The Art of the Great Presentation

“It takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.”
— Mark Twain

For most people, presenting is somewhere between mildly uncomfortable and genuinely terrifying. And even for those who have made peace with it, there is almost always a gap between how they are currently showing up and the impression they are capable of making. Every presentation is an opportunity to sell an idea, build credibility, inspire a room or change a mind. This session is about making sure you do not leave that opportunity on the table.

The Art of the Great Presentation is an entertaining, hands-on training session that gives participants the tools to build more compelling presentations and deliver them with greater confidence, whether they are running a team meeting, taking the stage at a conference or presenting to a room full of people who would rather be somewhere else.

I am a converted introvert who has taught myself to love speaking in front of a crowd. I have delivered more than 1,500 presentations over the course of my career, including keynotes, conference talks, training sessions and college and university lectures. What I share in this session is what I had to learn the hard way, delivered fast, with real examples and zero death-by-PowerPoint. You will also notice there are no boring bullet-point slides in my presentation. I practice what I teach.

How the Session Works

The session has two main components: a high-energy theory presentation followed by a live workshop where each participant presents and receives direct, practical feedback.

Part 1: Theory (approximately 60 minutes)

We cover two areas:

Developing a Great Presentation: how to build content that actually lands with your audience.

  • Mapping your outline before you open a single slide

  • Understanding your audience and using that to shape what you say and how you say it

  • Starting with the end in mind

  • Injecting better storytelling into your content

  • Elevating your use of visuals so they support your message rather than compete with it

Delivering a Great Presentation: how to take strong content and deliver it well.

  • Why preparation and backups matter and how to build them in

  • How to nail the opening, because most presenters get this wrong

  • How the pros practice and how to make your prep time count

  • Body language and eye contact that builds credibility

  • Rehearsing with your technology so nothing surprises you on the day

  • Reading the room and adjusting in real time

  • Building rapport with any audience, in person or online

  • Managing nerves and presenting with more confidence

Every concept is illustrated with real examples and advice participants can apply immediately.

Part 2: Workshop

This is where theory meets reality. Each participant delivers a portion of a presentation, including slides if they would like. Participants come prepared with a presentation they have delivered in the past or one they are currently working on. They go to the front of the room, we put a wireless mic on them and they present. We record everything on video, which each participant receives after the session.

Afterward, the group debriefs together: what worked, what to sharpen and concrete next steps to take each person's delivery to the next level. We can also run a simulated Q&A, because how a presenter handles questions can be just as important as the presentation itself.

What Each Participant Receives

  • Verbal feedback during the session

  • A written performance assessment with specific observations and recommendations for continued improvement

  • Their recorded presentation video

  • A Dropbox folder with all training materials including the slide deck

Warren in Action

Presentation skills training is only credible if the person teaching it can actually do it. I present every week, whether that is a media training session, a keynote at a conference or a workshop for a leadership team. This is not something I study from afar. It is something I do. Here are a few clips from previous presentations to give you a sense of my presentation style:

Crisis Management Talk at the AdvantAge Ontario Convention

Use Social Media to Personalize Your Client Pitches at the IBAO Keynote

What One-to-One Marketing Looks Like on Social Media at Festivals and Events Ontario

Social Media Keynote at the CSAE Trillium Summit

Session content can be customized to accommodate any specific requirements or learning objectives. Available in full-day and half-day formats, in person or virtually, for organizations across Canada.

Contact us for more information or to request a proposal