Free exercises from our presentation workshop
Presentation workshop exercises: structure, storytelling and data
Three hands-on exercises from our presentation workshops, ready to use on your own or with your team. Build a storyline your audience can follow, lead with your key message and turn a table of numbers into a chart that makes its point at a glance.
What you take away
After these exercises, your message lands
Each exercise trains one skill you can use in your next presentation the very next day.
A storyline before the first slide
You sketch the whole story in slide titles and know it works before you spend time on design.
Your key message up front
You open with the answer, back it with two to four arguments and keep every slide to one clear statement.
Charts that make the point
You pick the visualization that shows the trend at once and highlight exactly what matters.
Exercise 1 of 3
Exercise 1: Storyline with the hero’s journey
Swipe to see the whole journey →
Contrast moves your audience: alternate between what is and what could be – and end on the better future.
Goal
Build a clear structure for a short presentation before you touch content or design.
How it works
- 1Pick a concrete topic from your day-to-day work or any other area.
- 2Open a blank PowerPoint file or use a whiteboard.
- 3Write the slide titles only.
- 4Give every slide exactly one clear statement – an action title.
- 5Present your structure to a partner in three minutes.
- 6Ask for short feedback, then swap roles.
- 7Optional: one or two participants present to the whole group and get feedback from the group and the trainer.
Feedback questions
- What was clear and easy to follow?
- Where was the structure not yet clear?
- Which slide or statement could be sharper?
Exercise 2 of 3
Exercise 2: Pyramid structure
Goal
Get your key message to the point and build your presentation logically from the top down.
How it works
- 1Pick a concrete topic from your day-to-day work or any other area.
- 2Start at the top with your most important statement – the key message or recommendation.
- 3Derive two to four main arguments that support it.
- 4Open a blank PowerPoint file or use a whiteboard.
- 5Write the slide titles only, following this structure.
- 6Give every slide exactly one clear statement – an action title.
- 7Present your structure to a partner in three minutes.
- 8Ask for short feedback, then swap roles.
- 9Optional: one or two participants present to the whole group and get feedback from the group and the trainer.
Feedback questions
- Was the key message clear straight away?
- Are the arguments logical and complete?
- Were there jumps or gaps in the structure?
- Which statement could be phrased even more clearly?
Exercise 3 of 3
Exercise 3: Visualize data in PowerPoint
| Year | Brand 1 | Brand 2 | Brand 3 | Brand 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 74% | 45% | 13% | 18% |
| 2012 | 82% | 42% | 14% | 21% |
| 2013 | 80% | 50% | 20% | 18% |
| 2014 | 74% | 46% | 24% | 21% |
| 2015 | 73% | 36% | 20% | 16% |
| 2016 | 72% | 36% | 24% | 14% |
| 2017 | 74% | 34% | 24% | 13% |
| 2018 | 70% | 35% | 40% | 18% |
| 2019 | 70% | 32% | 35% | 17% |
| 2020 | 66% | 31% | 41% | 16% |
Share of people using each brand, 2011–2020
Goal
Show data so the key message is understood at a glance.
How it works
- 1Use the table as your data source.
- 2Your brief: show as vividly as possible that more and more people are using Brand 3.
- 3Build a matching visualization in PowerPoint.
- 4A few participants share their screen and show their solution.
- 5The group gives feedback on clarity and impact.
- 6Discuss together which visualization gets the key message across most clearly.
- 7To close, we show a model solution.
Feedback questions
- Is the key message visible straight away?
- Which version is easiest to understand?
- What distracts without adding anything?
- How could the message stand out even more?
Trusted by
Teams we work with on presentations
FAQ
Questions about the workshop exercises
Can I use these exercises on my own?
Yes. All three work alone or with a colleague as your feedback partner. They work best when someone else hears your structure and tells you what landed.
Do I need PowerPoint?
Exercises 1 and 2 work just as well on a whiteboard or a sheet of paper. For exercise 3 you need PowerPoint or another tool that builds charts.
Can SkillDay run a presentation workshop for our team?
Yes. These exercises come from our presentation workshop for teams, which we tailor to your team’s topics and real presentations.
Is the workshop available in English?
Yes. We run our presentation workshops in English and German.
Your trainer
Jörn Steinz
Founder of SkillDay, presentation trainer and coach. Former consultant at Accenture, then corporate development at XING AG and freenet Group. Since 2014 he has helped teams at companies such as FIFA, Mitsubishi, eBay and Volkswagen present with clarity and impact – together with a network of around six SkillDay trainers.
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