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Hi there, it’s Jill!

When it comes to presentations, the winner is rarely the person with the flashiest slide deck. Instead, the presentations that stay with us are the ones that tell a clear and compelling story.

The good news? You don’t need to be a natural-born speaker or a design wizard to deliver a strong presentation. A few storytelling principles can make your message land more effectively, no matter if you’re presenting to two subject matter experts or 200+ people at a town hall.

Today, I want to share three of my favorite storytelling tools that will instantly make your presentations more engaging:

Build a logical flow
Bury hooks to spark curiosity
Simplify your visuals

Let’s dive in!

01 Build a Logical Flow

Every strong presentation has a storyline. Just like a good book or movie, your slides should guide the audience step by step through the narrative.

For example, if you’re presenting a new strategy, your slides might flow like this:

Define the problem or objective.
Review current solutions and why change is needed.
Share supporting data and insights.
Outline the proposed strategy.
Explain resources required for implementation.
Highlight expected gains.
Address potential risks and trade-offs.
Show the timeline and milestones.

Each slide should serve the bigger story. That means:

If one slide identifies an issue, the next should offer potential solutions.
If one slide shares evidence, the next should tie it back to the bigger picture.
If one slide makes an argument, the next should summarize or conclude.

When your audience can follow the thread naturally, they stay engaged with less effort.

One trap I’ve fallen into myself is including every fascinating data point, even if it doesn’t support the main storyline. While interesting, this often derails the flow and dilutes the key takeaway.

So, if you have insights worth keeping, move them to the appendix and reference them during Q&A.

Clarity is king. Your audience will thank you for it.

02 Bury Hooks to Spark Curiosity

What keeps people turning the page in a novel? Conflict and curiosity. Presentations may not have villains and heroes, but they can use the same storytelling trick: the hook.

A hook is a question or thought-provoking statement that primes the audience to lean in.

For example:

Instead of saying, “This strategy will increase revenue. Now let’s look at the cost.”
Try saying, “We’ve seen the upside of this strategy — increased revenue. But what about the downside? What risks do we need to manage to protect our market share?”

The second version plants a question in the audience’s mind before you answer it. That moment of anticipation keeps them engaged.

You can bury hooks throughout a presentation: at the beginning of sections, in transition slides, or even in the title of a chart. They don’t just make your delivery more engaging, but also guides attention exactly where you want it.

03 Simplify Your Visuals

I love a good chart! But meanwhile, I’ve also seen how overwhelming slides can be when packed with data.

The reality is, your audience spends only a few seconds looking at each chart. That means simplicity is power.

Here are a few rules of thumb:

Limit complexity. For line charts, keep it to no more than three lines.
Use meaningful colors. Choose one main theme color for your key message, paired with a neutral gray or a secondary shade for context. Distinct, intentional colors help focus attention.
Make trends obvious. Adjust scales, or even use dual axes if needed, so the message is clear at a glance.

Think of visuals as assistants to your story, not the story itself. When charts are clean and purposeful, your audience won’t waste energy decoding them — they’ll be focused on what you’re saying.

Final Thoughts

At its core, a presentation is just another form of storytelling. You don’t need flashy animations or years of public speaking experience to make yours memorable.

Focus on three things that can transform how your audience receives your message:

A logical flow that’s easy to follow.
Hooks that spark curiosity and anticipation.
Clean, simple visuals that highlight your message.

The next time you prepare slides, remember: you’re not just sharing information — you’re telling a story worth remembering 💡.

— Jill

Founder of Anchor Growth Newsletter

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