Senior executives are a tough segment to reach. They usually have very little time in their schedules to give you. Though that’s true of many audiences, what sets this crowd apart is the need to make huge decisions based on accurate information delivered quickly.
Long presentations with a big reveal at the end do not work for them. They’ll want you to get to the bottom line right away — and often they won’t let you finish your shtick without interrupting. (Never mind that you would have answered their questions if they’d just let you get through the next three slides.)
When presenting to an audience of senior executives, do everything you can to make their decision making easier and more efficient:
Get to the point
Take less time than you were allocated. If you were given 30 minutes, create your talk within that timeframe but then pretend your slot got cut to 5 minutes.
That will force you to be succinct and lead with the things they care about — high-level findings, conclusions, recommendations, your call to action. Hit those points clearly and simply before you venture into supporting data or tangential areas of importance to you.
Give them what they asked for
Stay on topic. If you were invited to give an update about the flooding of the manufacturing plant in Indonesia, do that before covering anything else.
They’ve invited you because they felt you could supply a missing piece of information, so answer that specific request quickly.
Set expectations
At the beginning, let the audience know you will spend the first 5 of your 30 minutes presenting your summary and the remaining time on discussion. Most executives will be patient for 5 minutes and let you present your main points if they know they’ll be able to ask questions fairly soon after.
Sum it up
Develop a clear, short overview of your key points, and place it in a set of executive summary slides at the front of the deck; have the rest of your slides serve as an appendix.
Follow a 10 percent rule of thumb: If your appendix is 50 slides long, devote about 5 slides to your summary at the beginning. After you present the summary, let the group drive the conversation.
Often, executives will want to go deeper on the points that will aid in their decision making. You can quickly pull up any slides in the appendix that speak to those points.
Practice makes perfect
Before presenting, run your slides by someone who has success getting ideas adopted at the executive level and who will serve as an honest coach.
Is your message coming through clearly and quickly? Do your summary slides boil everything down into skimmable key insights? Are you missing anything your audience is likely to expect?
Sounds like a lot of work, right? It is, but presenting to an executive team is a great honour and can open tremendous doors. If you nail this, people with a lot of influence will become strong advocates for your ideas.
Thanks Nancy. This was useful to me as a newly appointed Marketing & Sales Director. The C-suite is a challenge but can be fun. I have to keep telling myself to not beat around the bush and get right to the point.
No surprises, no sarcasm and no anecdotes. These hard-learned lessons have made me a better presenter to the C-suite.
All the best,
Matt
That’s a gold mine of easy-to-understand information that presenters can absorb in very little time — thank you so much, Nancy.
Thanks Nancy, as an educator I am always trying to impress upon my students the importance of effective communication, especially with visual aides. I will share this with my students.
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/cfGmRPSU <GREAT advice
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Great advice from @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/3Z2lC8bY
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
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like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/OTNccX4z
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/OTNccX4z
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Presenting to the C-Suite -great reminders for anyone. The third cartoon nails it: http://bit.ly/LsKNTn
Great tips no matter who you're speaking to! RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/Yn0BvffM
like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/OTNccX4z
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like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/OTNccX4z
like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/OTNccX4z
like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/OTNccX4z
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/P5dPz7bd
like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/OTNccX4z
RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/awxsbTzP
5-tips for presenting to executives… In fact it isn't remotely the same as presenting to other people. http://t.co/oUhH3t5h
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
#sparksheet Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/JPg9cqwM
Love the cartoons RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/ZHCJaZOm
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/DH0To7An
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/S5eIoypu via @zite
RT @sheezaredhead: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/SfOIZzQF via @Zite
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RT @AlexOsterwalder: like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/QWtJBFx3
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/S5eIoypu via @zite
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/k6EYBLdj via @zite
RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/GbbiTLaq
😉 RT @AlexOsterwalder: like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/dTQGdpG5
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Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/Uoz46JAU RT @nancyduarte #presentation #sales
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/TUNGTMMT
After you have read this, go buy Slide:ology “@nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/z76nffam”
RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/aCJrxeDq
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/eVK0Yb8n via @zite
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RT @alexosterwalder: like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/Dyq4s47M
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/Uoz46JAU RT @nancyduarte #presentation #sales
like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/OTNccX4z
Great article, absolut lesenswert! Thanks to RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/jaUX7kkH
Tips for presenting to senior executives http://t.co/XvtB1b6n
Presenting to C-suite any time soon? 5 tips that can help you win the day. http://t.co/HbVHkhAv #fb
Presenting to C-suite any time soon? 5 tips that can help you win the day. http://t.co/nx50gFWf #fb
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/RQzTZK76 RT @nancyduarte #presentation #sales — @RevenueDoctor
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/RQzTZK76 RT @nancyduarte #presentation #sales — @RevenueDoctor
Death by power point! http://t.co/DoHta7z1
Nice concise article on presenting
http://t.co/xURMbJGj
Und nicht nur für die Ansprache dieser Zielgruppe hilfreich RT @gergina_ch: Tips for presenting to senior executives http://t.co/F0LYklI2
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Und nicht nur für die Ansprache dieser Zielgruppe hilfreich RT @gergina_ch: Tips for presenting to senior executives http://t.co/F0LYklI2
Great read on presenting to the c-suite by presentation guru @nancyduarte: http://t.co/83g6dnnN Always know your audience!
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/X1rCC8dm via @zite @tomfishburne
Five Lessons for Presenting to the Senior Executives: http://t.co/c4b2XhxJ
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
RT @nancyduarte Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/Eb4ftzeG
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite via @Sparksheet http://t.co/8molHrFf
.@nancyduarte explains how to craft a killer presentation for the c-suite: http://t.co/CVNBgufh
Great tips on how to present to the C-suite: http://t.co/t4IqhOdi
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/PndkVNgm
Nancy Duarte's five tips for presenting to Chief Executives http://t.co/uRopRowX
Nancy Duarte's five tips for presenting to Chief Executives http://t.co/uRopRowX
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite @nancyduarte http://t.co/t11JiCoj
RT @sparksheet: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/HZUr9j0O
Worth reading for the illustrations alone! > Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite: http://t.co/QSx5BBzE #in
RT @Geetesh Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite @nancyduarte http://t.co/uCnlUQVG Get to the point (in writing too)
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/rqUgHf3j
Great advice on presenting to executives http://t.co/gUoNqXoo
Five Lessons for #Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/pDiJ56Be
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/jOnzYmbm
Some useful tips here for presenting to anyone, let alone the C-Suite http://t.co/EwHvUjrS
Get to the point! Simple advice – Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/fOFeJbU5 thanks @sparksheet
RT @TPLDrew: Get to the point! Simple advice – Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/0iosuXgi
RT @christinacs: RT @TPLDrew: Get to the point! Simple advice – Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/wdfH0joA
Fun to see my cartoons as part of this article on presenting by @nancyduarte (big fan of her work) http://t.co/PFMYtwor
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite @nancyduarte http://t.co/t11JiCoj
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet – Sparksheet is all about big ideas, but some… http://t.co/UB4pIog3
Presenting to the #csuite? Here's a checklist to keep your #presentation crisp for senior #executives http://t.co/ZuqFe3DP via @Sparksheet
RT @sparksheet: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/l0lmQoIs
Fun to see my cartoons as part of this article on presenting by @nancyduarte (big fan of her work) http://t.co/u7GtbB5l
RT @sparksheet: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/ViZKfexy
Great tips from @nancyduarte on presenting to executives http://t.co/HoC93YzG
Good points – Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite: http://t.co/0cTtG1xX
Tips for engaging senior execs: "Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite" by @nancyduarte #leadership #stakeholders http://t.co/FM1irpFC
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite @nancyduarte http://t.co/t11JiCoj
Check out these great #cartoons by @tomfishburne on #business & #powerpoint presentations: http://t.co/FM1irpFC
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/d7g66kCX thanks @nancyduarte
Great tips from @nancyduarte on presenting to executives http://t.co/HoC93YzG
like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/OTNccX4z
RT @AlexOsterwalder: like 🙂 RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/89xh1hHx MUY BUENO!!
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite @nancyduarte http://t.co/t11JiCoj
Presenting for the Senior Executives? Nancy Duarte explains how to create a killer presentation http://t.co/kAJcXq2M via @sparksheet
Great tips from @nancyduarte on presenting to executives http://t.co/HoC93YzG
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/5tNe3bFw
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite @nancyduarte http://t.co/t11JiCoj
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/baOJ2LFy
Great tips from @nancyduarte on presenting to executives http://t.co/HoC93YzG
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite @nancyduarte http://t.co/t11JiCoj
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet http://t.co/ldIZ3iIj
Tips to maximise your presentation with an important audience
http://t.co/HQo11L0q
Presenting tips: http://t.co/SRd1FhtN
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/enJOJAvy via Sparksheet | good reminders!
There are some cute "death by powerpoint" illustrations here .. Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet http://t.co/JpmfPpga
Good tips for nailing your presentations to senior executives. http://t.co/NBTJVBXR
Some great points! -> RT @simonemccallum: Good tips for nailing your presentations to senior executives. http://t.co/pw2P4sv0 #in
How to present to executives successfully http://t.co/IlXNhgZN
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/mSbyCQef via @NancyDuarte #speaking #presentations
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet http://t.co/XHPt0cd3 #in
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
How to present effectively to the C-Suite from the terrific @NancyDuarte – http://t.co/zwwZBGMP
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/aUrsyC80
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/aUrsyC80
Great points here. RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/QlVlgyUo
Great points here. RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/QlVlgyUo
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/kEQtsNVY
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/WrVpptpz /SE
Someone asked me for this link again today: http://t.co/puAffmWq Good tips on nailing those pressos to exec here.
Someone asked me for this link again today: http://t.co/puAffmWq Good tips on nailing those pressos to exec here.
RT @nancyduarte: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/IAKLwIcs #msure
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/uo6LIDWt #twfeed
Üst yönetime sunum yaparken: http://t.co/rsZw8CLj
sunum nasıl yapılmaz http://t.co/zHaU9cfU
Presenting to decision makers. Excellent summation. http://t.co/xtjG3mVI
Üst yönetime sunum yaparken.. http://t.co/lZPe2Qra
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/uEJKY85H
Make their decision making easier and more efficient! RT @scottwwilliams: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/mCXn7XAx
How to cut the bla bla bla when presenting to busy execs. Imbibe or get fried. http://t.co/VMn5uS0W
How to cut the bla bla bla when presenting to busy execs. Imbibe or get fried. http://t.co/M4Z5X8IX
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite | Sparksheet: http://t.co/oM4SVDrT
Good article! Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite via @Sparksheet http://t.co/m5WS7k8U
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/4PQKgWzb
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/4PQKgWzb
Tips for presenting to an audience of senior executives: http://t.co/8VfTeGjf
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/uEJKY85H
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/uEJKY85H
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/uEJKY85H
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/uEJKY85H
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/uEJKY85H
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/uEJKY85H
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/uEJKY85H
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/4PQKgWzb
Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite – http://t.co/uEJKY85H
RT @sparksheet: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/Uy1PkYPp
RT @sparksheet: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/94mOi5wQ
RT @sparksheet: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/94mOi5wQ
Five Tips for Presenting to Senior Execs | @Sparksheet http://t.co/VaAn0Mvu
RT @sparksheet: Five Lessons for Presenting to the C-Suite http://t.co/Uy1PkYPp
Some great tips – Five Lessons for Presenting http://t.co/gYXWCpFb
[…] their presentations had to get well beyond “the facts.” They needed to create stories and visuals that would […]
[…] their presentations had to get well beyond “the facts.” They needed to create stories and visuals that would […]