About this session
Many weak presentations begin before the first slide is created. The presenter has not decided what the audience needs to understand, remember or do, so PowerPoint becomes the place where information is collected rather than where a clear message is communicated.
This session starts with presentation fundamentals. Participants define the audience, purpose and core message; build a logical story flow; and decide what each slide needs to accomplish.
They then develop practical visual-design capability through hierarchy, layout, typography, whitespace, imagery, charts, diagrams and consistent slide systems.
Longer formats progressively introduce more sophisticated PowerPoint execution and presentation judgment: building reusable layouts, simplifying complex information, designing executive-level summaries, creating modular decks, using movement selectively, rehearsing efficiently and adapting when questions or time constraints change.
The goal is not to make every presentation look elaborate. It is to make important information clearer, more credible, easier to navigate and more effective for the audience.
What your people take away
- Start presentations with audience, purpose and message rather than opening PowerPoint immediately
- Structure information into a clear narrative and give every slide a specific communication job
- Use hierarchy, layout, typography, whitespace and visual consistency to improve comprehension
- Present data, processes and complex information in formats the audience can understand quickly
- Build and edit decks more efficiently using practical PowerPoint systems and reusable components
- Progress from presentation fundamentals to confident creation and delivery of sophisticated business presentations
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: 101 — Build the Presentation Before You Build the SlidesA focused 30-minute session on three key points from 101 — Build the Presentation Before You Build the Slides: start with audience & purpose, identify the core message and build the story flow.
- Start with audience & purpose
- Identify the core message
- Build the story flow
Covers 3 of 4 points in 101 — Build the Presentation Before You Build the Slides.
60 minutes
Presentation & PowerPoint Skills 101A practical starting point for participants who want stronger presentation fundamentals. Learn how to define the audience and purpose, create a clear message, structure the story and improve slide hierarchy, layout and visual clarity.
- Audience and purpose
- Core message
- Presentation structure
- One slide — one job
- Slide hierarchy
- Layout and whitespace
- PowerPoint 101
- Presentation Quick Planner
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 4 parts: 101 — Build the Presentation Before You Build the Slides.
90 minutes
Build Clear, Professional PresentationsProgress from presentation fundamentals into practical slide creation. Participants structure messages, improve layouts and typography, simplify visual information and use PowerPoint more deliberately to create a coherent professional deck.
- Presentation planning
- Message architecture
- Story flow
- Headline writing
- Visual hierarchy
- Layout and alignment
- Typography and color
- Images and diagrams
- Charts and tables
- Deck quality review
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 4 parts: 101 — Build the Presentation Before You Build the Slides and Design Slides That Make Information Easier to Understand.
3 hours
Covers 3 of 4 parts: 101 — Build the Presentation Before You Build the Slides, Design Slides That Make Information Easier to Understand and Build Stronger Information & Data Slides.
Full day
Presentation & PowerPoint Skills LabA practical full-day progression from 101 fundamentals through intermediate design and into more sophisticated PowerPoint execution. Participants restructure and redesign real or realistic presentation material, build clearer data and information slides, improve technical consistency and rehearse how the completed deck will work in front of an audience.
- 101 — Audience, Purpose & Message
- Presentation Story Architecture
- Slide Purpose & Headline Design
- Visual Hierarchy
- Layout, Alignment & Whitespace
- Typography & Color
- Image & Icon Use
- Charts & Tables
- Process & Concept Diagrams
- PowerPoint Layout Systems
- Reusable Slide Components
- Animation & Builds
- Executive Summary Design
- Deck Quality Assurance
- Presentation Rehearsal
- Live Q&A
Covers all 4 parts.
Also available as a 4-week or 8-week program, for change that lasts. Ask us about it.
What’s covered
101 — Build the Presentation Before You Build the Slides
Every length- Start with audience & purposeA presentation designed to inform a project team requires something different from one asking a leadership group to approve an investment.
- Identify the core messageIf the presenter cannot explain the central message clearly without slides, more slides rarely solve the problem.
- Build the story flowA collection of individually attractive slides can still feel confusing if the audience cannot see why one idea follows another.
- Give every slide one clear jobSlides become overloaded when one page simultaneously tries to explain the problem, display detailed evidence, introduce the solution and provide next steps.
Design Slides That Make Information Easier to Understand
90 minutes and longer- Create visual hierarchyAn audience should be able to identify quickly what matters most on a slide.
- Use layout, alignment & whitespaceSlides can feel amateur or difficult to scan when objects are almost aligned, margins change from page to page or every available area is filled.
- Use type & color with purposeTypography and color should help the audience navigate information rather than create visual noise.
- Choose visuals that do a jobImages, icons and diagrams add value when they explain, demonstrate, orient or reinforce the message.
Build Stronger Information & Data Slides
3 hours and longer- Turn slide titles into messagesA heading such as 'Q3 Sales Results' tells the audience the topic but not what they should notice.
- Simplify charts & tablesDefault chart and table formatting often displays more labels, lines, categories and decoration than the audience needs.
- Turn complexity into diagramsProcesses, relationships, timelines, hierarchies and systems can become difficult to understand when described only through paragraphs.
- Balance detail with the live storyA presentation slide, detailed report and leave-behind document serve different purposes.
Advance Your PowerPoint Craft & Presentation Impact
Full day only- Build a reusable PowerPoint systemExperienced presenters should not need to redesign basic slide structure every time they create a deck.
- Use movement selectivelyAnimation and transitions can help reveal sequence, explain change or control information flow, but unnecessary movement can distract from the message.
- Design for delivery, questions & changeReal presentations rarely unfold exactly as expected.
- Quality-check the complete experienceProfessional presentation quality combines content, visual design, technical reliability and delivery readiness.
Tools and materials
- Audience & Purpose Canvas
- Core Message Builder
- Presentation Story Map
- Slide Storyboard
- Visual Hierarchy Guide
- Layout & Grid Planner
- Information-to-Visual Canvas
- PowerPoint Efficiency Checklist
- Deck Quality Assurance Checklist
- Presentation & PowerPoint Playbook
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Presentation & PowerPoint Skills
How long is Presentation & PowerPoint Skills?
Presentation & PowerPoint Skills runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers three key points from 101 — Build the Presentation Before You Build the Slides: start with audience & purpose, identify the core message and build the story flow. A 60-minute session covers 101 — Build the Presentation Before You Build the Slides in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Design Slides That Make Information Easier to Understand. A 3-hour session adds Build Stronger Information & Data Slides. A full-day session adds Advance Your PowerPoint Craft & Presentation Impact. It is also available as a 4-week or 8-week program.
Can Presentation & PowerPoint Skills be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Presentation & PowerPoint Skills?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Presentation & PowerPoint Skills to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.