestones, or processes in chronological order can benefit from using timelines in their presentations. Timelines provide a clear and concise overview, making information more accessible and engaging for the audience.

Free 2000+ design templates

Tell us about yourself and download free-to-use design templates, what are the different timeline styles.

When making timelines, you can choose from various timeline styles to suit your presentation’s specific needs and aesthetics. Here are some popular timeline styles:

1. Linear Timelines

The linear timeline is the most basic and commonly used style. It represents events or milestones along a straight horizontal or vertical line, with labels or markers indicating the time or sequence of each event.

2. Vertical Timelines

The vertical timeline displays events or milestones in a vertically oriented format, with time progressing from top to bottom. It is often used when space is limited or a hierarchical relationship needs to be emphasized.

3. Horizontal Timelines

The horizontal timeline presents events or milestones horizontally, with time progressing from left to right. It is suitable for showcasing a chronological sequence or a progression over time.

4. Chronological Timelines

The chronological timeline focuses on presenting events or milestones in a specific order, typically based on their occurrence in time. It emphasizes the sequence and duration of events and is useful for historical or project-related presentations.

5. Interactive Timelines

An interactive timeline allows users to engage with the timeline by exploring events, clicking on markers for additional information, or navigating through different time periods. It is commonly used in digital presentations or websites.

6. Gantt Charts

A Gantt chart is a specialized timeline representing project schedules and task dependencies. It visually overviews project timelines, task durations, and progress tracking.

7. Circular Timelines

A circular timeline presents events or milestones in a circular or radial layout. It can be used to show recurring or cyclical events and historical timelines or represent a continuous activity loop.

8. Simultaneous Timelines

A simultaneous timeline displays events or milestones that occur simultaneously without a strict chronological order. It is often used to depict parallel processes or events happening concurrently.

These are just a few examples of timeline styles, and you can customize them further by adding colors, icons, images, or additional information to enhance the visual appeal and convey specific messages effectively in your timeline slides. Choose a style that aligns with your presentation content and overall design aesthetic.

Must-Have Elements of a Timeline Graphic

When creating a timeline graphic, you should include several key elements to ensure clarity and effectiveness. Here are the must-have elements that make up your timeline layout:

• Title: Provide a clear and concise title for your timeline that captures the main theme or subject of the timeline.
• Time or Date Scale: Include a clearly defined time or date scale along the horizontal or vertical axis of the timeline. This helps viewers understand the chronological progression of events.
• Events or Milestones: Identify and label the key events or milestones you want to highlight on the timeline. Use markers, icons, or graphics to represent each event visually.
• Descriptions or Captions: Provide brief descriptions or captions for each event or milestone to offer context and help viewers understand their significance.
• Connecting Lines: Use connecting lines or arrows to illustrate the timeline’s sequence or flow of events. This helps viewers visualize the progression of time and the relationships between events.
• Color and Visual Differentiation: Use color coding or visual differentiation techniques to distinguish different categories, themes, or types of events on the timeline. This makes it easier for viewers to identify and understand the information presented.
• Additional Information: Consider including supplementary information such as images, charts, or data points related to each event or milestone. This provides additional context and enhances the overall storytelling of the timeline.
• Source or References: If applicable, include a source or references section to acknowledge the origin of the information presented on the timeline.

Overall, a basic timeline graphic must include the above essential elements to create a clear, organized, and visually appealing representation of events or milestones that effectively communicates the message.

Step-By-Step Guide On How To Create a Timeline in Microsoft Powerpoint

Creating a timeline in Microsoft PowerPoint is a straightforward process. However, you can go through this process in two easy ways – manually or using SmartArt. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create a timeline using both ways:

Creating Timelines In Microsoft Powerpoint Manually

Follow these steps to create timelines in Microsoft PowerPoint manually:

Step 1: Open PowerPoint

Launch Microsoft PowerPoint and create a new presentation or open an existing one.

Step 2: Insert a New Slide

Click on the “New Slide” button or use the shortcut key (Ctrl + M) to insert a new slide where you want to add the timeline.

Step 3: Choose a Layout

From the “Home” tab, click the “Layout” button and select a layout with a content placeholder for a text box or table.

Step 4: Add a Text Box

Click on the “Insert” tab, select “Text Box,” and draw a text box on the slide. Alternatively, you can use the “Click to add text” placeholder on the slide layout.

Step 5: Enter Timeline Content

Type the event names, dates, or milestones in the text pane. Each line represents an event or milestone on your timeline.

Step 6: Customize the Timeline

Select the text box or table, and use the formatting options in the “Home” tab to adjust the text’s font, size, color, and alignment. You can also add shapes, icons, or images to represent events.

Step 7: Align and Arrange

Use PowerPoint’s alignment and arrangement tools to ensure the timeline elements are properly aligned and evenly spaced. This will give your timeline a clean and organized appearance.

Step 8: Add Visual Elements

Consider adding visual elements like lines, arrows, or connectors to indicate the timeline’s sequence or flow of events. Use the drawing tools in PowerPoint to create these visual elements.

Step 9: Format and Style

Apply formatting and styling options to enhance the visual appeal of your timeline. Experiment with colors, fonts, backgrounds, and themes to visually engage your timeline.

Step 10: Save and Present

Once you’re satisfied with your timeline, save your PowerPoint presentation and be ready to present it. You can also export the slide as an image or PDF if needed.

Remember to regularly save your work as you progress, and feel free to explore additional PowerPoint features and tools to customize further and enhance your timeline.

By following these steps, you can create a professional-looking timeline slide in Microsoft PowerPoint to effectively communicate the chronological sequence of events or milestones in your presentation.

Creating Timelines In Microsoft Powerpoint Using SmartArt Design

Follow these steps to create timelines in Microsoft PowerPoint using SmartArt:

Step 3: Choose a SmartArt Graphic

From the “Insert” tab, click on the “SmartArt” button. In the SmartArt gallery, select the “Process” or “Hierarchy” category, as they often include timeline options. Choose a timeline layout that suits your needs. Common options include “Basic Timeline,” “Circle Accent Timeline,” or “Vertical Bending Process.”

Step 4: Enter Timeline Content

After selecting a timeline layout, a SmartArt graphic dialog box will appear on your slide. Double-click on the text areas within the SmartArt to enter your timeline content. Add event names, dates, descriptions, or any other relevant information.

Step 5: Customize the Timeline

With the SmartArt selected, you can use the SmartArt Tools tabs to customize the appearance and structure of your timeline. The “Design” tab provides options to change the SmartArt graphic’s color scheme, style, and layout. The “Format” tab allows you to modify individual shapes, text formatting, and other visual elements.

Step 6: Add or Remove Elements

To add or remove elements in the timeline, use the “Text Pane” or the buttons available under the “SmartArt Tools” tabs. You can add new events or milestones by clicking on the “Add Shape” button, and you can remove elements by selecting them and pressing the “Delete” key.

Step 7: Adjust the Layout and Formatting

Use the SmartArt Tools tabs to adjust your timeline’s layout, formatting, and style. You can change the size and position of shapes, modify text styles and alignment, adjust the spacing between elements, and more.

Consider enhancing your timeline with visual elements such as icons, images, or shapes. You can insert images or shapes from the “Insert” tab and position them alongside the SmartArt graphic to represent events or milestones.

Step 9: Save and Present

By using SmartArt graphics in Microsoft PowerPoint, you can quickly create timelines with pre-designed layouts and easily customize them to fit your content and design preferences. Overall, remember that these two methods can be used to create a basic or advanced timeline in Powerpoint.

Top 10 Timeline Templates in Powerpoint

Here are ten popular timeline templates in PowerPoint:

1. Basic Timeline Template

This is a straightforward template with a horizontal layout, allowing you to showcase milestones or events in a clear and concise manner.

2. Roadmap Timeline Template

This template resembling a roadmap is perfect for outlining project timelines, strategic plans, or product development cycles. It provides a visual representation of key milestones and their sequencing.

3. Gantt Chart Timeline Template

Designed specifically for project management, this template incorporates a Gantt chart style, enabling you to display project tasks, durations, and dependencies in a visually organized way.

4. Vertical Timeline Template

This template presents events or milestones in a vertical layout, making it suitable for displaying a sequential timeline or the progression of information over time.

5. Circular Timeline Template

This template has a unique circular design, making it ideal for showcasing cyclical or recurring events, highlighting the continuous nature of a process or a repeating pattern.

6. Infographic Timeline

This template with visually appealing infographic elements allows you to present key events, data, or statistics compellingly and engagingly, making complex information easier to comprehend.

7. Chronological Timeline

This classic template presents events or milestones in a linear progression, following a chronological order, making it suitable for historical timelines or showcasing the evolution of a process.

8. Process Timeline

Specifically designed for illustrating step-by-step processes or workflows, this template enables you to break down complex procedures into digestible segments, highlighting each process stage.

9. Historical Timeline

Tailored for historical presentations, this template includes a structured layout with dates and key events, making it ideal for showcasing historical timelines, biographies, or historical milestones.

10. Project Timeline

With a focus on project management, this template helps you visualize project phases, milestones, and deadlines, enabling you to track progress and communicate project timelines effectively.

These top 10 timeline templates in PowerPoint provide a range of options to suit different presentation needs, allowing you to create visually appealing timeline layouts that effectively communicate information and engage your audience.

What Makes a Perfect Timeline

A perfect timeline effectively communicates information, captures attention, and helps the audience grasp the key points or historical progression being presented. It must possess the following key attributes:

• Clarity : It presents information in a clear and organized manner, allowing the audience to easily understand the timeline’s purpose and the sequence of events.
• Conciseness: It focuses on the most important events or milestones, avoiding unnecessary details and clutter that could confuse or overwhelm the audience.
• Visual Appeal: It utilizes appropriate visuals such as icons, graphics, or colors to enhance the visual appeal and make the timeline more engaging and memorable.
• Logical Sequence: It follows a logical order, whether chronological or based on specific criteria, enabling the audience to grasp the progression of events or stages.
• Accuracy: It provides accurate and reliable information, ensuring that the timeline is a trustworthy data source and can be used for reference or analysis.
• Flexibility: It allows for customization and adaptability, so it can be adjusted or expanded as needed to accommodate changes or additional information.
• Contextualization: It provides context or additional details when necessary, helping the audience understand the significance or impact of each event or milestone on the overall timeline.

Create the Perfect Timelines With Our Design Experts

At All Time Design, we are a creative design agency comprising professional and dedicated designers specializing in creating visually stunning and effective timelines. When it comes to presenting information in a timeline format, we understand the importance of creating the perfect timeline that captivates your audience and effectively communicates your message.

Our design experts have extensive experience crafting clear, concise, and visually appealing timelines. We pay meticulous attention to detail, ensuring the timeline reflects your brand identity and aligns with your overall presentation goals. Whether you need a timeline for a project proposal, business report, educational presentation, or any other purpose, our team is ready to assist you.

Visit our website to check out our designs, or Click here to start your 14 days with a risk-free trial and embark on a creative journey to get visually striking timelines for your presentations.

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6 Steps to Staying On Time in a Presentation

Written by Ellie Thien

August 30, 2017

You’re moving through your presentation and notice you’re cutting it close on time. It’s probably fine just to go over a few minutes to wrap up, right? Wrong. If you’ve been given a certain amount of time to make a presentation, it is essential you stick to it. If you tend to cut it close or run over your time, learn to stay within your limits for the sake of yourself and the audience.

Why does it matter?

It’s important to stay within your allotted time if you want to show respect for your audience and those who invited you to speak. Additionally, you’ll lose the audience’s attention if you go over time or cut it too close. If you’re speaking for an hour, by minute 58, the audience is getting antsy for a wrap up. If the presentation goes over, you risk them checking out completely or even leaving. Meanwhile, you’re delivering a great takeaway that has now been missed.

So how do I stay on time?

Follow these 6 steps before and during your presentation to make sure you are staying on time and that your audience is remaining engaged and excited:

Know the time limit.

Time each section of your presentation., summarize your points. , start on time. , watch the clock..

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Presentation Tips

How to Manage Your Time During a Presentation

You’ve been offered a 60-minute timeslot to present to a group of stakeholders but have 90 minutes of content you want to cover — or worse yet, only 30 minutes. How do you make your message resonate with your audience while not feeling rushed or pressed for time? We offer our best tips for managing your time during a presentation while keeping your audience engaged and talking points heard.

Rehearse and then rehearse again

At a minimum, you should be practicing your presentation between five and 10 times. The goal is not to repeat the same dialogue word for word each time but rather find ways to say something differently or more succinctly each time. You’ll want to not only figure out how long each slide will take to cover, but also when and where to pivot if things don’t go as planned. Stick to the rule of thirds: Spend one-third of your time planning, one-third designing, and one-third rehearsing.

Be ready to cut it short

Life happens, especially when others are in control. Maybe participants are late getting back from a session break, the presenter before you runs long, or the inevitable technical issue happens. If you outline your presentation with key points and sub-points, you should be able to skip along more quickly by only covering the key points when short on time. What’s more, it’s better to engage your audience and encourage questions throughout than finish the presentation. By coming across as the expert in the room, you open the door to scheduling time at a later date with those who want to discuss points not covered during the allotted time.

Arrive early

The best way to avoid the unavoidable is to show up early to your designated location so setup doesn’t factor into your presentation time, and if it doesn’t take that long, give that time to the next presenter for their setup. Simply put, if you’re arriving or finishing on time, you’re running late. Plus, the added bonus of arriving early is you get to know your audience a little bit and find out what’s at the top of their mind. These are golden moments you can integrate into your presentation.

Be realistic

During rehearsal, you’ll quickly get a sense if your presentation is too long or too short. Be realistic about your personal speaking habits. Do you tend to speed up when you’re actually presenting? Do you pause a lot? Do you know if this audience loves to ask questions? Consider those real-world situations as you try to edit your deck. Some extra tips: Don’t linger on a slide for too long; make your point and move on to keep your energy high. Along the same lines, don’t try and cram everything you know into the presentation. Stick to your key points and anecdotes to make sure people are really absorbing the content. Think quality, not quantity.

Never count on a clock being in the room to manage your time in the moment of your presentation. Have your phone (silenced, of course) on the podium ready to glance at, appoint someone in the back of the room to give you cues when you are running out of time, or even discretely glance at your watch while taking a sip of water. Even though you’ve rehearsed enough to know how the time will pan out, taking an obvious break to check the time can be a big distraction.

What time constraints do you run into when making a presentation?

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6 Basic Organizational Pattern to Arrange the Body of your Presentation

The body of your presentation is the main substance of your message. It contains the evidence you need to support your main topic and the information your audience expects to know more about. To make your message easier to remember, limit your main points to three and have supporting details on each. Choose the strongest ideas you can consider as a major point and sandwich appropriately the weaker details in one of the major details. Just make sure that it is closely related and is logically apt to be categorized under it . 

To effectively curate the body of your speech, it has to be delivered using an organizational structure. It is best to arrange them by following a method according to the one that is most appropriate for your needs. Among the common organization patterns for arranging speeches are the following:

1. Chronological Pattern

The time order pattern presents ideas, events, or processes in the sequence of time in which they took place or should take place. It begins at a given period in history and moves forward or backward with time. It is mostly used in describing a process or discussing the development of certain trends for demonstration speeches. 

2. Spatial Pattern

In this pattern, the main points of your speech follow a spatial sequence. This illustrates the arrangement and the relationship of things in a given place. It describes the ideas according to physical relationships among things and persons as well.  To describe or explain the organization of patterns, you may present your ideas by inside-outside, far-near, small-big, east-west, or up-down.

3.  Logical Method

You can develop your speech’s body from a broad vision to specific details, or you may also proceed with a particular instance to the general. The key here is that you either present your information deductively or inductively. This pattern is effective when presenting a broad topic which you intend to break down into subtopics.

4. Causes and Effect

If you want your audience to appreciate a certain subject’s impact, a pattern that may suit this best is the cause and effect method. In this pattern, you arrange the main ideas in the discussion in a causal relationship. You both present in appropriate detail the events that have occurred and their corresponding results. 

5. Advantage and Disadvantage

To focus and shed light on how beneficial an activity, idea, event, or product, you may consider using the advantages and disadvantages method. This will help you guide your audience to examine the range of positive and negative aspects of things that they can use to better judge when deciding on things.

6. Comparison and Contrast

A presentation may also be developed by pointing out the similarities between two objects, persons, or ideas. You can make the concept vivid by comparing familiar objects and familiar points of reference. People can effectively learn concepts when they have something with which to compare it.  If you are using this pattern, make sure that you have a valid and adequate number of comparisons. This method is suited when trying to motivate the audience to understand a concept they have never considered before or ask them to take action like following or purchasing something they have never owned before. 

When writing the body of your presentation, you may consider pointing out the familiarity in some respects between things or ideas otherwise unlike. It is also appropriate to clarify something abstract and familiar by relating it to something concrete and familiar.  

8. Problems and Solutions

You can organize the body of your speech by presenting it through a problem and solution method. Naturally, the speech should focus on the problem at hand, then provide the solution that you are offering. To make your proposition more convincing, you may include other problems that could also be fixed by the solution you are suggesting. This becomes more effective in persuading as the audience sees the value of your proposition. Knowing that the solution you are offering is versatile and can also be applied to multiple problems, they are more encouraged to accept it. This is suitable when motivating your audience into action, prompting them to support an idea or buy a product, information, or service that offers a solution to a problem. 

In arranging the body of your presentation, you may use any of the patterns above, although you may utilize more than one method. Keep in mind that you have to observe the principles of unity, coherence, clarity, conciseness, and correctness in writing it.  Ensure that as you present the facts and move from one point to another, you help the audience know that you connect two parts—present  interconnectedness by using transition sentences that show the logical or psychological relationships among the ideas. Using transition statements between main and subordinate points will help make your central idea clear and easy to understand. 

Special Bonus Tip: To ensure that your presentation’s body is organized and well structured, create an outline for your speech. This will also help you to draft an appropriate introduction and conclusion for your central idea. Moreover, you may also look for materials and references that provide samples of how the above-listed patterns were used. You may also ask an English teacher specializing in writing speeches to guide you on how to write compelling content for the body of your speech. 

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The Art of Timing: Timing Your Presentation for Maximum Impact

April 16, 2023 / Blog

When delivering a presentation, timing is more than just keeping track of minutes on a clock.

Timing is an art that can greatly impact the effectiveness of your message and your audience’s engagement. The right timing can captivate your audience, reinforce key points, and leave a lasting impression. However, poor timing can result in disinterested listeners, missed opportunities, and a lackluster presentation.

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The science of timing.

Timing is not just an abstract concept but has real psychological and physiological impacts on the presenter and the audience. Understanding the science behind timing can help presenters make informed decisions on structuring their presentations for maximum impact.

Psychological Impact

Timing plays a significant role in audience engagement and retention.

Studies have shown that attention spans are limited, and listeners tend to lose interest if a presentation drags on or feels rushed. Moreover, your presentation’s timing can affect your audience’s cognitive load—the amount of mental effort required to process information.

Too long or fast-paced presentations can overwhelm the audience and reduce their ability to retain and comprehend the information.

Physiological Impact

Timing can also impact the physiological responses of both the presenter and the audience.

When a presenter is rushed or anxious due to poor timing, it can affect their vocal tone, body language, and overall delivery. On the other hand, a well-timed presentation can create a sense of rhythm and flow, enhancing the speaker’s confidence and stage presence.

Similarly, the audience’s physiological response, such as their heart rate, can be influenced by the timing of the presentation, affecting their level of engagement and emotional connection with the content.

Optimal Presentation Lengths

Research suggests that the ideal presentation length may vary depending on the context and audience.

TED talks, known for their engaging and impactful presentations, are typically limited to 18 minutes or less since shorter presentations align better with the limited attention spans of today’s audiences. However, longer presentations may be appropriate in specific settings, such as academic lectures or training sessions. 

Understanding the optimal presentation length for your audience and context can help you plan your timing accordingly.

Attention Spans

Attention spans vary depending on factors such as age, context, and level of interest. 

On average, studies have shown that the attention span of adults ranges from 10 to 20 minutes, while children’s attention span is even shorter. This highlights the importance of structuring your presentation with engaging content and well-timed transitions to maintain audience attention throughout your presentation.

Techniques for Timing Your Presentation Effectively

Timing your presentation requires more than being aware of the factors that can impact your pacing; it also involves utilizing specific techniques to ensure your delivery is smooth, engaging, and impactful. Here are some techniques to help you time your presentation effectively:

Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

Practice makes perfect when it comes to timing your presentation. Rehearsing your presentation multiple times can help you get familiar with your content, delivery style, and timing.

Time yourself during rehearsals to ensure you stay within your allotted time, and make adjustments as needed. Practicing also helps you build confidence, which can positively impact your delivery and timing during the actual presentation.

Use a Timer or Stopwatch

Utilize a timer or stopwatch during rehearsals and the actual presentation to track of your time. Set specific time limits for each section or slide of your presentation and stick to them to help you stay on track and avoid running over time.

Pace Yourself

Pay attention to your speaking rate and pace yourself accordingly .

Avoid speaking too quickly or too slowly, as both can affect the timing and comprehension of your presentation. Vary your speaking speed to add emphasis, create pauses, and engage your audience.

Use Visual Cues

Use visual cues, such as notes or slides, to guide your timing during your presentation. 

Highlight key points, transitions, or cues for audience engagement to ensure you stay on track with your timing. However, be mindful not to rely too heavily on visual cues, as they may affect your connection with the audience.

Be Mindful of Time Signals

Keep an eye on any time signals provided by organizers or moderators during your presentation.

Time signals may include visual cues, such as time cards or hand signals, to indicate how much time you have left. Be attentive to these signals and adjust your pacing accordingly.

Practice Flexibility

Be prepared to adjust your timing on the spot if needed.

Unexpected situations may arise during your presentation that can affect your timing, such as technical issues, audience questions, or interruptions. Therefore, practice flexibility by having contingency plans, such as shortening or omitting certain content, to adapt to unexpected situations while maintaining effective timing.

Seek Feedback

Request feedback from a trusted colleague, mentor, or friend who can provide constructive feedback on your timing. They could identify areas where you can improve your pacing and suggest adjustments.

Mastering the art of timing is essential for delivering a presentation that captivates and resonates with your audience. Follow these strategies to ensure your presentation is well-timed for maximum impact, leading to a successful and memorable presentation experience.

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Presentation Timing: 5 Tips to Stay On Time and Avoid Audience Wrath

Were you happy about it? Or were you mad that they now put you behind for your next appointment? Or did you leave before they wrapped up?

In this article, we examine the importance of finishing on time and give 5 tips for staying within your time constraints.

Is finishing your presentation on time important?

In most situations, yes!

Always assume that your audience is busy (because they are).

Always assume that could have chosen other places to be (because they could have).

Always assume that they have something planned immediately after you finish (because they usually do).

Audiences get uneasy if you are approaching your time limit and you aren’t wrapping up.

• They start to consider walking out .
• They start to get nervous thinking about their next appointment , and how they may be late.
• They start wishing you’d wrap it up already.
• Most importantly, they stop listening to you!

Not only do you lose credibility with your audience and risk offending them, but you also lose the opportunity to make a strong conclusion because they either aren’t listening or they aren’t in the room!

Is it better to end early, or right on time?

If it’s really bad to finish over time, then one might assume that you should always try to end well under your allowed time. However, that’s not always good either.

If you finish your presentation considerably under time (e.g. 20 minutes early in a presentation scheduled for one hour), your audience may feel cheated, particularly if they paid to listen to you speak. They may feel that you promised 60 minutes of value, but only delivered 40.

For this reason, one safe rule of thumb is to speak for between 90-100% of your allowed time . So, if your presentation is planned for 60 minutes, you should speak at least 54 (or 55 for a nice round number). This ensures that your audience doesn’t “feel cheated”, but also ensures that you don’t go over time.

There are all sorts of exceptions to the above rule of thumb, so use your judgement and do what makes sense in your situation.

5 Steps To Keep Your Presentation Within Time

It’s really not that hard to finish your presentation on time. Just follow these five simple steps:

#1 — Know Your Allowed Time

Have you ever heard a speaker walking away from a venue muttering: “I thought I had longer”?

This is the result of poor communication between the speaker and the event organizer. Both the speaker and the event organizer end up looking bad in this scenario.

Make sure you are always aware of how long you have to speak. Verify with the event organizer before the event.

#2 — Plan Your Content and Edit as Necessary

For many speakers, the problem is not knowing how much time the audience is giving them. The problem is being unreasonable with how much they can say within that allotted time.

Most people overestimate how much material they can adequately cover within a given time. They want to “share everything” and “leave nothing back”. On the other hand, the wise presenter develops strong self-awareness about how long it takes to effectively deliver their message.

When you are planning, also consider:

• Q&A : Allow time for audience questions, either within your presentation or at the end.
• Activities : Allow adequate time for any planning audience activities or exercises. One of my challenges is that I tend to underestimate how long it takes to explain an activity and “break into groups” before the exercise even starts.
• Breaks : For longer presentations, budget time for breaks for stretching, bathroom visits, coffee, or meals. This all comes out of your allotted time. In a typical full-day (8-hour) training course, for example, you might only have 6 hours of instruction once you subtract out all of the breaks.

Cut mercilessly to make sure the material you intend to deliver can be delivered within your time constraints. It’s better to present the appropriate amount at a pace which the audience can absorb rather than whizzing through too much material so the audience grasps nothing.

#3 — Rehearse Effectively

Until you gain experience as a speaker, you may not be able to accurately gauge how much content fits within a given time. For example, how many pages would you write if delivering a 30 minute commencement address? How many case studies can you cover in a lunch-time seminar?

“ If you go over time while rehearsing, you’ve got to cut material. ”

The best way to measure how long it will take is to time yourself while you rehearse effectively:

• Rehearse standing up and speaking out loud . Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you can just “whisper” your way through your slides while sitting in front of your computer. Your pace will be different while standing.
• Speak to a test audience , even if all you can arrange is one person. This eliminates the tendency to “practice within yourself” as some speakers do while rehearsing. Just one audience member forces you to make eye contact and look for audience feedback. It also simulates a bit of the pressure you may feel with a real audience. You can also get valuable feedback by asking “How was my pace? Did I go too fast?”
• Make it as close to the real thing as possible . If you’ll be using a presentation remote to advance your slides, then rehearse with one. If you’ll be moving around in the “real presentation”, then do so as you rehearse. If you can rehearse in the room where you’ll be presenting, do so. The more closely you can mimic the real thing, the better your time estimate will be.
• Make it a dress rehearsal . If I’m planning to wear a suit when presenting, I like to rehearse in one. For me, the act of dressing up creates the same nervous energy and tends to give me more accurate timing.

Rehearsing in this way allows you to accurately time your presentation under close-to-real circumstances. If you go over time while rehearsing, you’ve got to cut material.

#4 — Start on Time

How many times have you seen a presenter ask for “just 5 more minutes” at the end of a one-hour presentation, despite having started ten minutes late?

Do everything in your power to start on time. Arrive early, sort out your technology, and make sure everything is set to go when your time starts. Don’t waste a moment.

Your exact start time isn’t always within your control. For example, I know of one company where “lunch-time seminars” always start at 12:15. If you are invited to speak in this forum, you’ve got to know that. A thorough discussion with the event organizer should reveal this.

#5 — Measure Your Progress and Adjust

For short speeches (say, under 15 minutes), you can probably just launch into it and hit your end time target within reason (assuming you have rehearsed it).

For longer presentations, however, you can use a more strategic approach:

• As you rehearse your content, note how long it takes for each “block” of your presentation. (Get someone to time you if necessary.)
• 12:05 – Start presentation
• 12:15 – Introduction and case study introduced
• 12:30 – Case study and lessons learned complete
• 12:50 – Live demonstration complete
• 12:58 – Q&A complete. Applause.
• Write down these targets and have them with you as you present, perhaps on a small notepad by your water. (I do it with red pen and big letters.)
• As you reach the end of each “block”, check the clock . If you are running behind, you can adjust your pace. For example, if you are starting the live demonstration at 12:35, then you know you are 5 minutes behind, and you’ll have to cut planned material to “catch up.”
• If necessary, recruit an assistant with a watch to help you monitor your intermediate targets.

Speaking over your allowed time is disrespectful and will annoy at least some people in your audience. It’s a privilege to have their attention, whether it’s for 5 minutes or 5 hours. Don’t abuse it! End on time — every time.

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We’ve all been there. The speaker speaks for far longer than anyone expects and as an audience member you just sit there thinking “when will this end?” I’ve seen it time after time at public speaking clubs in particular.

It’s worth reinforcing that when you are speaking in front of an audience, it will always take longer to cover the same material adequately. That extra time is necessary to let the message sink in with a real, live audience. Rehearsal time can be misleading, so don’t get caught out!

I would love to share this with clients. Your 5 minutes is not the same as mine, just make sure you finish on time. Great read!

this is great advise ur really smart dude keep doing you

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5 Tips to Stay On Time and Avoid Audience Wrath http://t.co/6es9Vmug — Presenting Away Dec 19th, 2012

Presentation timing: 5 tips to avoid audience wrath http://t.co/Dw4Je0rz — Diane Dec 21st, 2012

recommend reading for presenters at conferences http://t.co/LfnlikwXp6 — @tweetsimon Jul 7th, 2014

@VMart speaks the truth! 5 tips to keep yourself on time and your audience happy. http://t.co/SWeQFQEcDE #AFS145 https://t.co/bxbn7wDSjQ — @pseanmc Aug 19th, 2015

.@6minutes Andrew! I just read your article on speech timing, so great! Also giving it to my students to read ~ https://t.co/JzheERLxNz — @JacksonHoleRose Oct 25th, 2015

Presentation Timing: 5 Tips to Stay On Time and Avoid Audience Wrath https://t.co/qjXmwcjwZ4 by @6minutes — Sleiman Skaf (@SleimanSkaf) Apr 20th, 2016

#TuesdayTips Good tips by @6minutes about keeping your presentation within the allotted time. https://t.co/Rk2GtzReRv — PitchVantage (@pitchvantage) Jul 26th, 2016

There is nothing worse than when speakers go on and on and on . . . https://t.co/XZVnTmNvHO — @speakers4change Oct 5th, 2016

#DMCIT Might be of interest for the upcoming presentations. https://t.co/oeGhqqc5F8 — @Zeet66 Nov 1st, 2016

Of course, you don’t want to go way under time, but, in my opinion, it’s much better than going over time. I like… https://t.co/4FPFvPxB6R — @justineldees Oct 28th, 2018

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How to keep to time during your presentation

by Olivia Mitchell | 33 comments

Photo credit: zoutedrop

Do you regularly go over time when you’re delivering a presentation? If a time limit has been set for your presentation, then it’s your responsibility to finish it within that time. Consider it as part of the contract between you and your audience.

Here are some tips to help you keep to time:

1. Decide on your “talking time”

You can’t keep to time unless you know beforehand how long you should be talking. Your “talking time” is different than the total time you’ve been given for your presentation for two reasons:

• You need to allow time for questions. This may be decided by the meeting organizer. If not, as a rule of thumb I would allow 20-25% of your presentation time for questions.
• Generally, live  presentations take longer than the rehearsal.  This is because of a combination of factors. You might start a couple of minutes late, you might take longer to make a point, and there may be other interruptions that delay you.

So if your presentation time is one hour, your talking time will be 40 minutes (15 minutes for questions and 5 minutes for interruptions and delays).

2. Find out how long it takes to deliver your material

This is a prerequisite to being able to keep to time. If you don’t know long your talk takes how can you hope to meet the time limit. Many presenters are very bad at judging how long it will take to deliver something. Seriously bad. On our courses, we ask participants to prepare a five minute talk. One time, a participant talked for 23 minutes! When we asked how long it was she thought that she had been talking for about seven minutes.

Time yourself early on in your planning process. This will save you time and agony. If you leave timing your presentation till the end of your planning process you’re likely to find that you’ve prepared too much material which will mean you have to edit your presentation . And editing is can be agonizing when you’ve grown attached to your material.

3. Write a timed schedule for your presentation

When you do a final rehearsal , note down the time that each segment takes and then take that information to prepare a timed schedule. So say your presentation started at 3pm your schedule would look like this:

3 pm Opening 3.05 Part 1 3.15 Part 2 3.25 Part 3 3.35 Closing 3.40 Stop talking

That means that during the live presentation, you’ll be able to easily tell whether you’re keeping to time. Note that it’s not enough to know that each part takes 10 minutes. In the presentation itself you won’t have the head space available to calculate whether you’re ahead or behind.

4. Write assertions so that you don’t waffle

Waffling is one of the things that can make a live presentation go longer than the rehearsal. Here’s what can happen: you make your point but the audience looks blank. So you elaborate on it some more, and then some more… and before you know it you’re waffling. The antidote to this is proper planning. During you’re planning, write each point as a full sentence (not a bullet-point) which expresses what you want to get across. You may later reduce this to a keyword or phrase in your notes but you’ll have done the hard thinking required.  It’s much better to do your thinking before, rather than during, the presentation. For more on this see How to avoid waffling .

5. Have a clock or timekeeper

You can’t manage your time unless you can see the time. And you can’t rely on every meeting or conference room having a clock. Have a small, but easily readable, travel clock that you can put on the lectern or even in front of you on the stage. Make sure you can read it at  a distance without your glasses on. There are remotes that also have a countdown timer and that will buzz you at 5 minutes and 2 minutes before the end of your presentation.

6. Start on time

Many presentations go over time simply because they started late. Lisa Braithwaite recently wrote about this issue in her post: You never have as much time as you want . Often that’s because the presenter or meeting organizer has decided to wait for late-comers. Like Lisa, if I’m in control then I’ll start on time. I don’t see why people who have made the effort to be on time should be penalized by having to wait for people who are late.

You may be concerned that people who are late will miss out on crucial information. So don’t start with crucial material. Instead open with a relevant and engaging story which leads into your first main point. The stragglers will come in while you’re telling your story.

7. Be ready to adapt

Despite all your advance preparations you may still run out of time. The solution is not simply to talk faster! Work out ahead of time what segment you will drop if this should happen. Make a note of the first slide number after the dropped segment. By keying in the number of that slide and then pressing ‘Enter’ you will jump straight to that slide. This is much more professional than clicking through your slides. Your audience need never know that you had to edit on the fly.

Go well with keeping to time in your next presentation! If you have any other tips that have helped you keep to time share them in the comments.

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33 Comments

Excellent post as always. I am going to read further what you’ve written about assertions and waffling (I love these descriptive words, by the way). I’m curious: do you always speak with notes, and do you recommend this? When I do a presentation supported with Keynote or PPT slides, I don’t use notes. I figure if I know my material well, I don’t need them. So far, this method has served me well. (However, I do print out 6 slides per page with the slide numbers, in case I need to flip back to a particular slide, using the method you’ve described.)

I just made your post this week’s compulsory reading for my students 🙂

What I like to do to keep a check on myself is printing out my slide thumbnails all on one page. I make a screenshot from the lightbox view in Keynote or slider sorter view in PPT (which keeps the slide numbers) and then I mark certain slides with the anticipated time in large and friendly red numbers: 10:45 hs. 11:15 hs

As you go along, check real time vs. planned time.

This works really well with longer talks or workshops.

After the talk I can immediately make any corrections necessary and see where I planned poorly or where I can tighten things a bit. It is also a great help for »next time.«

With shorter talks keep a large *analog* antique pocket watch nearby. It is like a large checkered handkerchief: it is so obvious is does not bother anyone. I find I still understand analog watch faces faster than the timer in presenter’s view.

Putting your anticipated times on your screenshot printout is a great idea.

I can relate to your preference for the analog watch. Delivering a presentation is such a full-on activity that everything else should be super-easy for you.

Thanks for your appreciation. I do always have notes within reach. I don’t normally look at them, but every so often I’ll have a mind blank where I go to myself “was there another point I wanted to make here.”. I’ll stop talking, look at my notes, find the point I wanted to make, look up again, find someone to talk to and start talking. I also do what you do with the printout of my slides. I find this useful because it means I can also see what slide is coming next and introduce it, rather than simply clicking and then talking. More about this here . Olivia

I can see how it would be useful to add the notes, in case of brain freeze!

Also, I usually do put time stamps on the slide printouts, so I know how I’m doing for time at major junctures of the presentation (example: when I’m playing an audio clip — so I can check the time while the audience watches). I usually just take off my watch and put it somewhere where I can see it, when there’s no clock in the room.

Great post. Going over the allotted time is annoying to the audience, the organisers and other speakers. I have found for me, if I plan to leave some time slack in my presentation it helps in keeping to time , i.e. if I have 30 minute slot I plan to deliver a 25 minute speech etc. It helps to keep me on time. If I finish early the time can always be utilised – a longer break, questions etc.

Yes, nobody ever minds a presentation ending early!

Good advice, as always – and knowing what to cut in advance is absolutely critical!

You mention a way of skipping slides – for people using Keynote there’s a better way, don’t forget. The menu option allows you to see different slides on your laptop without them showing on your screen and deciding where to go next – if you want to. That way you can edit on the fly with even more dignity and (importantly) the transitions are protected in a way that they’re sometimes not if you do ‘jumping’ in PowerPoint.

I get that Keynote is better in every respect!

I keep using Powerpoint to be the same as 99.98% of my clients.

Thanks for this thorough discussion of staying on time, Olivia! And thanks for the link to my recent post.

My suggestion for keeping track of the time is to use a regular kitchen countdown timer. Because of this: “…you won’t have the head space available to calculate whether you’re ahead or behind…” I find it harder to keep track of my time when looking at a clock, especially if we’ve started late. If I have a countdown timer, I know exactly how much time is left without having to do “clock subtraction” on the fly.

But I do also like to use approximate clock times on my notes, as you mentioned in #3. It does give a general idea of where I should be at a given time.

…..Hi Lisa… at risk of sounding like a stuck record about this… 🙂 “Get a Mac”. Keynote has this kind of function built in!

PS: Do you think Mr Jobs would give me commission? 😉

Haha Simon! Yes, you should get a commission for that.

That’s a great idea if you want to stand in front of your computer the whole time. My timer is usually on a table where I’m also keeping my props, handouts, water, etc., because who knows where the laptop is going to end up!

Good point about the laptop not always being in front of you. I make sure mine is. I take a 50M VGA cable with me in case the event organisers want the laptop to be somewhere near their projector – that way I can pretty much ensure having enough cable to keep everyone happy! 🙂

Mind you, 50M VGA cable isn’t a light thing to carry!

You Apple fanboy :-).

Good point about the countdown time being easier. Given Anke’s point it’s all about finding out what works best for you in the heat of the presentation.

great post! Two comments: 1) 25% for interaction in my opinion is no longer sufficiant. Attendants nowadays want to be involved and strive for a shared outcome, so interaction is key. I would suggest to take at least 50%. The real great speakers shorten their story to the lenght of a teaser and are willing to rely on the fact, that they will be able to deliver the rest of their content in response to questions and discussion. 2) take into account that when you try your speech at home, you might talk faster than on stage. That is because nobody is really listening and you allready know the stuff. I often write text for voice-overs and have to add at least 10% to be on the safe side.

It’s interesting that you suggest devoting 50% of the presentation time to audience interaction. I tend to agree with you for my own presentations, but I know that not everyone is ready for that, so for this particular post I stuck to the more conventional 25%. In other posts, I have encouraged people to consider taking questions throughout their presentation rather than making the audience wait till the end.

Good point to about talking faster and your experience with voice-overs. Of course, some people talk even faster during their live presentation because they just want to get it over and done with! So it can be quite individual.

Important post Olivia – going over time is one of the top annoyances for audiences, and it is so easy to avoid!

It is really important to schedule in time for questions, too. In any type of presentation, this is the point at which you can really understand what your audience wants, and justify your views to them. This opportunity should never be underestimated!

Thanks again for a great post.

Hi Jessica I agree with you about the importance of questions. We should also examine the convention of leaving questions till the end of a presentation. Olivia

Great post, as usual.

Among the technics I am using to respect my time, their is “hierarchical structure” and their is a printout plan of my presentation (most of the time, a mind map.)

On my plan, their is the timing of my presentation, and I am using A big iPod as a timer (their is a stopwatch built in).

This way, it is easy to know where I should be at any given moment and to adjust myself.

I wrote a post about this : How to respect allowed time. I explain what is the “hierarchical structure” technic. http://presentability.com/2010/01/29/how-to-respect-allowed-time/

For the questions: it depends of the situation. You have to be strategic. My preference is to have good interaction with the audience by accepting question anytime. I usually don’t have a dedicated question period at the end.

Denis Francois Gravel

Hi Denis That’s a useful post laying out your method for planning a presentation and keeping to time.

I arrive a little belatedly, but still wanted to thank you for the useful points and comments.

My ideal route is to have a time-keeper; at larger international events I find that the event organisers tend to have someone dedicated to this task; provided that you have timed your presentation reasonably well it shouldn’t be a shock when you get the 15 minute board (or whatever).

One very useful tip that’s related to time-keeping that I learned ten minutes before speaking at an event in Brazil; if you’re being ‘live translated’ you need to know how the translated language compares in terms of word density to your own; Latin languages are about a third longer to say the same thing. Fortunately I was able to adapt my presentation as I went, but it’s not an oversight I’ll ever make again!

On the back of reading your post I went to the App Store and downloaded ‘pClock’ for 59p (I have no affiliation to the product): it gives you a large countdown timer that changes colour at pre-specified timing points (it can also give a vibration or sound reminder too).

As for Keynote, I’ve heard it’s very good but I too use PowerPoint and provided that you don’t let it dictate your presentation format or style it’s a capable tool. It’s undoubtedly tarnished by association with the masses of people who, were they to have had access to it, would have made dreary presentations in Keynote too!

Prezi (www.prezi.com) looks really interesting; if I ever have the time to investigate it I could be tempted to switch to that because I think it could deliver an entirely different experience.

Philip Graves

I am sure that only professional help will solve this issue. For me, for example, examples are very useful, learn this here now https://writinguniverse.com/free-essay-examples/metaphor/ It is very convenient because you can get more information and it leads to new ideas and saves a lot of time.

Hi Philip Thank you very much for adding the benefits of your experience, especially, on the issue of being interpreted. I agree that latin languages use more words, but I wonder whether that actually makes the time longer. My mother is a simultaneous interpreter (English-French) – I’ll ask her. But it doesn’t make sense to me because otherwise the interpreter would constantly be falling behind. And a competent simultaneous interpreter is just that – simultaneous. Olivia

Hi Olivia – a couple of people who’ve had the duty of simultaneously translating me complain that I’m particularly hard to translate live because there is almost no redundancy in my speech and no filler words… they told me they typically use these times to catch up.

(That was into Japanese though, so many things are very different to French or (other?) Latin languages.)

Hello! If you are being interpreted try and talk to the interpreters beforehand. Have a script ready for them (this can be sent days beforehand through the event organiser). Even just a few notes give us a chance to adapt to your vocabulary and mode of thinking. We typically try and follow your trail of thoughts so it helps a great deal.

I would also recommend using less metaphors than usual. But more importantly as already suggested by Simon make a short pause between your sentences and this will give time for interpreters to catch up with you.

Just had a skype call with my mother (Florence above). She added some more useful thoughts.

Don’t slow down your rate of talking, just wait a beat between sentences. Different languages have different ways of ordering words within a sentence, so if you slow down or pause within a sentence, the interpreter may not have enough words to be able to carry on interpreting.

You don’t have to wait for the interpreter to finish interpreting before starting your next sentence. They’re trained to listen and to speak at the same time.

My experience is that unless you have extremely good simultaneous translation (like you get at big international meetings like the UN) you do need to insert a significantly longer pause between sentences – particularly sentences with technical content – than you would normally to let the translation catch up a bit. This is particularly the case if you are speaking English as our bigger vocabulary often makes things easier to say with fewer words. Agree with your translator before hand a signal for “slow down” to make sure she or he isn’t getting swamped by your speed of delivery (it is particualrly important to keep looking for this signal if the translators’ booth isn’t in your normal line of sight) and give them a copy of your slides and any notes so they can check for unfamiliar words or technical vocabulary ahead of time. Provided your audience are using earphones you don’t however need to wait until the translator has finished a sentence before starting the next. If your slides are in the wrong language for some of your audience don’t forget to talk through the slide – “this graphic shows average weekly family spending on xxxx in US dollars on the vertical axis against age of children on the horizontal axis, blue dots mean zzzzzz” and so on.

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This article on the importance of keeping to time during presentations is a true gem.

However, the journey of mastering presentation skills is not without its challenges. The pressure to perform and the fear of public speaking can take a toll on our mental well-being. It’s important to address these concerns and find support along the way.

That’s where online therapy can make a significant difference. Platforms like Calmerry offer accessible and professional assistance to help manage anxiety and stress related to public speaking. Engaging in online therapy can equip us with effective coping strategies, boost our confidence, and nurture our overall well-being.

If you’re looking to explore the benefits of online therapy, I recommend visiting this link: https://us.calmerry.com/online-therapy/

My experience is that unless you have extremely good simultaneous translation (like you get at big

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6. Sequencing

Sequence your evidence so that it tells a compelling story.

In this step, you will take all the information you have gathered in the previous five steps and sequence it into the form of a story.  There is a fundamental insight about all good stories: they proceed by creating tensions that are then resolved. The way to take advantage of this insight is as follows – you will need a stack of blank index cards:

First, introduce your presentation with a “situation” – why are we having this presentation?  Write this down on an index card. Then write down a “complication” and a “resolution” – typically the problem and solution that you identified in step 3 .  Write these down on two separate index cards. Then follow the resolution with a specific example of that resolution, also on another index card (typically selected from one of the anecdotes you identified in step 5 ).

Then ask yourself: at this point, what is the most likely objection the audience would raise?  Write that as the next complication.  How would you respond to it?  That’s your next resolution.  Then add an example; write each on its own index card.  (The point of using index cards is so that you can easily move things around or substitute others as you work on the sequence.)

Keep on going this way until you’ve covered all reasonable objections.  You will likely have covered all the information you want to cover.  Whatever remains probably should not be in your presentation (put it in an appendix instead).

Why does this approach work so well?   It works because you are not giving information to your audience without first creating the need for that information – that’s the role of the complication in the process: it raises a question, which creates the need for the answer, which you then provide—the resolution.

When you are done with this, move on to step 7: Charts .

How to handle transitions from one slide to another .

From  Advanced Presentations by Design:

• Further details on the structure of all effective stories (p. 77)
• More on how to use the S.Co.R.E. method (p. 80)
• What to do with information that does not fit into your outline: the role of the appendix (p. 87)

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Mastering the Clock: 9 Time Management Tips for your Presentations

Guests and fish may stink after 3 days, but presentations start to stink already when they go over by more than 1 minute. If you want to be an impactful speaker and leave your audience wanting to hear more from you, you must make them feel appreciated. The most fundamental form of this is respecting the time frame they are expecting. These 9 time management tips will help you be a better speaker.

1. Know your time limit

This may seem obvious, but you need to know how much time you have and the absolute hard limit in case something goes wrong. Don’t accept the “around X minutes” as an answer. You need to work and plan your presentation to an exact period of time.

On the day of the presentation, please make sure to confirm with the organizer in case there are some schedule changes. If there was, you should also inform your audience of such changes. Be respectful.

2. Practice with a timer or Virtual Orator time limit setting on

Managing the presentation time is as vital as any other part of rehearsals. You need to practice it as well.

You can use a timer, a clock, or, of course, Virtual Orator. We have a couple of features that are of great help in your training.

3. Take time to prepare your message

Prepare your message carefully and as clearly as you can, and stick to it. Most of the audience will be sitting there looking at you blankly. This scares many speakers, and they start to improvise. They tend to rearrange the speech in the heat of the moment, leading to extra time spent.

Avoid this mistake by taking the time to prepare a great message. Just go to the presentation with the certainty that you have a good message. Then, deliver it in the best way possible. Keep it concise and organized.

4. Schedule ahead

When preparing a speech, you must prepare for everything, even failure. After preparing your message, divide it into introduction, 3 ideas (avoid more than 3), Q&A, and conclusion. Decide how much time you intend to spare with each of them, which helps you keep track of time.

It is tough to know if 30 minutes have passed, but you can have a more accurate idea of if 3 or 5 minutes have passed. By breaking your presentation into these parts you can maintain a feel for your timing.

Virtual Orator keeps track of how much time you spent on each slide, while you practice. This is a good way to have an idea on how much time has passed when you reach slide number X and were you can skip if you are going long.

5. Plan to cut!

Having an impeccable schedule of what you will say and for how long is amazing work, but things happen. There are interruptions or sudden interest in specific information or lots of questions. So many things can happen, and they are all normal, respectable, and not to fear – IF you have a plan in advance on what you can cut.

It is essential to listen to the audience and know what they want to hear, but you know there are essential points that can’t be left out. So plan ahead what’s vital, what can be cut in case of need, and how to do it smoothly (no one needs to know). If you have enough time, you can prepare different versions, but be sure to rehearse them all.

Again, don’t try to rearrange your speech or improve your message at the heat of the moment. Prepare, rehearse and make as many versions of your speech as you need to go on that stage confident and ready for everything.

6. Provide a detailed hand out

No matter how good you are, your audience will not memorize more than 3 or 4 main ideas. So you must focus on what’s more important and forget the details. Yet, this doesn’t mean that your audience can’t have them.

Think of your job as a speaker as a way to ignite that spark of curiosity in them. Prepare a detailed pdf or share a QR code that links to all the information somewhere online. All details, graphics and stats – everything you’d like to say to them, you can put into the hand out. Give it to them so they can read and study at their own speed in the comfort of their homes or office.

This way, you can focus on what it’s crucial and still give them all information. Trying to “say everything” is one of the main reasons speakers can’t keep up with the time.

8. Track your time

This is a tricky one. Looking at your watch constantly may give a bad impression, but you need to have an idea of how much time you have left. Some rooms have large clocks on the wall, making it easier to look without being noticed, but this is not always the case.

If you’re in this situation, try to lay the watch on the table or lectern. If you take this choice, rehearse this way. You can also flip the clock to the inside of your wrist, and with enough practice, you can peek at it more discretely than usual.

9. Meet them!

Meeting your audience and giving them time to talk to you and ask questions is good to help you keep the actual presentation on track.

So, are there a lot of questions? That’s great. It shows they felt your presentation was interesting and want to know more. Let them know the time is over, and make yourself available to talk after the event. It can be in person, or you can give them an email or even a phone number, if you’re comfortable with it. Make yourself approachable and make them feel comfortable to come to you.

The time is YOUR problem, not theirs.

Your audience signs up for a specific time, and you must respect it. The speaker’s job is to prepare and anticipate any issue that could disrupt the presentation and make them lose track of time.

Follow these tips to help you in this challenging task, and avoid mentioning time to your audience. You want them to be delighted with your presentation, not to be thinking about if it will be too long.

Cátia Isabel Silva

Cátia is a psychologist who is passionate about helping children develop and train social skills.

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Sequencing Activities (With Best Templates): A Project Management Concept From Kindergarten Stories

Naveen Kumar

The psychological concept of pattern learning says that the human mind easily learns (through) and recognizes patterns. Even an anomaly in a pattern is easy to detect for humans. The mammalian brain loves this because it makes learning, prediction, and anticipation easy.

Because of the same reason, instructors in kindergarten use sequencing activities to recite stories, life lessons, and moral concepts (with the help of pictures) like ‘Mat Man,’ line it up, and more. Even in our regular life, we learn complex tasks like cooking, speaking, writing, and more by breaking them into small sequenced activities.

What is Sequencing Activities in Project Management

For the uninitiated, sequencing refers to arranging the thoughts, language, actions, and information into an order or pattern. Sequencing helps with problem-solving, following instructions, completing multi-step tasks, and more structured activities.

Sequencing activities are an integral part of project process management and a (must) skill to learn (especially for project managers). Dividing a project into small inter-related activities will increase efficiency, team coordination, accountability, and reduce cost.

Also, converting a list of project tasks into a sequencing flowchart/diagram will work as a baseline to initiate the process. It can be used as a project mapping and helps in prioritizing activities.

But, the question is….

How to Sequence Activities 

Lets’s look at some basic rules to do so:

• There must be a logical relationship between the activity with its previous (except first) and next activity (except last). This can be finish-to-finish or finish-to-start, or start-to-finish.
• Each activity's lag and lead time must be noted for excellent project management.
• Each activity must be assigned a unique universal ID — numerical or alphanumerical. It will further help in making sub-activities. For example, the project number is 5496. Then the ID of the 1st activity will be — 5496.1; the sub-activity will be 5496.1.1, and so on.
• Always schedule a time and responsible person/team to complete the task. This will help run the project smoothly and complete it within the deadline.

A more reliable, cost-efficient, and foolproof method of sequencing activities is to do it manually. There are fewer chances of mistakes, and it helps you with cost-cutting. Moreover, it is the best way to tackle low-budget and initial projects (for startups, freelancers, and entrepreneurs).

The manual method might seems time-consuming and unnerving. Therefore, we offer our pre-designed templates for sequencing activities . These content-ready slides can be a great help to your project management. 

Let’s start exploring these designs now!

1. Activities Sequence Demonstration PowerPoint Slide

This PPT slide can help you demonstrate the activity sequence in a stunning manner. You can use this PowerPoint template to share project details like project ID, customer name, sequencing activities, work description, and more. Download it now!

Download this template

2. Business Process Sequencing Activity Mapping Slide

Utilize this PowerPoint layout to map and manage the whole project with ease. You can take the help of this PPT design to illustrate the entire project management process with steps like process identification, people identification, sequencing events, and more. Get it now!

3. W orkflow Procedure Sequence Activities PowerPoint Template

Employ this PPT graphic to design a workflow procedure for a project or process. You can use this PowerPoint slide to form and present a logical relationship between sequence activities. Besides, ample space is provided in this template to mention some critical aspects of the project. Grab it now! 

4. Sequence Activities Strategic Planning Process PPT Slide

Deploy this PowerPoint set to present the strategic planning process to the management. You can also use it to share the detailed activity sequence with sub-activities like SWOT analysis, defining goals, system approach, system integration, and more. It also includes critical project elements like situation analysis, direction, alignment, execution, and analysis. Grab it now!

5. Sequence of Events Activities PowerPoint Graphic

Take the help of this PPT layout to share the complete details of the activity with your team. You can also use this PowerPoint preset as a ledger to note the sequence activity details. This slide has ample space for mentioning specifics like events, location, time, people, first, second, and third detail, along with the outcome. Seize it now!

6. 5-stage Sequence Activities PowerPoint Presentation Template 

Use this mini-presentation deck to share the sequence of activities in a project. This PPT deck will give six slides, which can help you share the details of individual activities. You can also use it to share the relationship and effect of these activities on each other. Download it now!

7. Activities Sequence PowerPoint Presentation Template

Check this elegant and professional PowerPoint design for presenting sequencing activities details. This PPT slide can help you share critical facts about each activity in one picture. Besides, you can add text, images, logos, and more to this template as per your requirements. Download it now!

8. Project Planning and Governance Activities Sequence PPT Slide

If you're looking for a high-quality and professional PPT template for your next project planning or governance presentation, look no further than this sequencing activities PPT set. This predesigned slide is loaded with features to help you deliver a top-notch presentation with an excellent color scheme, editable text, and images. Download today and get started on making your next presentation unforgettable!

9. Se quence of Activities In Procurement Management Process PowerPoint Layout

Utilize this presentation slide to manage the procurement process sequence activity in a suave manner. You can take the help of this PowerPoint graphic to highlight the activities like acquisition planning, source selection, contract, and more. Detailed steps of these tasks like requirement determination, solicitation, negotiation, performance measurement, and more can be included in this template. Get it now!

10. Sequence Activity PowerPoint Presentation Slide

With the help of this PowerPoint layout, share with the audience how sequencing activities assist in better performance and personality development. Use this slide to illustrate the use of sequencing activities in different industries. You can also share how sequencing activities work as a baseline for project management. Download it now!

The sequencing of activities is one of the best practices in project management, and it helps a project manager regulate tasks and utilize the full capacity of the workforce. Our templates can make it easy to get started with sequencing your project’s activities. Simply download them, fill in the blanks, and see improvements in team coordination and accountability (not to mention cost savings). 

So what are you waiting for? Grab these templates and start practicing sequencing activities!

P.S. Are you looking for more tips to optimize your project management? Be sure to check out our guide with the best project management dashboard templates for more helpful advice!

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Sequence Framework for PowerPoint and Google Slides

4 options , Connection , Horizontal , Network , Squares , Squircle

File types:

Google Slides , PPTX

The Sequence Framework for PowerPoint is a visually striking and efficient way to convey a step-by-step process or a timeline in your presentations. With its unique arrangement of colorful blocks and icon placeholders, this template effortlessly blends aesthetic appeal with functional design.

Colorful Stepwise Infographic Blocks

This template’s visual allure comes from its four connected, color-varied blocks, each poised to house an icon that best represents your idea. The size variation among the blocks, with the central one being the most prominent, establishes a clear visual hierarchy. This design choice not only makes the presentation more engaging but also guides the viewer’s focus through the content. The template’s adaptability shines with its editable features, allowing for color customization and icon replacement, ensuring that every presentation feels personal and distinct.

Ideal for a variety of presentation needs, this template excels in scenarios ranging from business strategy outlines to educational timelines. For instance, marketing professionals can use it to illustrate campaign steps, while educators might find it perfect for showcasing historical events in a chronological sequence. Its versatility makes it a valuable asset for anyone seeking to present complex ideas in a simplified, visually appealing manner.

In summary, the Sequence Framework for PowerPoint template stands out for its elegant design, intuitive layout, and versatile application. Whether for business, education, or personal use, it transforms complex sequences into engaging, easily digestible visual narratives. This template is a powerful tool in any presenter’s arsenal, enhancing the impact of their message.

Widescreen (16:9) size preview:

This ‘Sequence Framework’ template offers:

• 2 unique slides
• Options for both light and dark themes
• Pre-populated with icons and text placeholders
• Fully customizable shapes for complete control
• Available in both Standard (4:3) and Widescreen (16:9) ratios
• Offered in both PowerPoint PPTX and Google Slides formats

Free fonts used:

• Helvetica (System Font)
• Calibri (System Font)

Terms of use:

Requires attribution, personal and educational use, commercial use, (re)sell, (re)distribute, read the full  terms of use.

Google Slides: Widescreen (16:9)

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