Course: How to Create Presentations That Inspire Action
# Presentation Design that Inspires Action, A 3×2 Hour Virtual Programme for Emerging Leaders
## Course overview (short and sharp)
This is a practical, skills first programme designed for [emerging leaders](https://officestraining.mypixieset.com/) who need to turn presentations into action. Delivered live across three 2 hour virtual sessions, the course trains participants to understand their audience, craft a narrative that converts, design visuals that support rather than drown meaning, and deliver with the kinds of presence that make people move. We price the public programme at $495 including GST per person, and run cohorts open to participants in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Assessment is pragmatic: pre/post surveys, structured roleplay scoring, and a short manager observation checklist.
## Who this is for
- Emerging leaders (frontline supervisors, team leads and aspiring managers) who present internally or to clients
- People who already know their content but find it hard to get buy in
- Delegates based in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane who want a virtual, interactive learning model
## Why this works (a couple of opinions up front)
- Facts alone rarely move people. Narrative focused, audience centred presentations do. That's not fluffy; it's practical influence
- I'd rather someone be a bit raw and passionate than slick and soulless. Passion gets action, slides don't. (Some will disagree; fine.)
## Programme format
- **Delivery mode:** Virtual live (Zoom or equivalent) with breakout rooms, shared whiteboard and downloadable workbooks
- **Format & duration:** 3 live sessions × 2 hours each, scheduled over two weeks to allow practice and feedback between sessions
- **Pre work:** 20 to 30 minutes, audience analysis checklist and short video on the neuroscience of attention
- **Post work:** Practical application plan and a manager observed 5 minute presentation to be completed within 2 weeks of programme completion
## Learning outcomes (what changes)
By the end of the course participants will:
- Translate audience needs into a clear objective and single minded call to action
- Build a compelling, structured narrative that guides listeners to a decision
- Design slides and visuals that amplify key messages and reduce cognitive overload
- Use vocal variety, posture and eye line techniques to create [presence in virtual](https://presentationcourse.mypixieset.com/presentation-trainings/) and hybrid settings
- Practise and demonstrate a 5 minute action oriented presentation scored using a standard rubric
- Achieve measurable improvement in confidence and perceived influence as shown by pre/post surveys
## Session by session outline
### Session 0, Pre work (completed before Session 1)
**Time commitment:** 20 to 30 minutes
**Activities:**
- Complete an Audience Snapshot (demographics, needs, likely objections, current knowledge)
- Watch an explainer: "Attention and Memory: why stories beat slides" (10 minutes)
- Upload a 1 paragraph description of an upcoming presentation or decision you need to influence
**Why we do it**
Participants arrive prepared and we can use real, current work challenges in the live sessions. Keeps it practical.
### Session 1, Foundations: Audience, Objective and the Single Minded Message (2 hours)
**Learning focus:** Understand the audience; get ruthlessly clear on the decision you want; build a narrative spine.
**Structure**
- 0 to 10 min: Welcome, outcomes and quick energiser: "What's the most persuasive talk you remember?"
- 10 to 25 min: Short microlecture, Audience mapping: how to profile stakeholders fast
- 25 to 45 min: Workshop activity (breakouts): Complete Audience Snapshot for your real presentation. Peer critique
- 45 to 60 min: Micro lecture, The decision first approach: define the call to action and "so what"
- 60 to 80 min: Narrative mapping exercise, craft a 3 act arc (problem, implication, solution)
- 80 to 100 min: Anticipating objections, roleplay pair work: play the sceptic
- 100 to 115 min: Sharebacks and facilitator coaching
- 115 to 120 min: Short home practice assignment set (refine your 3 act outline, prepare first draft slides)
**Key deliverables from Session 1**
- A one paragraph decision statement (who, what, by when)
- A 3 act narrative map and a list of the top three audience objections
**Trainer notes and tips**
- Push participants to be ruthless about scope. A presentation that asks for too many things asks for nothing
- Encourage them to lead with the decision, not with background
### Session 2, Visual Design and Narrative Craft (2 hours)
**Learning focus:** Translate story into slides and supporting visuals that speed comprehension and prompt action.
**Structure**
- 0 to 10 min: Quick check in and review of Session 1 outcomes
- 10 to 25 min: Short presentation: design principles that cut through cognitive overload, contrast, chunking, hierarchy
- 25 to 45 min: Demonstration, redesign a dense slide into a persuasive visual (live screen share)
- 45 to 65 min: Breakout task: participants redesign two key slides from their presentation using provided templates
- 65 to 80 min: Micro lecture: use of metaphor, analogy and vivid examples to anchor the narrative
- 80 to 100 min: Peer feedback rounds with a structured checklist (clarity, relevance, emotional hook)
- 100 to 115 min: Mini masterclass: colour, fonts and imagery choices, maintaining brand but avoiding death by templates
- 115 to 120 min: Assignment: Finalise 6 slides and prepare a 5 minute extract for roleplay in Session 3
**Core resources provided**
- Slide templates optimised for persuasion (3 layout options)
- A simple [visual checklist](https://designedactivetrainings.mypixieset.com/communication-courses/): 10 things to delete from a slide now
- Sample metaphors and analogies banks specific to common Business scenarios
**One small rule we insist on**
- No paragraph slides in breakout. Ever. If you can't say it in a headline, you don't have an idea, refine it
### Session 3, Delivery, Presence and Practise to Perform (2 hours)
**Learning focus:** Vocal delivery, non verbal presence, roleplay with scoring and manager observation preparation.
**Structure**
- 0 to 10 min: Warm up: breath and voice activation; quick presence exercises
- 10 to 30 min: Micro lecture, vocal projection, pace, pitch and purposeful pauses (how to be heard without shouting)
- 30 to 50 min: Non verbal toolkit for virtual presenting, camera angle, eye line, open gestures, lighting and framing
- 50 to 80 min: Roleplay block A, five participants present 5 minute extracts; peers score using rubric; facilitator debrief
- 80 to 110 min: Roleplay block B, remaining participants present; debrief to follow
- 110 to 120 min: Next steps: how to embed practice back at work, manager observation form explained
**Assessment & scoring**
- Roleplay rubric covers: clarity of call to action (0 to 4), narrative coherence (0 to 4), slide support (0 to 4), vocal delivery (0 to 4), non verbal presence (0 to 4). Total 0 to 20
- Participants will be scored by peers, facilitator, and asked to conduct a manager observation in following two weeks
## Practical assignments and follow up
- Within two weeks present a five minute extract to your manager (or peer if manager unavailable). Manager completes short observation checklist and returns to facilitator
- Complete a post programme survey measuring confidence, intent to apply and perceived influence
## Session materials (what participants receive)
- Participant workbook (downloadable PDF with templates and practice exercises)
- Slide templates and visual checklist
- Roleplay scoring rubric
- Manager observation checklist
- Two curated reading/viewing items and a short micro learning video on posture and voice
## Learning activities and adult learning principles embedded
- Active practise (roleplays), reflection (worked examples and peer feedback), spaced learning (sessions across two weeks) and immediate application (manager observed presentation)
- We favour real work tasks rather than contrived exercises, helps transfer
## Assessment strategy and measurement
- Pre programme survey: self rated confidence in presenting (5 items) and one forced choice objective about audience mapping
- Immediate formative feedback during roleplays
- Summative assessment: roleplay rubric scores aggregated and compared to pre training baseline (participants rate themselves against rubrics in pre work)
- Manager observation: checklist used as external validation for transfer to workplace
- Post programme survey: repeat confidence items and add behavioural intent questions (scale: definitely will, probably will, probably won't, definitely won't)
- Success metric: average rubric score increase of at least 30% and at least 70% of participants reporting "probably will" or "definitely will" on application intent
## Sample roleplay scenarios (real workplace flavour)
- **Scenario 1:** You need your ops team to adopt a new shift rostering system next quarter. 5 minutes to win commitment
- **Scenario 2:** You lead a small [sales team](https://managerials-trainings.mypixieset.com/sales-training/) and need to get buy in to a pricing change from regional managers
- **Scenario 3:** You are reporting to execs and need approval to recruit two new headcount positions
Each scenario includes stakeholder map, likely objections and desired call to action
## Trainer facilitation notes
- Keep interventions short and specific. Name the behaviour; show an example; ask for re do
- Push people into discomfort: nothing builds skill like practising under pressure in front of peers
- Normalise imperfect delivery, people respond to authenticity
## Logistics and technology needs
- Platform: Zoom (breakouts and screen share). Use gallery + active speaker to simulate both small and larger audience dynamics
- Participants: asked to use two devices where possible (one for slides, one for camera) or virtual camera settings adjusted
- Max cohort size: 16 participants to keep roleplay time meaningful
- Equipment checklist for delegates: headset, decent webcam, quiet room and a physical whiteboard or paper for planning
## Customisation options for companies
- Half day in house condensed version for senior teams
- A blended option: 90 minute foundational micro session + 3×1 hour coaching clinics
- Add on: tailored slide audit and rewrite by our trainers (up to 10 slides per participant for an additional cost)
## Inclusion and accessibility
- All slides provided in high contrast versions; participants can request large print PDFs in advance
- Closed captions enabled for live sessions; transcripts supplied post session
- Activities designed so people with different [communication styles](https://moderncoachingstrainings3.mypixieset.com/communication-trainings/) can participate, not all roleplays require theatrical performance
## Measurement examples and reporting back to sponsors
- We provide a simple ROI style report:
- Participation metrics (attendance, completion of assignments)
- Pre/post survey summary (confidence and intent)
- Roleplay score improvement (average and distribution)
- Manager observation outcomes (percent demonstrating behaviour)
- We recommend an organisational check in at 8 to 12 weeks to measure whether presentations changed decisions or outcomes
## Typical objections we anticipate, and how we address them
- "We don't have time for practice." Response: Two hours per week beats two months of misfiring presentations. Short, focused practice creates muscle memory
- "Our culture prefers data heavy slides." Response: Data is critical; the issue is not removing it but structuring it so the decision is clear. We show practical ways to present numbers without drowning decision making
- "Not everyone can be charismatic." Response: Charisma is overrated. Presence is learnable. Small changes to posture, breath and phrasing produce disproportionate lift
## Two contentious but true positions
- A tightly designed slide deck with strong narrative will almost always outperform a longer talk with more facts. People forget facts much faster than they forget how they felt
- You should not aim to please everyone. Try to annoy a few stakeholders, that's usually a sign you are asking for something that requires a decision
## Evaluation and continuous improvement of the programme
- After each cohort we run an evaluator survey for both participants and managers, and we do a 6 week follow up to measure application
- We iteratively refine slide templates and roleplay scenarios based on industry sector and cohort feedback
## Budget and delivery logistics (typical public cohort)
- Cost: $495 per person inc GST (public cohort)
- Minimum cohort size to run: 6
- Maximum cohort size: 16
- Schedule: three sessions over two weeks (e.g., Tues/Thurs with final session next Tuesday)
- Locations targeted: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (timed to suit AEST/AEDT)
## Risk register (practical things that go wrong, and fixes)
- Tech fail (trainer internet drop): have a co facilitator with identical materials who can take over
- Low engagement: smaller breakout groups, directed prompts and wildcard tasks to re energise
- Pushback on templates/style: offer a short "design harmonisation" clinic for teams who must align with strict brand guidelines
## Sample timeline for rolling this out in a business (example)
- Week 0: Champion and participant nomination; pre work distributed
- Week 1: Session 1 delivered
- Week 2: Session 2 delivered
- Week 3: Session 3 delivered
- Weeks 4 to 5: Manager observed presentations completed; post surveys collected
- Week 8: Sponsor debrief and recommendations for further coaching
## Why this programme aligns with business priorities
- Short delivery time; immediate application; manager involvement; measurable improvement in influence and decision velocity
- The approach reduces wasted time in follow up meetings and email chains: when a presentation gets to the decision, first time, organisations save weeks
## Final notes for the learning sponsor
- We recommend senior sponsors attend at least one session as observers. Nothing speeds adoption like [executive modelling](https://effectiveleadershipcourses.mypixieset.com/)
- If you want a bespoke in house version, we can tailor scenarios and have a trainer rewrite a small set of slides for participants beforehand
## Sources & Notes
- Microsoft Canada, "Attention Spans," 2015, study often cited for the finding that average human attention span fell to eight seconds. (Microsoft Canada, 2015)
- LinkedIn Learning, "Workplace Learning Report," 2018, commonly referenced for workforce learning behaviour and the importance of [development to retention](https://effectivecourse.mypixieset.com/strategically-important-training/). (LinkedIn Learning, 2018)
End.